AFTERNOON TEA AT THE MANDARIN ORIENTAL

probably my favorite part of Afternoon Tea:  the clotted cream

chamomile tea

inside the lobby

the gorgeous view outside the hotel

I can't really remember the exact age I was when my mom first took me to Afternoon Tea at The Drake in Chicago, but everything else about it was extremely memorable.  The whole experience was magical and I was hooked.  I still remember how special I felt and how fancy everything was.  It was kinda sorta like that scene in Titanic where the mom is trying to teach the little girl dining etiquette..you know what I'm talking about?  Anywho, ever since then, I've always loved the tradition and have loved trying new tea rooms around the world.

While The Drake will always hold a special place in my heart, the Mandarin Oriental's Empress Lounge in D.C. had my mom and I in about two weekends ago to experience their Afternoon Tea and it was amazing.  The ambiance was a bit more relaxed than I had experienced in the past which was a nice change of pace.  Even with the more relaxed atmosphere, the service was still excellent.  Our server was very attentive, knowledgeable, and just down right sweet.  The tea selection was good and the food was unique and creative.  It may have been the only tea I've been to where I didn't leave feeling obscenely full..to me, that's a good thing ;)  My mom and I also each had a glass of Veuve which was the perfect way to unwind after a day of shopping and walking around Georgetown.  Whether you've never been to Afternoon Tea before or it's a long-time tradition like it is for me, The Mandarin really impressed me and I highly recommend trying out their Empress Lounge if you get the chance.

Thank you to the Mandarin Oriental in Washington, D.C. for hosting me and my mom!