Whether it’s high or afternoon tea the scene in Perth is strong, with many of its top hotels leading the way. And there is more to the experience than the traditional delectable sweet and savoury delights. Many bring local produce to the fore and offer drinks matches that will suit those who want a tipple and those who are teetotal.

Cape Arid Rooms at COMO Treasury

Is this Perth’s most refined high tea? A part of the COMO Treasury, the Cape Arid Rooms are named for the area of outstanding natural beauty on the Southern Ocean coast close to Esperance, and where you’ll find the work of celebrated artists Philippa and Alex Nikulinsky. Each edition is curated seasonally with savoury bites such as WA rock lobster on a toasted brioche bun with apple and cucumber, and sweeter offerings such as raspberry frangipane tart with rhubarb, vanilla mousseline and strawberry cremeux. Tea blends are a collaboration with Teassential, while State Buildings, director of wine, Emma Farrelly selects Champagne and Australian sparkling wine to complement. Unveiled in December 2022, Horizon Gin distilled by the Esperance Distillery Co. offers both a botanical expression of Cape Arid, and a range of gin cocktails to accompany the experience. 1 Cathedral Ave, Perth; comohotels.com.au.

The Haven Lounge at The Westin Perth

Head to Hibernian Place from Friday to Sunday for 11am or 2pm sittings in The Haven Lounge. While the hotel is known more for its Grossi outpost Garum, this is one opportunity for its culinary team to showcase its skills. Partnering each season with Moët & Chandon you may find your theme over four savoury and five sweet items is Chandon in Bloom, Garden Spritz, or Springtime in Paris. 480 Hay St, Perth; havenlounge.com.au.

Hearth At Ritz Carlton

As you’d expect from one of Perth’s top fine dining restaurants, high tea at Hearth isn’t done by halves. Expect seasonal menus that include divine afternoon bites such as smoked turkey sandwich, with walnuts, celery, and black garlic, or a Shark Bay prawn roll, with chives, a classic thousand island dressing, and pickles. On the sweet side think candied lemon madeleine or carambar finger, with caramel hazelnut, caramel cream, and hazelnut sponge. There’s a choice of a distinctly West Australian drinks match: coffee from nearby Offshoot roasters, or Seven Seas Tea and Howard Park Petit Jeté sparkling wine from Margaret River. From further afield there is the choice of Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage. There’s also a Ritz Kids offering so the whole family can get in on the decadence with milk and juice. 1 Barrack St, Perth; ritzcarlton.com.au.

Bistro Guillaume

The high and afternoon tea offering at Crown is strong but for a gallic twist Bistro Guillaume offers a Saturday afternoon experience that includes a glass of Moët & Chandon Brut Impérial Champagne and a wide selection of tea. Our pick is typically French, with the Marco Polo from Mariage Frères’ who have been selling tea in Paris since 1854. On the food front we’re all in on the likes of duck pithiviers and classic French sweets such as ganache filled macaron, and classic eclairs.  Crown Metropol, Crown Perth, Great Eastern Hwy, Burswood; crownperth.com.au.

Santini At QT

Available on Saturday afternoons, high tea at QT is imbued with the brand’s trademark quirkiness. Served at the hotel’s signature restaurant Santini, expect Italian leanings as well as a wider European outlook, with pancetta and mushroom tartlets, prosciutto bruschetta and cucumber sandwiches, and smoked salmon charcoal brioche buns. Whereas many an offering in Perth is matched to Champagne QT takes the Prosecco route. You wouldn’t truly be living la dolce vita without the promise of something sweet as well as savoury. Think, whipped ricotta and pistachio cannoli, tiramisu, and lemon meringue tarts. level 1/133 Murray St, Perth; qthotels.com.