The Hive Lounge Afternoon Tea Review at InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72

The Hive Lounge afternoon tea at InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72 gave us two things in generous measure: a view from the 62nd floor and a menu that went well beyond a few decorative pastries. Our Landmark72 high tea review covers the 28-tea selection, substantial savories, scones, French pastries and the extra cake trolley that appeared just when we thought we had finished. The current set will be different from the one we tried in 2018, though the hotel still serves afternoon tea here daily.

The Hive Lounge at InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72

The Hive Lounge occupies the 62nd floor of InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72, where floor-to-ceiling windows and a soaring central space make the room appear even larger. Natural light came from the windows and the skylight above the lounge. The middle section reminded us of a courtyard placed inside a very tall building, while the city remained visible beyond it.

Two large circular sofas sat within a sculptural wall feature, adding shape to a room that could otherwise have seemed slightly formal. We chose a table beside the window. It was the obvious place for tea, though the lounge architecture gave us something to look at whenever the skyline disappeared into Hanoi’s haze.

A Choice of 28 Dammann Frères Teas

Our Landmark72 high tea began with 28 loose-leaf teas from Dammann Frères, an impressive range even by luxury-hotel standards. We both wanted something citrus-led, so I chose 7 Parfums and Ian ordered Soleil Vert. The first combined black tea with citrus peel, bergamot, fig, lotus flower and pitanga.

The floral and fruit notes in 7 Parfums remained balanced, with enough black tea beneath them to keep the blend from becoming perfumed. Ian generally prefers green tea, which made Soleil Vert a natural choice. Its blood orange essential oil added a clean citrus edge. Most importantly, the breadth of the menu allowed us to choose according to taste instead of settling for the least unsuitable option.

Savories: Generous Sandwiches and Warm Bites

The savory course was divided between warm items and sandwiches, with enough variety to make the set a proper meal. I started with the blue cheese quiche because patience has never been my strongest quality around blue cheese. Its flavor survived the fresh herbs, and the crisp pastry held together neatly with each bite.

A Scotch quail egg followed, served with a pleasantly sour gravy that cut through the fried coating. The third warm item was a puff pastry roll filled with ground pork and herbs. It contained a fair amount of filling and had been cut into a precise rectangle, a small detail that made the savory stand look as considered as the pastry tier.

We appreciated that the sandwiches were larger than the one-bite pieces found at many hotel teas. The egg salad with chives was juicy and well seasoned. Smoked salmon came in two layers with lemon cream between them, while dill bread added color and another herbal note without overpowering the fish.

The most assertive sandwich paired chicken curry with raisin bread. Spices gave the buttery filling warmth, and the raisins supplied a gentle sweetness reminiscent of coronation chicken. A cucumber, mint and cream cheese sandwich on mint bread provided a cooler finish after it.

Plain, Lemon and Ginger Scones

The scones arrived in a glass bowl with a wooden lid, arranged over ginger. Plain scones sat above lemon and ginger candy versions, accompanied by double cream, Da Lat strawberry jam and orange marmalade. Both varieties had a fine crust, and we enjoyed testing the condiments beyond their obvious pairings. The marmalade worked particularly well with the citrus and ginger scone.

French Pastries with a Few Surprises

Pastry chef Serhat Mizrakli was credited with the sweets served during our visit. The handmade French pastries appeared on a three-level stand and relied on hidden fillings as much as decoration. We began with a marshmallow set on chocolate pastry, concealing chocolate ganache, orange peel and lime. The crisp base, soft marshmallow and sharp citrus center gave the small pastry a useful contrast of textures.

A berry almond financier hid a marinated strawberry beneath diplomat cream. The rose-shaped pastry combined raspberry curd, lychee jelly, rose ganache and white chocolate pearls. I liked its creamy texture and the individual elements, though together they became too sweet for my taste.

My favorite was the Rocher: banana coulis, hazelnut crunch, mango and passion fruit cream, vanilla ganache and a hazelnut coating. There was plenty happening in one piece, and the nutty crunch kept the fruit and cream from merging into a single soft texture.

The Travel Cake Trolley

Just as we finished the main afternoon tea stand, a member of staff arrived with a travel cake trolley. Its selection included pistachio cake, strawberry and chocolate marble cake, lemon cake, passion fruit marzipan cake and banana cake. This was not the ideal moment to discover hidden reserves of appetite, which naturally meant that we did.

We shared a slice of lemon cake. Its crumb was firm and the citrus flavor clear enough to remain noticeable after the sweeter pastries. Halfway through, the strawberry and chocolate marble cake still looked tempting, though good judgment finally returned before we ordered another slice.

Is Landmark72 High Tea Worth It?

Our 2018 Landmark72 high tea was worth booking for more than its altitude. The lounge delivered professional service, one of the broadest tea selections we had encountered and enough well-made food to justify treating the experience as a meal. The contemporary room will appeal most to travelers who value space and skyline views over the intimacy of a heritage tea salon.

Menus inevitably change, and the official venue page now describes a current selection of sandwiches, English scones, cakes and pastries rather than the exact items in this review. The setting has endured: afternoon tea is still served in The Hive Lounge on the 62nd floor. For a very different Hanoi experience, our Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi afternoon tea review moves from a modern tower to one of the city’s best-known heritage hotels.

Landmark72 High Tea Review Card

• 8.6/10
  ATMOSPHERE – 8.6/10
• 9.5/10
  SERVICE – 9.5/10
• 9.8/10
  TEA SELECTION – 9.8/10
• 9.4/10
  PRESENTATION – 9.4/10
• 9/10
  FOOD – 9/10
• 9.6/10
  VALUE – 9.6/10

The Hive Lounge Practical Details

Landmark72 High Tea FAQ

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