The Tea Experience in Central Michigan

 

THE TOWNSEND HOTEL
100 Townsend Street • Birmingham, MI 48009
248-642-7900 • townsendhotel.com

No trip to Michigan is complete without a stay at the upscale, elegant Townsend Hotel, just a half hour north of Detroit in the affluent suburb of Birmingham. The four-star-rated Townsend is the very definition of luxury. Polished cherrywood-paneled walls and cut-crystal chandeliers, along with sumptuously appointed rooms and suites that feature Egyptian cotton sheets, custom-made duvets, and gleaming marble baths, invite guests to enjoy an experience much like those offered at genteel continental hotels. “Our goal was to create a traditional, European-luxury feel,” explains Food and Beverage Director Jared Chorney. “One of the things I’m most proud of is that we really get to know our guests to make sure we are creating the experience that they’re expecting.”

And one truly delightful part of that experience is the traditional English tea served each afternoon from noon until 5 o’clock in the posh tea lobby. Guests can cozy up to the fire while listening to classical music and enjoying delicious fare and Harney & Sons loose-leaf teas served on a mélange of lovely china collected from antique shops and estate sales. Pastry Chef Taylor Brockenshire has been preparing amazing baked goods at The Townsend for 12 years, and guests are delighted to learn that many can be purchased at the in-house bakery.

It’s not unusual for multiple generations of families to return time and again, fostering a tradition that becomes a rite of passage for the younger members. “In addition to the tea and tortes, what we really like to offer is the experience,” says Jared. “Taking tea is a bit of a lost art, especially in luxury hotels. It’s a great amenity of the Townsend, and people love it.” The hotel also hosts a number of special events during the year, from a Derby Day Tea, where everyone wears a fancy hat, to tea tastings and etiquette classes.

Whether you come to the hotel for afternoon tea or purely to be pampered in plush surroundings, one thing is certain: The Townsend wants you to relax, unwind, and enjoy the whole experience.

For afternoon-tea reservations, contact Laura Klein, the hotel’s afternoon-tea director, at 248-647-2196 or at lklein@townsendhotel.com.


Karen Callaway is a former magazine editor who writes on a variety of topics from her home in Birmingham, Alabama.

1 COMMENT

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.