煥然一新的古典時尚地標—曼谷文華東方下午茶Authors’Lounge afternoontea－良好印象傳媒 Favorable Impression Media @FIMMEDIA

在西方古典的環境下，感受道地的熱帶風情，諾大的天窗把陽光帶進來、被綠竹環抱、與鮮花相親，這是曼谷文華東方酒店兼具140年歷史與人文的Authors’Lounge，在經過整年的翻修後，不但下午茶的水準整體提升，空間更加煥然一新。(內含HD影音直擊)

Authors’Lounge一直是曼谷作為下午茶、婚禮和各類高雅活動的最佳選擇，這間著名的作家休閒空間在擴建翻新後，與飯店的河畔露臺餐廳和花園相連，更還原了其19世紀後期的經典設計風格。

為了紀念曾下榻酒店的四位傳奇作家Noël Coward（科沃德）、James Michener（米契納）、法國《月亮和六便士》的作者Somerset Maugham（毛姆）和Joseph Conrad（康拉德）等人的相片掛於 4 間全新的私人貴賓室內，該飯店從成立此今、一直與文學界頗有淵源，

見證於文學巨匠在酒店生活的點滴，或他們著作的字裡行間中，以及當中展覽的簽名藏書。想像著這些大文豪們在飯店裡寫作思索的神情模樣，似乎替下午茶廳堂增添另一種無可取代的文化氣息，「Authors’Lounge」的名稱也由此而來。

它所在的作家翼（Authors'Wing）是全酒店最具歷史的建築物，建於1876年，當時稱為東方酒店，現在只要走出酒廊大門，仍會發現最老的門樓牆身，極具殖民地色彩。事實上泰國從來未被任何國家殖民過，但一開始時邀請義大利建築團隊設計，在各國商業往來密集的河畔引入殖民式風格建築，講求比例對稱的結構美學搭配教堂式的古典正面。

自從 1976 年起，Authors' Lounge 便改建成玻璃花園，讓賓客在內享用下午茶。精緻的三層架鹹甜點心，風靡世界各地而來的賓客。這裡的下午茶套餐，分為西式、泰式和素食三種選擇—前兩者精緻可口不在話下，素食更是別有一番風味。

採用法國國寶級瑪黑兄弟（Mariage Frères）不同口味的紅茶及香草茶，讓這個歷史悠久的Authors' Lounge有了新生命，海內外賓客紛沓而來。

這裡最知名的便是傳統文華東方酒店泰式拼盤(The Oriental Afternoon Tea Set)，手工現做的泰式鹹點、甜點，做得一點兒都不馬虎，水平之高，幾乎滿足所有人的味蕾。

西式下午茶套餐，同樣擁有酒店自製英國茶餅、迷你三明治、甜點及鹹點，也讓人驚豔。

而配合飲食潮流推出的素食下午茶：蘆筍咖哩cream cheese三明治，咖哩上還鋪了金箔，實在一吃難忘。

The Oriental, now Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, was the first luxury hotel in the Kingdom of Siam. In 1976, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit officially opened the hotel’s River Wing.

In 2015, Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok completed a comprehensive renovation of the historic Authors’ Wing (the original Oriental Hotel) and the Garden Wing. These two wings are the heart and soul of this world renowned hotel and the renovation was designed to restore their original splendour.

At the same time, the renowned Authors’ Lounge - a favourite destination for afternoon tea, society weddings and elegant events - was restored to its classic late nineteenth-century design.

Through its 140 years of existence, The Oriental’s grandiose colonial façade has greeted travellers, dignitaries and literary figures, some of whom like British spy novelist, John le Carré, penned novels from the rooms and suites, including The Honourable Schoolboy.

Others, like Noël Coward simply imbued the riverine views, declaring: “It is a lovely place and I am fonder of it than ever.” W. Somerset Maugham wrote about his bout with malaria during his stay at The Oriental in The Gentleman in the Parlour; and Barbara Cartland named one of the heroines in Sapphires in Siam after an Oriental employee. Joseph Conrad, the sea captain and writer, was a frequent visitor to the bar of The Oriental.

The Oriental Afternoon Tea Set

Refreshing lime and ginger sorbet

A selection of savouries: Lemongrass, chilli, lime-marinated crabmeat sandwich Minced chicken, chilli and black olive sandwich Mini Thai curry puff • Fried vermicelli in a pastry cup Roasted pandan chicken • Fresh Vietnamese spring roll Steamed Thai dumplings Wing bean salad with chicken and prawns in betel leaves Chicken and corn in crispy pastry shell

Warm traditional plain and Thai mango scones Seasonal selection of home-made jams Devonshire clotted cream, mascarpone or butter

A selection of pastries: Kanom Sai Sai, sweet coconut pudding wrapped in banana leave Steamed pumpkin custard Assorted Thai marzipan Mango tartlet with vanilla cream Candy bale fruit chiffon cake Foi Thong Royal Thai orchid tea praline