E&O Hotel Afternoon Tea Review: A Heritage Classic in Penang

The Eastern & Oriental Hotel has a way of making everyday life feel slightly underdressed. Walking through its grand corridors and history-filled gallery, I felt like a lady from another era, at least until Ian and I began cheerfully pulling apart warm scones at the table. Our E&O Hotel afternoon tea at Restaurant 1885 combined that heritage atmosphere with excellent service, thoughtful teas and some genuinely memorable food. It became one of the highlights of our time in Penang.

The mood remained buoyant throughout the afternoon. We admired the kitchen’s respect for familiar afternoon tea traditions, while the quality of the ingredients and the occasional local touch kept the experience from feeling predictable. Presentation mattered, but the strongest moments were the ones that tasted as good as they looked.

Scones at E&O Hotel Afternoon Tea

The scones were the clearest highlight of our E&O Hotel afternoon tea. They were tender rather than flaky, served warm with clotted cream and two house-made jams. The strawberry jam still contained pieces of whole fruit and worked beautifully with the plain scones. The pineapple jam, gently seasoned with cloves, brought a warmer, more distinctive flavor to the raisin scones. Frankly, it was good enough to eat by the spoonful, and restraint was not the most interesting option.

Savory Bites With a Local Accent

Being beside the sea made the Pullman crab an appropriate place to begin. The juicy crab was paired with radish and held together by a narrow belt of seaweed, a delicate bite that immediately sharpened our appetite. Two more seafood sandwiches followed. One placed seasoned smoked salmon and lemon aioli on beetroot bread, while the other combined tuna with charcoal bread, cherry tomato and cucumber.

The charcoal added an earthy note without overwhelming the gentler tuna filling. Choosing a single favorite became difficult once the truffled egg bun arrived, since Ian and I both have a weakness for truffle. A crisp curry puff completed the savory course with soft potato, green peas and fragrant masala. It was a small reminder that the most convincing hotel afternoon teas often allow their location to enter the room.

Tea Selection at E&O Hotel

Before moving on to the pastries, we paused with Jungpana Darjeeling. Its muscatel character and floral aroma were well developed, helped by the uncrushed leaves, and it suited the formality of the room without becoming severe. The large-leaf Fancy Sencha was another versatile choice, lightly sweet with a refined tartness that worked well across the menu. With the sea beyond the windows and tea warming the cups, there was no reason to hurry.

Pastries and Sweets

The pastries continued the polished presentation, with enough color and variety to make choosing an order feel strangely important. I began with the Sicilian cheesecake, whose creamy texture carried a satisfyingly rich flavor. The raspberry crémeux melted quickly and allowed the fruit to remain bright, while Ian was so enthusiastic about the exotic fruit tartlet that I decided to save mine until the end.

Saving the best for last was a sensible strategy, although several pastries competed for the title. The Belgian marquise came close: rich dark chocolate mousse beneath a delicate chocolate jelly that melted away almost instantly. The pandan kaya was the only sweet that missed the mark for us. Its jelly was too firm and the flavor lacked the clarity of the other desserts, although our indifference to pandan probably did it no favors.

My final exotic fruit tartlet justified the wait. Beneath the sweet-tart topping was a piece of juicy mango, while the shortcrust pastry crumbled delicately with each bite. It was fresh, precise and just playful enough to end the meal on a high note.

Conclusion: A Memorable Penang Afternoon Tea

Our 2018 afternoon tea at Restaurant 1885 was the kind of experience that kept Ian and me discussing the food until the final bite. The kitchen respected the familiar rhythm of sandwiches, scones and pastries, yet details such as the clove-scented pineapple jam gave it a personality of its own. The perfectly cut pineapple cubes were not simply decorative; their gentle crunch made that jam one of the afternoon’s most vivid memories.

The Duchess of Bedford might have approved of the food and service, although she may have raised an eyebrow at the mismatched sugar bowl and serving plates. We were more forgiving. The small presentation flaw could not undo warm scones, excellent teas and service that made the occasion feel genuinely special. Readers comparing the city’s leading options can also see our guide to the best afternoon tea in Penang.

E&O Hotel Afternoon Tea Review Card

• 9.4/10
  ATMOSPHERE – 9.4/10
• 9.8/10
  SERVICE – 9.8/10
• 9.1/10
  TEA SELECTION – 9.1/10
• 9.4/10
  PRESENTATION – 9.4/10
• 9.2/10
  FOOD OFFER – 9.2/10
• 9.7/10
  VALUE – 9.7/10

E&O Hotel Afternoon Tea: Practical Information

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