How We Rate High Teas?

Probably you are asking how can you trust us with the rating? Let’s just say we are 100% foodies with a rare condition called – honesty. If something doesn’t meet our expectations we share our thoughts, because there is no time for bull****. Our high tea reviews have six criteria, scaling from 0 to 10. These are atmosphere, service, tea selection, presentation, bites, and value. Comparing all can be quite tricky because each place is unique. It is also worth saying that how we felt there matters as well.

Landmark72

Landmark72 is the highest afternoon tea we have ever been to. Up there on the 62nd floor, we couldn’t get over the bird’s eye perspective. Everything felt different including the afternoon tea at the very spacious Hive Lounge. Honestly telling, we felt like we were in a castle, high up in the clouds. During our visit, we were able to try an elegant-looking mix of modern and rustic delicacies. Savory part of the menu were delicious sandwiches and a tasty warm selection of English favorites. Scones were perfect and sweets were of fabulous finger-licking quality. On top of that, the tea selection of 28 DAMMANN Frères loose tea was quite extraordinary as well. An added bonus to the afternoon tea menu at the Hive Lounge at InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72 changes every three months to fit in the local produce.

This High Tea Outlet is best for:

Fearless gourmands

Metropole Hanoi

The next one is the famous Metropole Hanoi High Tea. As soon as we found the window table at the Le Club lounge, we noticed the neat greenery outside. Before that, we admired the fine elements of a legendary building known as the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel. Our senses were engaged with so many details and we were happy to keep them busy. For example, we loved the degustation platter from which we got to smell the desired tea sample. Very likely this now isn’t the case anymore but it has rather become a part of the hotel’s rich history. Luckily, afternoon tea is here to stay, along with the chocolate library. For our afternoon tea at the Legend Metropole Hanoi, we loved the taste of fresh sandwiches that were made of soft bread and generous filling. An array of French sweets covered many tastes preference from fruity to chocolate obsessions.

This High Tea Outlet is best for:

Romantic history enthusiasts in love with French desserts

De l’Opera Hanoi 

La Fée Verte Bar is part of a spacious courtyard that gives off some serious chill vibe. Mostly because of the water element in the heart of it which felt like the perfect soundtrack for the afternoon tea time in the middle of bustling Hanoi. It is the perfect place to take a break and enjoy fine bites. We liked all the tea sandwiches and souffle-shaped scones, but most of all we loved the opera cubes. They went down too quickly but fortunately, the rest of the sweet bites were quite delicious as well. This is why Hotel de l’Opera Hanoi afternoon tea is one of the best here.

This High Tea Outlet is best for:

Those looking for tranquil delight.

JW Marriott

JW Marriot High Tea made it on our list. Such a modern building echoes spaciousness in every possible way. The airy lounge area is a perfect spot for a quick meeting or leisurely catching up with classy afternoon tea. The menu changes with the seasons but you can expect some fresh fruit, savories, and desserts every day. We loved a local signature on the savory side and appreciated perfectly ripe tropical fruit even more, but we did miss scones. Sweets sadly left us wishing for more, but we really liked the vanilla pie, macaron, and chocolate praline. On the Marriott drinks menu, we found a list of TWG teas, which were also presented on a degustation trolley.

This High Tea Outlet is best for:

Business oriented foodies

Oven D’or Restaurant at Sheraton Hanoi Hotel 

The last one is Oven D’or High tea. Oven D’or is a casual restaurant with all-day dining buffet settings coming and going every day. We opted for an afternoon tea buffet experience which allowed us to push the limits of our voracious appetites. A large selection of savory and sweet bites kept us coming for more. Needless to say, we were spoiled by choice and we can say that everything tasted really good. We were especially happy to see Vietnamese influence in the savory department, however, desserts were well-executed western favorites.

This High Tea Outlet is best for:

Those with super sweet tooth

Final Thought

Afternoon tea in Hanoi showed us the city in a different light. Through the tasty and beautiful afternoon tea sets, we got to experience evolving food scene of Vietnam’s capital. Not only that, but to enjoy different meticulously prepared treats truly satisfied the epicurean in us. That is why we truly believe you will enjoy the experience of every canteen that made it to our list of the best high tea in Hanoi.

The post The Best High Tea in Hanoi appeared first on Wild 'n' Free Diary.

About Pizza 4P’s

“What makes this world exciting is nothing but your own mind” is a hidden message behind the logo. This is also a philosophy for the Japanese natives that run this pizza restaurant. They aim to provide a rich experience for every diner from start to finish. On top of that, the 4P’s stand for four passions that are visible on every plate. However, if you are wondering what are the 4P’s. P for passion and there are four different passions in the focus.

House-made Cheese

When the first restaurant Pizza 4P’s opened its doors, it was a struggle to get fresh mozzarella cheese. In Italy cheese is easily available and present in many dishes, but this isn’t the case in Vietnam. The cheese challenge presented the opportunity to provide high-quality cheese to fulfill the foodies’ dream. So far, 4P’s team perfected 10 different kinds of cheese at their cheese studio close to Da Lat.

Farm to Table

Da Lat region is well known for food production and is a place where fresh produce for Pizza 4P’s restaurant comes from. All greens are grown naturally, without the use of synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers. This fact is very important not just for taste preferences but also for the health of the planet. Whatever locals can’t produce is imported directly from Italy; canned tomatoes and Parma ham.

Design

Architects from Japan managed to create a relaxing place that soothes the senses with dark colors and supportive industrial roots. A combination of exposed concrete and small terracotta bricks puts focus on minimalistic furnishings and clever lighting. The main focus of the lower ground is an open kitchen with large pizza ovens. Besides the kitchen action, we liked the meaningful artwork that shined a light on the food origins.

Omotenashi

This word represents the spirit of Japanese hospitality which is more than welcoming guests from the heart. It is about providing comfort, and happiness, and delivering the wow factor. All of which we felt during our time at the Pizza 4P’s from start to finish.

Pizza 4P’s Menu

Food

Yes, pizza is in the name of the restaurant and pizza gets a lot of attention, but there is more. You’ll also find numerous pasta dishes and seasonal vegetables all catering to international tastes. An important part of the menu is also the cheese section, where you can have a taste of the house-made goodies. In between, you’ll also find French-inspired mains in addition to some creative dishes. In the end, you’ll find a handful of well-crafted desserts.

Drinks

In the drinks section of the 4P’s menu, we can draw a parallel with a diverse selection. For those looking for something strong, you can try the Japanese Niida-honke Sake, possibly with cheese as a starter. During the week beer gets special attention for afternoon Happy hours, including 4P’s original beers and sangria. Beer might get a special deal, but wine selection outnumbers it by far. We were especially excited to see natural wine from Italy and the ultimate tummy helper – kombucha. 

Like many items on the menu, also kombucha is 4P’s original and comes in a few different flavors. To recharge on a hot day, you can try house-made soda or fresh juice. Naturally, you’ll find popular soft drinks, tea, and coffee. Japanese ONIBUS Coffee is prepared by using AeroPress manual coffeemaker. When we were there, they were offering coffee beans from Ethiopia and Rwanda.

Pizza 4P’s Review

Pizza

We tried four different flavors with one being pointed in the cheesy direction while the other led to more bold flavor combinations with seafood in the focus. Firstly, we must compliment the cheese, which was wonderful in every way. It was a joy to eat mozzarella and burrata side by side, along with Pharma ham. Then we have to mention the pizza dough because it is difficult to accomplish such delight. We loved the color and light texture of the dough, which might be due to the use of their whey instead of tap water. Our second pizza was split between Calamari Seaweed and Cha Ca. So different and so wonderful for all seafood lovers. We loved the depth and balance of flavors working together in tasty harmony. 

Dessert

We were blown away by the Camembert cheese ice cream, it was way better than expected. Not too sweet and not too cheesy, just perfect. Certainly splendid on its own, but we spared a couple of spoonsful for chocolate pairing. We especially loved the added moisture to the chocolate tart. Although we quickly enjoyed the tart on its own with luscious chocolate filling and refreshing mascarpone lime cream. Our second dessert was chocolate ravioli, with a soft filling that had an intense chocolate taste and reminded us of chocolate fudge. 

Final Thought

We can easily say Pizza 4P’s is a must-try restaurant in Hanoi where you’ll get the best pizza in Vietnam. So no wonder there are eight Pizza 4P’s restaurants just in Hanoi. We must compliment Pizza 4P’s for their attention to detail and high-quality ingredients that make a noticeable impact on the final dish. Nowadays, with the supply failures happening everywhere the closed circle from farm to table is just a bonus that allows the restaurant to run. Even though the pizza at Pizza 4P’s ticks all the boxes on the pizza delight list it falls right behind those we had in Italy, Naples. I hope you enjoyed our Pizza 4P’s Review and your dilemma about where to eat pizza in Hanoi is gone.

Pizza 4P’s Review Card

• 9.4/10
  ATMOSPHERE – 9.4/10
• 9.7/10
  FOOD OFFER – 9.7/10
• 9.6/10
  PRESENTATION – 9.6/10
• 9.5/10
  SERVICE – 9.5/10
• 9.6/10
  FOOD TASTE – 9.6/10
• 9.2/10
  VALUE – 9.2/10

Price and Location

Margherita comes at 6,5 USD while the most expensive pizza filled with Parma Ham cost about 17 USD. Here is the link to the location we visited.

The post Pizza 4P’s Review – The Best Pizza in Hanoi appeared first on Wild 'n' Free Diary.

Metropole Hotel Hanoi Has it’s Own Bomb Shelter

Surprised? We didn’t know that before our Metropole Hotel Hanoi Heritage Walk, which is now a part of a daily tour at this gorgeous hotel. Metropole Hotel Hanoi’s bomb shelter was accidentally discovered in 2011, by the hotel engineering department during the renovation of the Bamboo Bar. It was used during the American War (1964 – 1973) and lately sealed. This bomb shelter was not only for guests but also for employees.

You might ask, who in the world was staying there between the war? Journalists, negotiators, activists and most famous American singers. What? Yes, Joan Baez was in that bomb shelter, just in the middle of a great air raid. Another famous person hiding there was Jane Fonda.

Joan Baez

American folk singer and antiwar activist was in this bomb shelter during the December bomb raid in 1972. She was even singing and playing on her guitar to calm everyone and cover the horrible sounds of the bombing and sirens. She did also some recording of sounds during the raid. Those sounds she used later in her famous “Where Are You Now, My Son” song. This song refers to the cries of a woman Baez saw one morning searching for her son lost from the night’s raids.

Bombing of Hanoi

Hanoi was bombed together with Haiphong city for 12 days. In the 12 days between December 18th and December 30th, the North Vietnamese News Agency estimates, some 100,000 tons of bombs were dropped. That makes one of the biggest air raids in history. Just to imagine – that’s more than the total tonnage dropped on England during the six years of World War II.

I can’t even imagine how crazy that must be, but a lot of people still remember. Our tour guide cried at the end of this Metropole Hotel Hanoi Heritage Walk. That memory probably will never disappear and our duty is to remember it and make sure something like this won’t happen again.

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Metropole Hotel Hanoi Heritage Walk As a Must

If you are in Hanoi, make sure to stay at the Metropole Hanoi Hotel and be a part of history. I warmly recommend joining Metropole Hotel Hanoi Heritage Walk to get more at this already unforgettable stay.

The post Metropole Hotel Hanoi Heritage Walk – Bomb Shelter appeared first on Wild 'n' Free Diary.

We love the Sofitel Metropole buffet for many reasons. The spirits were so high that, we felt we are on a celebration. Actually, a few people really were, so maybe we caught some of their festive joy. Regardless if that is possible or not we were happy, Sunday brunch happy. So am I only overhyping everything or… Make your opinion and check this review.

The Ambiance of Le Beaulieu Restaurant

The historic charm of the Sofitel Metropole Hotel building is felt throughout the whole hotel. In sync with the purpose, each part differs a little from the other. For example at the Le Beaulieu Restaurant dominates the friendly feel and ageless appeal. The design is contemporary French executed with Indochina touch. Pillars across the whole dining room where sophisticated French effect is topped with marble floors and dark wood interior. Right in the center of the Beaulieu Restaurant is a foodie paradise surrounded by dining tables.

Make Sure You Make a Reservation

When we are saying full, we literally mean it, note that the Sofitel Metropole buffet is the busiest in town. Needless to say, a reservation in advance is a must to enjoy one of the best buffet brunches in Hanoi with live uplifting music. Basically, the Sunday brunch buffet in Hanoi is popular with locals, expats, and visitors.

Sofitel Metropole Buffet Food Review

For the best breakfast in Hanoi, one has to have some fresh seafood delicacies, crunchy salads, and flavourful vegetables. But also a few dishes that fit into the western breakfast and complement local food. The Legend Hanoi has it all. Even topped with champagne if anyone wants more than just wine. However, even with your standard buffet, you will get one glass of Louis Roederer.

Seafood

Besides the classic shellfish such as clams, tiger prawns, brown crabs, and oysters, there were also sea snails and a huge salmon. At the base were also all the condiments including a tasty sauce that went wonderfully with snails. But you know how it is, snails are snails, the sauce makes the difference. At the Sofitel Metropole buffet, the sauce is heavenly. It is seasoned just right with a nice acidic and fresh citrusy taste.

Appetizers

For more Sunday brunch menu ideas we didn’t have to look far. A few steps away we found many different dishes including lobster, scallops, vegetables, and fruits. We started our fancy Sunday brunch with a martini glass full of lobster, papaya, and tomato.

Equally delicious and juicy, but completely different was the scallop salad with kohlrabi and roasted hazelnut. Both were gently seasoned to keep the flavors fresh and vegetables crunchy. To point out, scallops and hazelnuts go great together and who would have thought that kohlrabi is a great company here.

Then there was a tasty portion of the duck liver with apricot and ginger compote. Here the compote is a huge surprise – I would never guess it is ginger. Amazing appetizer! Another bold combination I liked was the marinated sea bass with almond sable and goat cheese. Very impressive how the strong goat cheese was a supportive seasoning to the gentle sea bass.

Classics

We didn’t miss out on the classic brunch dish served in a shot glass – the scrambled eggs with asparagus and mushrooms. At the buffet we always go all in, so don’t be alarmed if you see me eating the scrambled eggs with paté. It is a delicious combination anyone should try.

Besides that, the liver pate at the Sofitel Metropole buffet was really creamy with a hint of vanilla. It also complimented the beautiful Parma ham wrapped around Da Lat asparagus. Nowadays the sushi is almost a staple in a world food chain and here they offer three different sushi types. Sushi had a company of the tuna and salmon sashimi with condiments.

A flavorful tribute to the country we were in, was the famous Vietnamese spring rolls; traditional with a shrimp and vegetable as well.

Vegetables

The Sofitel Metropole buffet also includes many vegetable dishes. Some are clean like baby leeks, artichoke and green salads, while others are more complex. Those are ratatouille stuffed eggplant, gourmand salad with mushrooms, tomato, and greens. Mixed vegetable with a name tag the Macedoine is appropriately diced into perfect square cubes as the term Macedoine applies. By the way, the term Macedoine is in use when one wants perfectly cut ¼ inch cubes.

Cheese and Cold Cuts

Ok, here we must be honest and admit that at Intercontinental Landmark72 Sunday brunch, you will get a much richer selection of imported goods. Actually, that big offer is a rarity even in Europe! But, don’t worry cheese selection at Sofitel Metropole buffet is more than decent.

French classics, terrines, rillettes, and pate are exquisite. The homemade meaty terrines at the Sofitel Legend were moderately seasoned and presented in a cut that showed nice meaty chunks. Next to them was a rillette that warmed up my belly and urged me for a glass of red wine.

While I cherished the cheese plate with rillette, Ian went for the duck foie gras terrine with confit leg and chorizo stuffed pork cutlet. By all means, I didn’t keep him from my cheese plate consisting of Brie, Four’d embert, Cheddar, soft goat cheese, Comte, Gouda, and Emmental. Apart from that he especially likes the Comte with beef carpaccio and black olive tapenade.

Even More

It goes without saying that there are more cold cuts such as prosciutto, salami, ham, chorizo and mortadella to name a few. Besides the meaty cold cuts, there is also salmon gravlax (Nordic salmon cured in salt and dill) and smoked fish like seabass or tuna and salmon.

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Main Dishes at Sofitel Metropole Sunday Brunch

Already the food list is extensive and warm dishes are yet to be listed. So many options make it one of the best places to have brunch in Hanoi. I must admit that I was already pretty full of ambrosial entrees, so I almost skipped the mains. To put it differently, I was saving some room for desserts.

Despite that, I couldn’t skip the Nicoise ratatouille. On the table, we had the perfect base for this slow-cooked vegetables – the fresh house bread and premium butter. However, it was also a nice side dish to the crispy rissole potatoes and grilled spring chicken with four spices.

Ian enjoyed a tidbit of the pan-fried foie gras with mango chutney and pan-fried beef tenderloin in pepper sauce. Although, he also liked the roasted lamb leg with fresh herbs sauce.

Desserts

At the buffet, I try to stick to the one-bite-of everything rule, but it never goes through. We eat with the eyes, right? I must admit that my eyes are greedy, especially when it comes to desserts. At Sofitel Metropole buffet is no way I could hold back. Especially when I saw the beautiful Fraisier cake.

Those delicious strawberries with fluffy vanilla creme are top notch. Other fruity sweets were also a gentle mulberry cake with raspberries on top, a fruit cake, and berry tart. Apart from cakes, there were also different varieties of fruit jelly and mixed tarts.

Out of the chocolate sweets, the chocolate mousse bomb took me straight to the chocolate heaven. With this one every chocoholic hits the jackpot, I sure did. Additional chocolate cakes are the white chocolate cake and a dark chocolate cake. Another outstanding treat is the opera cake, with luscious chocolate ganache and coffee butter creme

O-ou we missed one

On our last legs, we realized that we hadn’t tried the French petits fours. At that time it was also near the end of the brunch and my beloved macarons were gone. That was slightly disappointing because the one we had for the afternoon tea impressed me. Still, drowning sorrow in hand made chocolate bonbon also isn’t awful. Have I mentioned the homemade ice cream? OMG, it is delicious!

Fruit

Sincerely, I glanced to the fruit baskets full of passion fruit, grape, and mangosteen at the beginning of this Sunday brunch buffet. But as it turned out, there was no room for fruit in my appetite.

Outstanding Service

Very professional staff kept tables and brunch offer in place. Their care resulted in a clean look for the duration of the buffet brunch. Not an easy task with a full restaurant. When you will be at the Sofitel Metropole buffet brunch your table will be tidy all the time.

Critique

Sofitel Metropole buffet is a must do in Hanoi, period. The Sofitel hotel by itself is an icon, not only in Hanoi but in whole Southeast Asia. However, our sharp eyes always find some bits which are meant for constructive critique. The first flaw is Pho Bo.

This iconic noodle soup is far cry from a decent one. Especially when you have only a few blocks away from one of the best in this world. They should employ one aunty from the street with her family recipe or simply take it out of the menu. It’s really not good.

The other fault is a supply. I absolutely agree and support the idea to minimize waste in hospitality. We all know buffets aren’t the best practices here. I am totally happy when I see that I missed on a baked duck. But when you don’t get something, which stays good for a week is another thing. Here we didn’t have a chance to try out macarons and also mangosteen ran out in the middle of the buffet.

Conclusion

Frankly, if you are thinking about Hanoi hotels and are tempted for some memorable brunch make a reservation at Sofitel Metropole hotel. Their famous Le Beaulieu Restaurant has a praised reputation, by maintaining the classic French and local dishes at the scrumptious level. Sofitel Metropole buffet is legendary and we can see why. Food is delicious, an offer is big, all ingredients are of high quality and service is impeccable.

What I liked besides the very tasty food, was the neat display of buffet dishes. Especially the wooden boxes, which formed a relaxed base for food display. Way to keep the cold platters cold was done by the shredded ice, which also looked very nice. All in all, it was classy, tasty and entertaining. We highly recommend this Hanoi Sunday brunch.

Metropole Hanoi Buffet Review Card

• 9.5/10
  ATMOSPHERE – 9.5/10
• 9.5/10
  FOOD OFFER – 9.5/10
• 9.5/10
  PRESENTATION – 9.5/10
• 9.5/10
  SERVICE – 9.5/10
• 9.6/10
  FOOD TASTE – 9.6/10
• 9.2/10
  VALUE – 9.2/10

Price and Location

The Sunday Brunch here at Metropole Hanoi Hotel will cost you about 80 USD per person, if you add a free flow of wine it’s 115 USD and 145 USD with free flow of Champagne. For simple navigation, here is a link to the Metropole Hotel location.

Le Beaulieu Restaurant Dress Code

Before joining the Sunday brunch obey the smart-casual dress code. Honestly, think about what to wear is the least you can do. If you do it wisely, you will benefit greatly and feel awesome avoiding super tight dress.

The post Sofitel Metropole Buffet – Sunday Brunch Review appeared first on Wild 'n' Free Diary.

Cockroaches on a Plane to Africa

The saying “If you don’t go, you don’t have a story” is more than true. This guy traveled basically the whole world and he was a witness to some amazing and crazy events. He shared a story about a business trip to Africa. It happened in the ’80s when the airplanes and airlines weren’t at today’s standards. Especially not in Africa! So, his flight was scheduled to be about 8 hours, which is unpleasant enough. But soon after takeoff, the plane was swamped with cockroaches.

If you saw the movie “Snakes on A Plane”, just change “snakes” to “cockroaches” and you have a proper image. These insects were literally everywhere and passengers had their legs up in the air for the whole flight. Of course, the food wasn’t an option. Hungry or not, it was contaminated. Did they land early? No, no. They spent  8 hours high up in the air surrounded by cockroaches.

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The Biggest Problem Came on the End

Crazy right? But wait! This nightmare didn’t end after landing. After the plane touched down, the passengers weren’t allowed to leave the plane. The priority was the pest control and the removal of thousands of cockroaches. They started spraying all over the place, while all the passengers were still on the plane. Miserably waiting, without any masks. Once the officials were positive that the plane was “pest free” passengers were able to leave the plane.

The post Cockroaches on a Plane – Travel Story / Nightmare appeared first on Wild 'n' Free Diary.

The Ambiance of the Le Club

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel is a truly majestic colonial French legacy. You can quickly understand why is this one of the best hotels in the world. Their famous Metropole Hanoi afternoon tea is served in the lounge with a French name – Le Club. Le Club is a pleasant colonial-style lounge, mostly designed as a glasshouse. Indeed, it felt great to quieten down in a peaceful semi-glasshouse with nurtured greenery. Hotel’s green garden was such a welcoming sight that we asked for the table right next to the window. Absolutely no street sounds came into the open space design of the Le Club, with »our« part safely snuggled away.

When I say »our« I mean the few separate tables with open pathways on each side. Not being on the open and jet a part of a bigger picture was perfect for our afternoon tea time. Given that this is one of the most popular afternoon teas in Hanoi, let us not forget that it is also a beloved place for lunch gatherings and evening catch-ups. At night the glamourous speakeasy of the 1920’s style is the most noticeable, especially with live jazz tunes. In a word, this place is perfect for this classy Metropole Hanoi afternoon tea.

The Tea Selection

I love it when the tea menu gets exchanged for the actual tea samples. This way I can’t misinterpret the tea name and end up second guessing my final choice. It is exciting for me when I can see and smell the tea before deciding which one I want.  Luckily, here at Metropole Hanoi afternoon tea, you can check all teas before you decide. Of course, I’m always tempted to smell all samples and then make a narrower selection. But I know that by doing so I would leave everyone around me anxious. To avoid rolling eyes, I quickly scanned the content of 21 teas stored in small glass bottles. At that time Ian already announced his choice, the no. 10, Melange Oriental. Naturally, I returned to the first bottle that attracted me with white jasmine flowers and added: “No. 5, the Jasmin Chung Hao for me please “.

Another reason why I quickly put my hand on Jasmin tea is for the Vietnamese custom of serving a glass of tea next to the Vietnamese coffee. Actually, a few times we got quite a decent jasmine tea and this time I wanted it to be the main star. This delicate green tea is infused with Jasmine blossoms essence, which gives it the signature taste. Of course, there is palatable green tea, but the Chung Hao variety is lighter.

You Can Buy the Tea Leaves

Ian’s green tea, the Melange oriental turned out to be a thirst quenching one. To prevent it from becoming too strong, he embraced the idea of the additional hot water. It never gets old watching him to drain the loose tea, and this one had an eye-catching addition of multicolored cornflowers and pleasant taste. By the way, for the Metropole Hanoi afternoon tea occasion, they serve the L’Epicerie du Metropole tea selection, which is also on sale at the Sofitel Legend Metropole L’Epicerie boutique. If you are fond of their tea, you can easily buy and take it home.

Sandwiches @ Metropole Hanoi Afternoon Tea

At the bottom of the three-layer sandwich stand each got three different tea sandwiches. I especially liked the creamy avocado sandwich, with a fresh cherry tomato slice on top. Avocado cream makes this sandwich smooth as butter, with acidity coming from the juicy tomato. On the other hand, Ian’s favorite was the tuna sandwich, seasoned with caramelized onion. The last one was a classic salami and cheese sandwich with fresh zucchini for texture and salt reduction. It is garnished with the black olive on top for some contrast to the soft white bread. Hence all the finger sandwiches were freshly prepared and tasty we were eager to try some scones.

Scones

Skipping the middle plate full of seasonal fruit I reached for the scones on top of the three-level pastry stand. At first, I thought that among the sweets were two financiers, but as it turned out I was only half right. The bigger ones were the raisin scones with a sugar glaze. Ok, there was some “scones” resemblance but not really a scones category. Despite that cream and jam fit it well at every bite.

Next to them, we got to enjoy two different house jams: the raspberry and mango jam. Both of them are great, but the real star is the luscious cream – fairly fatty with vanilla.  Alert for all scones lovers! Metropole Hanoi afternoon tea doesn’t have the proper ones. Shocking, right? 🙂

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Metropole Hanoi Afternoon Tea Sweets

To my delight, the sweets plate was the biggest with all 8 pieces coming in doubles. Besides the two fruity cakes, there were also chocolate treats that made the option of chocolate buffet incredibly tempting. Oh, it melted too quickly despite the crisp pieces of hazelnuts inside the filling. Even so, I managed to keep a dignified face and loved the second praline – white chocolate with pistachio. Fortunately, there were more chocolate delicacies on the plate, so I nearly forgot about the temptation in the next room.

Delicious

For example, the flawless profiterole with a generous amount of chocolate ganache was to die for. A few French classics were also utterly delicious. The Madeline – small almond cake, had the white chocolate coating on one side to complemented the buttery and moist pastry. Another classic was the impeccable Madeleine with a touch of chocolate. So was the delicate macaron with white chocolate filling. Macarons are perfect A, with nice crunchy outside layer melting away and not sticky core. However, when I got to the creamy coconut mousse cake, I had no remorse left. Indeed I was happy to finish the afternoon tea sweets with strawberry and chocolate cube. Both were incredibly luscious with the fine pastry layer for the base and the rest comprising just the flavourful cream.

Fruit Plate

Honestly, this part of Sofitel Metropole Hanoi afternoon tea is disappointing. I didn’t visit one of the best afternoon teas in Hanoi to enjoy the fruit. When I am in Asia every morning starts with a market visit, where I pick my fresh fruit. Here at the 5-star hotel, I prefer artisan cakes, French pastries, chocolate treats and a real scones. Reasonably, all the fruit pieces were of high quality, which lead to succulent mango, crunchy watermelon, and sweet pineapple. My favorite bit was the dragon fruit which had a small addition in the form of a citrusy coating.

Conclusion

A far cry away from the Vietnamese capital and still part of the story is the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel. There was a number of firsts for this place including the showing of the first movie in Indo-China. By now the name and the setting changed, but the Le Club bar still supplies a great deal of glamour to the Hanoi. A touch of 20’s charm was also on our marble table in the shape of the silver sandwich stand with a beautiful arch on top. Part of it was classic afternoon tea treats which definitely apply to be one of the best afternoon tea in Hanoi.

Critique

The only downside of Sofitel Metropole Hanoi afternoon tea are scones and a fruit plate. Surely it is nice to see some new variations of scones, but there should always be one plain classic scone aside. After all, you never know, maybe Queen Elizabeth II herself will enter that doors to indulge her afternoon tea. The other minus is a fruit plater of course. Like I said before, the fruit doesn’t have a place at high tea, period. Ok, there is another flaw. A guy who served us didn’t explain anything about Metropole Hanoi afternoon tea. If we would know about the chocolate library, we would order different.

Even though I was fully satisfied and fed, I still felt the sizzling temptation of the chocolate library in the next room. Lord knows that next time when we will be in Hanoi chocolate heaven will be demolished. There is no turning back now that I’ve tried their house-made chocolate goodies. Thank goodness time let me go to the house boutique L’Epicerie du Metropole for some takeaway.

Our Tip

If you are a high tea lover, then you should check Metropole Hanoi Hotel’s sister, Hotel de l’Opera Hanoi. They serve amazing Hotel de l’Opera Hanoi afternoon tea. The ambiance there is outstanding, as well. If you are more a modern style lover and you like to dring your cup of tea above the skies, than Landmark72 afternoon tea is the one for you.  You are welcome!

Metropole Hanoi Afternoon Tea Review Card

• 9.5/10
  ATMOSPHERE – 9.5/10
• 9/10
  SERVICE – 9.0/10
• 9.2/10
  TEA SELECTION – 9.2/10
• 8.9/10
  PRESENTATION – 8.9/10
• 9/10
  BITES – 9/10
• 8.4/10
  VALUE – 8.4/10

Price and Location

Metropole Hanoi afternoon tea set for two persons will empty your bank account for about 25 USD. In a case, you don’t know where Metropole Hanoi Hotel is, here is a link to a location for easier navigation. Enjoy!

The post Metropole Hanoi Afternoon Tea – Simply Delicious appeared first on Wild 'n' Free Diary.

Actually, the full name of this pearl is Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel. The Legend is a collection of stately heritage hotels and palaces found in iconic cities around the world. My and Vivi’s dream is to visit all! As a matter of fact, we started in Hanoi and we couldn’t wish for a better start. Read our detailed Sofitel Metropole Hanoi Hotel Review and you’ll see why it was a perfect first.

Atmosphere

In the heart of the French Quarter proudly stands the  Sofitel Metropole Hanoi Hotel. Note that this quarter is different than the rest of the Hanoi and that is why you should explore it a little. This area has always been lavish and it’s a good match for the five stars Metropole Hotel. Even so, it is hard to miss this famous building with the best part hidden inside.

There are two main entrances and two lobbies, which are entirely different. The one in the new wing is bright with white marble, while the one in the original building is moodier, full of warm wooden ornaments. French colonial feeling is instant, but there are Vietnamese finishes present as well.

A Lot of Greenery

Our favorite part of the Sofitel Metropole Hanoi Hotel is the inner courtyard. For that, we have a few reasons, with green surface and privacy the highest-ranking ones. Although, important to us is also the iconic stairways – charming and perfect for photos. Vivi was admiring it for the whole duration of our delightful Metropole Hanoi afternoon tea inside the glasshouse.

Feeling through the whole hotel is welcoming and warm. Everything is in the place, decorated with style. I think they have achieved the most desirable goal for historic hotels. Here at Sofitel Metropole Hanoi Hotel, you will never forget that you are in the heritage hotel, but also you will never miss a modern touch.

We Stayed in the Historical Metropole Wing

Well, we are fond of heritage hotels, so of course, we stayed in the historical Metropole Wing. This wing is the personalization of colonial times. Vintage lamps are illuminating moody corridors in creamy colors and ornamented with dark wood. The centerpiece is a classic imperial stairway with a chandelier in the middle. Part of this wing is also the legendary La Terrasse du Metropole Hanoi with le Beaulieu restaurant and Le Club Bar along with a picture-perfect greenhouse.

Our Room

Our room at Sofitel Metropole Hanoi Hotel was Grand Luxury Room. Like the whole hotel also our room reflects the Indochina colonial style mixed with French sophistication. Otherwise, the Grand Luxury Room is spacious, bright and decorated with good taste. It includes both ceramic and rice paper lighting to shine brightly to the massive mahogany furnishings. Floors are made of hardwood in dark color which is complementary with golden details, like curtains and metal ornaments.

The bathroom is spacious with separated big bathtub and shower, the Villeroy & Boch ceramics, washbasin, and toilet. Vivi loves the toilet accessories here at in Sofitel Metropole Hanoi Hotel. They have ceramic cups, containers, coasters and even bin is part of the same set. All have an elegant green pattern that matches  Hermès toiletries which are part of Eau d’orange verte collection.

Cleanliness

The room and common areas were generally clean. There were only a few spots in a decorative wall with wooden ornaments and glass. I understand these corners are hard to clean, but anyway… Well, we used this flaw and took a few “boudoir photos,” where blurred glass worked like a charm.

Facilities

When it comes to facilities and amenities, the Metropole Hanoi Hotel is not short of anything. It has everything that 5 stars luxury hotels should have. Not only that every space here is decorated with taste and it never loses the Indochina felling. Metropole Hanoi Hotel has two restaurants and four bars. Sadly, there was a significant renovation in progress, when we were staying there. Luckily, we got a taste of one of the best brunches in Hanoi in their famous French restaurant – Le Beaulieu.

Le Beaulieu

Le Beaulieu is multiple times rewarded French restaurant with famous Sunday brunches. Really,  Le Beaulieu restaurant is a gem with a long history. This is the first French restaurant in Hanoi, opened the same year as hotel – 1901. The ambiance in contemporary French design with a blend of Indochinese touches. The marble floor and pillars give you a welcoming, sophisticated feeling of the classic Parisian restaurant. When you are in Hanoi, buffet Metropole Hanoi is something you should try out.

Spices Garden

Spices Garden is another restaurant here in Metropole Hanoi Hotel. It is mostly known for traditional Vietnamese culinary, refined with a French touch. We didn’t try any of their dishes. I guess the streets of Hanoi offer too many delicious authentic dishes.

Bars for Every Taste

Under the roof of the Metropole Hanoi Hotel are four bars, so that everyone can find their favorite. Unfortunately, Angelina and La Terrasse were closed when we were there. Renovations in progress, which means only one thing – we must come back to Hanoi! I’m dying to see the fresh look of Angelina, which is a Cocktail bar. Besides the looks, I also reckon that a few changes in the menu appeared as well.

Le Club Bar

Metropole Hanoi Hotel is hiding another pearl, this is its Le Club Bar, where you can enjoy famous afternoon tea or iconic Sofitel Metropole Hanoi chocolate buffet. The ambiance here at Le Club Bar is French colonial with a hint of Victorian touch. Glass greenhouse overlooking the hotel garden courtyard is a great place to indulge your afternoon tea. If you stay at Metropole Hanoi Hotel, Le Club Bar might be your favorite evening venue as well. Every day except on Mondays you can enjoy live Jazz performance, as we did. The review is coming soon.

Above Le Club Bar is famous for the rooftop garden balcony ‘Le Balcon’, which forms a green oasis. The only way to get up there is via white iron stairs, which are perfect for an Instagram photo session.

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Metropole Hanoi Heritage Walk

Courtyard

As I have mentioned before this is our favorite part of the Metropole Hanoi Hotel. It is not only pleasant, but it also serves as a connection between the old Heritage wing and the new Opera wing. On the one side, there are two shopping arcades with luxury retails. While opposite of it is the heated swimming pool with the Bamboo bar and well equipped SoFIT gym.

Even though the name Bamboo bar is the same as in exceptional jazz bar – The Bamboo Bar Bangkok, it is more like a pool bar. The ambiance is chilled with beautiful ceiling fans. Here you can enjoy light snacks and refreshing cocktails while enjoying swimming pool activities.

SoFIT Gym and Le Spa du Metropole

The first thing to mention is the gym’s modern equipment full of typical gym machines, step machines, elliptical bikes, and free weights. Everything you need for a perfect workout, with snacks and drinks to keep you going. Usually, it’s only fruit and water in the luxury hotel gyms, but here at Metropole Hanoi Hotel, they offer also homemade energy bars and juices for a quick energy boost.

We haven’t visited the spa here at the Metropole Hanoi Hotel, but I can only imagine how great it must be.

Inside the historical Metropole Wing, you will find more shops, with the designer collections such as Bottega Veneta, Hublot, S&S Knightsbridge, Chopard, Richard Mille, Patek Philippe, Hermes, Hanoia, Breguet & Blancpain, La Boutique du Metropole. What impressed me the most about the shops is that they are not in the center of happenings, but still easily accessible and beautifully decorated.

Our favorite shop here at Metropole Hanoi Hotel is Sofitel’s “L’Epicerie du Metropole”. Offer here is full of fine French imported treats and freshly baked pastries as well. We simply love it!

Amenities

In the room, we got a collection of special Vietnamese teas, like green tea from the ancient tree tea for example. This was for us the first time to try the ancient tree tea. It is a special tea, for which some scientists estimate can have trees about 3000 years old. Taste is very close to a cup of fine raw Pu’er tea with a sweet aftertaste and vegetal, earthy flavor.

The best thing is that it can be infused a few times with steeping time extended each time. Also from the north of Vietnam is their Ha Giang black tea. Hanoi’s legend has an exclusive tea offer under the name Sofitel Legend Depuis 1901.

In the bathroom is all one needs including sewing kit and necessary hygiene tools. Hermès toiletries of the Eau d’orange verte collection are another legendary additions. Eau d’orange verte formula reaches all the way to the  Hermès roots. It was the first cologne of the Hermès company and still reflects their vision of the so-called art of living. Lack of media hub on TV was partly replaced by the wide range of programs and up to date international news in the Business center.

Activities

In activities offer, Metropole Hanoi Hotel is not exactly like Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, but they have something exceptional – a heritage walk. As a matter of fact, Metropole Hanoi Hotel has its very own house historian who is having daily tours. We found out some interesting facts about the hotel and entered the Metropole Hanoi Hotel bomb shelter as well.

In a word, this bomb shelter was rediscovered by the hotel engineering department during the renovation of the Bamboo Bar in 2011. Our diary about this Path of History is coming soon.

Yoga and Tai Chi

At the rooftop garden balcony ‘Le Balcon,’ guests can join complimentary Yoga (Mondays and Wednesdays) and Tai Chi (Tuesdays and Thursdays). Classes are offered here from 7 to 8 am and are the perfect way to start our day. You know, to prepare your body for a delicious breakfast.

Food at Metropole Hanoi Hotel

Breakfast

Hm, where to start, it’s so much to say. At first, we stopped at the well being corner and had a cup of chia seed pudding with coconut milk and juice. It was a great start, especially with utterly delicious mixed juice all freshly made. Regarding the fresh juice selection, it was literally legendary. Best of all was the chefs’ combinations of different fruit, but there were also classics. Just a few steps away was a mango corner with a few dishes all made of soft Cat Chu Mango. The fruity start is a good way to enter the buffet breakfast, especially with so many twists.

Salmon corner is also a special one, with the Scandinavian salmon as a star. Before the fish gets served the chef cures it for a day. After that chef cleans the salmon and for the final step the salmon gets some cold smoking with applewood chips for two hours. The outcome is delicious as one expects. We loved it. What can I say, breakfast buffet at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel is the reason to wake up before the alarm clock.

Pho Not so Good

The only dish that we didn’t enjoy as much as we usually do, was the Pho. We are a kinda expert of this delicious Vietnamese vermicelli soup. Anyway street vendors, who have only Pho on the menu, are serving much better soups. Maybe should Metropole Hanoi Hotel management find one antie on the street and give her a job 😉

Metropole Hanoi Hotel Buffet at Le Beaulieu

Sunday brunch at Le Beaulieu restaurant earned the reputation as one of the best brunches in Hanoi. Obviously, the main attraction is the food, fresh, tasty, high-quality food. The perfect partner in crime, champagne or wine is also available for this joyful occasion. For the duration of Sunday brunch, everything runs smoothly at Le Beaulieu restaurant. The place was organized and tables clean all the time. Even the lady who was opening the oysters on the spot kept up with the high demand. Not an easy job! Read our review of this exclusive Metropole Buffet.

Afternoon Tea at Le Club Bar

To provide a detailed review, we also indulged into the afternoon tea at Le Club bar. Tea for afternoon tea is in house brand, the L’Epicerie du Metropole tea selection and includes 21 types. In contrast, the tea sandwiches came in 3 varieties, all fresh and flavorful. Scones were kind of a puzzle to us, but still enjoyable with house jams and cream. To my delight, the sweets plate was the biggest with eight pieces of sweets all delicious. The detailed afternoon tea review is here, so please be our guest and check it.

Service at Sofitel Metropole Hanoi Hotel

5-stars hotels have the best service possible in the hospitality business. However, there are some differences and we are trying to notice them. Here at Sofitel Metropole Hanoi Hotel, the service is impeccable. Evening turndown is just like we love it: water on the nightstand, curtains set, bed ready and even a poem with chocolate.

No matter where we were at Sofitel Metropole Hanoi, employees were always friendly and helpful. Communication was never a problem, and you could get your peace when you want it. Yes, that’s right, in some hotels the employees can pay “too much attention.”

Gift for Accor Hotels Golden Status Guests

Some hotel chains have loyalty programs for their members. After obtaining statutes, you get some benefits. However, I will write about the Accor Hotels loyalty program another time. This time I will only describe how you are treated here at Metropole Hanoi Hotel as a gold member.

As an illustration, Metropole Hanoi values golden members with special care. At our arrival, we got a delicious welcome drink and a “classic rescue,” cold towels. Our room got an upgrade and early check-in as well. In the room, we got a small gift consisting of dragon fruit, delicious cake and luscious pralines. Above all that, we also got a vintage postcard with a dedication. Nice gesture, must say.

Conclusion

I must admit after staying at Sofitel Metropole Hanoi Hotel we developed a soft spot for hotel brand Sofitel. For this reason, you will read more reviews of this hotel chain. Indeed, Metropole Hanoi Hotel is something special and if you have a chance to stay there, do not hesitate. Service, food, room, facilities, and amenities… Everything is outstanding here. Heritage hotel like Metropole Hanoi deserves a hotel managing like this.

This building is not only a hotel but rather a historical place, where you will be a witness of noble history. There is no doubt, the Metropole Hanoi Hotel is one of the best hotels in Hanoi, or rather “the best hotel in Hanoi.” Might as well be another landmark in Hanoi and here in Hanoi is also a sister of Metropole Hanoi. It is called Sofitel Hotel de ’lOpera Hanoi and we did our review of de l’Opera Hanoi afternoon tea.

For all heritage hotel lovers, I will write a Metropole Hanoi history, so you will get to know more about this outstanding luxury hotel.

Metropole Hanoi Hotel Review Card

• 9.3/10
  ATMOSPHERE – 9.3/10
• 9.3/10
  CLEANLINESS – 9.3/10
• 9.2/10
  ROOM – 9.2/10
• 9/10
  FACILITIES AND AMENITIES – 9/10
• 9.5/10
  FOOD AND BEVERAGE – 9.5/10
• 9.6/10
  SERVICE – 9.6/10
• 8.6/10
  VALUE – 8.6/10

Price, Location and Reservation

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi address is 15 Phố Ngô Quyền, Tràng Tiền, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 010000, Vietnam and here is a link to the location for easy navigation. Price of the room the same as ours with breakfast for two is about 550 USD per night. If you decide to stay here, please use my referral link. It won’t cost you anything, only we will earn a small commission if you decide to book a hotel through it. Thank you

Disclaimer: Metropole Hanoi Hotel Review is written on our experience in the Sofitel Metropole Hanoi Hotel and it wasn’t sponsored or paid in any way.

The post Metropole Hanoi Hotel Review: Green Heritage Hotel appeared first on Wild 'n' Free Diary.

Here, they serve high tea in the heart of a spacious inner courtyard. Perfect place to cool off and indulge treats in peace. Enjoy our de l’Opera Hanoi afternoon tea review.

Ambiance of La Fée Verte Bar

The inner courtyard of de l’Opera Hanoi Hotel is a calm oasis, where we recovered from loud traffic noises. In the middle of it is the running water and, I swear, I have never appreciated this soothing sound more. Oh, what a blessing! Add this to extensive free space around us – just perfect. It literally couldn’t be more different than the Hanoian streets.

This spacious area is the second part of La Fée Verte bar while the first part is where the actual bar stands. It is less decadent but still full of modern interior with a 20th Parisian influence. De l’Opera Hanoi Afternoon tea is served in this metropolitan oasis though.

De l’Opera Hanoi Afternoon Tea Review

Scones

De l’Opera Hanoi high tea set comes with the spinning sandwich stand and tea of your choice. On the lower three plates were scones, cream, jam, and sandwiches. First, we had a taste of tall soufflé shaped scones, which came in two varieties. Both plain and raisin scones were delightful, only a little overbaked. To be honest, their appearance was a slight surprise. However, the pleasant taste is what matters.

I preferred the raisin scone, mostly because of the juicy soaked raisins. The plains might be leaning more towards the biscuit side, but still satisfactory with strawberry jam. Slightly disappointing was the cream next to the scones – it shrank too much. Only two bites and we were left with strawberry jam to coat the scones.

Hotel de l’Opera Hanoi Afternoon Tea Sandwiches

Like scones also tea sandwiches for our high tea came in two alternatives. Each of us got a rich egg and mayonnaise sandwich, which was pleasantly seasoned. Another abundantly filled traditional afternoon tea sandwich was with ham and Emmental cheese. The sandwich was tasty and it had grape tomato on top, for tinge and more moisture.

Both were tasty, but I missed at least one more on the de l’Opera Hanoi afternoon tea menu. Perhaps, the refreshing cucumber or light salmon sandwich, possibly both.

Afternoon Tea Sweets

After the second part, I went straight for the intense flavors of Opera cake. It was a blast full of coffee and chocolate creaminess. I loved how fresh and luscious it was. To point out, this is the best opera cake I have ever had. Again, I fell for silky smooth texture, except this time for passion fruit Panna Cotta. It ticked all the boxes from sour-sweet taste to crunchy-smooth texture.

Another colorful addition to our afternoon tea sweets was the red velvet cupcake. It had an airy and yet compact feel with buttercream frosting, which made the cupcake even lusher. In the same color specter were the pink macarons with soft vanilla cream. They were good looking and palatable, but the meringues were very stiff.

Lack of softness in biscuit might be in missing maturing process, but it also didn’t melt as it should. Last on the tea menu was the strawberry tart. Complete with lovely crumbly dough, and delightful filling, topped with a fresh strawberry.

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Final Thoughts for Hotel de L’Opera Hanoi Afternoon Tea

Taken everything into consideration the Hotel de l’Opera Hanoi afternoon tea is ranking in a must-try in Hanoi. The courtyard itself is a beautiful place to sit back and breathe deeply. After experiencing the Hanoi’s air pollution that essential “task” is one I learned to appreciate. Running water surely adds some zen vibe and while acknowledging that, an afternoon tea set does suit well with the environment.

It is a beautiful hangout place where afternoon tea bites can be topped with some sparkling wine. Even if the sparkles reach your head don’t you worry about communicating with staff. English is not a problem here. The staff is professional and very helpful, so maybe next time we try out the Hotel room as well.

Our Tip

If you are a high tea lover, then you should check Hotel de l’Opera Hanoi’s sister, Metropole Hanoi Hotel. They serve amazing Metropole Hanoi afternoon tea. The ambiance there will amaze you. If you are a more modern style lover and you like to dring your cup of tea above the skies, than Landmark72 afternoon tea is the one for you.  You are welcome!

De L’Opera Hanoi Afternoon Tea Review Card

• 9.2/10
  ATMOSPHERE – 9.2/10
• 9.3/10
  SERVICE – 9.3/10
• 8.8/10
  TEA SELECTION – 8.8/10
• 9.1/10
  PRESENTATION – 9.1/10
• 8.5/10
  BITES – 8.5/10
• 9.6/10
  VALUE – 9.6/10

Price and Location

The afternoon tea menu for two persons we had comes at a cost of 15 USD. Add 10 USD and you’ll get two glasses of sparkling wine to your two persons afternoon tea set. The time window for de l’Opera Hanoi afternoon tea starts at 1 pm and lasts until 5 pm. Hotel de l’Opera Hanoi is on address 29 Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi and here is a link to the location.

The post Hotel de l’Opera Hanoi Afternoon Tea Review appeared first on Wild 'n' Free Diary.

We were there waiting for a while and took some test photos when a mysterious woman appeared: she pointed into our camera and said something like “nyom nom”. I soon realized that she was from the nearby government building, and it was prohibited for us to take photos of them. Regardless, she was very interested in our camera and the photos we took so we showed her a few.

Let’s be French

Our strategy was “let’s be French and act normal!” We walked around for 15 minutes, and guess who we found still lurking by us?  She was like a really bad copy of James Bond! I even yelled at her: “I can still see you, you know!”, when she unsuccessfully tried to hide behind a huge tree. This spy in Hanoi’s situation was getting even funnier when she was peeking with her lazy eye. O Lord, I was just hoping there won’t be any warning shot, because she could miss, well hit…

When you think about it, things could have been far worse. They could have just surrounded us and demanded to format our SD card. It’s a good thing they didn’t, because, on this particular card, we have a huge collection of fresh Hanoi photos. To prevent this possibility we became real ‘old-fashioned’ tourists with maps and a few photos of the nearby cathedral with flowers and cockroaches and things…

Of course, we are tourists, just not the selfie kind. When we saw her talking on the walkie-talkie, we focused on her voice vibrations: it felt like she had seen enough, and then we were relieved to see her walking away.

Watch Out What are You Shooting At In Hanoi

This story is funny mostly because of her horrible hiding skills, but still, it’s a great reminder of how quickly trouble can appear if you don’t obey the rules. And I can totally understand her. We were fully equipped with a mine tactical backpack and a tripod in a bag, which looks like a serious weapon (I guess?). It is also true that our dark sunglasses and pollution mask didn’t help at all. The pollution in the city is scary and we want to stay healthy (alive). The same day we had our afternoon tea at Landmark72, high in the sky where this pollution cloud is even more obvious.

It’s no joke when you feel you can’t breathe. The air pollution in Hanoi is three times higher than the WHO acceptable guidelines. Standing underneath the mighty trees was all we wanted, no need for drama. We are not interested in any of the political trouble, we just loved the Hanoi’s most beautiful street. Anyway, I think the spy in Hanoi is no threat to the government. The real intruder is all around them and it’s called smog.

The post The spy in Hanoi – they are watching you appeared first on Wild 'n' Free Diary.

The Hive Lounge at InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72

The spacious Hive Lounge gets plenty of sunlight from the floor to ceiling windows, which amplifies its grand design. We especially liked the skylight in the heart of the lounge, in combination with the view. Being there felt like we were in a castle, high up in the clouds. To us, the middle part of the lounge resembled a castle’s courtyard, because of the really high ceiling.

There were two large round sofas, surrounded by an artistic wall. It was very cozy being at a table right next to the window, which was a perfect spot for afternoon tea. It was pleasant to sit on the comfortable chair and look around, as not everything is about the city view.

Tea Selection

One of the best high tea in Hanoi started with the selection of 28 loose teas by DAMMANN Frères. Both of us were in the mood for something citrusy so we went for 7 Parfums and Soleil Vert. The 7 Parfums is a blend of black tea and lemon scented orange peels with the bergamot, fresh fig, lotus flower and pitanga.

The floral and fruity flavors were a balanced match for the subtly scented tea. Ian prefers green tea and the Soleil Vert is based on exactly that. In fact, it is green tea, scented with blood orange essential oil, which is responsible for the fresh infusion of tangy fruity notes. The tea menu provides enough diversity that allowed us to quickly find a satisfying blend for each of our personal taste.

Savories

First on the high tea menu were the hot savories. Because I couldn’t resist the blue cheese quiche, it was the first one to go. It was a classic bite, and it really pleased the cheese lover in me. I liked the strong taste that had well developed blue cheese presence despite the fresh herbs. The crunchy pastry was not crumbling and allowed me to have an easy bite.

Next was the tasty Scotch quail egg with sour gravy. I liked the sourish gravy, which brought refreshing notes to the fried dough and egg. The last of the hot savories was the friend, with ground pork and herbs: this puff pastry roll had a fair amount of savory filling. Cut with precision into the rectangle shape were the crust-free sandwiches.

I was very pleased that the afternoon tea sandwiches were larger than the one-bite finger food. Especially after tasting the first one, the juicy egg salad sandwich with chives, which was very flavorful for an egg sandwich. The next sandwich had two layers of smoked salmon and lemon cream in the middle. The dill bread added color contrast and taste to the full-flavored piece.

The most intense one we tried might have been the raisin bread chicken curry sandwich: the spices diversified the buttery sauce and with the raisins came the lovely sweetness. This one was similar to the coronation chicken, which was created for the coronation of Elizabeth II. It can also be inspired by the national dish of England, chicken tikka masala.

Either way, it heated us up and we cooled down with mint bread morsel. A truly refreshing bite was filled with cucumber, mint and cream cheese.

Scones

Rustic beauties shined through the glass bowl with a wooden lid. On top of the ginger bedding, were the lemon and ginger candy scones. Above them were the plain scones, which were delicious with their double cream and Da-Lat strawberry jam. Zesty orange marmalade was the excellent sweet delight on top of the lemon and ginger candy scone. Of course, we mixed the flavors a little and liked all the alternatives, not surprisingly as they were great on their own with a fine crust.

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Sweets

The credit for the Landmark72 afternoon tea delights goes to pastry chef Serhat Mizrakli. His handmade French pastries look admirable on the elegant three-level stand. We started with a succulent homemade marshmallow surprise with a chocolate dough base. The surprise was in the chocolate ganache and orange peel with lime filling. I can say that it was a marvelous go-between the crunchy dough and spongy white bump.

The berry almond financier was the second dessert with surprise in the middle. It was marinated strawberry, coated in diplomat cream. The whipped cream with the addition of custard is splendid on its own, but altogether it becomes an enjoyment. The beautiful rose crown can be described as the sweet creamy delicacy.

Flavoring the raspberry curd, lychee jelly and rose ganache along with the white chocolate pearls. In fact, it was a little too sweet to my taste, but I liked the individual ingredients and its creamy texture. My favorite was the Rocher’s, which was made of banana coulis, hazelnut crunch, mango and passion crème with vanilla ganache and covered with hazelnut. Yum!

Extra Dessert

After we finished all the treats of the afternoon tea menu, we still weren’t ready to leave. The lady that came by with the travel cake trolley was to blame for that. The Intercontinental high tea had some extra cakes in order: there was a pistachio cake, a strawberry chocolate marble cake, a lemon cake, a passionfruit marzipan cake and a banana cake.

They all looked so perfect, and just by looking at them, we somehow managed to find some extra room so we could try them! Not much extra room, but enough to share a slice of a lemon cake. We liked the firm dough and lemon punch. Before we finished the piece, we almost ended up regretting our decision to skip the strawberry chocolate marble cake.

Conclusion

Yes, there is a limit to how much we can eat – but why would we feel bad about how much we’ve eaten, instead of appreciating all the deliciousness that’ we’ve just enjoyed? There is always something that slips by and that keeps things interesting, which is why the afternoon tea menu at the Hive Lounge at InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72 changes every three months. This way they can feature the best local produce according to the seasons.

Landmark72 high tea is one of the best afternoon tea in Hanoi. You won’t get just a view and professional service, but great bites as well. With the afternoon tea, they convinced us to try out their themed brunch, but we just couldn’t think of eating any more after that delicious meal! Next time, brunch and now back to the best hotel here in Hanoi – Sofitel Metropole Hanoi Hotel!

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
  BITES – 9/10
• 9.6/10
  VALUE – 9.6/10

Price and Location

The afternoon tea set for two people that we had comes at a price of USD$28 USD. If you decide to try this amazing high tea, here is a location to the new Intercontinental Hotel here in Hanoi.

The post Landmark72 high tea review – Hanois’ best appeared first on Wild 'n' Free Diary.