Afternoon Tea in Barcelona and Athens: A Tale of Two Mediterranean Tea Experiences
El Palace Hotel, Afternoon Tea Lobby
Afternoon Tea is everywhere in London. In New York, it's prevalent. In Chicago, it's not uncommon. But in Athens and Barcelona? At the time of this writing, only a handful of places offer the traditional ritual—which makes finding a great Afternoon Tea in these Mediterranean cities all the more rewarding.
The El Palace Hotel Afernoon Tea menu and and the exterior of the hotel.
I recently returned from a Mediterranean trip that took me through some of the most beautiful cities along that storied sea. The journey began in Barcelona and ended in Athens, and so did my Afternoon Tea experiences. I'd considered booking a reservation in Rome too, but time didn't allow—and as I recall, the reservation process on the website was a little ambiguous (I only found one place serving traditional Afternoon Tea there).
No matter. I found two gorgeous spots to sip and savor at the bookends of our trip.
Tiered tea caddy and beautiful furnishings
Afternoon Tea at El Palace Hotel, Barcelona
In Barcelona, we took tea at the El Palace Hotel—and this turned out to be the best tea of the two. Why? The service was impeccable and the setting palatial. And there was one small detail here I'd never been offered before, one that addressed a long-standing pet peeve of mine.
When I told the waiter we'd be having the Sparkling Tea (a tea service paired with sparkling wine), he asked whether I'd prefer to enjoy the wine first, before the hot tea came out.
Yes! I can't tell you how many times, even in the finest hotels, both arrive at the same time, leaving you to sip Champagne while your tea over-steeps and turns unattractively tannic. When the waiter raised this simple question, I knew we were in for excellent service.
I chose Cava this time
Cava vs. Champagne: Which to Choose?
You have a choice between Champagne and Cava. Cava is the sparkling wine of Spain, made in the traditional method (like Champagne, the second fermentation occurs in the bottle). When in Rome—or in this case, Barcelona—we went with the Cava. It was wonderful.
Champagne is almost always the more expensive option when comparing sparkling wines, but it isn't always better—it simply has stronger name recognition. In this case, the Champagne available was Ruinart, a marvelous house, and at the price they were offering, it was relatively inexpensive. In fact, Afternoon Tea in both Athens and Barcelona was more affordable than in cities like London.
Oh, so pretty pastries!
Both tea services in Barcelona and Athens were taken in luxurious settings—exactly the kind I love best: a classic, old-world hotel lobby or a quiet space just off it.
The tea at El Palace was perfect in every way. Very traditional, and one thing I always appreciate is finger sandwiches that don't try too hard to be "different." That's just me—I prefer tried-and-true tea sandwiches in the same way I tend to prefer "regular" food to molecular gastronomy with foams or ice cream that tastes like a mushroom forest (you may feel differently, and that's fine).
The Hotel Grande Bretagne, Sparkling and Tea
Afternoon Tea at the Hotel Grande Bretagne, Athens
Now, on to the tea at the Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens. The room was elegant and beautiful, the glasses sparkling. But… there's something about service in some Greek establishments that is, how shall I put it… a touch abrupt? Not all, of course not all restaurants—but I noticed it a few times at different places during the trip.
I don't think it's intentional. It's simply a different cultural rhythm. For example, when the waitress handed me a cloth napkin, she sort of tossed it onto my lap. Not rude in intent—just not as polished as it might have been.
The lovely Afternoon Tea lobby of The Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens, Greece.
Another difference at the Grande Bretagne: the teapots arrived with tea bags inside. It's not that I've never had this happen before, but generally loose-leaf tea is used for a formal Afternoon Tea service. They also didn't offer milk for the tea, which may simply be a cultural preference.
Final Thoughts: Mediterranean Afternoon Tea Compared
That said, the food at both El Palace and the Hotel Grande Bretagne was very good, and I genuinely enjoyed both outings. If you're traveling in the Mediterranean and looking to bookend your trip with the elegance of Afternoon Tea, both of these hotels deliver memorable experiences—with El Palace edging ahead for its impeccable service, and the Grande Bretagne offering an elegant Athenian setting that's well worth the visit.