Have your cake and eat it too. It’s currently Afternoon Tea Week (12th – 18th August) and you know what that means.
From the city’s most indulgent spreads to vegan delights, here’s where to find London’s best afternoon tea week experiences. Dig in!
1 Enjoy a Prêt-à-Portea at The Berkeley
Food doesn’t get far more fashionable than at The Berkeley in Knightsbridge. Renowned for its Prêt-à-Portea, this season sees a legendary designer afternoon tea inspired by the world of Christian Dior.
Take to the cakewalk for a feast inspired by Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams at the V&A Museum.
Calories have never been so couture – enjoy landmark pieces turned into exquisite biscuits, bakes and fancies.
From the Junon Dress worn by Theo Graham at Le Pré Catalan in Paris 1949 to the Bar Jacket which has been synonymous with Dior since it took to the catwalk in 1947 as part of the ‘New Look,’ each bite pays homage to different Dior creations.
It also a flavoursome collection of miniature savoury skewers, taster spoons, elegant canapés and tea sandwiches. To drink, choose a loose leaf tea from the extensive collection.
Where: The Berkeley, Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7RL
Wallet: Starting from £60.00 per person, or with a glass of Laurent-Perrier for £70.00 per person.
How: Please click here or phone +44 (0)20 7107 8866 to make a booking.
2 Get your vegan fix at DUKES London
Enjoy your afternoon tea with an eco-friendly edge at DUKES London. Alongside their traditional offerings, guests can try a delectable vegan afternoon tea at this plush St James hotel.
With over 3.5 million vegans in the UK and the nation’s increasing appetite for plant-based eating, veganism is a trend that’s going nowhere.
Now available in the Mayfair hotel’s elegant Drawing Room or Conservatory, plant-based eaters can enjoy DUKES London’s special Vegan Afternoon Tea. Designed to show that vegan food doesn’t have to mean boring or bland, the spread is filled with creative bites.
Choose between a selection of sandwiches including mustard and apple slaw; grilled courgette and olive tapenade; hummus, cucumber and avocado; and vegan cheese and fig chutney.
For those with a sweet tooth, indulge in delicious vegan scones and pastries that come with your choice of tea, served every day from noon.
Where: 35 St James’s Pl, St. James’s, London SW1A 1NY
Wallet: The price of the Vegan Afternoon Tea is £35pp inclusive of VAT and a discretionary service charge of 12.5% will be added to your bill.
How: Please phone 020 7491 4840 or click here to make a booking.
3 Indulge with an Indian twist at Cinnamon Bazaar
If you’re obsessed with Indian cuisine, you’re going to love this delectable partnership at Cinnamon Bazaar in Covent Garden.
Vivek Singh and Great British Bake Off star Tamal Ray have created a modern, Indian-inspired take on the quintessential classic afternoon tea.
The bespoke menu brings fire and spice to the traditional tea-time spread, paying homage to the duo’s shared family roots in Kolkata, West Bengal.
Afternoon tea is reimagined with a fish finger sandwich with tomato chutney cooked in turmeric, chilli and mustard oil – a nod to the duo’s Bengali roots.
There’s also Chicken Kathi ‘spring rolls’, yet another take on the traditional street food rolls found in Kolkata.
Guests can tuck into Tamal’s favourite Pani Puri – semolina shells filled with spiced chickpeas, mint and tamarind water – and Papdi chaat, crisp wheat chaat with yoghurt, tamarind and coriander chutneys.
Sweet treats created by Tamal include cinnamon cream macarons; pistachio cake with rose meringue and bhaapa doi – a steamed Bengali yoghurt with mango curd. A selection of Indian spiced teas make the perfect finishing touch.
Where: 28 Maiden Lane, WC2E 7JS
Wallet: Available at Cinnamon Bazaar from 3-5pm everyday, the collaborative menu is priced at £25 per person and at £29.50 per person including a glass of prosecco
How: To book, please click here.
4 Devour an East India Company delight at Devonshire Club
Tea lovers, step this way please. Back in the 18th century, the site of Devonshire Club was once an East India Company warehouse.
Now an established boutique hotel and private members club, the venue has launched an exciting afternoon tea menu that draws delicious inspiration from the building’s heritage and connections to the trading of goods and spices.
With savoury bites including a honey and clove roast ham sandwich, sweet toothed visitors are in for a treat.
Scones are served with a rose petal preserve, a nod to Rose Buds tea, and sugary highlights include a Oolong tea infused crème brûlée and Dark and white chocolate, pink peppercorn and nutmeg Delice.
East India Company’s extensive range of teas which include classics as well as the brand’s own blends, serve as the perfect accompaniment to the afternoon tea delicacies.
On hot sunny days, guests can also make most of the good weather by indulging from the club’s outdoor terrace.
Where: 5 Devonshire Square, Spitalfields, London EC2M 4YD
Wallet: Priced at £45 pp including tea; £65pp including tea and half a bottle of bubbly
How: Please click here to make a booking.
5 Dig into designer classics at Thomas’s at Burberry
Don your favourite trench and head to Thomas’s at Burberry for its new Classic Afternoon Tea.
Located within the Burberry flagship store on 121 Regent Street, this stylish spread is ideal for fashion lovers.
The offering includes a selection of sandwiches, scones and English cakes alongside a passionfruit and milk chocolate Burberry bar which features the house’s famous Monogram.
Where: 5 Vigo St, Mayfair, London W1S 3HA
How: For reservations, please phone +44 (0)20 3159 1410 or book via OpenTable here.
6 Enjoy a regal afternoon at Hotel Café Royal
Feel like royalty with a visit to Hotel Café Royal. Nestled between the elegance of Mayfair and the creativity of Soho, the Oscar Wilde Lounge at Hotel Café Royal offers The Queen of Afternoon Teas.
As 2019 marks the 200th anniversary of one of the most beloved British monarchs, Queen Victoria, the hotel is paying homage to the Empress herself.
The menu features dishes, ingredients and production techniques that came into fashion during Queen Victoria’s reign and is inspired by her life, influence and personal favourites.
Alongside, enjoy a traditionally British afternoon tea service accompanied by a hand-picked selection of over 25 exclusive tea blends and infusions, fine Champagnes and to hit a high note, the gentle sounds of a live pianist.
Where: 10 Air St, Soho, London W1B 4DY
Wallet: £55 per person
How: Please phone 020 7406 3333 or click here to make a reservation.
7 Try a CBD plant-powered experience at Farmacy
Embrace the power of plants with Farmacy’s angelic offering. Beautifully presented on a three tier stand, decorated with foliage, the plant-based ‘High’ Tea from Famacy is free from dairy, refined sugars, additives and chemicals.
What’s more, it also features a CBD infused cocktail, homemade CBD infused chocolates, a selection of delicious tea-time sweet and savoury treats and a pot of hemp leaf tea.
Farmacy is the first London restaurant to serve CBD; the non-psychoactive constituent of the flowering plant cannabis which is renowned for its feel-good potential and health-boosting benefits.
Where: 74-76 Westbourne Grove, London W2 5SH
When: Friday – Sunday from 3.30pm to 5pm by reservation only.
Wallet: £42 per person.
How: Please phone 020 7221 0705 or click here to make a reservation.
8 Lap up all things lavish at L’oscar Hotel
Whether you’re a saint or a sinner, get ready to sink your teeth into heavenly food at L’oscar Hotel.
The hotel’s Café L’oscar have launched a Saint & Sinner Afternoon Tea, which offers traditional sweet and savoury bites with a contemporary twist.
To start, guests can enjoy Religieuse buns followed by sandwiches filled with the likes of Devilled chicken and Poached salmon.
For the sweet treats, delicacies include Adam and Eve’s pudding and Devil’s food cake – followed by traditional scones with cream and jam.
When: Available daily from 3pm-5pm.
Where:
Wallet: £38pp or £60pp including three indulgent tea-based cocktails. £2 from each tea goes towards local charity Rhythms of Life.
How: Please click here to make a reservation.
9 Treat the little ones to Children’s Afternoon Tea at The Dorchester
Keep the little ones entertained this summer with this delicious new offering. The Dorchester has created a special Children’s Afternoon Tea, inspired by a day out in Hyde Park.
Throughout August, the colourful high tea features crudité bites presented to table as soon as the little guests arrive, alongside a doorman teddy cupcake, a bright yellow duck made of chocolate, jigsaw puzzle sandwiches and a chocolate milkshake.
Where: 53 Park Ln, Mayfair, London W1K 1QA
When: Available 1-31 August, 2019>
Wallet: Traditional afternoon tea begins at £65 and Champagne afternoon tea at £75. The Afternoon Tea is complimentary for children up to 12 years of age during the month of August when accompanied by an adult.
How: Click here to find out more and make a booking.
10 Enjoy American-themed CUTcakes & Tea at 45 Park Lane
Travel stateside with this fun American take on traditional afternoon tea at CUT at 45 Park Lane.
With the intention to create a truly contemporary experience, London’s top American chef David McIntyre reinvents the English tea.
Removing the traditional sandwiches in favour of speciality American savoury bites, Chef McIntyre has introduced Wagyu Beef Sliders, Popcorn Shrimp, Lollipop Fried Chicken Wings and Mac & Cheese with Black Truffles, opting to keep the scones and clotted cream but introduced ‘Huckleberry Jam’ as a ‘CUTcakes’ twist.
As for the sweet element, David added a mini milkshake and recreated some old American favourites, such as Crème Brûlée Doughnuts, Red Velvet Cupcakes, Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar and Pink Lemonade Cake Pops.
PLUS: Click here for The Wordrobe’s full review of CUTcakes & Tea
Where: 45 Park Lane, Mayfair, London W1K 1PN
When: Served Monday-Saturday at 2:30pm and 2pm, and Sunday at 3pm.
Wallet: From £55 per person.
How: Please click here to find out more and make a booking.
11 Make it Morrocan with Momo
Momo, the recently reimagined North African Meditteranean restaurant in Mayfair, has launchesda Morrocan twist on the quintessential pasttime.
Created by Executive Head Chef Hervé Deville (previously Executive Head Chef under three Michelin starred Pierre Gagnaire at Sketch Mayfair for seven years), curious foodies can try a selection of delectable sandwiches including Haloumi croque with tomato and basil, Tunisian fricassee with egg, tuna and olives and Cucumber with labneh and mint.
North African flavours will shine through with tempting sweets including Muhalabiya, a Middle Eastern milk pudding delicacy with strawberry rosewater.
For those looking for classic Mediterranean flavours, indulge with Momo’s exotic twist on a Lemon tartlette, Date scones with quince and prickly pear jam and Chocolate and chilli choux pastries.
Wash it down with Champagne or sup a selection of traditional Morrocan mint teas infused with rose water, cardamom and saffron.
Where: Momo, 23-25 Heddon Street, London, W1B 4BH
When: 12:00 – 16:30, last service 16:15 Monday-Sunday.
Wallet: £32pp with tea £42pp with a glass of champagne
How: Please click here to find out more and make a booking.
12 Get your gin fix at Conrad London St. James
Gin lovers, you’re in luck. The five-star Conrad London St. James hotel has recently launched a Gin Afternoon Tea, in partnership with the City of London Distillery.
Ideal for a *hic* delicious experience, enjoy a specially curated menu of delicious gin infused afternoon tea treats and cocktails.
Notes of juniper berries, fresh orange & lemon and coriander seeds in the Square Mile Gin have been expertly paired with a Charred Lemon & Pink Grapefruit Tart with Rosemary Meringue.
Whilst the Six Bells Gin, with its tasting notes of zesty lemon sherbet with sweet hints of vanilla and lemongrass will be served alongside the Elderflower Jelly Honey Cake & Pear Mousse Delice.
Finally, the Indian Dargi’n’ Tonic will accompany the Juniper Spiced Chocolate Crust Cheesecake with Bittersweet Orange Compote. All cakes and cocktails are perfectly served with freshly baked scones, a selection of delicate sandwiches and a wide variety of teas from Lalani & Co.
Where: 22-28 Broadway, Westminster, London SW1H 0BH
Wallet: Prices for Afternoon Tea start from £35 per person with the Gin Afternoon Tea Monday-Friday and from £39 at weekends
How: Please click here to find out more and make a booking.
Compiled by Sophie Ritchie
