New York State of Mind Afternoon Tea at The Writers Bar, Raffles Makati

Raffles Makati (Philippines) is one of our favorite luxury hotels in Metro Manila for staycations. We had our first stay at this stunning hotel during Christmas of 2015, and one of the activities we enjoyed a lot was the complimentary afternoon tea at The Writers Bar.

Lobby | Raffles Makati

Since then, we have been coming back to The Writers Bar for their afternoon tea. Sunday is our favorite day to visit The Writers Bar because it is relatively quieter and more peaceful, and you can have a better sense of exclusivity.

The Writers Bar | Raffles Makati

With only 32 well-appointed suites, Raffles Makati is a small luxury property that caters to the ultra high-end business and leisure travelers. Here, space is truly luxury, yet the hotel affords to have a spacious lobby lounge which is styled as a library and filled with tastefully selected furniture and accent pieces.



We love the airy yet warm atmosphere inside The Writers Bar. Tables are arranged with enough space to create a semi-private and intimate setting for the guests. The large floor-to-ceiling windows give the area a lot of natural lighting. On a busy day, it could be difficult to get a table for walk-in guests so we recommend that you make prior reservation.



Last week, Raffles Makati announced its New York State of Mind themed afternoon tea which it launched last September 1, 2016. The New York State of Mind afternoon tea took inspiration from the iconic Tiffany & Co, an American retailer of luxury jewelry, and from New York City known for its myriad of culinary treats.



The New York State of Mind Afternoon Tea is the fourth installment of Raffles Makati's Prêt-à-Portea afternoon tea series, a concept which combines the afternoon tea tradition with icons of high fashion. Launched in 2014, the Prêt-à-Portea series has already featured brands such as Kate Spade, Furla and Charriol.

New York-inspired Tea Sandwiches | New York State of Mind Afternoon Tea

Our New York State of Mind afternoon tea began with a tray of New York-inspired savory tea sandwiches including Bagels with Lox and Cream Cheese, Turkey Pastrami on Rye, Pigs-in-a-Blanket, and Soft Pretzel. Our top favorite was the bagel. They were easy on the bite while the lox had a delicate taste which the cream cheese balanced all the flavors. Our choice of tea (or coffee) was also served at this point. We had our favorite Earl Grey Tea and Oolong Tea.

Scones | New York State of Mind Afternoon Tea

Next to arrive were the scones, served with clotted cream and your choice of strawberry preserve or orange marmalade. The scones were served wrapped in a cloth napkin to keep them warm and moist. The scones at The Writers Bar are one of the best ones we have tried. They were not too crumbly. They were moist and had the right sweetness.



We then came to the highlight of our New York State of Mind afternoon tea experience when the 3-tier dessert stand containing the Tiffany & Co-inspired confectionery was served on our table. We started with the bottom layer which included Vanilla Cupcakes, New York Cheesecake with Fresh Strawberries, and Sour Cherry Whoopie Pie.



The middle layer consisted of Macarons, Lemon Meringue Pie, and Strawberry Cake with a Crème Brûlée Crust and topped with Fresh Strawberries.



We finally worked our way up to the top layer which showcased Red Velvet Cronut, Caramel-Apple Filled Chocolate, and the Caramel Petit-Fours fashioned after the iconic Tiffany Blue Box, plus a Tiffany T-Bangle in white chocolate.

Junior Suite | Staycation at Raffles Makati

The New York State of Mind afternoon tea (P1,500.00++ for two persons) is available every day from 2:30 to 5:30 pm from September 1, 2016 to November 30, 2016. Add even more sparkle with some Champagne for only P900.00 per glass. For table reservation, you can call (02) 795-1840.





Raffles Makati
1 Raffles Drive, Makati Avenue, Makati City, Philippines
Contact: +63 (02) 795 0777