If ghosts haunt downtown Oklahoma City, they apparently have excellent table manners. This fall, The National, Autograph Collection Downtown OKC debuts its newest seasonal offering inside the soaring Great Hall. The aptly named Trick-or-Tea has all the sumptuous touches guests expect from afternoon tea at The National, but feels more playful and less formal than other iterations.
It’s hard to overstate the scale and elegance of the Great Hall. Afternoon tea offers the perfect opportunity to spend time in the opulent former banking lobby, which first opened in 1931 and was painstakingly restored before reopening in 2022.
Tea here already feels theatrical, even without a theme, yet the simple addition of black, web-like lace and tiny orange twinkle lights creates something clearly planned for guests of all ages. On the day of my reservation, I didn’t see anyone in full costume, but plenty were dressed for the occasion: a toddler in a ghost-covered dress, and a duo of young women in spiderweb tights, black boots and black dresses. As Halloween approaches, I imagine more costumes will be on display.
The attentive staff wore Halloween colors and patterns, with pointy witch hats perched atop their heads. The effect was charming, if a bit less elegant. Somehow, that toning down made the experience feel more accessible; less pinkies-up, more conversational and relaxed. A coupe of champagne was presented when we were seated, while younger guests received a nonalcoholic sparkling drink.
From eight bottomless tea choices, our group selected the Bubbling Brew Chai Tea and Whispering Willow Mint Tea, served in exquisite teapots with dainty cups and saucers. My daughter and niece accompanied me, and the elegant setting gave us a chance to showcase our manners. Better still, the upscale afternoon meant my gentle coaching wasn’t met with eye rolls or exasperated sighs. Even if this sort of soiree weren’t—forgive me—my cup of tea, I’d bring my children back just to blow the cobwebs off the higher-level manners we rarely have occasion to practice.
The menu was cleverly divided into Tricks, or savory selections, and Treats, or sweets, plus a Little Goblins’ menu for children. Among the Tricks, our favorites were the Misty Moor Salmon Toast and Black Cat Chicken Wrap. The young ladies enjoyed Mummy Wheels—ham and cheese pinwheels—and Boonanna Sandwiches made with peanut butter and banana. Other savory bites included Gruyère and potato offerings, both excellent.
On the Treats side, we agreed the Witches’ Cider Donuts were hard to beat. We could have eaten a dozen. We also loved the scones and the Jack-o’-Lantern Truffle, filled with pumpkin ganache and coated in white chocolate. The Spooky S’mores Treat, made with milk chocolate and marshmallow in a graham cracker crust, resembled the cutest little Casper. A perfectly made blackberry macaron rounded out the sweets.
A pick-your-poison menu of Halloween-themed cocktails was also available. After much deliberation, I chose the Pink Potion Fizz, made with gin, Cocchi Americano, lemon, raspberry and egg white. The scariest part of the afternoon was choosing among the elixirs. I plan to steal every cocktail idea for my own Halloween party, with apologies to the talented folks behind the bar.
“The creativity behind these experiences really comes from thinking beyond the food and asking ourselves how we can create moments people will remember,” said Rich Furino, food and beverage director at The National.
Trick-or-Tea’s greatest illusion is making an afternoon in downtown Oklahoma City feel briefly removed from ordinary life—somewhere between a grand European salon and the world’s most mannerly haunted house.
For me, afternoon tea has always seemed like something that happens somewhere else, for someone else. Simply attending felt like putting on a costume of sorts. The entire affair is slightly performative, in the best possible way—like taking the most polished version of myself out for a spin.
At a time when our imaginations seem permanently stunted by the small screens we hold in our hands, there is something wonderfully escapist about it all: the Halloween decor, the cinematic setting, even the simple acts of dusting off your best manners and making polite conversation with friends and family. For a few hours, everyone agrees to put away the ordinary and play along.
Trick-or-Tea is offered Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 31, with reservations available between 1 and 3 p.m. Tickets are $55 for adults and $30 for children.
For reservations, visit thenationalokc.com.
This article appears in Thunder Season Preview.