Afternoon tea in Dubai

Afternoon tea was apparently invented in the 1840s by peckish English aristocrat the Duchess of Bedford. She started secretly asking for tea and cakes to be sent up to her room mid-afternoon, instead of waiting for dinner, which was usually served at 8pm or 9pm. Rather than being ridiculed (as she suspected), the custom soon caught on, becoming the most fashionable of afternoon activities. The meal has since spawned several variations, including ‘elevenses’ (an equivalent meal eaten as a snack before lunch), and ‘high tea’ (where ‘high’ signifies a later meal, usually from 5pm, typically involving a hot dish). As English as its origins may be, the elegance and decadence of a mid-afternoon meal of cakes and sandwiches perfectly encapsulates Dubai’s penchant for luxury and frivolity. We tested 20 of the city’s most popular spots for afternoon tea, with options across the price spectrum, then selected our 14 favourite venues to bring you this best-of guide.

View the city’s best afternoon teas