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Barbie High Tea at the Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney

July 14, 2019 / High Tea, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

Live your Barbie world dreams out at the outrageously pink Barbie High Tea at the Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney.

From 5 to 28 July 2019, Executive Pastry Chef Anna Polyviou’s creative and delicious High Tea is on offer, themed to pay tribute to the iconic Barbie.

The lower Lobby Lounge is decorated beautifully in Barbie pink, including a retrospective photo wall of Barbie throughout the years and a throne for taking photos. Kids will adore the Barbie play house that is tucked into a little nook.

Kids can BYO Barbies or play with the Barbie that is given to each adult throughout the meal to take home and keep.

Sweet

“Fairy Bread Cake”
(white chocolate mud cake, bubble gum, Froot Loops)

“Rainbow Trifle”
(rainbow jelly, vanilla creme, fruit salad)

“Barbie Macaron”
(strawberries and cream butter creme)

“Choux Burger”
(apple compote, rhubarb jelly, cinnamon crumble)

Pink Whippy Ice Cream

Savoury

Vegetable Sushi
(avocado, cucumber, carrot)

Sausage Roll
(flaky pastry, pork mince, tomato sauce)*

Chicken Sandwich
(roast chicken, coleslaw, mayonnaise)**

Egg Wraps
(egg, lettuce, wrap)

* Vegetarian substitute was a vegetable quiche
** Vegetarian substitute was the sandwich minus the chicken

Scones

Buttermilk Scones, Clotted Cream, Mixed Berry Jam

Add ons

Barbie Shake $12
Glass of Chandon Rose $15
Glass of NV Chandon Brut Sparkling $15
Glass of NV Verve Cliquot Champagne $30

The theming at the High tea is extraordinary. Everywhere is decorated neo pink, pink, pink. With these thoughtful details, the mood is for a festive, fun dining experience.

Kids are even offered a sweet treat on arrival, with a variety of vintage lollies on offer including ring pops and candy necklaces.

We loved the kid-friendly savoury items, with the plain sushi a hit and egg wraps my favourite. The scones were fresh, fluffy and delicious, and the sweets inventive and so bright it felt bad to eat them.

The creative choux burger was a delicious surprise – adorably made to look like a burger but tasing like an apple sweet. The rainbow trifle was the other favourite desert, with the bright, tangy jelly popping with flavour in between layers of fruit and cream.

It’s a must to add the Barbie shake! So fun and delightful to look at, the kids just adored eating the fairy floss from the top before drinking the strawberry shake underneath.

As always, at the Shangri-La Hotel, the High Tea is pink perfection!

The Barbie High Tea, priced from $50 per child and $65 per adult *** (adult price includes a Barbie Doll), is available daily at The Lobby Lounge from 5 to 28 July 2019, between 11 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.; 1:15 and 3 p.m., and between 3:30 and 5:15 p.m.
***15% surcharge on Sundays and public holidays.

The Lobby Lounge, Shangri-La Hotel
176 Cumberland Street,
The Rocks, Sydney, NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9250 6000
Prices: $$$
Bookings are essential. Please call (61 2) 9250 6000 or email dine.slsn@shangri-la.com
Online: shangri-la.com/sydney/shangrila/offer-detail/dining/easter-garden-high-tea/
Get Directions

We were hosted for this magical high tea. All opinions are my own. Additional images courtesy of the Shangri-La Hotel.

More things to do in Sydney

Find a list of the best things to do in Sydney with kids here.

Find things to do in Sydney for free here.

Get a list of the best kid-friendly beaches in Sydney.

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney here.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney here.

Find the best high teas in Sydney here.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney here.

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Shangri-La Hotel Blu Bar High Tea Buffet

September 10, 2018 / CBD, High Tea, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

Is there anything sweeter than high tea in the sky? The new Blu Bar High Tea Buffet at the Shangri-La Hotel Sydney is a decadent indulgence that is the perfect way to mark a special occasion.

Currently on offer until Dec 31st, 2018, the Blu Bar High Tea Buffet takes high tea to the next level. We have enjoyed the standard Shangri-La high tea on numerous occasions and always enjoy the colourful creations by Executive Pastry Chef, Anna Polyviou, so adding a view to die for to an already incredible food offering makes this experience an absolute must for any fellow lovers of a traditional high tea.

The Blu Bar High Tea Buffet runs from Friday to Sunday in two sessions, 11.30am- 1:30pm and 1:45pm-3:45 pm. They are very strict with the timings so if you arrive before 11:30am you will find the elevator lifts locked for level 36 – pull up a comfy seat in the lobby while you wait for the time to arrive.

Level 36 offers a spectacular view of Sydney’s harbour and icons. While there are no bad seats, I suggest requesting a window table if you have a small party so there is nothing between you and the view but a piece of transparent glass. Warning – the sun comes streaming in these windows, so you might find yourself in a literal hot seat as the weather warms up.

Included in the high tea buffet are two alcoholic drinks; one sparkling wine and one cocktail or mocktail, plus your choice of teas as usual. We had the tequila cocktail topped with pink Persian fairy-floss reminiscent of Anna Polyviou’s fabulous mohawk, and it was as delicious as it was beautiful.

The buffet offers a wide selection of sweet and savoury options. If you have dietary requirements, please let the staff know in advance so they can bring you suitable alternatives. I didn’t think to let them know I was vegetarian ahead of our visit, which was a shame as I then saw another vegetarian being brought their own veggie platter (see pictures below).

I did however find enough vegetarian items that I could eat on the buffet, so it wasn’t a problem at all. I did however find the lack of information for the dishes a challenge. With no signage on the savoury items it was difficult to know what contained meat. If you have dietary requirements I suggest asking staff to walk you through the buffet selection.

Savoury selection
Quiche: roast vegetable and lorraine
Egg deconstructed sandwich with mayo and watercress
Chicken brioche sandwich
Salmon with beetroot and capers
Salad with Goats cheese, vegetables, olive oil
Cream cheese and cucumber sandwich

Scones
Buttermilk & tea-raisin scones
Clotted crème, pepe saya butter
Rose red berry jam
Pineapple marmalade
Apple cinnamon

Sweet selection
“Pina-Colada” – a slice with coconut, pineapple, lemongrass and Malibu
“Popping” – a chocolate slice with caramel and popcorn
“Tea Cake” – a cake with apple, rhubarb
“Strawberries ‘n’ creme” – a delicious mix of fresh strawberries, mascarpone and vanilla
Chocolate lollipops
Chocolate assortment
Cheesecake
Lemon and poppyseed mini cakes
Macarons

The savoury food is replenished throughout the high tea but not all of the sweet selections are. Some of the items, particularly the handmade chocolates, vanished quickly and weren’t replaced.

The quality of the food, as always, was spot on. Fresh, bright ingredients and creative displays made for a very visually attractive as well as delicious meal.

I do particularly like that with a buffet you can choose only the kinds of food that you like, so if you are feeling savoury more than sweet, you can select plenty of those items and just have one or two pastries. A great option for those who don’t necessarily want one of everything!

Kids are welcome at the high tea however there is no discounted price for kids. They cost the same as an adult to dine at this particular high tea.

High Tea will take place at Blu Bar on 36, each Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 11.30am- 1:30pm and 1:45pm-3:45 pm.

Priced at AUD 75 per person, Friday-Saturday, and AUD 95 per person on Sundays. Sunday price is inclusive of a glass of champagne upon arrival, which is a $15 upgrade.

Shangri-La Hotel Sydney
176 Cumberland Street,
The Rocks, Sydney, NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9250 6000
Prices: $$$
Bookings are essential. Please call (61 2) 9250 6144 or email dine.slsn@shangri-la.com
Get more information on the Blu Bar High Tea here.
Get Directions

More things to do in Sydney

Find a list of the best things to do in Sydney with kids here.

Find things to do in Sydney for free here.

Get a list of the best kid-friendly beaches in Sydney.

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney here.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney here.

Find the best high teas in Sydney here.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney here.

Check out things to do in Sydney on a rainy day here.

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney here.

First time visiting Sydney? Get tips for first time visitors to Sydney here.

The Shangri-La Hotel Chiang Mai, Thailand

October 27, 2016 / Asia, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Travel / 3 Comments

The lobby of the Shangri-La Hotel Chiang Mai smells like heaven. There is no other word for it. As we walk in from the hot Chiang Mai street outside, the blast of air conditioning hits us, fragranced sweetly with we-have-no-idea-what, but boy does it smell incredible. We take a deep breath, sigh, and know that we are going to love this hotel.

A 5-star hotel situated perfectly near to Chiang Mai’s old city and night bazaar, the Shangri-La is paradise for the weary traveller. Decorated beautifully in a contemporary Northern Thai style, the hotel is luxurious, elegant and feels completely indulgent.

Our room is the most basic available, with a king bed and rollaway. It’s spacious, bright and airy, with a gorgeously big bathroom including shower and full-size bathtub. The complimentary wi-fi is fast and easy to use.

The package we booked includes daily buffet breakfast, which we enjoy every morning in Kad Kafe, an impressive room with soaring ceilings and bold lighting fixtures.

The buffet offers a wide assortment of Western and Asian cuisines, with our favourite stations being the made-to-order omelettes (mine), the made-to-order noodle soup (the husband’s) and the pastry and pancakes (the child’s).

The chef in charge of the pancakes makes Mickey Mouse-shaped pancakes for my daughter every day and she almost squeals with excitement – especially when he adds a bow one morning and turns it into Minnie Mouse for her.

The staff offer us endless delicious drinks – tea, coffee, hot chocolate and special Thai juice made from a local flower that is especially good to get the digestive system going in the morning.

One of the chefs pops by our table with local dishes to sample – sticky rice wrapped up in leaves. They offer Cheese colouring in sheets and crayons to occupy her while we are savouring our meals. The food is delicious, the atmosphere relaxing, and we are in heaven.

If you’re planning on dining frequently at the hotel during your stay, you can select the Children’s Meal Plan, which gives kids under the age of 6 complimentary buffet meals in All Day Dining and Pool Cafes when accompanied by a paying adult, up to a maximum of 2 children. In excess of 2 children under the age of 6 and for all children above 6 and below 12, a 50% discount of the buffet price will be given.

The Shangri-La is known for it’s gorgeous pool, so we head there as soon we can to check it out. The one large pool is set in grounds with plenty of lush greenery surrounding, giving it a distinctly jungle feel.

There is a large shallow end in the pool, perfect for our preschooler, and a small kiddie pool nearby for babies and toddlers. If you’re not the designated swimming parent, choose from plenty of plenty of beach chairs to relax in.

If the weather turns foul there is a decent sized kids playroom inside the hotel. There is no child minding, however – the room is available for parents to take their kids and stay with them while they play.

We use the hotel as our base over the next two days to explore Chiang Mai. It’s about a 25 minute walk to the Thapae Gate of the old city, which is now pedestrianised and most people’s starting off point for exploring the historic part of Chiang Mai. With little legs in our part, we catch a cab to the gate and walk from there (160THB or about $6AUD). To get back to the hotel, we catch a tuk-tuk (100THB or around $4AUD).

The hotel is also close to Chiang Mai’s airport, so on our last morning we take a quick 15 minute cab trip to catch our plane home. Three nights wasn’t anywhere near long enough to explore this gorgeous city.

Shangri-La Hotel
89/8 Muang, Chang Klan Rd, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand
Shangri La Hotel Chiang Mai, Chang Khlan, Chiang Mai, Thailand
We booked their current best rate package including room plus breakfast, from 4,500 THB per night. This offer is available from 4 Mar 2016 through 20 Dec 2016. Rates are subject to 18.7 % service charge and government taxes.

This post contains affiliate links. If you book a room through my link I will receive a small commission. Our stay at the Shangri-La was self funded. Thanks for supporting me and my site!