Le Lobby, Peninsula Paris

Le Lobby of the Peninsula Paris serves the group’s afternoon tea under a painted ceiling with a pianist, and Anne Coruble builds the stand around a theme each season.

The Lobby is the long gilded hall of the old Majestic, restored with its ceiling paintings and chandeliers; the pianist plays from three. The tea comes in the Peninsula manner: sandwiches, scones, a themed pastry tier that changes with the season or a fashion partnership, and a classic tier alongside. The tea list includes the group’s own blends.

Among the Paris palaces it is the one you can book online for the same week.