I recently had afternoon tea at Fortnum & Mason during a visit from my fashionista friend from Chicago. Despite our trips to various markets, whisking her off to France for a day, hitting Maze and the Bluebird, nights out in Shoreditch and Soho, I think we would all agree that our wonderful afternoon tea experience was at the top of the list.
It started me thinking about what I would rate as the Top 5 Afternoon Tea locations London.
At number 5: Fortnum and Mason
This tea experience was an absolute treat, with a full vegetarian menu served easily alongside the regular tea. Dress is dressy casual, and families dined among gossiping gaggles of girls, businessmen and groups of tourists. The price varies but runs between £30 and £40.
Number 4: Tea at the Berkeley
The Berkeley (pronounced Barkley, as in Charles, for you Americans out there) does a Fashionista tea, designing the treats to match Jimmy Choos, Gucci bags, and hits the spot for those looking for a change from ‘regular’ afternoon tea elsewhere.
Number 3: The Landmark London
The Landmark Hotel does a proper Afternoon Tea, as well as a full-on Chocolate Tea as well as a Gluten Free Tea. The former includes chocolate-dipped strawberries, chocolate brownies, white chocolate cheesecake, chocolate and banana pot au chocolat, and chocolate chip scones with hazelnut chocolate spread. The Gluten-Free Tea has less of that, but is a great way to include those normally left out of Afternoon Tea due to allergies.
Price £30-40
Number 2: Tart @ 40 WINKS
Technically this is not afternoon tea. This is about discovering your inner starlet. Unformed waitresses serve you cucumber sandwiches, cakes and chocolates while vintage beauty and make up experts transform you into your true vintage starlet self. This is a perfect day out with the girls- and no boys are allowed here! Tart takes place on Saturdays, but not every Saturday, so check http://www.40winks.org for more info. This one’s a bit pricier at £60 per person.
Number 1: The Gore Hotel‘s Rock-n-Roll Afternoon Tea
You get your own Jack and Coke. Nuff said.
A more complete description might be: Guests can indulge in music shaped cookies or mini custard pies, chocolate éclairs, spicy chicken sandwiches and Jack Daniel muffins at this afternoon tea at Bar 190, The Gore’s star-studded bar. The menu is priced at £22.50 per person, plus celebrity spotting is destined to ensue, as everyone from Take That to Leona Lewis have been spotted at the Gore in the last few weeks.
Runner Up: The Hoxton Pony in Shoreditch. See my article at Swell City Guide for more on this great east London tea experience.
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