A Visit to the King’s Court in the Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem Hotel Brings a Taste of Home and Nostalgia.

Growing up in London, it was always a special treat to be taken to a central London hotel for afternoon tea. It wasn’t just the food itself, but the elegance and ceremony of the occasion. I am a regular customer at Kumkum Tea House in Baka, where you can have a delicious afternoon tea in an English garden setting, and often have a scone and jam without all the other dishes. But there is something about the grandeur of sitting in a hotel, especially one as beautiful as the Waldorf Astoria, and enjoying an afternoon of indulgence.

The King’s Court exudes elegance and luxury and could not be a more perfect setting for afternoon tea, served Sunday to Thursday, from 3:30 to 6:30 pm, and costs NIS 380 per couple. A full menu and details about reservations can be found on the King’s Court website.

When we arrived at 3:30 pm there were only a few other tables occupied, by the time we left nearly every table around us was in use, from large family groups to friends and couples, all enjoying Afternoon Tea. There was a lovely ambiance and the service was very attentive even though it was busy.

The afternoon tea is a set menu, with a choice of tea from an impressive selection by Palais des Thés. I got a kick out of the egg timers we received to remind us of when our tea was fully brewed and ready to be poured. I love the elegance of a china teapot to make loose-leaved tea, but I wish they could design them, so they don’t leak all over the table, no matter how carefully you pour them! I went for the classic Earl Grey tea, with milk on the side and appreciated that they were happy to refill the teapot with hot water.

The tiered tray of delights arrived, with a traditional layer of finger sandwiches, a choice of plain and raisin scones, and a selection of mini desserts. We were so happy that there were two of everything so that we were each able to enjoy the full selection. While I love a traditional china cake stand for serving tea, the art-deco design of the acrylic and metal stand suited the interior décor of the hotel perfectly.

From the savory selection, I especially enjoyed the egg salad and smoked salmon tartlet and the smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwich. In general, I prefer cucumber sandwiches with just butter and salt and not cream cheese, and always on plain white bread. I found the rustic bread the cucumber sandwich was served in was very dry, which took away from the enjoyment of the sandwich.

As a traditionalist, next, I indulged in the scones which were freshly made, with a perfect outside crust and buttery flavor. Scones in England are served with thick clotted cream, but these come with whipped cream. Apparently, it is not that hard to make clotted cream, I would love to see them try to make the experience more authentic. In the absence of clotted cream, I prefer just butter and jam, where the butter goes first and then the jam. Our waitress had told us at the start that we could ask for refills of cream and jam and she came back mid-way to refill them for us.

My guest had never tried scones before, so I explained how some people eat scones with cream on top of the jam, and others prefer the cream first. We tried both and agreed that the whipped cream worked best on top of the jam, but if clotted cream is available, I will always put that on first. I also prefer scones with raisins, but both were delicious. To find out more about scones, here is an article by a Royal Butler on the Etiquette of the Scone.

The final tier of the tea tray was adorned with an array of sweet delicacies meticulously crafted to perfection; every bite was a delight for the senses. The miniature caramel éclair with a chocolate glaze topping was a perfect bite. The chocolate and cheese brownie was rich and decadent and I loved the raspberry coulis filling in the mini financier.

If you want to treat yourself to a truly memorable culinary experience in Jerusalem, look no further than the afternoon tea at the Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem King’s Court. Whether you’re a tea enthusiast or simply seeking an escape into luxury, this exquisite offering is sure to exceed your expectations.

For more information about my favorite restaurants in Jerusalem, please read A Guide to the Best Restaurants and Best Street Food in Jerusalem. Follow Debbest on Facebook, and Instagram and subscribe to this newsletter to receive regular updates on the Foodie Israel scene.