There’s just no other way to say it, Peninsula Hotels just do it better.  I remember reading stories about the ultimate afternoon tea experience at The Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong.  This is one of the most highly rated hotels in the world, if not the highest. And afternoon tea there was spoken about in hushed and reverent tones.

While I still haven’t made it to Hong Kong, I did manage to visit The Peninsula in Shanghai, which you can read about by clicking here.

The Peninsula Hotel in Chicago is, of course, no exception. Beyond the impressive hotel property itself,  I believe it’s the staff that helps make this hotel distinctive.  It’s old school, it’s gracious and it’s rare.

Read on for a picture tour of the Peninsula Chicago and the afternoon tea they serve in the 5th floor Lobby Lounge.

Let’s begin with the street level entrance to the hotel on East Superior Street, just steps away from Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, arguably the finest shopping neighborhood in the city.

Entrance to Peninsula Hotel Chicago

You then take the elevator up to the 5th floor lobby of the hotel …

Front Desk – Peninsula Hotel Chicago (Image by Alan Light/flickr CC BY 2.0)

The Peninsula Hotel Chicago serves afternoon tea in the 5th Floor Lobby Lounge with soaring windows that allow natural light to illuminate the room.

Lobby Lounge – The Peninsula Chicago (Image by Alan Light/flickr CC BY 2.0)

A table prepared for afternoon tea at The Peninsula – Chicago …

Peninsula Chicago Table Setting for Afternoon Tea

First tier – the finger sandwiches. The roast beef with horseradish aioli was exceptional, as was the crab salad with artichokes.

Finger sandwiches for tea at The Pen Chicago

A traditional scone and an Earl Grey raisin scone, paired with a summer tomato & Boursin quiche …

Scones and quiche at The Pen Chicago

Condiments for your scones – lemon curd, Devonshire cream and housemade jam …

Condiments for the scones

Yes, I did try the scones …

Cutlery by Gainsborough

Another view of The Lobby Lounge ..

The Lobby Lounge of The Peninsula Chicago Hotel

The sweets, pastries and cakes were extraordinary.  Upper left is a white chocolate mille-feuille with raspberry on top, and the chocolate Sacher cake is always one of the first to go if I’m around.

Sweets, pastries and cakes for afternoon tea at Peninsula Hotel Chicago

And lastly, the Peninsula Chicago offers both proprietary and premium loose leaf teas, including black, scented black, classic green & white, oolong, and herbal infusions.

Teapot and teacup at The Pen Chicago