Afternoon Tea "Miró-Style" at La Residencia

Each time you enter the grounds of this hotel, you are seduced by its charms. The landscaped gardens have been sculpted to perfection, the scent of the flowers is magical and the lush green trees drape along the path to provide an enchanting journey up to the house. The hotel comprises of two manor houses built from the famous Mallorcan blonde stone that these pretty mountain villages are made from.

Afternoon Tea is served from the Miro Café, one of the property’s restaurants named after the famous artist Joan Miró. It currently showcases 33 pieces of his original art which are on loan from the Miró family. Guests tend to take tea on the splendid terrace overlooking the gardens, however, it is also possible to request booking a more secluded setting in the lower garden.

It was a warm day so we sought shade on the terrace with a table under the canape. These are also the best seats in the house to soak up the mountain backdrop. The table was already set for us, and afternoon tea or, as the hotel calls it ‘Tea with Miro’, is served with a wonderful limited-edition Miró tea service. This set is reminiscent of how Joan Miró would take a classical object found at a flea market, on one of his walks, or even at his home, and transform it by splashing colourful strokes to change it into something entirely different. This tea service, approved by the artists family is exclusive to the Belmond Residencia Hotel and is sold in the hotel's boutique shop on-site.

There’s the choice of afternoon tea with or without champagne and I, of course, opted for the complete experience. The waiter soon returned to the table with an ice-cold bottle of champagne to fill up my glass. A range of teas are also on offer although, for me, nothing beats a traditional Earl Grey served with milk.

Once our thirst had been quenched, a three-tiered platter arrived with some yummy sandwiches – the smoked salmon and avocado was my favourite. A wonderful selection of delicate sweet treats including homemade biscuits and pastries also featured, as well as a fruit salad which was out of this world. Half way through our banquet, the waiter arrived to top up my champagne class.

As a secondary course, warm scones arrived at the table with the choice of a fig or strawberry jam and fresh cream. So naughty but simply divine! The scones were soft and fluffy as they should be, while any jam connoisseur would be impressed at these homemade jams. There was also enough cream to go around – lack of cream has been an epic fail with afternoon teas I have experienced in the past, and something all scone lovers can all relate to, I am sure.

Whether you are seeking some British home comforts or simply want to treat yourself to a bit of magic from La Residencia, then we would highly recommend booking yourself in for ‘Tea with Miro’. This five-star experience costs just €30 or, for a little extra indulgence, it is €46 with champagne. We would suggest booking in advance.