From The Whimsical To The Truly Decadent, 25 Of The Best Afternoon Teas In London
More than 150 years after the seventh Duchess of Bedford began serving a meal between lunch and dinner, the best afternoon tea in London is still difficult to narrow down. Naturally, there’s no shortage of traditional options, which take their cue from her preferred menu: scones with lashings of jam and cream; cucumber finger sandwiches; trays of pastries and cakes; and pot after pot of Darjeeling and Earl Grey. Tempted? Dress for the occasion and head to The Ritz to dine in the lavish Palm Court or savour treats in the spectacular Thames Foyer of The Savoy.
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Equally appealing, however, are the more whimsical places that also deserve a place on any list of the best afternoon teas in London. Take Theatre Royal Drury Lane’s swoon-worthy offering, where elaborately-decorated slices of cake come topped with chocolate cherubs alongside unctuous chicken pies instead of sandwiches. Or, for a cocktail-drenched outing, head to Lyaness at Sea Containers London, where legendary mixologist Mr Lyan pairs Coconut Flower daiquiris with mutton croquettes. Read on for Vogue’s definitive guide to the best afternoon tea in London.
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Zac and Zac1/25The Beaumont
You can imagine F Scott Fitzgerald himself reclining languorously in this Art Deco-inspired hotel’s sumptuous Gatsby Room, an oasis of dark woods and esoteric artwork where afternoon tea is served while a baby grand piano tinkles in the background. In keeping with the establishment’s transatlantic theme, the menu combines European refinement with classic American flavours. There are delicate Reuben and chicken caesar sandwiches as well as still-warm scones, but the pastries are the main attraction: a chocolate macaroon infused with peanut butter and jelly, a cheesecake topped with slivers of rhubarb, a key lime and matcha-stuffed religieuse, and an elegant slice of Boston cream pie.
From £45
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Steve Ryan2/25Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Bridgerton fans will delight in this playful, Regency-inspired afternoon tea, the brainchild of baker extraordinaire Lily Vanilli and presented in the historic theatre’s Grand Saloon, recently restored to glory with sugary pink walls, green marble panels and crystal chandeliers. On the menu? Mouthwatering mini Coronation chicken pies with caramelised onion chutney, madeleines layered with whipped feta and pickled heritage carrots, crumpets piled high with smoked salmon and Earl Grey-infused cream cheese, strawberry ice cream sandwiches, sticky toffee puddings, and an airy vanilla and passionfruit cake finished with intricate piping and a chocolate cupid. It’s the attention to detail that keeps us coming back, from the soundtrack (classical covers of pop songs, of course) to the fine china designed by Kit and Willow Kemp which features costume design illustrations from the theatre’s past ballets and operas.
From £59
Carol Sachs3/25The Cadogan, A Belmond Hotel
Elegance is the watch word at this supremely refined afternoon tea, meticulously crafted by none other than the two Michelin-starred Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, A Belmond Hotel’s head pastry chef Benoît Blin. Inside the tranquil lounge of the stately hotel, a stone’s throw from Sloane Square, you’ll find yourself cosied up in a squishy, high-backed chair and sipping on a chilled glass of English sparkling wine while perusing a menu that’ll take you from artful open sandwiches to pastries which are almost too beautiful to eat. There’s salmon gravadlax with quail egg and cream cheese, corn bread with cured Wagyu beef, and egg mayonnaise with winter truffle, followed by a coffee and cardamom religieuse, warm scones, and a delightful dessert trolley which holds a wide range of treats to choose from: a hefty slice of the pistachio, raspberry, lychee and rose cake, perhaps, or a miniature Bramley apple pie. The service, too, is impeccable.
From £75
Bulgari4/25Bulgari Hotel
For an Italian-inflected afternoon tea, look no further than the opulent lounge at the Bulgari Hotel in Knightsbridge, where each sitting begins with a chilled glass of Champagne and caviar amuse bouche, before proceeding to a sweet and savoury selection that reinterprets British staples with continental flair. (The dainty floral tableware, designed by the renowned Italian porcelain maker Richard Ginori, is a case in point, too.) You’ll find egg, chive and Umbrian truffle finger sandwiches; Scottish salmon, cream cheese and pesto layered on rye, spinach and tomato bread; and Parmigiano Reggiano crackers topped with burrata, sunblushed Datterino tomatoes and asparagus. Up next? Scones, scrumptious pastries dreamt up by chocolatier-in-residence Gianluca Fusto – a pistachio financier with elderflower and raspberry syrup; the truly divine Baba Rosa with strawberry and rose confit, and a coconut ganache – and a generous bowl of gelato to finish.
From £105
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- Chris Terry5/25
Oblix at The Shard
If you’re searching for an afternoon tea with a view, Oblix – on the 32nd floor of the Shard – is simply jaw dropping. Sink into one of its chocolate-coloured sofas and admire the panoramas of Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf and beyond while choosing between the classic offering and those that come with bottomless rosé or Champagne. Pots of the signature Oblix blend tea are non-negotiable regardless, and then come the savoury dishes, which run the gamut from traditional to experimental: hearty coronation chicken and smoked salmon sandwiches come with a crisp avocado, mozzarella and cherry tomato tart; a prawn and lobster roll topped with salmon roe; and a duck egg and truffle mayonnaise bun. Make sure you leave room for the scones and madeleines, though, served with piping hot chocolate sauce, fresh honeycomb, strawberry jam and clotted cream, followed by delectable desserts like the raspberry and pistachio financier, and crunchy hazelnut rocher.
From £58
©Ben Carpenter6/25Lyaness
Mixologist Ryan Chetiyawardana’s cocktails are legendary – and justifiably so, combining innovative techniques and bold flavours to create concoctions that seem to change subtly with every sip. And the perfect excuse to sample them before 5pm? The stylish bar’s Sri Lankan High Tea, inspired by Chetiyawardana’s memories of tea service in his parents’ hometown of Galle. Once you’ve settled onto the plush velvet sofas, which overlook the Thames and the dome of St Paul’s, start with the savoury bites – wonderfully flaky mutton croquettes with tomato sambal; turmeric-spiced devilled eggs; chicken kukul mas sandwiches – alongside the refreshing Bombay Sapphire, mango and curry leaf Champagne cocktail. Then, work your way through the desserts – a pandan swiss roll; a wattalapam tart; a dense Sri Lankan love cake – washed down with a Coconut Flower daiquiri with grapefruit and jaggery, and end with raisin scones and cream, accompanied by a Ceylon Milk Tea Punch infused with Grey Goose.
From £43
The Dorchester7/25The Dorchester
Following a fastidious renovation, the historic hotel’s luxurious Promenade has reopened – and it’s a sight to behold: an expansive salon bathed in golden light, where verdant palms flank curved cushioned seating nooks and side tables overflow with fresh roses. Despite the grandeur, though, service is warm and the menu reassuringly classic. Begin with the perfectly proportioned sandwiches: the Dorrington ham with truffle and parmesan, and the Burford Brown egg with mayonnaise, mustard and cress, in particular, are exceptional, and will tempt you to order seconds. But, be careful – there are still raisin scones to come, as well as dessert trays teeming with pistachio and apricot swiss rolls, citrus possets, raspberry bakewell tarts and chocolate profiteroles.
From £95
Addie Chinn8/25Zetter Townhouse Marylebone
Behind an unassuming pale blue door on sleepy Seymour Street, just steps away from bustling Marble Arch, lies a tranquil Georgian parlour, decorated to resemble the home of an eccentric aristocrat. There are stately grandfather clocks, porcelain vases, oil paintings and cabinets lined with first-edition books, as well as two afternoon tea menus on offer, named after two of the building’s (fictional) former residents: the well-travelled and worldly Aunt Wilhelmina, and the rakish Uncle Seymour. The former’s offering consists of ladylike finger sandwiches – lemony salmon and crayfish; tangy brie, plum compote and wild rocket – while the latter’s is slightly more substantial: think miniature sausage rolls; a goat’s cheese and red onion jam Cornish pasty; and a ricotta and Parma ham quiche. Both then proceed to pillow-like raisin scones, a whiskey and coffee macaroon, polenta cakes with spiced clementine and a hazelnut entremet. It all goes down a treat with a Pink Floozy – a heady concoction of gin, watermelon tea leaf cordial and sparkling wine.
From £45
