Tea Time by the Bay: Festive Afternoon Tea at El Atrio Lounge in Admiral Hotel Manila-M Gallery

The mad holiday rush formally begins as the cool December breeze cools the city. The frenetic scramble shifts to high gear as every hour becomes rush hour leading up to the holidays. It's times like these when you need to take it slow. The say afternoon tea is about stopping time, with the elegant setting and indulgent medley of flavors completing the experience for a much needed break. And afternoon tea by the bay sheds new light on this enduring tradition with the decadent Festive Afternoon Tea at El Atrio Lounge in Admiral Hotel Manila M-Gallery. Step inside for a spot of tea and enjoy magic hour by the bay..

The iconic and pristine white structure along the boulevard by the bay with its classic art deco inspired lines is a welcome sight as it had been for years among seafarers from a long voyage. Guests from a long journey or a slow drive along the metro's always busy thoroughfares are rewarded the minute they enter Admiral Hotel Manila-M Gallery with its lavish and elegant interior spaces. The latest addition to Accor's M Gallery collection, the luxury five-star boutique hotel property takes you back in time to old Manila with its nostalgic elegance from a bygone era preserved in a classic yet modern landmark on the famed boulevard (for more on my initial impressions from my first visit, see my post Time Stops as the Past and Present Converge for Colorful New Stories at Admiral Hotel Manila-M Gallery from early last year).

As you enter Admiral Hotel-M Gallery, something catches your eye adding one more layer to your journey back in time...

...with the timeless, seductive lines and raw power from its straight-eight engine and white sidewall tires stopping you in mid-step. The fully-restored vintage '51 Buick Super 8 is one of Admiral Hotel Manila-M Gallery's many attractions, and available for the exclusive use of guests (just ask the concierge for rates). 

Even the notorious Manila traffic won't slow down your style in this cool ride. Is there any better way to enjoy the sights of the old city? 

A tour of the old sights in the city or weddings, the '51 Buick Super 8 at Admiral Hotel Manila-M Gallery is the perfect ride for any milestone, event or memorable moments. So bring out your dapper white hat and two-tone wingtips for a ride to remember. 

The shifting afternoon light slowly sets up the mood for the bay's famous light show with a magnificent view of the Manila Yacht Club...

...and the Coconut Grove at Admiral Hotel Manila-M Gallery is your front-row seat to the famed Manila Bay sunset. 

Meanwhile, the final touches for an opulent feast at The Admiral Club Manila Bay of Admiral Hotel Manila-M Gallery are carefully executed by the staff (for more on the buffet dining experience at The Admiral Club Manila Bay, see my post Set Sail for an Epic Culinary Journey at The Admiral Club Manila Bay in Admiral Hotel Manila-M Gallery from July last year). But there's another feast being prepared down at the lobby level. It's time for tea...

The Festive Afternoon Tea at El Atrio Lounge offers a unique twist to the afternoon tea tradition at Admiral Hotel Manila-M Gallery with its mix of uniquely crafted Filipino-inspired hors d' oeuvres and tasty savory and sweet nibbles paired with soothing tea blends. Priced at P 2,888 net inclusive of two rounds of coffee or tea good for 2-3 persons, the Festive Afternoon Tea at El Atrio Lounge is available until January 14, 2024. 

The infusion of comfortingly familiar local flavors brings a novel spin to the afternoon experience at Admiral Hotel Manila-M Gallery. And just in time too for the holiday season. As afternoon tea gains in popularity and becomes part of the cultural mainstream, it's refreshing to see and experience varied and diverse expressions of the tea tradition. The Festive Afternoon Tea by Admiral Hotel Manila-M Gallery with its creative weave of local flavors is one of those unique flavor experiences. 

First, pick your tea blend. The Festive Afternoon Tea at El Atrio Lounge offers a wide selection of premium TWG teas including Black (English Breakfast and Royal Darjeeling), Green ( Jasmine Queen Tea and Number 10 Blend), White & Red (Vanilla Bourbon and Pai Mu Tan) and Premium (Earl Grey Fortune, Chamomile and Orange Blossom Oolong) as well as Americano, Latté, Cappuccino and Macchiato by Vittoria Coffee and the Bistro Pot Cafetiére by Nick Munro. You can also opt for a beverage upgrade with Champagne Brut Sparkling Wine (P 570 by the glass/P 2,800 by the bottle), Mimosa (P 550) and Bellini (P 550).

That afternoon, the Vanilla Bourbon tea blend seemed the perfect choice for my afternoon tea experience by the bay.  The deep and fragrant hints of vanilla and bourbon combine for rich flavors, opening the palate for the equally indulgent notes from the intricate savory and sweet bites. 

The savory bites in the Festive Afternoon Tea set at El Atrio Lounge includes an ornate and creative repertoire of tasty nibbles led by the Smoked Salmon Rillettes Choux with Lumpfish Caviar and Seared Foie Gras with Raspberry Jelly on crisp Brioche Toast...

...soft and delicately crisp Black Truffle and Ham Croquette, Winter Root Vegetable Tartlet topped with Whipped Feta Cheese and succulent Scallops Kilawin with sweet Mango Salsa. Foie gras, scallops, black truffle and smoked salmon make for a stellar cast of flavorful bites. 

The Smoked Salmon Rillettes Choux with Lumpfish Caviar brings luscious notes to the palate while the Seared Foie Gras with Raspberry Jelly is a rich yet balanced play on indulgent flavors. The Black Truffle and Ham Croquette and Winter Root Vegetable Tartlet crowned with Whipped Feta Cheese continues the rich play on flavors but it's the Scallops Kilawin with Mango Salsa that's the biggest surprise of the savory spread. It's not often you find a local kilawin seafood dish in an afternoon tea set, but El Atrio Lounge pulls it off elegantly with the Scallops Kilawin with Mango Salsa with its fresh and clean notes. 

Then, El Atrio Lounge serves up yet another surprise with a tray of Sour Cream and savory Liver Sauce...

...paired with the Vol-au-Vent with a distinct local twist. Imagine Pork and Chicken Adobo in a delicately crisp pastry with a dab of liver sauce and you get the picture. It's an unexpected combo yet the flavors just comes together perfectly with its weave of savory, mildly sweet and contrasting textures. Like the Scallops Kilawin with Mango Salsa, it's the unexpected offerings like the Pork and Chicken Adobo Vol-au-Vent that make the afternoon tea set uniquely different. 

For dessert, El Atrio Lounge pulls all the stops with its decadent repertoire of sinful creations with the Büche de Noёl, the Tatin Style Apple Breton Cookie, the silky smooth Milk and Dark Auro Chocolate Mousse and the intricately layered Mille Feuille with Christmas Spices, Poached Pear and Salted Caramel Cream. Like the savory selection, the sweet selection offers diverse flavors making each bite a different flavor experience. Pour another cup of the Vanilla Bourbon tea and savor the moment. 

In theme with the holiday season, the El Atrio Lounge also serves the Bibingka with Coconut Jam and Sour Cream for their lavish version of afternoon tea. The familiar notes of the local staple brings the festive holiday season close to home. A generous dab of sour cream brings even more layers of luscious flavors and textures elevating the rice cake with a decadently smooth finish. 

Want more? You can add even more delightful bites to your afternoon tea set from the a la carte menu of El Atrio Lounge like the intricate and elegant Bonbon and Macaron creations of Kenneth Ong or the lavish cakes of Chef Christian Monera. 

The mix of flavors served with the Festive Afternoon Tea set at El Atrio Lounge offers a wide variety of tasty nibbles and some unexpected surprises too paired with a soothing cup of premium tea. The Scallop Kilawin with Mango Salsa is just one of many highlights...

...along with the Winter Root Vegetable Tartlet with Whipped Feta Cheese and so many others. The uniquely local flavors add a comforting weave of nostalgic notes to the afternoon tea experience while the setting by the bay sets the mood. 

Take a break from the mad holiday rush and savor a cup of tea at one of the city's iconic landmarks. The Festive Afternoon Tea at El Atrio Lounge in Admiral Hotel Manila is available until January 14, 2024 for P 2,888 net good for 2-3 persons. But why wait? 

You can stop time and take it slow this holiday season in one of the metro's elegant settings with a view. Come on in for a refreshing and much-deserved break over a cup of tea with the Festive Afternoon Tea at El Atrio Lounge, and enjoy magic hour by the bay. At Admiral Hotel Manila-M Gallery.