After a busy week of long hours and piles of workload, nothing beats a lazy weekend of afternoon tea. The rich aroma and sweet sensations of a nice cup of tea can instantly soothe the weary soul. And if you pair that with a delectable set of pastries, a piano playing in the background, and easy conversations with your gals, it’s like a little slice of heaven just for the weekend.
Recently, I have been looking for the best places in the metro to enjoy the high tea experience I’ve been yearning for. I’ve tried and loved my tea affairs during my trips to Hong Kong and Penang Island and, more locally, to Marco Polo Ortigas. On my search, that’s when I stumbled upon the Choco Berry Afternoon Tea Buffet at the Hilton Manila Madison Lounge & Bar.
Spending my Sunday afternoon at the Madison Lounge was an absolute treat. Even without the tea, I would have loved the place nevertheless because of its laid-back vibe and stylish decor. The serene ambiance is topped off with a live piano playing soft and soothing notes for the crowd.
An endless flowing of curated tea
The Madison Lounge’s Choco Afternoon Tea Buffet guarantees to take your weekday worries away with its wide array of tea leaves from all over the world. Priced at a good P1275 per person, here you can indulge yourself for a day with an endless flow of high tea and a buffet of decadent cakes and pastries.
Every corner of the lounge is lined with various tarts and chocolate delicacies to pair with your chosen cup of tea. From the tea cart, you select the type of tea that you desire, and your accommodating host will prepare your pot for you to enjoy.
My absolute favorite was my cup of Italian Almond tea, a fragrant drink that had soft nutty and earthy notes from the almond infusion. It went perfectly well with the sweetness of the fruity confections that I paired it with. I just loved every sip of the Italian Almond tea. I almost stayed with this pot for the whole afternoon.
I also tried out a pot of Rose with French Vanilla, another flavor that caught my attention. It was alright, but it turned out to have too strong floral notes for my liking. In the end, I stayed loyal to my cup of Italian Almond tea while I tried out the different sweet treats and charcuterie offered in the buffet.
Indulgent flavors
I am a big fan of hams and cheeses, so I was excited to try Madison Lounge’s board of cheese and cured meats. I immediately loved the prosciutto, which was very salty and rich in flavor. Its saltiness also worked with the impressive array of cheeses presented on the table.
There was a grand selection of different sweet delicacies prepared for the buffet that I couldn’t try all of them. But a dessert that I always go for is a classic chocolate cake, and I loved the one offered in Madison Lounge. It was very moist and rich in flavor, and it was not overwhelmingly sweet.
Other offerings on the table were fruit tarts, macarons, and chocolate mousses. All of these desserts were fresh and handmade, in-house by Madison Lounge’s talented pastry team. There was even a crepe station that can prepare and customize your favorite French pancakes a la minute.
A weekend affair
More than just afternoon tea, you can spice up your weekend at Madison Lounge’s Choco Berry Afternoon Buffet with the different add-ons available. You can add free-flowing wine or champagne to complement your afternoon for P750 per person. Or you can have endless glasses of both for an additional P1250 per person.
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Madison Lounge’s new and lavish culinary offer is definitely something you need to try out on your next Sunday R&R. The Choco Berry Afternoon Buffet is a great place to try bold-flavored and carefully-curated teas while filling up on decadent pastries. It’s easy to lose track of time at Madison Lounge, and by next week, you might be looking forward to doing it all over again.
Madison Lounge & Bar is located at the ground level of Hilton Manila, 1 Newport Boulevard, Pasay City. The Choco Berry Afternoon Buffet is available every Saturday and Sunday, from 2 PM to 5 PM.
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