The Clarke Sisters' Tea Party at InterContinental Melbourne

The tea party begins appropriately with a Deconstructed Champagne Cocktail. My husband and I are sitting in the light-filled Alluvial restaurant on the Ground Floor of the InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto for The Clarke Sisters’ Tea Party, the newest afternoon tea experience to arrive in Melbourne. This grand tea party is strictly adults only and limited to 10 guests per session. It is intimate and indulgent and absolutely perfect for a girl’s day out, a date day, or even an intimate bridal shower or baby shower. The setting could not be more perfect. As the waiters tell us the history of the Clarke Sisters’ (two tea party loving sisters who were, at different times, married to the founder of the original Rialto building, Patrick McCaughan) we admire the facade of the old building which now houses the hotel.

The menu is decadent and delicious. Following on from the Deconstructed Champagne Cocktail, you have a choice to move straight on to tea or cofeee, or upgrade to the free-flowing Perrier-Jouet Champagne package. We opt for the latter. To begin, tiered stands are presented to the table with rare roast beef sandwiches, bay bugs on mini brioche rolls, duck liver pate en croute, salmon bagels and more!

Unlike other afternoon tea parties, The Clarke Sisters’ Tea Party is more like a substantial late lunch, with a choice of two main courses following the tiered tea stands - a lamb cutlet or mushroom tart. The lamb cutlet was served with truffle mash, pea purée and red wine jus and was utterly divine!

Following on from this it is time for Scones with adorable baskets of warm scones presented to the table along with the obligatory jam and cream.

And then.... The Clarke Sisters' Tea Party famous Dessert Trolley!!!!

The delightful vintage dessert cart was wheeled out right to our table with a bit of theatre and was packed full of delicious cakes from the Rialto precinct including Lamingtons from Vue De Monde, white chocolate cheesecake and the most decadent chocolate flourless cake from Guy Grossi’s Merchant of Venice, plus a gorgeous Berry Tart + Lemon Tart from Le Petit Gateau Melbourne. It was a true celebration of the precinct and a perfect finale for a very special afternoon.

Congratulations to Celeste and the wonderful team at InterContinental Melbourne for creating an incredible event that truly is a glamorous and decadent recreation of afternoon tea. The Clarke Sisters’ Tea Party is not to be missed! For more information and to reserve your seats visit https://www.melbourne.intercontinental.com/offers/clarke-sisters-tea-party/

Ps. InterContinental Melbourne is hosting a special tea party on Mother’s Day and each Mum will take home a gift. Xx