Planning An Afternoon Treat In Washington DC
When we planned our visit to Washington DC over the Easter weekend, we reached out to some of the local travel bloggers we knew in the area. We knew that most would not be around over the holiday weekend. But Nicki had a last minute change in her travel plans and was home. We decided we would meet for Afternoon Tea and champagne at St Regis Washington.
Meeting for Afternoon Tea was an easy decision for us. We have enjoyed many of the Afternoon Teas at home in Toronto and even did Afternoon Tea at the castle in Toronto! When fellow travel bloggers Pam and John visited Toronto, we splurged on a chocolate themed Afternoon Tea. And then we met with them again when we visited Seattle before our cruise to Alaska. We had celebrated other holiday occasions with Afternoon Tea. On Christmas Day in Cape Town, Afternoon Tea was the perfect way to enjoy tea and champagne.
We were definitely prepared for our Afternoon Tea and champagne at St Regis Washington!
Elegant St Regis Washington Was The Perfect Spot
We arrived at the St Regis a little early so we could wander around first. Our hotel for this visit was the Westin Georgetown and we were excited to see another SPG (Starwood Preferred Guest) hotel. We joined the SPG Rewards program for this very busy travel year and were trying to get a sense for the different brands. We wanted to experience the luxury brands that SPG, Marriott and Ritz Carlton partnership could offer. And building loyalty status might help us with our 2019 travel goal to travel on the new Ritz Carlton yacht!
The hotel was built in 1926 in an ornate Beaux-Arts and Neo-Renaissance style. In 1988 after a massive renovation it was opened as the St Regis. As soon as we entered, we were swept up into another era. The lobby was large and opulent with a string quartet playing. We knew that Afternoon Tea and champagne at St Regis Washington would be an elegant affair.
The lobby was decorated for the Easter weekend and the chocolate centre piece was a masterpiece by the Executive Pastry Chef. We read that there were 32 pounds of chocolate in the display. I had to pull David away drooling! It was a good thing I could distract him with other sweet displays in the lobby.
By the time that Nicki arrived, we were definitely ready for Afternoon Tea and champagne at St Regis Washington.
Afternoon Tea and Champagne
Afternoon Tea and champagne at St Regis Washington was served in the main lobby. Reservations were required for a set seating time.
We all decided that we wanted an Afternoon Tea tray that included both sweet and savoury selections. We were still on our low carb diet, but some things are worth breaking the diet for. It was a quick discussion about whether we would have champagne with our Afternoon Tea. Our friend Pam would have disowned us if we passed on champagne!
Several different tea selections were offered. We each picked a different one. The tea kept coming through the afternoon as we made our way through the great food selections.
It was great to meet up with Nicki. She had so many great suggestions on things we should see and do on our visit to Washington. She made sure we would not miss the Burning Man “No Spectators” exhibit at the Renwick Gallery.
And we talked about travelling, travel blogging and the work required to be successful in the social media sphere for luxury travel. We came away confirming that this path was not for the lazy or uninspired!
It was so great to meet up with Nicki for Afternoon Tea and champagne at St Regis Washington!
An Added Bonus – Champagne Sabrage
As often happens when we meet other travel bloggers during our travels, we talked until well after Afternoon Tea was over. We were just making leaving noises when the lobby got busy. Chilled champagne was set up in the lobby. At exactly 6pm, chimes rang out to draw the crowd started to gather. Nicki knew what was coming. But we gathered around to watch the spectacle.
Fernando Merino was charged with the honour of sabering off the top of the first champagne bottle that day. The process is called “sabrage”. He set up and played with angles of attack. With one swift stroke, he cleanly removed the top of the bottle and champagne bubbled out.
We took a glass of champagne. David set off to talk to Fernando a little more about this great tradition at the St Regis Washington. We were so happy we had planned Afternoon Tea and champagne at St Regis Washington. We got such a great added bonus!
Afternoon Tea and Champagne At St Regis Washington Was A Great Splurge
We had no problem finding things to do in Washington DC. Much of the time we were busy as we explored the city and sought out all the ways to experience the blossoms in the city.
We were so happy that we planned to take an afternoon to splurge on Afternoon Tea and champagne at St Regis Washington. It was great that we could meet with Nicki to share this treat. The champagne sabragespectacle was such an added bonus to our St Regis visit. Fernando loved this part of his job. And everyone watching enjoyed it.
If you visit Washington DC, plan to take some time out for Afternoon Tea and champagne at St Regis Washington. Make sure you stick around until 6pm to take in the full show.
Have you done Afternoon Tea and Champagne at St Regis Washington? Did you stay to enjoy the champagne sabering?
PIN To Pinterest:
The afternoon tea and hotel look amazing! The ceiling is beautiful. I do like an afternoon tea (I’m British), it looks like you had lots of goodies! I can’t believe they had a sabering off the top of the first champagne bottle, a friend of mine did that at my wedding. Such a great party trick!
Lucy, We loved the chance to try Afternoon Tea at the St Regis in Washington. We like to do Afternoon Tea whenever we travel. The sabering was such a great surprise. How great that you got this display at your wedding. Linda
Now this looks a real treat! I love the hotel architecture, that ceiling is fabulous. The champagne display looks really memorable. I hope to go to Washington in the future so will be bookmarking this post.
Mel and Marcus, This was a real treat on our weekend in Washington. A great hotel and a delicious Afternoon Tea! Linda
That afternoon tea spread doesnt look good for anyone on a diet..lol! St. Regis has the reputation of great service and it seems like they didn’t fail you for this enjoyable afternoon. I wonder how that gigantic 32 pounds of Chocolate Egg was made.
Shweta, The Afternoon Tea was definitely not good for my diet. But occasionally we need to splurge. The St Regis definitely met its reputation for service. We would definitely go back. The Easter chocolate display did look tempting. Linda
Every St. Regis I’ve been in has been lovely, and their hotel in Washington looks lovely. Thanks for adding the picture of that classic coffered ceiling. And your high tea — definitely splurge-worthy, and definitely a time to let go of that low carb diet! I’d be fascinated to watch the sabering of the champagne bottle — have never seen that done.
Ann, The St Regis in Washington was a lovely hotel. We wish we had stayed there! The Afternoon Tea was indeed worth straying off my diet for. I had never seen sabering before but have seen it twice since. Fascinating to watch. Linda
Sabrage is such a fun party trick. It’s impressive and quite easy to do, although I don’t have a sabre, just a heavy kitchen knife 🙂 Tea and champagne sound like the perfect way to spend an afternoon.
Janine, I was fascinated to hear that you do sabrage with a kitchen knife. It looked like it was so hard to get right. Afternoon Tea was definitely a great treat. Linda
I would never think to do afternoon tea. I have done it once locally and loved it. I am always after the outdoor adventures, but this is definitely something to consider when in a city or on a rainy day. It’s also a treat I think we’ll take my in-laws on since they live in the DC area. Thanks for afternoon tea and the St/ Regis inspiration – it’s gorgeous!
I love meeting other travel bloggers on our travels!
Wendy, We love to occasionally splurge on Afternoon Tea. Great to do with friends and family. Hope you get to do this. It was great to meet Nicki on our travels. Linda
What a fancy evening you had at St Regis in Washington! It would take me several weeks attending the gym before I burn those calories. But yes, it must have all been very tasty.
Veronika, It was definitely a calorie splurge for us. But worth it! The whole champagne show was an extra bonus. Linda
Oh…my…goodness. Afternoon tea, Krug, AND the St. Regis? This is beyond fabulous! It looks like you thoroughly enjoyed yourselves. This only makes me even more excited for our upcoming trip to St. Regis Mauritius!!!
Kristina, I am glad this was a good tease for you. We wish we had stayed at the St Regis. I hope you have an amazing time at St Regis Mauritius! That sounds amazing. Linda
St. Regis is indeed a grand setting for meeting friends over afternoon tea and champagne. The hotel seems to spell vintage class and elegance. The interiors look so grand and combine old world charm with luxury. The huge chocolate display of course takes the cake!
Sandy, It was a great spot for a splurge when we visited Washington. A great hotel. Wish we had stayed here! Hubby kept drooling over the chocolates too! Linda
This sounds like such an amazing treat. The rich brown interiors make the place so elegant and the spread that they have done for you, a complete luxury. That Sabre thing…totally cool!
Ami, The St Regis in Washington was indeed an elegant place to splurge for Afternoon Tea. The sabering was such an interesting experience to see. If I did it, there would be champagne everywhere! Linda
First of all, your photos are really stunning and looking great, I loved those snaps, lovely. Yes, I agree, St Regis Washington is one of the best holiday destination in my travel list. I am a big foodie, so I loved this place and visited about 3-4 times on my holidays to US.
Inora, I am glad you liked our look back at Afternoon Tea at the St Regis in Washington. It was a great treat for us. We loved to do Afternoon Tea when we travel. Linda