Anyone for celebration afternoon tea?
Afternoon tea with finger sandwiches, fancy cakes a glass of fizz and a pot of your favourite brew is a great way of marking a special occasion or to break out from winter.
You can find afternoon tea offerings locally but if you would like something really special London’s Knightsbridge is a place to head for, offering a contemporary and playful mix of haute couture, on-trend design, French patisserie flair, traditional exuberance and natural delights – a perfect addition to a day out in the capital, not cheap but really special for a special occasion.
There are some excellent choices:
The Lanesborough new meadow afternoon tea offers a delicate taste of spring
A beautiful new offering for spring, The Lanesborough’s new Meadow Afternoon Tea is inspired by the flora and fauna of neighbouring Royal Parks, including Hyde Park, St James’s Park and Green Park.
Alongside traditional afternoon tea favourites, including scones, jam and cream and delectable finger sandwiches, with flavours such as Cotswold chicken, mustard mayonnaise and parmesan; and organic cucumber, cream cheese and chive, the menu also features some spectacular sweet treats that showcase the skills of head pastry chef Salvatore Mungiovino. These include a bee-shaped white chocolate and heather honey ganache cakes, as well as the Chamomile Daisy centrepiece, a chamomile bavarois with an almond crunch biscuit base and mango crémeaux, designed to be shared between two.
Those sticking to tradition can enjoy a glass of house Champagne alongside their tea; but for a twist, Mickael Perron, the manager of the hotel’s The Library Bar, has devised a delicious cocktail pairing. The elderflower and jasmine cocktail is a refreshing drink made from St-Germain elderflower liqueur, gin, fresh lime juice, white peach and jasmine soda and a dash of Maraschino liqueur. A non-alcoholic version is also available.
The Lanesborough Meadow Afternoon Tea costs from £68 per person; or £82 with the elderflower & jasmine cocktail; or £85 with a glass of Champagne. Children’s afternoon tea menu from £35. For more details.
Afternoon tea with an Italian twist at the Bulgari Hotel
The new Italian Afternoon Tea at The Bulgari Hotel London brings a taste of continental cool to Knightsbridge.
Reinterpreting a traditional British classic with Italian flair and flavour, it features savoury delicacies like Roman-style artichoke and taleggio bruschetta, cocoa and malt bread with turmeric marinated Scottish salmon and salsa verde, and a spinach bread sandwich filled with egg, Umbrian truffle and chive.
Pastries by resident pastry chef and chocolatier Gianluca Fusto follow. These include soft Florence Millot chocolate and Tuscan wood roasted peanut cake and an indulgent IGP hazelnut crunchy choux with Ethiopian coffee, whipped cream and praline. Adding a contemporary twist to an afternoon tea classic, guests can choose to have their scones served with Cornish clotted cream ice cream.
This Italian afternoon tea is accompanied by a choice of tea and costs £95 per person or £105 with a glass of Champagne. Details here.
Feya Knightsbridge – a delight for lovers of everything pink
Feya’s forest-inspired décor and powder pink walls and chairs, make it an Instagram hot spot. Afternoon tea costs just £37.50 per person and features wild mushroom quiche, coronation chicken brioche and smoked salmon blinis. Sweet tooths will enjoy the selection of the finest mini patisserie plus traditional scones served with jam and clotted cream. There is also an extensive choice of premium teas plus a vegetarian tea option for the same price. Details here.
Haute couture on the Berkeley’s prêt-à-portea cakewalk
A firm favourite of sweet-toothed fashionistas, The Berkeley’s Prêt-à-Portea gives a contemporary twist to afternoon tea with catwalk-inspired creations.
Following a selection of sandwiches and savouries, this season’s cakewalk collection opens with Christopher Kane, a striking floral gown with black accents crafted from cheesecake, set on a vanilla crémeux and a crunchy sable biscuit and topped with wafer thin Opalys chocolate. Other delicious designer treats include Ralph Lauren’s hero coat, recreated as a Black Forest gateau; Jean Paul Gaultier’s denim couture gown, reimagined in Cassis bavarois with a blackcurrant filling; Prada’s camel coat, made from chocolate biscuit, with intricate royal icing including pink statement fur sleeves.
Dolce & Gabbana’s fun fur coat and hat combo is immortalised as chequered light sponge in four, bold colours, wrapped in a rainbow of marzipan and topped with a meringue hat. Self Portrait’s bow handbag combines Victoria sponge and orange marmalade, glazed in white icing and encased with Ivoire chocolate. The trademark golden bow is the final flourish. Finally, paying homage to a Harris Reed ensemble, there is a beautiful yogurt and honey mousse sharing cake. Prêt-à-Portea costs from £75 per person or £87 per person with a glass of Champagne. Vegetarian and vegan options are available. More details here.
Pâtisserie perfection at the Berkeley with Cédric Grolet’s afternoon ‘goûtea’
Bringing afternoon tea harmony to Anglo-French relations is French pâtissier Cédric Grolet’s Goûtea. Served in his namesake pâtisserie at The Berkeley, this fusion of Goûter (the French tradition of sweet snacking) and the best of British afternoon tea, is a showcase of miniature pâtisserie perfection. Comprising eight savoury and sweet creations, it includes the classic vanilla flower and Paris-Brest with seasonal patisserie including an illusion apple.
Cédric Grolet’s Goûtea costs £85 per person or from £97 per person with a glass of Champagne. For more information.
Afternoon tea in Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park’s stylish tea room – The Rosebery
Following an extensive renovation and rekindling its tearoom heritage, (in the early part of the century it was a stylish tea room and regularly frequented by its namesake British Prime Minister Lord Rosebery), The Rosebery has made a return to its roots as the perfect Knightsbridge backdrop for afternoon tea. Developed by Executive Pastry Chef Emmanuel Bonneau, afternoon tea at The Rosebery is served from bespoke and quirky hanging stands in a beautiful light strewn room.
Guests can enjoy delicate sandwiches – many with a Japanese twist such as Scottish Smoked Salmon with Nori and pickled ginger, Crayfish and Wakame with wasabi tobiko and hoisin mayonnaise. While in addition to a selection of scones, sweet treats include a signature ‘Mandarin Fan’ made with Matcha and yogurt mousse and cherry gel; plus, a Saint Honoré showstopper combining salted caramel diplomat cream with caramelised banana compote. A menu of 29 different types of loose-leaf tea is also offered and to further enhance the experience there is a choice of Champagne, Sake, beers, wines or sparkling tea pairings. There are gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan choices available too.
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, Rosebery’s Afternoon Tea costs £75 per person; or from £91 per person with a glass of Champagne. The Children’s menu is £42. From April 17 to May 14, The Rosebery will offer a special Coronation Afternoon Tea inspired by quintessential afternoon tea dishes served at the Royal table. It will cost £95 per person. https://www.mandarinoriental.com/en/london/hyde-park/dine/the-rosebery
Guilt-free go-to tea at the Holy Carrot
For those looking for an indulgent yet guilt-free afternoon tea, Holy Carrot’s triumphantly tasty plant-based experience offers a proper treat. Located at Urban Retreat, a beauty and wellness centre on Hans Crescent, Knightsbridge, the restaurant offers innovative plant-based dishes and drinks including an impressive afternoon tea spread.
Vegan, gluten and refined sugar-free, the savoury selection includes purple potato croquette, avocado and basil crispy maki; heritage carrot, organic quinoa and spicy mayo avocado toast; multi-seed wafer, chive cream ‘cheese’ ‘crab on toast’ and heart of palm, lemon miso aioli and sourdough crostini. While the sweet offering features miso and caramel sponge cake; a Chocolate Delice, a Winter berry mousse cake, and a ‘Holy Éclair’ with natural pistachios and coconut cream.
The Holy Carrot’s Afternoon Tea costs £40 per person; or from £50 per person with a glass of Champagne. For more details click here.