Beverly Hayes

Review of The Ballantyne Hotel and Lodge

I attended high tea at The Ballantyne Hotel with a...

I attended high tea at The Ballantyne Hotel with a group of family members. The Ballantyne Hotel's high tea service is, hands down, the best tea I've ever attended ( and that includes the Ritz Carlton's high tea). The elegant creme and blue colored lobby was decorated with festive holiday lights, beautiful holiday floral arrangements and a soaring Christmas tree. Our beautifully set table was upstairs, in a nice, quiet corner. Each member of our party was able to order our own pot of tea, so we were able to get a little taste of each type of tea offered. Our tea trays had just the right balance of both sweet and savory delights. The platters were not only delicious, but were also a visual treat. Gold dusted pecans, chocolate leaves, and Devonshire creme were all parts of the special touches presented with our afternoon tea. Barbara, the Ballantyne associated who conducted our tea service, was lovely and so cordial, we felt as if we should have invited her to pull up a chair and share our tea. The only thing I would recommend to The Ballantyne is for them to decorate the upper level table areas with some holiday decorations, so it does not feel like you are being stuck in a spill over area, rather than an extension of the downstairs tearoom. Overall, it was a delightful afternoon and we have decided to make this a family tradition.