The Hyatt Hotel Canberra’s winter afternoon tea offers an indulgent, expertly curated experience in an elegant heritage setting, featuring standout Gruyère scones and delicate pâtisserie. Led by Executive Pastry Chef Anita Su Jung Chung, the menu provides a cozy, high-quality dining experience, perfect for escaping the winter chill.
All the details
Date visited: July 2026
Location: Hyatt Hotel Canberra – A Park Hyatt Hotel, 120 Commonwealth Avenue, Yarralumla ACT
Hours: Thursday to Sunday: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM & 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Cost: Thursday and Friday: $79 per person | $50 per child (6-12 years), Saturday and Sunday: $85 per person | $50 per child (6-12 years).
Traditional Afternoon Tea includes a glass of sparkling wine on arrival, followed by your choice of premium tea or barista coffee. Guests can also upgrade to Taittinger Champagne (+$27) or enjoy bottomless sparkling wine (+$35).
My dining companions: My husband and fellow Afternoon Tea enthusiast, Mr B and our son Master H (15 years).
Dress code: Smart casual
Hyatt Hotel Canberra Afternoon Tea: Why this elegant Canberra institution is even more magical in winter
There are some hotels that simply know how to do Afternoon Tea, and Hyatt Hotel Canberra is one of them.
Stepping inside feels like entering another era, where polished service, grand architecture and unhurried afternoons are still very much part of the experience. The Tea Lounge is an elegant space of soaring ceilings, comfortable armchairs and soft conversation. It’s the sort of place where you naturally slow down and forget about the outside world for a couple of hours.
Having visited previously in early autumn 2025, I was curious to experience Afternoon Tea in the middle of a Canberra winter. As it turns out, cold weather is the perfect excuse to settle in with endless pots of tea, warm scones and an afternoon of indulgence.
Tea selection
Tea lovers are particularly well looked after here. The Tea Lounge offers an extensive range of premium loose-leaf teas, including several exclusive blends created especially for Hyatt Hotel Canberra by The Tea Centre. Whether you prefer traditional black teas, fragrant florals, green teas or herbal infusions, there’s something to suit every taste. Of course Barista coffee is also available if that’s more your style.
Good to know
Executive Pastry Chef Anita Su Jung Chung leads the talented pastry team, bringing experience gained in some of the world’s leading luxury hotels as well as two-Michelin star restaurant The Modern in New York. That experience is evident throughout the menu, with each item thoughtfully balanced and beautifully presented. Sweetness is kept in check so the flavour of individual ingredients are able to shine on their own. This is particularly welcome and really added to the overall enjoyment of the afternoon tea.
Special mention also goes to the way dietary requirements are handled. Rather than making substitutions feel like an afterthought, the kitchen presents alternative items with the same level of care and elegance as the original menu.
My husband has a seafood allergy so the smoked trout was replaced with delicate strips of sweet potato on brioche. His afternoon tea was then presented on a separate tiered stand to ensure no cross contamination so he could relax and enjoy the experience.
The menu
Our three-tier stand included a generous selection of savoury and sweet treats, along with freshly baked Gruyère cheese scones served warm with house-made papaya jam and whipped cream.
Savoury
- Cucumber with lemon mascarpone sandwich
- Roast beef with horseradish cream sandwich
- Smoked trout with house-made tartare on toasted brioche
- Chicken and wild mushroom vol-au-vent
Scones
- Freshly baked Gruyere cheese scones with papaya jam and double cream
Sweet
- Mont Blanc pavlova with chestnut cream
- Rose, vanilla and strawberry mousse
- Jivara milk chocolate with pear, lemon and ginger bavarois
- Guanaja chocolate with raspberry and thyme tart
My favourites
The warm Gruyère scones were impossible to resist. Light, fluffy and full of flavour, they were delicious on their own but even better spread generously with the sweet tropical papaya jam and topped with double cream.
The chicken and wild mushroom vol-au-vent was another standout. The buttery pastry shattered delicately with every bite, revealing a rich, creamy filling that felt wonderfully comforting on such a cold winter’s day.
From the sweet selection, the rose, vanilla and strawberry mousse was beautifully light with just enough floral flavour to remain elegant rather than overpowering. The Guanaja chocolate tart was equally memorable, combining rich chocolate with bright raspberry and subtle thyme for a sophisticated finish. Garnished with a sour cherry and some gold leaf, this was a pretty addition to the stand and an absolute delight to eat with the perfect balance of sweet chocolate and the familiar acidity of raspberry…delish!
Service
Service at Hyatt Hotel Canberra is one of its greatest strengths. Staff are attentive without ever feeling intrusive, quietly keeping drinks topped up and anticipating what you need before you have to ask.
Run or return?
Return — without hesitation.
Hyatt Hotel Canberra continues to rank among my personal favourites. The beautiful heritage setting, polished service and thoughtfully crafted menu combine to create an experience that feels genuinely special from beginning to end.
While Afternoon Tea is enjoyable at any time of year, there’s something particularly comforting about visiting during winter. Escaping Canberra’s chilly weather from the warmth of the Tea Lounge, teapot within reach and a freshly baked scone in hand, is reason enough to book a table.
If you’re visiting Canberra—or you’re lucky enough to live there—this is one Afternoon Tea that deserves a place on your list.
Make your own 5 Star hotel-style Afternoon Tea with our delicious recipes
If you can’t make it to Canberra this winter then why not host your own Afternoon Tea at Home with Flower & Sugar’s easy to follow recipes? From tiny sausage rolls to raisin scones, we’ve got what you need to add a touch of luxury to your own gathering.
