Restaurants
Ladies and Gents Tea at Palais Hansen Kempinski An Afternoon Among Friends
Photos © Palais Hansen Kempinski Wien
Map
Opening Times
Daily 14.00-17.00
Address
Hotel Palais Hansen Kempinski Lobby Lounge & Bar
Schottenring 24
1010 Vienna-district 1
.How to get there
Contact
When I plan to spend an afternoon with a good friend and have a nice chat surrounded by an elegant atmosphere and accompanied by sweet delights, I choose the Lobby Lounge & Bar at Palais Hansen Kempinski.
I am not sure if men also like to pamper each other or if they tend to conduct business meetings in the afternoon in this atmosphere, but the "Gent’s Tea" is also perfectly suitable for ladies. I already enjoyed the kick-off, a gin based aperitif, that is already worth ordering a "Gents Tea".
Today I am meeting ORF editor Aimée Klein for an interview. I would like to learn about her top ten favourite places in Vienna. She goes for the "Ladies Tea". The corresponding aperitif is in no way inferior to mine: the bar team serves a "Ladies Lover" with Burschik’s vermouth, rose lemonade and lemon.
My irresistible "Gin Mule" is served in a silver cup. The culinary accompaniment is presented in a workbasket. Aimées "Ladies Tea" delights come on a pretty étagère – a true eye-catcher!
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If the gentlemen even notice the good old workbasket, it goes unrecorded – but I heard several ladies say "what a nice touch – reminds of grandma’s good old days!". We found the presentation of the "Gents Tea" to be very original.
The same applies for the dishes, which are presented on several levels: a juicy Double Cheese Beef Burger, for example, or a savoury Beef Tartare as well as delicious Onion Bacon Scones, Olive Garlic Brioche or Nori Salmon with Cognac-Wasabi-Mayonnaise.
As a sweet finish there is American Cheesecake, a Whiskey Praline and a Vanilla Brandy Éclair. The ladies are now delighted by a small gimmick by the pastry team: a raspberry sweet that comes in a lipstick.
Other perfect matches for the many unusual, freshly prepared tea specialities are the exotic Praline with coconut and mango, the Pistachio Cupcake with raspberries or the Rose Macaroons. The classic English tea items, sweet scones with clotted cream and homemade marmalade, taste delicious, too.
Among the savoury alternatives for the ladies there is San Daniele ham, Beef Tartare and finger sandwiches with salmon and cucumber. Sharing is also an option, which is why we are going to skip dinner tonight.
We have totally forgotten about time as the surrounding is so nice thanks to the light atrium of the lobby. The setting is colourful yet relaxed, the atmosphere is calm and classy, and the service is attentive yet discreet.
It is a place to lie back on the cushion, forget about all your worries and just enjoy; no matter if you are a man or woman, choose "Ladies or Gents Tea" or whatever the menu has to offer – the Lobby Lounge & Bar is so appealing that I keep coming back again and again.
