Late British Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone's pragmatic ode to tea reads:

‘If you are cold, tea will warm you.
If you are heated, it will cool you.
If you are depressed, it will cheer you.
If you are excited, it will calm you.’

Of course, all of these attributes are even more true when you're able to enjoy your piping-hot cuppa with a side serving of cucumber sandwiches, buttery, jam-laden scones, creamy cakes and other indulgent pastries in a swanky hotel setting. Posh things up a bit this season and head over to these high-tea havens.

Cape Town

Garden Lounge at the Vineyard Hotel & Spa

The Leopard Room Bar at the Twelve Apostles Hotel

The Library at the Cape Grace

The Lounge

The Mount Nelson

The Vista Bar at the One & Only

The main lounge of the Beverly Hills Hotel in Umhlanga

The Palm Court at The Oyster Box Hotel

Pretoria

Tiffin's Bar & Lounge at the Sheraton Pretoria Hotel.

Johannesburg

The Dining Room at The Grace Hotel

Il Ritrovo Bar and Lounge at the Michelangelo Hotel

Ndau Lounge at the Hyatt Regency Johannesburg

The Polo Bar at The Westcliff Hotel

Garden Route

Pecan Tree Grill at the Knysna Hollow Country Estate

Sand Restaurant at The Plettenberg

Winelands

The Lobby Lounge at NH Lord Charles

The Lounge at Le Franschhoek Hotel and Spa

* Please note that some of these venues require bookings, so to avoid disappointment, phone ahead.