The Marion opens for high tea in time for Floriade

Floriade visitors can add high tea at the new Marion restaurant to their must-do list, after it opened its doors at nearby Regatta Point on Tuesday 6 September.

Named in honour of Marion Mahony, who with husband Water Burley Griffin helped design the national capital, the restaurant will be the second venue to open inside Grand Pacific Group’s The Marion precinct, following the Walter Café, which opened earlier this year.

Opening in time for Australia’s biggest celebration of spring, Floriade, The Marion restaurant and Walter Café will be impossible to miss at the entrance to the annual floral festival in Commonwealth Park.

Already open for private events such as weddings, The Marion restaurant will initially serve high tea daily with an à la carte lunch menu and deck launching later in the year.

It is being brought to Canberra by Sydney’s High Tea connoisseurs and the culinary team behind The Tea Room QVB, The Palace, Gunners’ Barracks, Sergeants’ Mess, Dunbar House, The Blue Room and Canberra’s Walter Café, and headed up by head chef Matthew Ouwerkerk.

He brings close to 15 years’ experience cooking in well-established restaurants across Sydney, Melbourne and London.

Guests will be able to choose from a selection of petits fours, finger sandwiches, sweet and savoury pastries and scones with house-made preserves and clotted cream, all prepared daily and designed by award-winning patissier and executive head chef, Rob Crichton.

Specialty Ronnefeldt teas, champagne, sparkling wine or cocktails are available to indulge in while soaking up the beautiful surroundings and sweeping views across the lake.

Co-owner and Sydney hospitality veteran, Manny Spinola, said: “We are thrilled to be opening High Tea at The Marion. High tea in iconic locations is what we do best.”

With the Marion located alongside the National Canberra Exhibition, Mr Spinola hopes to help drive tourism to Canberra by offering customers the unique experience of enjoying high tea, overlooking Lake Burley Griffin.

The Marion’s elegant interior was designed by Chris Grinham, co-director of the award-winning H&E Architects.

Grinham took cues from various elements of the building’s original mid-century architecture, and early sketches by Marion.

With seating for up to 180 guests, The Marion has already proved to be one of the most luxurious and sought-after venues for weddings, corporate events, and private events.

The Marion restaurant will be open from 10 am to 4 pm, seven days a week. It is located at Barrine Drive, Regatta Point, Commonwealth Park.

Original Article published by Ian Bushnell on Riotact.