3 funky afternoon teas to try out in the Greater Toronto Area

Afternoon tea has always been a fun and fancy free way to while away the pre-dinner hours, but what happens when you’re looking for a little more than the standard scones with clotted cream and finger sandwiches?

Fortunately, you can find almost anything in the Greater Toronto Area when it comes to food, so there are options that extend beyond the average afternoon tea experience with influences that reach far beyond the British Isles to other places like Afghanistan and China. There are also some spots that are putting new twists on old familiar tea party classics, for a burst of fresh new creativity.

Whether you’re looking for Afghan finger foods or a dim sum high tea time, check out some of these places if a more unique afternoon tea is what you seek.

Here are some of the places you can go for a funky afternoon tea in Toronto.

Afghan Flame

This restaurant actually claims to serve Mississauga’s first ever Afghan afternoon tea. The spread includes Afghan beef dumplings, grilled chicken bites, minced meat flatbread, egg salad sandwiches in naan, a fresh salad plate, mixed fruits, traditional sweets like gulab desar, firni and naan e shirin, served with a pot of tea of your choice. Available every Friday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lai Wah Heen

The dim sum high tea at this restaurant includes options for dishes like chilled fresh okra, roasted duck spring rolls, ginger pork terrine, steamed pumpkin buns, mango sago with fruits, pumpkin fritters, char siu, bird’s nest milk tarts, lychee shrimp balls, turnip cakes, dumplings and their classic signature swan pastry with sweet lotus paste.

Have cocktails, mocktails or even local beer on the side. Available from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday.

Writer’s Room Lounge

This bar inside a hotel takes the concept of afternoon tea to the next level. How about a smoke salmon eclair? A zucchini scone? The offerings are rounded out by equally unique sweet treats like a black sesame parfait and Bailey’s cheesecake. You can complement the afternoon tea at this place with an unexpected mini cocktail flight inspired by cafe beverages.

There’s the Green Leaf made with iced sencha green tea, rose-infused Don Julio, cucumber water and ginger syrup, the Warm Brew with Earl Grey tea, vanilla-bergamot syrup, Hennessy VSOP, Disaronno and orange oils, and the Chai Silk made using masala chai tea, Bailey’s and brown butter Hibiki.