High tea in The House

Many of us walk past them every day. On the way to work, as we go to dentists appointments or meetings with lawyers. And yet, the row of grand old buildings that line the eastern side of Macquarie Street remain a mystery to many of us. That’s all about to change. NSW Parliament House has opened its doors for the time honoured tradition of high tea.

High Tea at Parliament House takes place just once a month, on a Friday afternoon when a few dozen diners are lucky enough to settle in for a session in sweet delights. Tea is held at the back of the building, in a room overlooking The Domain. Large, wide windows look straight out to the fig trees and manicured lawns, the afternoon sunlight streaming in to a room set with crisp white linen tablecloths, bespoke Wedgewood china and silver tea pots.

The tiered tea stands arrive laden with savoury and sweet treats – starting with bit sized prosciutto bagels, rye BLT buns, Gruyère cheese tartlets and vegetable muffins. An array of mini cupcakes, tiny pear tarts, raspberry meringue drops are to follow, with a final tier of fruit scones and Persian orange blossom cakes. Paired with a glass of Tyrell’s sparkling, or Peterson House Brut Rose, it’s a generous serving when it comes to high tea. But we challenge anymore to turn down teeny tiny lime meringue tarts and almost too-cute-to-eat mini bagels.

There’s an extensive tea menu, served in the house’s delicate gold-plaited teacups, that are perfect once you’ve moved on to the scones. All that’s left to do is settle in to watch the sun set.

Parliament House High Tea
6 Macquarie Street, Sydney
Bookings essential, from $46 pp