Zen City serves its tea with a view

A couple sits by the window, their gazes fixed on the scene outside.

Occasionally, they nibble on pastries but rarely exchange a glance. The view from the window is too spectacular to ignore. Nearby, a man sits with his back to them reading a book and sipping from a tea cup. Against a wall, a group of women laugh as they tuck into perfect tea sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and handmade jam.

Welcome to Zen City, also called the Tea Lounge, on the 23rd floor of Mandarin Oriental in CityCenter.

The atmosphere is tranquil, almost hypnotic. It's a scene that people have a hard time leaving, says Stella Maemoto, supervisor of the Tea Lounge. And it has even become a destination for locals who come out of curiosity but return for the vibe, the food and the amazing view.

"Locals come, have a pot of tea, read their Kindles or books and relax," Maemoto says.

Classic English afternoon tea is served from 2:30 to 5 p.m. daily, but people come in as early as 10 a.m. and four hours later are still there.

"It's just tranquil," she says. "We play our spa music, and it's so far removed from the outside activity. If you're sitting here, it's easy to forget about all the noise and distractions out there."

Every Mandarin Oriental in the company offers a tea service featuring a signature blend for that property. The local flavor is Mandarin orange, a blend of black tea infused with mandarin oranges and vanilla.

The Las Vegas location also is the only one with a tea lounge designed specifically for tea service, Maemoto says. Even though the hotel has an Asian theme, the tea is decidedly British. Afternoon tea is served with the traditional scones, finger foods and pastries. A la carte items are available as well, including cupcakes and chocolates.

They do not offer a traditional Asian tea service, Maemoto says. But for those who want their tea with a kick, the menu offers five tea cocktails designed by the Mandarin bartender.

The lounge seats 30, and the window seats are in high demand. People often arrive early just so they can grab a window table, Maemoto says. The windows are floor to ceiling so it really doesn't matter where you sit, she adds. The view is still good.

The Tea Lounge hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reservations are accepted but not required. Call 590-8888 for further details.

Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4564.