Experience Afternoon Tea by the Sea, presented by the award-winning chef Marcin Szczodrowski. Served from Monday to Saturday in the Atlantic Room or Conservatory overlooking the magnificent beach.
Chef Marcin has designed a delicious menu based on afternoon tea favourites, all made by hand in house. It has seasonal variations, but is always balanced and enticing. Each guest has their own beautifully presented traditional three-tiered stand, with each tier featuring different delicacies. One tier is an enticing layer of hand-cut sandwiches and bagels, cheese, smoked salmon and baby prawn cocktail. Another holds fresh scones with homemade preserves and softly whipped cream. The third, perhaps the star of the show, is an artistic display of sweet concoctions – petits fours pastries and cakes. Accompanied by endless pots of Bewley’s tea or coffee, this is a treat for the senses and the soul.
Every Monday to Saturday from 1pm to 3pm. Please book at least 24 hours in advance to avoid disappointment.
You may be surprised to learn that the ritual of afternoon tea is a relatively new tradition. Whilst the custom of drinking tea was popularised during the 1600s, it was not until the mid-19th century that the concept of ‘afternoon tea’ as we now know it first appeared.
Afternoon tea was first introduced in England by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford in 1840. The Duchess found herself getting peckish around four o’clock and asked that a tray of tea, bread and butter and cake be brought to her room at this time. This became a habit and she began inviting friends to join her. Such gatherings went on to become a fashionable social event with upper-class and society women choosing to dress up for their afternoon tea which was usually served in the drawing room.
This is one tradition we have been only too happy to adopt here in Ireland. Afternoon tea with a good friend is the ultimate treat and we are delighted to welcome you to enjoy an Afternoon Tea by the Sea at the Ocean Sands Hotel.