The Plaza Hotel's Palm Court Opens for Afternoon Tea Service
As part of the Plaza Hotel's $450 million, three year restoration, the Palm Court has reopened and its newly launched afternoon tea service is not to be missed.
Known as the heart and soul of The Plaza, the Palm Court is a vast landmark space bordered by mirrored doors, fleur-de-peche marble columns and crowned with a domed yellow-and-green skylight. A recently completed restoration returned the room to its original design not seen for over fifty years. The $6.5 million restoration included the re-creation of the original 1,800 square foot stained-glass lay light that dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. It was covered up in the 1950s and not exposed until the renovation brought it back to life. The Palm Court's renovation also introduced new lighting and furnishings. The airy, romantic space within the legendary hotel is nothing short of breathtaking.
Luxist recently experienced afternoon tea in this glorious space. Afternoon tea is the Palm Court's heritage--when it was originally constructed in 1907, its name was 'The Tea Room'. Ever since, The Palm Court has been a quintessential New York destination and has served as a venue for the 'who's who' of politicians and dignitaries, celebrities, New York socials, and locals and visitors alike. It is famous for being a setting for scenes in many novels and films, including The Great Gatsby.
The Palm Court is a great destination for anyone in search of a traditional, elegant afternoon tea. Not only is the atmosphere impressive, but there's an extensive new menu put together by Executive Chef Willis Loughhead. The Palm Court now offers classic versions of the afternoon tea with all of its pastries and desserts prepared daily by Pastry Chef Jasmina Bojic.
The afternoon tea menu features the classic "Palm Court Tea" (at $45 per person), which includes a sumptuous three tier display of scones, tea sandwiches and pastries. There's a "New Yorker Tea" (at $45 per person) that is worth checking out, too. It features quintessential "New Yorker" menu items such as black and white cookies, organic roast beef on a pretzel roll, and New York cheesecake. It is a great option for visitor from out of town in search of a New York experience.
The Chocolate Tea Service ($55 per person) is ideal for chocolate lovers and offers a delicious chocolate fondue, complete with scones, macaroons and more. Anyone traveling with children will want to order the "Eloise Tea" ($28 per person). Based on the fictional character who lived at the Plaza, it features mini grilled cheese sandwiches, organic peanut and butter and jelly sandwiches and strawberry and cream cheese sandwiches. It also comes with a selection of fresh scones, an assortment of cookies, chocolate cupcakes, and chocolate dipped strawberries.
Consider experiencing a variety of the above tea services, if your group is large enough.
The Palm Court also offers farm-to-table style dishes on its breakfast and lunch menus, featuring organic and local ingredients of impeccable quality sourced from a variety of New York regions. The three-course prix fixe lunch at $29 is worth checking out.
The Palm Court is open seven days a week with afternoon tea served from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Reservations can be made at OpenTable or by calling (212) 546-5300.
