ABODE Sparkling High Tea

I was mucking around on Tinder one morning when a match asked me what I was doing that day. When I replied with ‘going for high tea’ he ‘LOL’d’ and responded with ‘who even goes to high tea anymore?’ I promptly unmatched and pitied him for not realising that not only is high tea becoming more and more popular, it is actually evolving and improving to suit the tastes of the masses who attend. Years ago, when only a few hotels and a handful of tea salons were serving high tea, it was generally a bit of a treat or an add-on to have a glass of champagne or even sparkling wine with the sitting, but these days it is usually common place. ABODE Bistro and Bar has taken that one step further by offering with their sparkling-infused high tea menu the option of three glasses of matched sparkling wine – just one attractive feature of the superbly beautiful restaurant.

The room itself is light, welcoming and accented with Australiana – not surprisingly, since Sydney’s own Catherine Martin designed it. The whitewashed wood flows from the cockatoo-carved screens to the dining tables and the charming and unique tiered stand on which high tea is served mimics the lighting and furniture. This is a space that begs you to stay, drink and dine all day, which is what happened when we carried on drinking post-high tea, until we finally departed full from dinner and people watching on a busy Saturday night.

The sparkling high tea lives up to its promise – the prosecco-infused pomegranate cupcake puts an adult spin on a childhood favourite and the chocolate-coated strawberry dances on the tongue like only a good glass of bubbles can. While the savouries were a little heavy on the seafood for this non-seafood-eater, I can appreciate that Darling Harbour is synonymous with that kind of fare, and the blueberry scones made up for that shortfall.

With the matched Jansz and Villa Jolanda sparkling, there is enough wine for one glass per tier of food, then plenty more glasses and cocktails to be drunk once you’re done – trust me, you will not want to leave ABODE Bistro and Bar.

Sparkling High Tea is served every Friday from 2:00pm to 5:00pm, as well as Saturday and Sunday from 11:00am to 5:00pm.

$75.00 per person, which includes three glasses of matching sparkling wines.