Afternoon tea is a delightful tradition that has been enjoyed for centuries, and Istanbul is no exception to this timeless custom. The city is home to a range of gorgeous locations where you can indulge in a delicious spread of tea, pastries, and finger sandwiches. Whether you’re looking for a modern and stylish atmosphere or a historic and grand setting, Istanbul has something for everyone when it comes to afternoon tea.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at seven of the best places for afternoon tea in Istanbul, each offering its own unique take on this cherished tradition. So, I hope you have your sweet tooth ready to discover the best places to enjoy afternoon tea in Istanbul.
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What is Afternoon Tea?
Afternoon tea is a British tradition that became popular by Anna, the Seventh Duchess of Bedford. She started getting hungry in the late afternoon and decided to have some snacks with her tea. This soon became a tradition that started gaining more interest when she started inviting more women over in the afternoon to socialize.
In the early 1900s, it became more popular among high society because they had time in the afternoon to take time off and enjoy a break. The working class, however, could not afford such a thing. It was meant to be sophisticated and luxurious.
In today’s culture, afternoon tea is a special occasion to meet with friends and family to celebrate little life events.
When is Afternoon Tea Served?
Traditionally afternoon tea is served between 15:00 and 17:00. Depending on the dining location, times can go longer.
The food served during afternoon tea is typically placed on a 3-tier stand with sandwiches on the bottom, scones in the middle, and sweets on the top. All of these foods are intricately designed for a visually appealing treat.
Tea options can include green, black, oolong, and herbal flavors. The tea is usually brewed in a porcelain or ceramic teapot for each person with a teacup and saucer.
Best Places for Afternoon Tea in Istanbul
*Prices and times are correct at the time of publication. Please check with each location directly for the most up-to-date information.
1. Pera Palace Hotel
Price: 1250TL per person (Updated Jan 2024)
Time: 15:00 – 18:00
The Pera Palace Hotel is one of the oldest hotels in the city. The hotel is located in the Pera district which is next to Taksim. It makes for a great place for afternoon tea in Istanbul because of its unique story and historical architecture. If you like art nouveau and neo-classical architecture, then you will love the interior of this place.
Build in 1892, the Pera Palace Hotel accommodated those arriving from Paris on the Orient Express. It is a luxurious hotel and one of the most romantic places in Istanbul with top customer service which is still seen today. Additionally, it was the first building to receive electricity in the city and had the very first electric elevator in the country. The elevator is made of cast iron and wood which you can still see today when visiting the hotel.
Over the years the Pera Palace has hosted many notable guests including Agatha Christie, who supposedly wrote Murder on the Orient Express while staying at the hotel, Jackie Kennedy, former First Lady of the USA, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder and first President of Turkey, Alfred Hitchcock, English-American film-maker, Ernest Hemingway, American author, and many more.
Afternoon tea is served in the Kubbeli Lounge which is a stylish and sophisticated location. The antique furniture is upholstered in a red velvet color with contrasting dark wood and brass elements. Above, there is a high 6-dome glass ceiling. The artwork and accessories are from high society Ottoman times which really makes the whole experience very memorable.
To accompany tea time, there is a live pianist. The player changes daily, but they are all interactive with guests and can play just about anything.
The food is prepared by Michelin star chef, İbrahim Özçiftçi. It is served as a buffet, so no 3-tier stand, but you can eat as much as you want. The staff refills all the food constantly throughout the service.
You’ll find a mixture of Turkish-inspired sweets and afternoon tea favorites like baklava, pistachio scones, mini-simit sandwiches, chocolate moose, cakes, fruit tarts, and more.
There is no choice of tea, everyone can just choose from Turkish black tea or coffee. However, if you go to Patisserie de Pera, which is a bakery just off from the lobby, you can choose your tea and it is served in a branded Pera Palace metal teapot with a cup and saucer.
Stefanie’s Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m giving Pera Palace 4 out of 5 stars because the atmosphere and service are excellent, but with no choice of tea, it lowers the score. Definitely loved all the food, and for the price, it’s the most affordable in the city. It was a little annoying that random people would come into the lounge to check out the architecture because they were curious about it. The staff did their best to keep the area private, but people still wander in.
2. Shangri-La Istanbul Bosphorus
Price: 988TL + 10% service fee per person (Updated Jan 2024)
Time: 14:30 – 17:30
The Shangri-La is a hotel chain that started in Singapore in 1971. Its name comes from a novel by James Hilton called Lost Horizon. In the book, he describes Shangri-La as a fictional mystical place in the valley of a mountain, where all its citizens are peaceful and happy living in such a tranquil environment.
If you’ve ever stayed at one of the 91 Shangri-La locations around the world, you’ll know that they are very hospitable and comfortable. The Shangri-La Istanbul is the only location in Turkey and it sits right next to the Bosphorus in Beşiktaş. This is a high-traffic area with plenty of things to do before and after afternoon tea.
The building is a historic tobacco warehouse from the 1930s that was designed by architect Victor Adaman. In 2005, it was bought by Tanrıverdi Holding in an agreement to manage Shangri-La Hotel.
Inside, you will find elegant marble accents with clean neutral, and cool tones inspired by Ottoman palace designs.
Tea time is held in the lobby lounge. There is plenty of plush, comfy furniture to relax in while you enjoy your afternoon tea in Istanbul.
The tea menu is very extensive with over 15 different types of tea to choose from. I tried the Indulge Tea which was a blend of rooibos and Madagascar vanilla beans. It was quite delicious! All the hot drinks are included in the price of afternoon tea, so you can try as many as you like or switch it up with a coffee.
Since I decided to visit the Shangri-La during Chinese New Year, they had a special menu just for the holiday. There were Chinese buns, eggrolls, mango pudding, green tea tarts, macaroons, carrot cake, a chocolate fountain, and even a live noodle station where the chef hand-prepared noodles for the traditional beef noodle soup that symbolizes longevity.
Stefanie’s Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m giving the Shangri-La 5 stars because all the food was beautifully decorated and very tasty. I liked the Asian details which made this afternoon tea unique. I know that some of the items, like the beef noodles, were a specialty for Chinese New Year, but I would come again to check out the menu during a different season. The tea options were great and the teapot was quite large. The staff was attentive and knowledgeable about the tea selection and food.
3. Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus
Price: 550TL + 10% service fee per person, optional glass of champagne is 200TL per glass
Time: 14:00 – 19:00
Sitting between Ortaköy and Arnavutköy, the Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus is more of a destination hotel. It is not located next to any major attractions or shopping centers making it a serene and quiet location. The hotel is still fairly new, having opened its doors in August 2021.
The first Mandarin Oriental hotel first started in Hong Kong in 1963. Since then, they have expanded into 24 countries and established 36 hotels.
The Istanbul location is actually the second location for the hotel group in Turkey. They first established a location in the sunny, coastal, Mediterranean town of Bodrum.
The Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus features an Italian, Asian, and Mediterranean fusion restaurant called Novikov as well as a yummy Italian dessert cafe called Olea. The dining locations are enough of a reason to visit the hotel because you’ll be able to dine outside right next to the glimmering Bosphorus.
And, who wouldn’t like Italian, Asian, and Mediterranean fusion?
I mean, it checks all the boxes, right?
Afternoon tea is held in the Bosphorus Lounge; however, there is no clear direct view of the Bosphorus. You can catch a glimpse of the blue water through the windows though.
The lounge is decorated with modern beige furniture with plenty of plush dark brown accent pillows. The ceiling is dark wood with a recessed design and soft lighting. Definitely has a very calm and inviting atmosphere.
The selection of tea is less than 10 but has some good options like mint, mango, and rose. It is served in a white ceramic teapot with a blueish-teal cup and saucer. The tea also comes with a container of flower honey, sliced lemon, and a small treat.
All the food is served buffet style. There was a great variety of small sandwiches, scones, fruit tarts, bite-sized cheesecakes, baklava, and macaroons. I particularly liked the shrimp brioche. All the sandwiches were very tasty.
Stefanie’s Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m giving 4 stars to the Mandarin Oriental because the food was honestly one of the best in the city. The sandwich portions are very generous and there’s a lot of variety in the sweets selection. There isn’t a Bosphorus view which is kind of a downside since you’re so close to the water but can’t really see it. Also, the tea selection was quite limited with only 10 options. The hotel didn’t really seem like a popular place for afternoon tea, because I was the only customer there for the entire time. It was kind of a bummer since the food was really good, it deserves more customers!
4. Raffles Istanbul
Price: 55 EUR per person (Updated Jan 2024)
Time: 14:00 – 18:00
Raffles Istanbul is located adjacent to Zorlu Center which is a luxury shopping mall and performing arts centre. This location sits high up on a hill which presents great panoramic views of the Bosphorus. It’s also located near the main financial center of Istanbul, Levent.
Keep in mind that this area is a bit far from all the main tourist attractions, but easily accessible by metro.
Fun fact, they have their own helipad for private helicopter tours of the city. The service can also be used for airport transfers, hotel guests only.
The story of Raffles started in Singapore — which seems to be the trend for all these luxury hotels 😅 Nonetheless, they opened in 1887 with only 10 rooms.
After expanding to other locations in Southeast Asia, they decided to open in the Middle East, Europe, the Indian Ocean, and North America.
Afternoon tea at Raffles Istanbul is served in the Lavinia Lounge on the main floor of the lobby. It is a very spacious area with high ceilings and oversized sculptures. Surrounding the lounge are many floral arrangements that I’m assuming change periodically.
On the main back wall is a beautiful picture of an elegant staircase and interior, inspired by the nearby Dolmabahçe Palace.
In the center of the lounge is a circular showcase of available sweets that you can order a la carte. There is also a black piano nearby that accompanies tea time.
The tea menu is very detailed and includes 20 different teas ranging from black, green, oolong, white, and tisanes. I tried the White Peony tea which is a delicate white tea made with young tea leaves infused with amber and sweet honey.
After the tea is brought out and served, the staff will bring two 3-tier stands to your table. One stand will have three different sandwiches, and the other containing sweets will be hung from a hanging birdcage stand.
While the setup was very impressive, I wasn’t blown away by the taste or display of the food. It wasn’t as artistically decorated as the other locations and looked bland. I did enjoy the salmon and cream cheese sandwich on black bread, but it was just cut into a small bite-sized square and placed on the plate.
Other items included a grape scone with cinnamon, an orange scone with saffron, a chocolate macaroon, a strawberry tart, a crème brûlée, a berry panna cotta, a cucumber roll sandwich, and an open tomato face sandwich.
Stefanie’s Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m giving 3 stars to Raffles because the atmosphere of the lounge was just open to anyone which didn’t make tea time feel special. It was very busy since it’s located inside a shopping mall. Many customers would come for a quick coffee or a light lunch. It felt like any other cafe, not necessarily a 5-star hotel. I was very disappointed with the food. It was not what I was expecting as far as presentation and creativity. The staff was ok, the service wasn’t anything special.
5. Four Seasons Istanbul Bosphorus
Price: 625TL + 100TL charge to sit on the terrace per person
Time: 13:00 – 18:00
The Four Seasons has 2 locations in Istanbul. One is along the Bosphorus and the other is in Sultanahmet overlooking the famous Hagia Sophia mosque.
As a fairly new company in luxury travel and hospitality, the Four Seasons is a Canadian company having just started in the 1960s as a father and son duo. In their 70 years of business, they have expanded to over 100 hotels on all continents excluding Antarctica.
Tea time at the Four Seasons Bosphorus is served outside in the Yali Lounge. The grounds are very well maintained; however, when I went, there were many children which took away from the atmosphere.
The tea and coffee selection includes 3 different varieties of kombucha and 16 herbal teas. All the regular types of coffee are offered as well as a pumpkin latte and a pistachio latte. I ordered the Thai lemon grass tea and was very shocked to find that the tea was served in a tea bag in a pot. I was not expecting that at all from a luxury hotel.
The food is served on a 3-tier hanging stand. There were 3 different sandwiches including salmon, chicken, and king crab. The sweets were strawberry tart, lemon meringue, brownies, chocolate cake, and creme brulee. They also served raisin and lemon scones with jam.
Stefanie’s Rating: ⭐️
Unfortunately, I have to give the Four Seasons Bosphorus only 1 star because I was never actually served tea time. Due to an error in their customer service, I waited nearly 3 hours for food that never came.
Before arriving at the hotel, I made a reservation for tea time. Usually, when I make a reservation, the table is already reserved and prepared, but it was not. About 15 minutes later, someone came to take my order, which is when I ordered the tea, and asked about the pricing for tea time. They came back with my tea order which is when I found the tea in the bag, a very disappointing discovery.
I finished the tea in about 30 minutes and asked where the rest of the order was and why it was taking so long. It took them a while to figure out that no one put in my order for afternoon tea. I asked them how long it would take to prepare, and they responded with 20 minutes. I said ok, but I wanted to move inside since it was getting colder.
They showed me to a new table and a new server greeted me, again, after 15 minutes. He asked me if I wanted anything to drink, and I said no, I am just waiting for the food. Again, 30 minutes later no food had arrived and I was not able to find the server to ask about the order.
I ended up going back to the outdoor dining area to find someone to ask about the food and complain about the service. They apologized and tried to offer me something else quickly, but at that point, I no longer wanted to stay there, so I left.
6. The Peninsula Hotel Istanbul
Price: 1500TL, 4250TL with champagne, 6500TL Tea for Two + Caviar + Champagne (Updated Jan 2024)
Time: 15:00 – 18:00
The Peninsula Hotel Istanbul just opened on 14 February 2023 in Karakoy. It is the eleventh hotel to open for the brand. As with most of the previous hotels, The Peninsula also got its start in Asia, in Hong Kong in 1928. Hong Kong is the flagship location.
The company consistently wins many travel and leisure awards for its impeccable customer service and high standards.
With its strategic location in Karakoy at the heart of a busy transportation hub in Istanbul, The Peninsula Hotel will surely draw in crowds. The cruise dock and new shopping center, GalataPort, is within walking distance from the hotel and accessible from the outdoor terrace.
The lobby is beautifully designed with high ceilings and warm, neutral colors for an inviting atmosphere. Customer service is top-notch from the security, the doorman, and the waitstaff.
Afternoon tea is a signature staple of The Peninsula’s brand. Tea time is served on plush sofas and sitting chairs overlooking large floor-to-ceiling windows of the Golden Horn.
Since the hotel is new, it will not be fully functional until the summer. The current tea menu only has about 10 different teas, but in the coming months, they plan on adding more for a total of 20. The food menu for afternoon tea in Istanbul is seasonal, so it will change throughout the year.
Tea is served in their signature silver teapot. I tried the White Floral Tea which was very good. The tea is refilled throughout the service and you can also order coffee.
The food is served on a 3-tier stand with a selection of finger sandwiches and sweet and savory treats. They also serve 2 different scones with jam and an egg tart. I was really impressed with the presentation of the food. Everything was amazing and tasted perfect.
Stefanie’s Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
No doubt, The Peninsula Istanbul deserves 5 stars because they go out of their way for all of their guests. The waitstaff was very attentive. I never had to pour my own tea, and they even refilled my Prosecco. The presentation of the food was great and artistically and visually appealing. The server actually explained what each item was when it was served. After I was finished with the sandwiches they actually brought out another plate for me.
When I finished everything, the chef actually came out and greeted me and asked for any feedback which is when I explained that I was writing this blog post and told him that this location was at the top of the list.
7. Çırağan Palace Kempinski
Price: 1880TL (if you book at least 2 days in advance you can pay an early bird pricing of 1680TL), comes with one glass of champagne (Updated Jan 2024)
Time: 14:00 – 18:00
The Kempinski brand was started in Germany in Berlin in 1897 by a man named Berthold Kempinski. He was a wine merchant who started a social club for the upper class in the early 1900s. When the 1920s came he was a very successful restaurant owner drawing in crowds of wealthy customers.
In the 1960s, after coming back from America, Berthold’s grandson had the idea of expanding into hotels. He started by turning the first restaurant in Berlin into a hotel which was a huge success. Since then the Kempinski brand has developed hotels all over Europe, Asia, Africa, and most recently North America. There are currently 78 hotels in 34 countries.
Çırağan Palace is well known in Istanbul for being the top luxurious and romantic hotel and restaurant option in the city. It is a former palace that belonged to one of the last Ottoman Sultans.
The hotel itself occupies three buildings, the palace and 2 exterior buildings that house basic rooms. The palace suites will set you back a pretty penny at 2,000 EUR minimum per night with a Bosphorus view. The prestigious Sultan Suite in the palace goes for 45,000 EUR per night.
Afternoon tea in Istanbul at Çırağan Palace is the most elegant location for tea. The tea room is set up in the palace with Bosphorus views. The room has high ceilings, blue carpet, and floor-to-ceiling windows. There is a large chandelier in the center of the room and the chairs are plush with a scarlet red color.
There are about 10 different teas to choose from, and coffee is also available. The tea is served in a silver teapot with a strainer. The dishware is a peacock theme, which I thought was adorable.
The food is served on an oversized hanging 3-tier stand. You also get 2 different scones with jam and a hot plate tasting of various snacks. The attention to detail in the presentation of the food is exemplary. All the chocolate is stamped with their branding and one piece of chocolate is in the shape of the palace. It is more than enough food for one person, I definitely could not finish everything.
Stefanie’s Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Definitely giving Çırağan Palace 5 stars. Their customer service is great and the staff is very knowledgable and friendly to talk to. The palace itself is very luxurious to walk around in. There is staff in every corridor to help you because it’s very easy to get lost. After tea time, I walked around the grounds outside and also looked at the bar on the terrace.
The Best and the Worst
Even though all these hotels are 5-star brands, some are clear winners in customer service and luxury than others.
The top locations are:
- Çırağan Palace
- The Peninsula
- The Mandarin Oriental
- The Shangri-La
- Pera Palace
The underperforming locations are:
- Raffles
- Four Seasons Bosphorus
I hope you enjoyed this overview of the afternoon tea in Istanbul locations and you’re armed with the knowledge of what to expect when you visit them yourself.
Enjoy your next tea time!
Absolutely loved this!! Thank you so much Stefanie and I admire your seemingly bottomless capacity for tea in all its guises.
Istanbul is so multi faceted and you can never learn enough. Whether you are here for a short break or a lifetime, it will never cease to amaze and electrify you. Look forward to further blogs and insight.