Steeped in Tradition: Afternoon Tea at Milwaukee's Pfister Hotel
When Guido Pfister and his son Charles opened their hotel in 1893, they wanted it to be the top luxury spot in the western United States, a welcoming place for guests and a symbol of Milwaukee’s style. Today, their vision lives on in experiences like the hotel’s afternoon tea at Blu on the 23rd floor, where guests can enjoy sweeping views of the city and Lake Michigan. Architect Charles Koch designed the original structure in Romanesque Revival style. At nearly $1 million, it was the most expensive hotel built in its era, featuring innovations like fireproofing throughout, electricity in every room, and individual thermostat controls.
The afternoon tea service reflects this commitment to excellence through details that elevate it beyond a simple meal. A Pfister Tea Butler presents Rishi Tea selections at the table, creating custom blends and discussing each tea's flavor profile, origins, and effects on mood and health. The hotel's signature blend combines white peony with peppermint, lavender, jasmine, and rose petals for a delicate floral experience. Guests might also choose Four Season Springs oolong with notes of gardenia and freesia, or caffeine-free herbal teas like tropical Hibiscus Berry or warming Cinnamon Plum with Saigon cinnamon and plum notes.
Five distinct menu tiers accommodate different tastes and dietary requirements while maintaining the same level of culinary attention. The Luxe experience features salmon roe and Osetra caviar toasts with crème fraiche, red onion brunoise, and egg yolk crumble, alongside tenderloin crostini with garlic herb goat cheese and shrimp tartlets with cocktail sauce and Old Bay seasoning. The Victorian tier offers a more traditional approach with oak-roasted salmon on rye crisps, cucumber sandwiches with dill chantilly, and crab salad on fresh bread. Families with children can order from the All Grown-Up menu, which includes favorites like roasted turkey and cheddar sandwiches and cocktail beef franks wrapped in pastry.
The vegetarian menu features mushroom duxelle tarts with parmesan, ratatouille tarts, and mini roasted red pepper pitas with feta. The vegan selection eliminates animal products without sacrificing creativity, offering dishes like tomato tarts with fried basil and cucumber tarts with vegan crème fraiche. Every tier ends with the same sweet course: fresh scones served warm with lemon curd, clotted cream, and berry preserves, followed by almond joy, pistachio cannoli, pate de fruit, raspberry tart, and cheesecake. The Luxe and Victorian experiences include a complimentary glass of sparkling wine or mimosa, though guests can add sparkling wine to any tier.
What sets The Pfister's afternoon tea apart from other luxury hotels is the hospitality approach Guido and Charles Pfister established more than 130 years ago and that current associates still practice. Servers anticipate needs before guests mention them, the Tea Butler educates without lecturing, and the experience unfolds at a pace that encourages lingering over conversation instead of rushing through courses.
Beyond the tea service, guests can explore the world's largest Victorian art collection housed in any hotel, a collection the Pfister family began assembling when the hotel opened. Self-guided tours let visitors wander through the collection at their own pace, while scheduled sessions with the hotel's Artist-in-Residence provide deeper context about individual pieces.
Daily seating runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with the full experience typically lasting 90 minutes to two hours, depending on how many tea selections guests sample. Reservations require full prepayment by credit card and should be secured in advance, especially for weekend slots that book quickly. For reservations and current pricing, visit www.thepfisterhotel.com.
