“This is in the heart of the hotel overlooking the stunning terrace water feature.” Marriott Hotel Al Forsan
If you are looking for an affordable afternoon tea in the capital try the Al Forsan Afternoon Tea at the Marriott Hotel Al Forsan in Khalifa City. Served daily from 2:30pm to 5:30pm in the open plan Lobby Lounge, this popular mid-afternoon pastime is served with a variety of free-flowing Sri Lankan Dilmah teas.
For just AED 195 for two you can sample an array of vibrant, colourful sweet and savoury treats that include sandwiches, miniature cakes, desserts and scones. The Al Forsan interpretation of afternoon tea explores a more inventive approach with unusual flavour combinations, if you are a regular reader you will know that I prefer a more traditional afternoon tea set-up in terms of presentation and flavours.
Visually this tea was a rainbow coloured affair, bar the cucumber and cream cheese crustless finger sandwiches, everything else was quite exotic in both presentation and flavour. The most unusual were the bright orange cumin and pumpkin savoury macaroons topped with chicken crackling and the vivid green pistachio financiers with Persian rose nectar. Sandwiches were varied in style with creations such as cacao roasted grass-fed beef on brioche, falafel ciabatta and cured salmon on beetroot and caraway seed bread. My guest rather enjoyed all the meat and seafood options but I found the vegetarian choice rather underwhelming.
There was a nice selection of sweet treats with a tangy, moist lemon drizzle cake served on a lolly stick, a delicious lychee and raspberry dome on a breton biscuit crust and a mango and cardamom kilner jar with mango pearls. Regional flavours were represented in a signature date cake.
Even the scones didn’t escape the exotic flavour combinations with orange blossom and bee pollen or raw cacao and raspberries instead of the regular sultana variety. While my dining companion enjoyed the savoury selections she shunned the non-traditional scones, I have to say that even though the chocolate and raspberry variety wouldn’t be my first choice it was nicer than expected especially when topped with clotted cream and jam.
The light filled lounge has a muted colour palette of brown and yellow and it’s location between the main entrance and busy thoroughfare from the outdoor pool mean it was not a secluded place to relax. It was busy, which deterred from our overall enjoyment of the experience, there were also people having business meetings near where we were sitting too so it didn’t have that special occasion feel that you associate with having tea. The service however was friendly and attentive but not intrusive.
This afternoon tea is ideal for people looking for something a little different from the norm, a chance to try different flavours from all the other indistinguishable offerings, which I favour, of finger sandwiches and fruit scones. While the lobby location doesn’t particularly lend itself to celebrating an occasion in my opinion it’s good spot for a treat with friends or family or if you are an in-house guest.
Al Forsan Afternoon Tea
Location: Lobby Lounge, Marriott Hotel Al Forsan, Street 12, Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi
Telephone: 02 201 4000
Website: www.marriottalforsanlife.com
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Read more about Marriott Hotel Al Forsan in previous post Saray Spa Marriott Hotel Al Forsan
The views in this post are all my own based on my experience. Unless otherwise stated all photos © Jo Brett 2019. All rights reserved.
Wow that looks gorgeous. So vibrant. Being in the lobby would be annoying for me too.
I’ve definitely been to more intimate afternoon tea venues 🤷🏻♀️