Helen Wilcock takes Savage Garden’s afternoon tea offering for a sky high taste drive
It’s no secret that afternoon tea is a very British affair. With so many amazing restaurants and hotels providing it across London, it can be hard to choose where to go.
But, with stunning views of Tower Bridge as well as modern dishes replacing the traditional offerings, Savage Garden definitely gives its competitors a run for their money.
The Venue
Located on the 12th floor of the DoubleTree by Hilton Tower of London, Savage Garden is a place of serenity. When you step out of the lift, you instantly forget about the hotel beneath you as a waiter guides to the bar, which has an uninterrupted view of Tower Bridge.
If you love beautiful views, stop by the lounge area to enjoy views of The Shard and 20 Fenchurch, the ‘Walkie-Talkie’ building.
The Food & Drink
The first thing that caught our eye on the menu was the ‘G & Tea’ cocktails. We tried the Quintessentially Savage (£16) and the Forbidden Fruit (£16), both were delicious and are great to take with you to the bar area to snap in front of the view.
We also perused the tea menu which has seven choices ranging from Earl Grey to Lemon Grass. I love a fruit tea and chose the “Nuit D’etet” summer night red fruit infusion. It definitely lived up to its name as was a wonderfully pink colour and was light and fruity.
Suitably hydrated we were now ready to tuck into the food and began with the four savoury options which included Beetroot cured salmon with smoked soft cheese, confit lemon and caper berries, Sweet potato sliders with coriander yoghurt, spicy peanut crumb and red onions, Rare roast beef and wasabi remoulade and a Smoked chicken taco with Korean ketchup, spring onions, chilies and sesame seeds.
The beef and the chicken taco were both amazing; we could have eaten multiples of each but had to leave room for the other delights on offer. The scones caught our attention when they first arrived at the table as they had a pink marble effect to them.
However, after speaking to the waitress we learnt it was simply food colouring to make them look pretty and didn’t enhance the flavour in any way, which was slightly disappointing.
After we had enjoyed the savoury dishes we began on the sweets which featured a Black tea choux, a Cherry and coconut lamington and Dark chocolate cremeux sphere.
All three where quite rich which made it hard to finish them, but the dark chocolate cremeux sphere was my favourite. You get to smash open the chocolate casing and are rewarded with a delicious, rich, creamy filling inside.
The Wordrobe Verdict
Whilst it was tasty, we were the only people enjoying the afternoon tea during our visit. However, when we moved from the lounge to the bar area, a much busier atmosphere was awaiting with people admiring the views.
One thing’s for sure – Savage Garden is perfect for those Insta moments; whether it is capturing your afternoon tea with The Shard in the background or simply watching Tower Bridge illuminate as the sun sets.
Make it happen
Where: 7 Pepys St, London EC3N 4AF
How: Please visit savagegarden.co.uk to make a reservation.
