In keeping with my new goal of having a European staycation in August, I made my way to “England” this weekend via afternoon tea at the Drake Hotel in downtown Chicago. As many of you know in reading my posts, I love to take afternoon tea, whether it is in my own house or in another country. In fact, I was once quite a connoisseur of afternoon tea – having experienced it on several occasions in England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.

This is my second time having tea at the Drake and I must admit, I remember the first time being slightly better. Although the service was exceptional and the presentation was fantastic, the food – particularly the very small sandwiches – was underwhelming. However, here’s what I did like about the Drake’s version of afternoon tea:

5 Things I Liked about Afternoon Tea at the Drake

1. The Harpist – a beautiful addition to the stunning lobby
2. The Tea – they serve Harney and Sons tea – one of my favorites, particularly English Breakfast
3. The Scone – this is not your typical scone from Starbucks or Panera, but rather a very close resemblence to the biscuit-like scones in the UK
4. The Bathroom – one of the most beautiful bathrooms I’ve seen in a hotel – and I’ve seen my fair share!
5. The Devonshire Cream – Probably only the second time I’ve had it outside of England! It was quite good, although, tea and its accompaniments never seem quite as good outside of the UK.