If there ever was a luxury hotel that just speaks “New York,” this is it – the Waldorf Astoria. Naturally, it’s a landmark,  but it’s also associated with so much history that it’s difficult to say anything about New York without mentioning the Waldorf Astoria.  Named after the ancestral home of the Astor family in Germany, the Waldorf today boasts a staggering 1,400+ rooms. Decades ago, Guy Lombardo broadcast his annual New Year’s celebration from the Grand Ballroom here, and guests including heads of state and Hollywood royalty are too numerous to mention.

Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City – Entrance from Park Ave

Below is the main lobby of the Waldorf – note the 9′ tall clock in the center.  It was built by The Goldsmith Company/London for the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago.  Later purchased by The Waldorf, it has now become commonplace for New Yorker’s to use the phrase, “Meet me at The Clock.”

Lobby of Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City (image by Alan Light-Flickr CC by 2.0)

For afternoon tea, I entered through the Park Avenue lobby, an area that has recently been restored to its original 1931 Art Deco design.

Park Avenue lobby of Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City

Afternoon tea is served on the Cocktail Terrace which is just above the ground floor – a mezzanine level, if you will …

Cocktail Terrace of The Waldorf (Image courtesy of The Waldorf Astoria)

The tea selection included eight or so full leaf teas and two herbals. I chose the Japanese Sencha green tea …

Japanese sencha green tea in tea strainer at Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City

Below are the tea sandwiches – I found the green roulade (wrap) of fall vegetables with goat cheese quite good. Also the Applewood smoked salmon on brown bread was excellent. New Yorker’s are simply expert in preparing smoked salmon.

Tea sandwiches at Waldorf Astoria Afternoon Tea

Currant Buttermilk scones …

Buttermilk/Currant scones at The Waldorf

And of course, the third and last tier are the sweets and pastries.  I have a soft spot for chocolate mousse (rear-right).

Sweets and pastries at The Waldorf

Cole Porter lived at The Waldorf Astoria for 30 years and would often come down to the Cocktail Terrace to play.  His piano is there to this day …

Cole Porter’s Steinway & Sons grand piano on the Cocktail Terrace (Image by Mathew Ingram-Flickr CC by 2.0)

2016 UPDATE: The Waldorf Astoria may no longer be offering afternoon tea.