We booked a staycation at The Phoenician, a Luxury Collection Resort in Scottsdale, and couldn't leave without trying their famous Afternoon Tea. To be completely honest, we had never done a formal afternoon tea before β we didn't know what to expect, how to properly pour the tea, or even how much sugar to use.
The standard price is $100 per person, but we snagged a "Summer Splash" deal for $85. Here is our completely amateur, honest take.
If you are like us and grew up with no real frame of reference for afternoon tea as a food experience, you might share our curiosity mixed with mild uncertainty. Is it actually filling? Is it just fancy snacks on a pretty stand? Will we feel ridiculous not knowing the etiquette? The answer to all three is: kind of, yes, and absolutely not. The Phoenician's afternoon tea in Scottsdale, Arizona is one of those experiences that turns into a genuine memory, especially when you go in with zero expectations and an open mind.
The Setup & The Tea
The afternoon tea is held in the lobby area. We recommend booking through OpenTable and arriving a little early to grab a good seat. Gluten-free and vegan menus are available upon request β we went with the standard Full Tea course.
The lobby at The Phoenician is one of those spaces that earns its reputation. High ceilings, natural light, carefully curated floral arrangements. Afternoon tea is served in this setting and it suits it perfectly. The atmosphere immediately communicates that this is an event, not just a meal. A few other groups were seated near us, some celebrating birthdays, others that looked like they made it a regular tradition. We felt immediately comfortable and a bit giddy, which is the right energy for this experience.
Our Tea Choices: Vincent ordered the Plum Oolong; I chose the White Coconut Cream Tea. There was a bit of a learning curve with the heavy teapots and massive rock-like sugar cubes, but the tea itself was fantastic.
I want to talk about those sugar cubes for a second because nobody tells you about them beforehand. They are large, dense, and do not dissolve quickly. Dropping one into your cup requires some patience and a bit of stirring, which is part of the experience but does take some adjusting to if you are a person who just wants your tea sweet immediately. The White Coconut Cream Tea I chose was delicate and aromatic, with a subtle coconut sweetness that did not overpower the tea base. Vincent's Plum Oolong was earthy and slightly fruity. Both held up beautifully across all three courses without needing constant refills.
Course 1: Finger Sandwiches (With Refills!)
We expected the food on a traditional tiered stand, but the first course came out flat on a plate.
This surprised us. We had come in with a mental image of the iconic three-tiered silver stand piled high with everything at once, so when the finger sandwiches arrived on a flat plate as a separate course, it initially felt slightly underwhelming in presentation. That feeling did not last.
The Taste: Good, but not exactly mind-blowing five-star luxury flavor.
The sandwiches were fresh and well-made. Classic cucumber, smoked salmon, and a couple of other small bites. Nothing that made us gasp, but everything was quality and clearly prepared with care. The bread was soft, the fillings were not overdone, and each bite was properly proportioned for a two-or-three-bite sandwich.
The Surprise: They offer refills. We were hungry enough to ask for a second round, which made the $85 price tag feel considerably more worth it. Definitely take advantage of this.
This is the piece of information that changes the whole value calculation on The Phoenician's afternoon tea. The refills on the first course are not advertised prominently, and our server let us know almost in passing. We immediately asked for a second round and it arrived promptly. If you are going in hungry (which I recommend), lean into the sandwich course heavily and take full advantage of the refill. It sets you up perfectly for the courses ahead.
Course 2: Scones & Spreads
Two types of scones β cranberry and buttermilk β served with various spreads.
The Texture: Very soft and flaky, closer to a KFC biscuit than a traditional hard scone. Not what we expected, but not unpleasant.
We both had a preconception of what scones were supposed to be: dense, slightly dry, very British. The Phoenician's scones are the opposite of that. They are closer to a soft, flaky biscuit, which depending on your palate will either be a surprise or a delight. For us, it landed somewhere in between. We appreciated the quality and freshness, but a part of me had been looking forward to the firmer, more traditional version.
The Verdict: The cranberry scone was packed with flavor and the clear winner. The plain buttermilk was just okay.
The cranberry adds enough tartness and sweetness to elevate the scone significantly. With the Devonshire cream and jam, the cranberry scone becomes genuinely indulgent. The buttermilk scone on its own is unremarkable, but it works well as a neutral vehicle for the spreads, so do not ignore it entirely. The spreads (clotted cream, fruit preserves, and at least one herbal butter variation) were all high quality and worth exploring in different combinations.
Course 3: The Dessert Platter
By the time dessert arrived we were completely stuffed β the sandwich refills did their job. But we pushed through.
The Presentation: Gorgeous. One dessert looked like little kids' art with a butterfly motif; another was topped with real edible gold flakes.
The presentation of the dessert platter is easily the most Instagrammable moment of the entire experience. The plating is extremely detailed, almost like a small art project, and the gold leaf adds a visual luxury that signals that the kitchen put genuine thought into this course. We took probably too many photos before actually eating anything.
The Winners: The chocolate desserts were the standouts β incredibly rich, complex, and genuinely high-end. The fruit-based options (like a lemon tart) were fine, but chocolate stole the show.
The chocolate dessert had layers of ganache, crispy elements, and a richness that felt restaurant-quality in a way the other courses were building toward. It was the clear high point of the meal from a pure flavor perspective. The lemon tart and fruit-forward options were pleasant but predictable. If you are a chocolate person, you will leave the dessert course very happy.
The Vibe: Who Is Afternoon Tea at The Phoenician Good For?
This is an excellent experience for a special occasion: birthdays, anniversaries, a bridal event, or any celebration that benefits from a beautiful, intentional, multi-course setting. It is also genuinely fun as a one-time experience if you have never done formal afternoon tea before, which was our situation entirely.
For a casual weekday lunch or a quick bite, afternoon tea is not the right fit. It is designed to be savored slowly over two or more hours. Come hungry, come with someone you enjoy talking to, and let the pace of the experience carry you. Do not rush.
Practical Info
The Phoenician is located in Scottsdale, Arizona, near Camelback Mountain on East Camelback Road. Afternoon tea is held in the lobby area, and the setting is beautiful regardless of the season. Scottsdale summers are extremely hot, so the air-conditioned interior makes this a particularly pleasant midday or early afternoon activity even in peak summer heat.
Book through OpenTable in advance, especially on weekends or if you are visiting during a busy resort season. Gluten-free and vegan menus are available, so flag dietary needs when booking. Dress code is smart-casual; the resort tends to attract a well-dressed crowd, but formal attire is not required.
Final Thoughts & Budget Tips
Our total for two came to around $207, which includes an automatic 22% service charge. However, because we booked through Amex FHR, we charged it to the room and used our $100 property credit β cutting the bill nearly in half.
Overall, a fun and unique experience. We left completely full and really enjoyed the desserts. If you can offset the cost with a hotel credit or promotion, it becomes a much easier yes.
Even at full price, The Phoenician's afternoon tea is a solid value for a luxury resort experience when you factor in the quality of the setting, the refillable sandwiches, and the standard of the dessert course. We had genuinely no idea what we were doing when we sat down, and two hours later we left full, happy, and already texting friends to recommend it. That is the best result a first-time afternoon tea experience could produce.
