The Baccarat Hotel in New York City offers one of the city’s most luxurious afternoon teas. The service is fresh, refined, and designed as a true splurge for special occasions.
Baccarat Hotel New York
The Baccarat Hotel New York sits across from the Museum of Modern Art in Midtown. Built by the famed French crystal house, the hotel’s Grand Salon is lavishly decorated with crystal accents from floor to ceiling.
To reach the Grand Salon, take the elevator from the moody ground-floor entrance up to the second floor.
Note from Jee
Baccarat’s afternoon tea is among the most expensive in NYC, so plan it as a treat. I visit at least once a year; it consistently ranks in my top three afternoon teas in the city.
Scroll to the end of this article to see photos from my first visit in 2018, when afternoon tea was $90 — a much more modest price compared to today.
Baccarat Reservations
Advance reservations are required; the Grand Salon does not accept walk-ins.
Dress Code
There is no strict dress code, but business casual or better is recommended to match the elegant setting.
Afternoon Tea Hours
Afternoon tea is served daily in the Grand Salon from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
What is Afternoon Tea?
Afternoon tea is a set menu that includes tea and a three-course selection of food. Guests choose their tea, while the food comes as a curated set. The classic order is savories first, followed by scones with clotted cream and jam, then sweets from the top tier. Tea service is priced per person and is typically a leisurely, two-hour experience.
Baccarat Hotel Afternoon Tea Menu
The Baccarat afternoon tea menu offers four main options:
Prince of Wales
$140 per person
The classic three-tiered afternoon tea with savories, scones, and sweets.
Le Petit Prince
$85 per person
A children’s version with savories, sweets, and one butter scone; portions and selections are tailored for younger guests.
Princess of Monaco – Grace Kelly
$125 per person
An all-sweets tea featuring a selection of pastries and confections.
King Louis XV Caviar Tea
$325 or $435 per person depending on the caviar selection
An extravagant caviar-focused offering for an indulgent experience.
Menu items and prices are subject to change; contact the hotel for the most current information. To order, choose one of the tea options and select your tea. Tea arrives first and the food follows; you may start with your tea while waiting for the courses.
Grand Salon Setting: ★★★★★
The Grand Salon is opulent and luminous, with plush seating and crystal details throughout. The most desirable seats are the two-person tables by the windows with high-backed chairs, which offer an intimate view of the room.
Service: ★★★★☆
Service is generally attentive throughout most of the tea. On occasion, servers may be less present toward the end of the meal when you request the check.
Tea & Tea Selection: ★★★★★
Baccarat originally featured Mariage Frères teas exclusively, but the selection has broadened to include whole-leaf teas from other producers. The menu is concise and well-curated, offering quality over quantity. The teapots used are attractive and well-suited to the service.
Savories: ★★★★★
The savories are a highlight. Each bite is carefully composed, fresh, and flavorful. Portions are elegant and meant to be eaten with your fingers. Every guest receives six savory items, all presented beautifully.
Scones: ★★★☆☆
Scones are served warm, two per person, with Devonshire cream and preserves. They taste good, but the portions are quite large—larger than necessary compared with the delicate savories. Initially, only one shared set of cream and preserves may be brought for the table; ask for more if needed and staff will provide it.
Scone etiquette: place a scone on your plate with your hands, then spoon some cream and jam onto your plate using the shared spoons.
Sweets: ★★★★★
The sweets are charming and well-balanced, sized so each piece can be enjoyed in two bites. They are thoughtfully plated and finish the meal on a delightful note.
Overall: ★★★★★
Baccarat serves one of New York City’s best afternoon teas. If you want to indulge, the opulent setting and carefully executed food make the experience feel worth the price.
LOCATION:
Grand Salon, Baccarat Hotel New York
28 West 53rd Street
New York, NY 10019
AFTERNOON TEA HOURS:
Daily, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Reserve at least 24 hours in advance.
COST:
Prince of Wales — $140 per person (as of 2024)
RESERVATIONS:
Call the hotel or book online through the Baccarat reservations system.
Afternoon Tea at Baccarat in 2018
Here are photos and impressions from a previous visit in 2018.
On my first visit in 2018, I was impressed by the decor, service, and food. At the time, the Prince of Wales tea was $90 and felt like the city’s top tea service.
The Grand Salon’s look has remained consistent since opening, retaining the same colors and overall aesthetic.
Back then the menu included multiple tea options at various price points, from pared-down services to extravagant offerings with caviar and champagne.
I generally choose the classic Prince of Wales tea. I’ve also tried the Turkish tea for two and other specialty services over the years.
The savories were consistently excellent—fresh, flavorful, and well executed.
Scones were already generous in size then and have grown larger over time, which some guests may find excessive.
The sweets were enjoyable, though I favored the savories the most. Overall, my 2018 rating for Baccarat’s afternoon tea was five stars.
Related
- Afternoon Tea at The Lowell
- Afternoon Tea at The Plaza
- Afternoon Tea at Bergdorf Goodman
- Afternoon Tea at Ladurée Soho
- Afternoon Tea at Tea & Sympathy