From the Whimsical to the Truly Decadent, 24 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 original ballroom or savor treats in the spectacular Thames Foyer of The Savoy.
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 sausage rolls instead of sandwiches. Or, for a cocktail-drenched outing, head to Lyaness at Sea Containers London, where legendary mixologist Mr. Lyan pairs melon-infused gimlets with coconut panna cotta. Read on for Vogue’s definitive guide to the best afternoon tea in London.
Zac and Zac1/24The 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 flavors. 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.
Bulgari2/24Bulgari Hotel
The eye-popping artwork that adorns the windows of the opulent lounge at the Bulgari Hotel hint at what lies within: A delightful afternoon tea created to celebrate the Knightsbridge stalwart’s 10th anniversary, and designed in collaboration with the acclaimed British-Nigerian artist Yinka Ilori, whose joyous work is currently on display at the Design Museum. The sculptural cake stands are spectacular, but so, too, is the Italian-inflected menu. Begin with a chilled glass of champagne paired with miniature buns stuffed with burrata and fig chutney; artichoke and taleggio bruschetta; and sandwiches layered with aubergine and stracchino, and egg, chive, and Umbrian truffle. Up next? Scones with zingy lemon marmalade; scrumptious pastries dreamt up by chocolatier-in-residence Gianluca Fusto; and a generous bowl of Cornish clotted cream ice cream sprinkled with preserved strawberries to finish.
The Orchid Lounge at Pan Pacific London3/24The Orchid Lounge at Pan Pacific London
The endlessly inventive, always meticulous pastry chef Cherish Finden’s memories of growing up in Singapore inform the Orchid Lounge’s charming menu, which is split into two halves: Traditional Delights, for those seeking coronation chicken, and cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches with a side of scones smothered in moreish kaya jam; and the Kopi Tiam, which includes dim sum, a steaming hot mushroom bao and supremely crispy rice dumplings with chicken and pork. Then come the pastries, from a matcha and yuzu tower in the shape of a cheongsam to a mango and coconut mousse shortbread, all presented on fine china and placed inside hanging bird cages.
The Bloomsbury4/24The Bloomsbury
The literary-minded hotel’s palm-filled, retina-searing Coral Room is sensational, but nothing beats the serene Dalloway Terrace—named after the indelible Virginia Woolf heroine—where pots of chamomile and jasmine silver tip tea are delivered to diners all afternoon long. They come with pastrami sandwiches, poached salmon on malted cocoa bread, devilled egg buns, lemon scones, and an array of irresistible desserts, from a saffron custard tart to a dark chocolate dome with a cherry mousse center. End with a reviving cocktail—perhaps the martini with rosemary and citrus oleo saccharum or the ice-cold Collins shaken with Earl Grey syrup.
Natasa Leoni5/24Fortnum Mason
Having tea at Fortnum Mason is a historic experience: The iconic department store was founded in 1707, invented the Scotch egg in 1738, and added Battenberg cake to its menu in 1926. It’s so quintessentially British, in fact, that when the brand launched its Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon at the top of its Piccadilly building, the Queen, Duchess of Cornwall, and Duchess of Cambridge all came to open it. A decade on, the service remains impeccable, the signature eau de nil china as elegant as ever, and the menu refined yet irreverent. Sip a fragrant cup of Earl Grey as you try to decide between the classic and savory afternoon teas—both include precisely-cut finger sandwiches (Suffolk-cured ham with English mustard, cucumber with minted pea cream cheese), but the former ends with delectable sweet treats, while the latter features substitutes such as a minted pea scone with beetroot relish, mushroom and whiskey pâté, and a smoked trout éclair. Either way, you won’t be disappointed.
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