Nine of the best: Mother's Day high teas

Spoil Mum with a decadent high tea at one of our favourite addresses. The Dish team have collated the nine best sweet and savoury offerings you simply need to sample this Sunday.

Nothing says "I love you Mum" like an afternoon grazing on dainty delights.

From Auckland's plentiful offerings to the very best of the capital and down south, why not say thank you with Earl Grey, scones, pint-sized sammies and sweets? Get the bubbles on ice this Mother's Day and consider these nine must-try destinations your saving grace.

1. Hotel DeBrett, Auckland
Long-favoured as one of our favourite addresses in the city, Hotel DeBrett is the perfect urban locale to celebrate Mum. Start with a masterfully mixed Easy Street cocktail on arrival, complemented by the bespoke 1920’s inspired goodie bags, including faux pearls, elegant headbands, demure long gloves and bright feather boas. We suggest you make a day of it and go full-flapper for one memorable afternoon. Priced at $70 per head, this unique offering is bound to sell out. Simply see here to book ahead.

2. Bellini at the Hilton, Auckland
Settle down with the best seat in the house, at Bellini’s Twisted High Tea at Auckland's Viaduct. Savour a selection of Chef Wallace’s reimagined savouries, including a baby kumara tartine with smoked pulled beef and chipotle chutney and a pesto mini tartine with citrus cured salmon, horseradish cream and home-made apple caviar. Devour a selection of sweet treats, like the dark equateur chocolate marquis infused with wasabi and salted coconut caramel, served with chocolate mousse on a peanut butter sponge. The Twisted High Tea is available at $49 per person and includes a choice of two hot beverages, while the Elegant High Tea at $69 per person, includes two cocktail teasers and two hot beverages. Tempted yet? For more information or to secure your booking, see here.

3. Cordis, Auckland
Cordis are extending their annual offering further, with a special Mother's Day high tea fit for the Queen herself. Treat Mum to an array of tasty savouries and sweets, 

savouries including ‘Like Love’ – cured venison on wild rocket panna cotta,‘Simply Love’ – a creamy goat’s cheese muffin; and ‘Happiness', oysters served with champagne jelly and olive caviar. Delight your sweet-tooth with ‘Mumma Loves Me', a silky strawberry and peach dome with strawberry sable; 'Number One Mum' a golden honey crème brûlée with salted cashews and ruby grapefruit gel; and light-as-air plum and white chocolate ‘Mummaroons’.

Take a trip down ‘Silk Road’ with an exotic Mother’s Day Champagne Cocktail, a unique blend of delicate silk road tea finished with champagne. To learn more or to secure your booking, see here.

4. Hippopotamus at the QT Museum Wellington, Wellington
Quirky, expressive and absolutely delightful, the QT Museum Wellington remains one of our favourite spots in the capital. The gorgeously plush interior and delicious high tea menu makes Hippopotamus one of the city's must-visit locations. For more details, simply see their website right here.

5. Harbourside, Auckland
Sitting proudly on Auckland's waterfront and boasting one of the city's best vistas is Harbourside. Offering spectacular balcony views and an equally impressive menu, Harbourside's classic high tea is available every Saturday and Sunday. This year, lucky Mums dining at Harbourside will receive a complementary flute of G.H. Mumm Codon Rouge on arrival, be sure to book early to secure your table on the deck. Pure bliss.

6. Mona Vale, Christchurch
Few do high tea better than Canterbury's Mona Vale. Boasting a menu that includes more than six different high tea offerings, be sure to book well in advance to avoid the disappointment of missing out. Our pick? The Boutique High Tea menu offers a range of sweet and savoury treats paired with a variety of Dilmah teas and Chandon Brut Rosé. See their website here for more details.

7. Bluebells Cakery, Auckland
Relocating from Eden Terrace to a much larger space on Kingsland's New North Road, the new cakery has its own private room, offering a decadent high tea from just $30 per person. Coinciding with Bluebells' new opening, the cakery is also launching its own takeaway high tea, from $35 per person – right on time for Mother's Day.

Boasting a selection of Bluebells’ sweet and savoury treats, the takeaway high tea set comes with a three-tiered disposable cake stand for displaying all that glorious food in style with each set designed to share between two. All you need to do is add champagne or, if you fancy, match your favourite morsels to your signature Harney & Sons blend. BYO bubbles and you have yourself our idea of the perfect tea party. See here for more.

8. Ostro, Auckland
Boasting one of the best views across Auckland's glittering Harbour, Ostro is the gift that keeps on giving. This year, the Auckland bar and eatery have teamed up with Veuve Clicquot to present High Tea For Mum, offering a scrumptious line-up of sweet and savoury delights. To learn more or to secure your booking, see here.

9. The Art Deco Masonic, Emporium, Napier
The jewel in Napier’s jazz-era crown with its recently renovated cocktail lounge, The Art Deco Masonic offers a perfect rendezvous when visiting the country's art deco capital. Surprise Mum with a weekend away to this beautiful region and indulge in a high or Devonshire tea at Emporium, The Lounge. To learn more, see their website here.

10. The Batch Winery, Waiheke Island
Escape the mainland this Sunday for destination dining at its very best on Waiheke Island. Offering stunning views from high on the hill, The Batch in Onetangi is one of our favourite venues on the Island. Their signature high tea offers three tiers of pure indulgence and a taste of Waiheke's best producers. For $43 per head, take the opportunity to explore what else this bountiful vineyard has to offer. See their website here for booking details.