Afternoon tea is the last meal with a dress code, and the Ritz London is the last house that enforces one to the letter. A guide to what the salons mean when they say smart.
Dress codes at tea are a matter of the room’s self-respect rather than snobbery, and a guest who dresses for it is treated to the ritual in full. The rules vary by city.
London
The Palm Court at the Ritz requires a jacket and tie for gentlemen, no jeans, no sportswear, no trainers, and a jacket is available at the door. Claridge’s, the Savoy and the Dorchester ask for smart casual: no sportswear, no shorts, no flip-flops.
Paris, Monaco, the Gulf
The Paris palaces ask for smart and appreciate a jacket in the Salon Proust and La Galerie; Monaco dresses up as a habit; Sahn Eddar at the Burj Al Arab turns away shorts and sandals, and abayas and evening wear sit side by side.
Asia and the rest
Hong Kong, Tokyo and Singapore ask for smart casual and closed shoes; the Peninsula Lobby refuses flip-flops. Vienna, Munich and Zurich are relaxed in the cafés and smart in the hotel salons. When in doubt, a jacket and proper shoes pass everywhere.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a tie at the Ritz London?
Yes, jacket and tie for gentlemen in the Palm Court; the hotel can lend a jacket.
What does smart casual mean at tea?
No sportswear, no shorts, no flip-flops; a jacket is welcome but not required.
