The very words “afternoon tea” conjure up images of dining with the Queen, delicate china tea cups patterned with flowers, pretty dresses, big hats and delicious little tidbits enjoyed on a lazy afternoon.
It’s been my dearest wish to take my daughter to a true high tea experience, so when Aiken’s The Willcox announced on social media a few weeks ago that it would begin offering an afternoon tea from 3 to 5 p.m. daily, I squealed out loud. And immediately began making plans.
So, after a light lunch and a flurry of getting dressed and crimping our hair, we headed over to Aiken on a random Monday afternoon.
Established in 1898, Aiken’s The Willcox has been voted one of the best hotels in the world by Travel & Leisure magazine. Its cozy main lobby features stone fireplaces, richly grained paneled walls and wood beams, a grand piano, intimate gathering spaces, and plush seating. While you could choose to dine in the restaurant or even at a table in the lobby, my favorite place to tuck in is just behind the columns in the back of the lobby, on one of the velvet striped settees, surrounded by curtains. And when we asked if that was possible, the hostess graciously led us over.
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Afternoon tea at The Willcox features a curated selection of teas, everything from Earl Grey and English breakfast to peppermint citron or Moroccan mint, or a classic or vanilla hot chocolate. You also choose two tea sandwiches—cucumber, smoked salmon, pimento cheese, egg salad or asparagus—and your lavish tea also includes plain and raisin scones, lemon fingers, apple lattice tarts, pecan tarts and assorted macarons.
My daughter’s eyes grew big and she beamed after taking her first sip of her vanilla hot chocolate. “It’s really good!” she announced, then immediately scooped up some of the sweet whipped cream. I’d chosen chamomile citron, which was herbal with a hit of lemon, delicious with the addition of a swirl of honey, especially on that cold day.
Sadly, the restaurant was out of smoked salmon that day—we’d both wanted to order it—but instead we decided to sample the pimento cheese, cucumber and—daringly for my daughter—the asparagus sandwich.
The sandwiches, along with the rest of the desserts, were grandly presented on a three-tier tray, and each were so different, offering a variety of textures and tastes. The asparagus was crisp and slightly bitter, nestled in cream cheese on white bread. It wasn’t my daughter’s favorite, but she tried it gamely, to her credit; while I did enjoy the crispness of it, it was an edge too bitter for me. The pimento cheese on whole-grain bread was hearty, with a savory and strong cheddar and a hit of spice. The cucumber sandwich was my favorite of all—tender bread, crisp cucumber, all accented with a dilly cream cheese.
Next were the scones, and my choice was raisin. It was still warm, so buttery and savory, with hits of sweetness from the dried fruit. The outside was crisp, the inside was tender, and it was a rich and decadent treat, especially since I slathered every bite with the clotted cream.
For my dessert, I chose a lemon finger—really a bar. It had a soft shortbread crust and a lemon custard filling that I wished had just a little more lemony tang. My daughter instead turned her attention to the macarons—chocolate, hazelnut, raspberry and pistachio. Even though she’s less than 10, she’s already a bit of a macaron connoisseur, and these she pronounced as perfect, with sweet (but not too sweet) fillings and a crisp yet chewy exterior.
It was a generous spread—so much so that we had to ask to take the rest home, while we sat and finished sipping from our dainty tea cups. My husband would later enjoy the apple lattice and the pecan tarts at home, as well as a few other nibbles—and he pronounced them both as some of the best he’d ever had.
High tea is supposed to be a grand and delightful experience—and The Willcox’s offering was all that. It was a joy to have a special afternoon with just the two of us to dress up, enjoy wonderful service and delicious snacks. And after our visit, The Willcox also announced a Saturday afternoon was Teddy Bear tea for young patrons, just for the month of December. It features a choice of two snacks—ham and cheese sliders, fairy bread, a PB&J, pigs in a blanket or carrots and celery with ranch—plus a mini vanilla scone, a chocolate chip scone, sugar cookie, brownie bite, mini cupcake and gingerbread man. Kids will also enjoy cocoa and other drinks topped with a swirl of whipped cream and sprinkles. Teddy bears and other stuffed animals are invited to join, and kids can expect to meet a visitor from the North Pole (and take photos!) during their visit.
We just might have to make one more special reservation.
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The Willcox
100 Colleton Ave., SW, Aiken
High tea cost: $47.50 per person for high tea; $25 for Teddy Bear tea
