From the delicate tea sandwiches and petit fours prepared to perfection to the regal ambiance of the Westgate Lobby, our Traditional Afternoon Tea service offers elegance down to the smallest detail.
Another detail that elevates each afternoon is the soft serenade from live harpists who accompany each special tea service. Whether classical tunes or renditions of more modern music, these local musicians provide a sweet soundtrack to each afternoon of elegance.
Chiara Capobianco has been performing at The Westgate since 2019. A graduate of the prestigious Conservatorio Di Musica di Milano in her native Milan, Italy, Chiara enjoys adding “a touch of elegance to the already exquisite tea time experience.”
She has been playing the harp for 35 years, and while she loves classical baroque compositions, she also likes to play contemporary hits, including the main theme from 2023’s Barbie movie, “What Was I Made For” by Billie Eilish.
When asked about the difficulties that come with playing the harp, she jokes that her greatest challenge is loading the large instrument in and out of her VW Beetle.
Chiara is a fan of the traditional tea service herself. Her favorite course is the savory tea sandwiches. Of the cucumber, egg salad, and salmon delights, she says, simply, “Deliziosi!”
A regular harpist at The Westgate since 2017, Mair Rathburn is a San Diego native and a lifelong musician and vocalist. Her favorite thing about playing during each Afternoon Tea service is when she plays a guest’s favorite song. She loves to hear about special memories attached to the music and really loves it when she gets to play for children.
Mair has a wide range of musical talents. While she first “played at” the harp as a young girl, she honed her skills as an adult professional. Most of the time, she improvises her musical selections from memory, which allows her to weave together an eclectic repertoire of classic and contemporary music. Her personal favorite song to play is “La Vie en Rose.”