With December in full swing, hotels around the country are infusing their afternoon teas with the holiday spirit. Mingle with Santa, hug a teddy bear, sip champagne and nibble on something deliciously sweet at these four holiday teas:
Children’s Tea with Santa
Children who’d like to bend Santa’s ear about how nice (not naughty) they’ve been this year can do so over tea at the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star St. Regis Atlanta, between 2 and 5 p.m. daily from December 13 to 24. With eats like grilled cheese sandwiches, almond butter and jelly sandwiches, eggnog cupcakes and Santa cap marshmallows, the event’s gourmet menu offers plenty sure to please the little ones.
Holiday Afternoon Tea in Peacock Alley
Enjoy live harp music and a plethora of teatime treats sure to spark the spirit of the season at Willard InterContinental’s holiday tea, held daily at 1 and 4 p.m. throughout December (excluding December 25, 26 and 31). The Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel’s menu of treats includes a candy cane puff, Devonshire cream and spiced apple compote, nutmeg and vanilla-cranberry scones, a chestnut rum Yule log and gingerbread men — plus a glass of Moët & Chandon champagne.
Teddy Bear Tea
The Roosevelt New Orleans, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel
Hosted in The Roosevelt New Orleans’ Crescent City Ballroom on Saturdays and Sundays at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. through December 23 (and at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Friday, December 21), the Teddy Bear Tea offers live holiday entertainment in the form of storytellers, trumpeters and celebrity appearances by Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and the elves. Meanwhile, kids can partake of a special children’s menu and adults can choose from a traditional tea menu, sip complimentary champagne or enjoy something else from the cash bar. For an extra fee, kids and/or adults can take a picture with Santa. Bonus: Kids walk away with a commemorative Roosevelt teddy bear.
Teddy Bear Storytelling Teas
The Ritz-Carlton Chicago, A Four Seasons Hotel
Guide your kids in the spirit of philanthropy with The Ritz-Carlton Chicago’s weekend Teddy Bear Storytelling Teas on December 15, 16, 22 and 23. The Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel’s teas-for-a-cause start at 3 p.m., with storytelling by Mrs. Claus beginning at 4 p.m. Each child should arrive with a teddy bear or toy to be placed under the Christmas tree and later donated to the kids at Lurie Children’s Hospital.
