Afternoon Tea at Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island

Afternoon Tea at Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island is a lovely experience for guests and visitors alike and has been a Grand Hotel tradition for more than a century. We love breaking up our days of excitement on Mackinac Island by heading back to the hotel for champagne, finger sandwiches, small desserts, chocolate-covered strawberries, macarons, pudding, fruit, and other small sweets; all enjoyed while serenaded by a live harpist.

Afternoon Tea at Grand Hotel

Location: Mackinac Island, Michigan
inside Grand Hotel
Dining Experience: Indoor or Outdoor on World’s longest porch
Price: $63+ per Person
Hours: 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Dress Code: Business Casual+
Reservations: Highly Recommended
Tipping: No tipping inside Grand Hotel
Special Diets: Pescatarian, Vegetarian,
Gluten-Free (not GF dedicated)

Making a Reservation for Afternoon Tea at Grand Hotel

Guests of Grand Hotel can reserve their spot at afternoon tea at any time before or during their stay by simply speaking with the front desk or concierge. Those who aren’t staying at the hotel can still come into the hotel for afternoon tea with a reservation and will also have to pay a $10 fee to enter the hotel. This fee prevents the hotel from being overrun by curious visitors who aren’t staying at the hotel, which preserves the hotel’s peaceful atmosphere for guests and staff.

Afternoon Tea Ambience

Live harpist? Check. Bold floral decor decorated by legendary interior designer Carleton Varney? Check. Incredible views of the Straights of Mackinac from the World’s longest porch on an island where cars aren’t allowed and slowing down to enjoy life has become an art form? Check, check, and check! There’s nowhere more relaxing and refreshing to enjoy afternoon tea than the sitting room or porch of Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island!

Afternoon Tea Menu 

The pre-set menu includes finger sandwiches, pastries, sweets, fruit, and other delights. Guests are given the option to choose champagne or sherry and are served tea throughout the experience.

I can’t eat anything with gluten, and I choose not to eat meat, and thankfully Grand Hotel has always been so great about throwing together something that suits my needs and is still festive. The last Afternoon Tea I had at Grand Hotel featured pudding, fresh seasonal fruit and berries, freshly caught lake fish, gluten-free pastries and finger sandwiches, chocolate-covered strawberries, macarons, and clotted cream. They’re so accommodating and thoughtful!

Afternoon Tea Dress Code

Since Afternoon Tea is mid-day, just before Grand Hotel’s dress code kicks in, you’ll see people in all manner of dress, wearing everything from tennis whites and golf attire to something more formal. We always take this time to freshen up, dress up a bit, and enjoy a mid-day pause overlooking the Straits of Mackinac Island while savoring the little delicacies the hotel whips up for us.

Final Thoughts on Grand Hotels 

Even if you’re not staying at Grand Hotel, which you absolutely must at least once in your lifetime, Afternoon Tea at Grand Hotel is a quintessential activity every visitor to the island should enjoy. It’s something I look forward to each visit, and the attention to detail, variety, and delectable flavors of everything that comprises afternoon tea means it’s something I’ll be coming back from Connecticut to enjoy season after season!