Chocolate fountains, ice cream sundaes, doughnut towers, chocolate bark, mini cupcakes, bread and butter pudding, bite sized cupcakes, tiny macrons. And that’s just the sweets.

The new high tea at The Langham Sydney is all about decadence – refined and delicate – but definitely very decadent. You’ll still take your seats in the Harbour Room, with fine floral china, fresh cut flowers and steaming cups of tea (or glasses of sparkling wine!). Like any proper traditional afternoon tea, a tiered tray of treats arrives, but there’s something missing. There’s moreish mini chicken and leek pies, dainty crust less turkey and cranberry sandwiches, fresh pastrami roulade, and the cutest pink beetroot and salmon bagels (it’s all about pink at The Langham). And no, they certainly haven’t forgotten the – warm, fluffy, golden and gorgeous slathered in the house made lemon curd and cream. There’s plum jam for the traditionalists but the lemon curd is top notch and a classic in its own way. Work your way through savouries and the scones, and stop there. Hold on, what about the sweets?

If you’re taking tea between 12-3pm your sweet session is about to get one hell of an upgrade. the Harbour Room now opens up straight onto the dessert stations of the brand new Kitchen on Kent, the hotel’s big, bold, beautiful buffet dining. And let us tell you, the dessert station is OTT in a very, very good way.

If you’re dining after 3pm you will be served a range of cakes and sweets the old school way, on your tiered tea tray, but we say get in earlier in the day to make the most of the buffet’s smorgasbord day of sweets.

There’s no better time of year to eat sweets then at Christmas, and the Christmas Afternoon Tea is a fun way to do something different than a long lunch. Expect pink Christmas crackers, snowman trifle, gingerbread houses and Santa Claus cakes. And even better, you can make this a guilt free affair by bringing along a gift. The hotel is collecting children’s toys for the Sydney Children’s Hospital, and guests are encouraged to bring a toy to put under the pink lobby tree.

So we say get down to Kent St, raise those pinkies, and take tea up a notch.

Christmas Afternoon Tea
The Langham Sydney, 89-113 Kent St, Millers Point
From $70 per person
http://www.langhamhotels.com/en/the-langham/sydney/offers/dining-offers/christmas-on-kent-2019/