Beautiful décor, exceptional service, and a generous gourmet menu — Luma High Tea at The Playford Hotel is an absolute standout. If you’re in Adelaide or planning a visit, make sure this is firmly on your weekend must-do list.
It’s the little things at Luma
Dear reader, I have a confession to make: it takes quite a lot to impress me when it comes to Afternoon Tea these days. Which is why I can’t express strongly enough just how exceptional the Luma High Tea was. The overwhelming sense is that The Playford genuinely wants guests to have a memorable experience, and they’ve gone to great lengths to deliver exactly that. And compared to many other venues, this High Tea represents exceptional value for money.
The Visit
Date visited: Sunday 11 January 2026
My dining companions: My husband Mr B and our son Master H (14 years old)
Luma High Tea – The Details
When: Every Saturday & Sunday, 1pm–4pm
Price: $79 AUD per person, including a specialty sparkling cocktail (or mocktail) on arrival, plus loose-leaf tea and coffee.
Upgrade: Any listed cocktail on arrival +$10 AUD
Address: The Playford Hotel, 120 North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia
Dress code: Smart casual
Website: lumarestaurant.com.au
A Bubbly Welcome
From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by the lovely Chelsy, who showed us to a good sized round table with soft leather banquette seating. She then offered to make us a Kir Royale cocktail and for Master H a fancy Strawberry mocktail. As you can see in the photo above this was served in a Champagne coupe – a small but thoughtful touch that made him feel very grown up.
The Food
The food arrived promptly and with a touch of theatre thanks to Elena, who explained each element with confidence and care and asked if we had any questions (which I LOVE). With Mr B’s shellfish allergy noted, he was thoughtfully presented with his own plate of additional finger sandwiches — avocado with lemon mayonnaise and egg and cress.
The tiered stand itself was a feast for the eyes, laden with sweet treats, savouries, sandwiches, scones, together with a separate plate of three oysters.
Savoury highlights include mushroom parfait (Master H’s favourite – he’s still talking about it) and delicate tartlets filled with asparagus, pea, and mint. Note: I loved these so much that I created a similar version to make at home. Click on the link to view my recipe for Salmon, Pea & Parmesan Tartlets.
Two scones per person are served with generous pots of Beerenberg strawberry jam and cream (as an Afternoon Tea should be), followed by French-inspired pâtisserie like Paris-Brest and Opera Cake made with truly luxurious ingredients. I’ve listed all the items below, each one more mouth-watering than the last:
The Menu
- Natural Oyster with Wakame and Salmon Roe
- Smoked Salmon Finger Sandwich with Cucumber and Dill
- Egg and Cress Sandwich
- Mushroom Tart with Mushroom Parfait
- Quiche with Asparagus, Pea and Mint
- Luma Scones with Beerenberg Jam and Double Cream
- Paris-Brest with Caramelised Banana
- Frangipani Tart with Adelaide Hills Berries and Mascarpone
- Lemon Pops with White Chocolate Meringue
- Opera Cake with Honey
Tea & Coffee Selections
Once we finished our cocktails and mocktails, Elena magically appeared to take our coffee and tea orders. Master H was offered a Hot Chocolate that came with a little marshmallow. I ordered a Lemon & Ginger tea that was served from own little teapot. Mr B had his usual Flat White as he loves nothing more than sweet treats and coffee (more than 30 years in the Navy – too late to change his habits now).
The teas included English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Peppermint, Chamomile, Quince Sencha, Rooibos Vanilla, Vani-T French Earl Grey, and Lemon & Ginger.
Run or Return?
Return.
Our visit to Luma was everything an Afternoon Tea experience should be: beautifully presented, thoughtfully curated, and delivered with genuine care. From the welcome cocktail and impeccable service, to the generous, well-balanced menu, every detail felt considered.
So generous in fact that we couldn’t finish everything!
Not to worry. Leftovers are elegantly packaged in their own little box then placed inside a carry bag to take home – the final thoughtful touch on an already outstanding experience.
The Luma High Tea at the Playford Hotel Adelaide is the kind of Afternoon Tea that lingers in your memory long after the last sip — and one we’ll happily return to again.
