The Plaza Hotel’s ‘Popular’ Wicked-Themed Afternoon Tea Is Just as Magical as You’d Dream
What better way to get in the Halloween spirit than with our two favorite Wicked witches, Elphaba and Glinda? The Palm Court at The Plaza Hotel in New York City is now offering a Wicked-themed afternoon tea, aptly named "Defying Gravi-Tea," through the end of October in honor of the Broadway classic's 20th anniversary.
Upon entering The Plaza Hotel, you're greeted by a lavish display of fall floral arrangements and stunning chandeliers. But the real Wicked magic is in their restaurant, The Palm Court, where their iconic stained-glass dome is tinted emerald green for the occasion.
The Wicked Signature Tea menu starts at $134 per person, or a bit more if you'd like to add on a glass of champagne. It comes with a selection of tea, sandwiches and other savory items, some scones and five sweet pastry items. The selections aren't just festive in appearance, they also come with fun names like "Look To The Brest'ern Sky" and "Glinda's & Elphaba's Cucumber Sandwich."
Our favorites from the selection were the "Flying Monkey Macaron," "Ube Wicked Cheesecake" and "What Is This Fig-ling."
"Glinda's Tart" was a bit too heavy on the rose flavor for our taste and the savory "It's Foie 'Gaaaa' Macaron" wasn't quite what we expected from a macaron. The scones and tea were, undoubtedly, both a hit.
A gluten-free option is available upon request for the same pricing. The Wicked elements aren't as plentiful, but the sandwich bread is plenty soft, which any gluten-free diner knows is not always the case.
If you'd prefer to go all out, The Palm Court also offers an "Imperial" version of their Wicked tea service that includes champagne and caviar. This is definitely more of a splurge at $599 for two.
If you prefer a cocktail to champagne, they're offering The Witches Brew, a very emerald-colored concoction. The drink is priced at $35 and consists of Tito's vodka, lemon juice, Midori and albumin. Midori is a melon-flavored liqueur that happens to perfectly match Elphaba's signature coloring.
The Plaza is also currently offering an "Emerald City Experience," available on a first-come, first-serve basis. It includes two sold-out tickets to the Wicked 20th-anniversary performance, transportation to the theater, tea for two at The Palm Court, a playbill signed by the cast, and a stay in a Plaza King Room. Pricing starts at $1,545.
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