High Times

A genteel taste of the Old World in the Back Bay

here are some great old-fashioned customs that are still around, if you slow down and look. One of our favorites is high tea at Asana restaurant in the Mandarin Oriental hotel. Friday through Sunday afternoons from 2 to 4 p.m., the restaurant transforms into something out of the British imperial era, serving an indulgent assortment of classic raisin scones with Devonshire cream and lemon curd, lemongrass profiteroles, and finger sandwiches with curry chicken salad or smoked salmon. Another secret: The Mandarin Oriental’s Spa Café upstairs, open to anyone, is an intimate and little-known oasis in the bustling Back Bay, with smoothies, juices, and spa-style light meals, open to the public, with a soothing wall-sized waterfall to make you forget the work that’s waiting on your desk. Araki

Shhhh! The original hotel, the Mandarin,
opened in 1963 in Hong Kong.

Shhhh! Afternoon tea was originated by
Anna Maria Russell, duchess of Bedford, who
served in the court of Queen Victoria.

Shhhh! Sacred objects were sealed into
the walls of the Mandarin Oriental when it was built,
to enhance its feng shui.

Shhh who knew

The Mandarin Oriental hotel is decorated with pottery and sculpture and hung with museum-quality original art by the likes of Frank Stella (who was born in Malden) and David Hockney, all of it open to the public. Ask at the front desk for a guide to the collection.