Pinkies up
Holiday high tea from Naples to Fort Myers
Sarajane Sullivan
Naples Daily News | USA TODAY NETWORK – FLORIDA
It’s the season for warm drinks and cozy holiday cheer. Yes, even in Florida we have cozy holiday events, as I’ve assured my Northern friends many a time. h Some of the most beloved holiday events here in Southwest Florida take place in tea rooms. h From skiing Oreo cupcakes to giant teddy bears and life-sized gingerbread houses to turkey and cranberry cream cheese finger sandwiches, here’s a list of where to indulge in afternoon tea this season.
Forever Fiore Secret Garden Tea House opened in August, transforming a neglected space in the middle of Royal Palm Square in Fort Myers into an almost magical getaway for high tea, mimosas and more. Some of the items available at the tea house. PHOTOS BY ANDREW WEST/THE USA TODAY NETWORK-FLORIDA, THE NEWS-PRESS
The Ritz-Carlton Teddy Bear Tea
Every year The Ritz-Carlton Naples hosts its annual Teddy Bear Tea, where families can celebrate the season with hot chocolate, stories, giant teddy bears and, of course, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. The hotel also features a life-sized gingerbread house that’s ohso- Instagrammable.
The tea is $110 per person and runs Dec. 15-23 at in the Bites Lobby Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton, 280 Vanderbilt Beach Road. For information and reservations, call 239-598-6644 or visit ritzcarlton.com.
Wisteria Tea Room and Cafe
This Fort Myers tea house serves high tea all month long, but it also hosts a specific Christmas-themed tea with special menu that includes a Wisteria house salad, potato leek soup, and a three-tiered tray of finger sandwiches served with Christmas scones and desserts.
The price is $45 per person and includes all the above food, live Christmas music from a pianist, and a bottomless pot of tea.
Reservations remain for the 4 p.m. serving Saturday, Dec. 5, at 2512 Second St., Fort Myers. For reservations and information, call 239-689-4436 or visit wisteriatearoom.com/christmas-tea Brambles Tea Room
Starting Saturday, Dec. 12, Brambles on Fifth Avenue in Downtown Naples will serve specialty Christmas teas and menu items.
In past years, the tea room has done a children’s tea with storytellers, but that has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Brambles has said it is happy to host make-your-own Christmas events for parties interested in having Christmas tea by reservation.
The Christmas menu includes snowflake vanilla bean scones, cupcakes with little skiing Oreos on top and Christmas petit fours. It will also feature holiday finger sandwiches such as turkey with cranberry cream cheese, Christmas ham with fig spread, English egg salad with watercress and cucumber with spinach and artichoke spread. This year’s featured Christmas teas are orange spicer and Christmas in Tahiti.
Brambles is open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 340 Fifth Ave. S., Naples. For information and reservations, call 239-262-7894 or visit bramblestearoomnaples.com.
Forever Fiore Secret Garden Tea House
The holidays are all about treating oneself, and Forever Fiore is certainly the place to do so. Plush emerald green couches and pink velvet arm chairs, white flowers blanketing the ceiling — this place screams decadence.
The menu includes sandwiches such as The Parisian with black forest ham, cream cheese and gruyère cheese on a toasted croissant, and salads such as the Juliette with mixed greens, toasted cashews, pickled beets and orange feta cheese dressed with citrus dijon mustard. It also includes afternoon tea options ranging from $25-$110 with finger sandwiches, macarons, glasses of prosecco and, of course, tea. There’s also a children’s tea with grilled cheese, cotton candy on a ice cream cone, macarons and choice of chocolate milk, juice or a pot of tea.
Forever Fiore is open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday at 1400 Colonial Blvd., No. 033, Fort Myers. For information and reservations, call 239-254-7474 or visit foreverfioreteahouse.com.