High TeaBook NowChef’s Table Christmas LunchCall on 0408 088 961 or email Chris Info@sassafrasofpaddington.com.au to book

Introducing High Tea on our Chef’s Table

Venturing towards a high tea to stir things up? Make our place your café of choice for high tea, where even the mad hatter would be envious! 

Our eye catching natural timber Chef’s Table, with luxuriously comfortable  chairs, is situated in its own airconditioned room, opposite the kitchen. All Chef’s Table events include your very own personal server, and top notch attention to detail.  

Our Chef’s Table High Tea is fantastic way to celebrate for 6 to 10 people, any day of the week, with a variety of time slots available to suit you.

We can cater to larger groups on request, please contact Chris on 0408 088 961 or email enquiries to info@sassafrasofpaddington.com.au to discuss your needs.

Our High Tea package starts from $59 per person and includes a glass of bubbles on arrival plus bottomless tea, coffee, and home made spritzers.

We always have a selection of classy cocktails, great wines and craft beers available to compliment any event, just ask any of our friendly team.   

chef's table

Introducing Christmas Lunch on our Chef’s Table – December Dining

Venturing towards a Long Lunch to stir things up? Make our place your café of choice for a celebratory meal with your nearest and dearest.

Our eye catching natural timber Chef’s Table, with luxuriously comfortable  chairs, is situated in its own airconditioned room, opposite the kitchen. All Chef’s Table events include your very own personal server, and top notch attention to detail.  

Our Chef’s Table Christmas Lunch is fantastic way to celebrate for 8 to 10 people, any day of the week, sittings are from 11.30 to 2pm daily..

We can cater to larger groups on request, please contact Chris on 0408 088 961 or email enquiries to info@sassafrasofpaddington.com.au to discuss your needs.

Our Christmas Lunch package starts from $69 per person and includes a glass of bubbles on arrival plus bottomless tea, coffee, and home made spritzers.

We always have a selection of classy cocktails, great wines and craft beers available to compliment any event, just ask any of our friendly team.   

Christmas dinner table
Sassafras logo
Christmas Menu

high tea

A History of High Tea

Did you know “afternoon tea” differs from “high tea”? Sip on how both traditions brewed.

  • British tradition: Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, started high tea in the 19th century to ease her hunger between lunch and dinner. They served afternoon tea around 4 pm, and dinner considered late, at 8 pm. This custom is still upheld today by the British and some of its ex-colonies.
  • Afternoon tea: Lady Bedford’s hunger resulted from having only two meals, a midmorning breakfast and dinner. She initiated tea with assorted snacks and invited friends. The invention of the kerosene lamp in the mid-1800s meant the elite could afford afternoon tea and later dinners.
  • High tea: The actual history of high tea, ironically, is not of high society but workers who spent afternoons working while the elite snacked before another supper. Workers’ high tea was a proper hot, sustaining meal after work, usually served after 5 pm with tea or ale. Our café is appropriately, a restored workers cottage.

Tips for Planning Your Vintage High Tea

Our hospitable staff or Chris, the owner himself, will make your high tea the talk of Paddington. Australians use tea and dinner interchangeably, so if you invite someone to high tea, prepare them to arrive at dinner, expecting a hearty meal with tea or drinks, not afternoon tea with scones.

  • Chef’s Table: Suited for intimate afternoon teas, this menu accommodates six to ten people. Since the Victorian ladies made it a fashion, afternoon tea with the sisters is trendy today. Be sure your order includes lighter snacks such as cakes and cheeses and book the afternoon slot.
  • Buffet dinner: Planning a proper high tea? In keeping with proletarian tradition, our buffet after 5 pm caters for larger groups, thirty minimum. You can even blend cultures, turning our Friday Spanish Street Kitchen into a high tea cafe, happy hour from 4 to 6 pm, and have a low and a high tea combined!
  • Functions: Our private garden has seen many celebrations and can accommodate eighty guests comfortably for a cocktail-style function.

street kitchen
homepage spanish

About Sassafras of Paddington

You can find our restaurant with a shaded garden in the quaint, little leafy suburb of Paddington, Brisbane, characterised by historic buildings but hints of modernism. Brisbane  Suburb Reviews (2021) rated Paddington 8/10 for things to do and see and dog-friendliness.

Chris, our owner with a farming background, established our local, organic dog-friendly cafe opposite Paddington Central shopping centre in 1997, with a special dog menu.

Open seven days a week; you can walk in anytime for breakfast, lunch, brunch to discuss events – call or book online. 

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