The Drake Hotel which is located at 140 East Walton Place in Chicago is truly iconic for its history, elegance, and luxury. It is centrally located in a prime location because it is situated on Chicago's Magnificent Mile and is connected to the best shopping, dining, and entertainment in the area.
It was built in the early 1900s and has already gone through a few owners. The hotel is currently managed by the Hilton Hotels Corporation and the Hilton Family of Hotels.
The hotel has hosted famous and distinguished guests such as Queen Elizabeth, Princess Diana, the Empress of Japan, and Hollywood celebrities.
The hotel is famous for its afternoon tea which has been a tradition since 1840. In fact, it is considered to be one of the best hotels in the country for afternoon tea.
For tea aficionados, the Drake Hotel holds its place among the very best. The founding editors of the popular TeaTime magazine even declared that the inspiration for their magazine was from a tea service at the Drake Hotel. This is what they had to say,
The relaxed atmosphere, the piping hot tea, and the bite-sized foods captured our imaginations, and we discussed a "what if" scenario centered on adding a magazine for tea aficionados to the company's holding."
Here is what you can expect when you visit the Drake Hotel for tea.
Afternoon Tea at the Drake Hotel
Tea at the Drake Hotel is held at the Palm Court restaurant in the hotel. The Palm Court reopened recently after the shutdown due to COVID-19. Reservations are required and each party can have 6 guests. A time limit of 90 minutes is placed for the dining and tea experience. The hotel requires that guests abide by social distancing, masks, and other guidelines.
A typical afternoon tea menu features 17 unique tea blends including English Breakfast tea, Earl Grey, and other modern varieties. The tea is served in individual teapots. There will also be a tiered tea tray of 3 levels of delicacies and snacks such as finger sandwiches, scones, petit fours, preserves, lemon curd and Devon cream.
For children between the ages of 4 and 12, the Palm Court offers the Prince and Princess Afternoon Tea.
This is what a recent patron said about the experience,
Lovely high tea, not inexpensive but worth it, especially if you are celebrating something.
Special diets are accommodated including vegan and gluten-free.
Afternoon tea is expensive at the Drake Hotel. It can cost as much as $57 per person. Some reviewers have complained that while the food is amazing, the snacks are quite small and delicate. One free refill of the tray is allowed for 2 people.
Overall, patrons of the afternoon tea at the Drake Hotel have been positive, praising the ambiance of the place and the excellent service by the waiters.
Afternoon tea on events such as Mother's Day is usually a big hit at the Drake Hotel.
If you are in the Chicago area, do stop by the Drake Hotel for a spot of tea.
Source: The Drake Hotel