Tried & Tested: Best Afternoon Teas In London

The Devil Wears Prada Afternoon Tea at The Coral Room

Gird your loins: the most fashion-forward afternoon tea in town has arrived. Coinciding with the West End opening of The Devil Wear Prada musical, The Coral Room has unveiled a new afternoon tea menu dedicated to everyone’s favourite high style romcom.

The menu is a film buff’s dream, playing on iconic foods, scenes and characters from the original The Devil Wears Prada movie. For the savouries, there’s an ode to Nate’s grilled cheese (‘the ultimate comfort food for when you’ve had it up to here with clackers, and deadlines,’ notes The Coral Room), alongside a tasty truffled egg mayonnaise pain de mie, turkey and cranberry sandwich, and smoked salmon sub roll.

These are followed by a pair of light and fluffy scones, served warm. Topped with Cornish clotted cream and homemade mulled pear jam, they put the perfect autumnal spin on the British classic.

It’s back to theme with the patisserie selection. There’s ‘It’s Not Just Blue, It’s Cerulean’, a Greek yoghurt mousse with blueberry, as well as a New York cheesecake dubbed ‘A Single Cube of Cheese’ in a nod to Emily’s Fashion Week diet. And then there’s also a ‘Gird Your Loins’ chocolate cake, and a hazelnut opera cake named ‘No Foam Skimmed Latte with an Extra Shot’ as reference to Miranda’s signature caffeine order.

Cocktails, meanwhile, include the ‘Runway Royale’, a blend of Mijenta Tequila Reposado, Galliano Vanilla Liqueur and Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve, and ‘Cerulean’, a heady mix of Silent Pool Gin, Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto and Butterfly Pea Tea. Review by Charlie Colville

Price: From £55pp

Availability: Served daily

Address: 16-22 Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3NN

BOOK: thecoralroom.co.uk

Afternoon Tea By Benoit Blin at The Cadogan, A Belmond Hotel, Chelsea

Step into The Cadogan Lounge and you’ll be treated to a truly superb afternoon tea courtesy of Benoit Blin, beloved pastry chef and famed judge of Bake Off: The Professionals. You might just get lost in the tea menu (there are more than twenty different varieties to choose from), but once you’ve made your decision (and ordered a glass of English sparkling wine, if you like) you can sit back and prepare to indulge.

Think Chelsea elegance with a French twist: the savoury selection includes salmon gravadlax, cream cheese and quail egg on a delightfully dinky toasted croissant; brioche with Cornish crab and trout roe; and egg mayonnaise topped with winter truffle and a parmesan crisp. Once all of this has been polished off, you can tuck into a variety of gorgeous sweet treats (seasonal, of course; currently, you can enjoy the likes of a coffee bean and cardamom religieuse) alongside the classic scones, jam and clotted cream. The best part, however? Choosing a slice of cake from the dessert trolley. (The hazelnut and chocolate marble cake is divine.) It’s the perfect way to end a magical afternoon. Review by Martha Davies

Price: From £75pp

Availability: Served from 12 pm-6 pm, Monday to Sunday

Address: The Cadogan Lounge, 75 Sloane St, Chelsea, London SW1X 9SG

BOOK: belmond.com

Afternoon Tea at Browns Brasserie & Bar, Covent Garden

When it comes to casual (and not so casual) special occasions, Browns Brasserie is one of the city’s go-to dining spots. Especially when it comes to afternoon tea. The dining destination’s Covent Garden outpost has its own afternoon tea lounge in one of the building’s former courtrooms, which still features some of the room’s original furnishings and details (including the judge’s bench).

The setting’s grandeur is matched heartily by the food and drink on offer. You’ll find the classics – dainty finger sandwiches, fresh-baked scones and a selection of British cakes – as well as some fun twists (the lobster rolls are a must). And guests can wash it all down with a crisp glass of Moët and Chandon champagne, or a heart cup of tea from Good Earth Tea.

Gluten-free diners can also get a slice of the action, as Browns also offers a bespoke afternoon tea menu accredited by Coeliac UK. Review by Charlie Colville

Price: From £30pp

Availability: Served from 1-4pm daily in the Judge’s Court (Covent Garden branch)

Address: 82-84 St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4AG

BOOK: browns-restaurants.co.uk

Afternoon Tea At The Goring

There’s something truly magical about The Dining Room at The Goring – whether that’s due to its picture-perfect interiors, its gorgeous Belgravia location, or simply its top-notch food. Afternoon tea is a real treat; after all, there’s really no better place to tuck into tea and scones than this breathtaking room, which is finished in a sage green colour palette bringing to mind the most impressive mansions in the Bridgerton universe. 

The Goring’s tea blend menu is, frankly, dazzling, and you can also enjoy a glass of Bollinger alongside your brew. Begin, naturally, with a handsome selection of finger sandwiches, before moving onto fluffy scones served with both strawberry and raspberry jam (plus clotted cream, of course). The final chapter unfolds in the form of gorgeous pastries selected from a seasonally-changing menu; currently, you can sample the likes of carrot cake, panna cotta and an orange and almond tartlet. Divine. Review by Martha Davies

Price: From £75pp

Availability: Served in The Dining Room on Saturdays and on the Veranda from Monday to Sunday, between 12pm and 6pm

Address: The Goring, 15 Beeston Place, London, SW1W 0JW.

BOOK: thegoring.com

Bridgerton Afternoon Tea at The Lanesborough

Dearest reader, a Bridgerton-themed afternoon tea surely cannot go amiss this season. And rumour has it that Knightsbridge’s The Lanesborough is serving a delicious spread indeed.

Launched in partnership with with creators Netflix and Shondaland, the limited-edition tea transports guests to Regency London, served in the hotel’s extravagant dining room complete with an original sky dome and spectacular chandeliers. You’ll feel as if you’ve stepped out on set.

As with the opulent setting, the afternoon tea certainly doesn’t disappoint. Begin with the ‘Friends to Lovers’ cocktail, a pink margarita inspired by Penelope Featherington and complete with a white feather, paying tribute to Lady Whistledown’s quill. Finger sandwiches err on the traditional side including truffled egg mayonnaise, smoked salmon and horseradish, but accompanied by a delightful cream cheese and kale tartlet.

The scones are served warm with fruit jam and clotted Devonshire cream – but the pastries are the real pièce de résistance, each one of them inspired by a character from the series. For example, ‘The Book of Eloise’, a dainty book-shaped cheesecake pays tribute to Eloise Bridgerton’s love of literature, whilst ‘Colin’s Travels’, a sweet dark chocolate sponge encased in a ‘travel trunk’ illustrates Colin Bridgerton’s fondness for travel. Review by Daniella Laxton

Price: From £99pp

Address: Hyde Park Corner, London SW1X 7TA

BOOK: oetkercollection.com

The Art of Afternoon Tea at The Kensington

You’ll often find artsy types in South Kensington – but not for reasons you might assume. While the V&A sits just around the corner, you’ll find plenty of culture vultures flocking to The Kensington in search of its art-themed afternoon tea menu. The Art of Afternoon Tea takes it cues from a curated selection of artists and perfectly rounds off any cultural exploration of West London.

While you can get your afternoon tea with champagne, we’d recommend ordering one of the fun themed cocktails on the menu, like the Starry Night, an ode to the Van Gogh painting using a sweet blend of Hendrick’s Flora Adora, spirulina cordial, citrus and Rathfinny Classic Cuvée Brut.

As for the food itself, expect a more creative take on the traditional afternoon tea. The sandwiches and scones stick to classic flavours, with a selection of egg, salmon, cucumber and pastrami finger sandwiches served alongside plain and fruit scones slathered in homemade jam and Cornish clotted cream.

But the real star of the show is the sweets. The patisseries take inspiration from three artists: Jackson Pollock,  Yayoi Kusama and Alicja Kwade. You’ll find a dark chocolate mousse tart with passion fruit parfait drizzled Pollock’s famed ‘drip technique’, mango mousse balls encased in coconut yoghurt cream and shaped into Kusama’s signature polka-dot pumpkins, and contemporary visual artist Kwade’s colourful spheres constructed from white chocolate vanilla mousse with a pineapple compote centre. A feast for the eyes – and the tastebuds.

For afternoon tea with plenty of clever artsy references and wow factor, this is the one to have at the top of your list. Review by Charlie Colville

Price: From £58pp

Availability: 12 – 4.30pm daily

Address: The Kensington, 109-113 Queen’s Gate, South Kensington, London SW7 5LP

BOOK: doylecollection.com

Afternoon Tea at NoMad London

NoMad London is easily one of London’s swankiest hotels, renowned for its fantastic location, contemporary interiors and extensive library. Food also plays a huge part in what makes NoMad so enticing, with the NoMad Restaurant housed inside a biophilic three-storey, glass-roofed atrium – from which it serves up a suitably chic menu.

The hotel’s afternoon tea celebrates the best parts of the British tradition while still staying true to the NoMad’s signature contemporary elegance. The drinks menu contains a selection of teas from the Rare Tea Company, as well as a selection of tea-inspired cocktails crafted by bartending afficionados Leo Robitschek and Liana Oster. Our tipple of choice was the Earl of Jalisco, a mildly sweet and creamy concoction created with tequila, lemon, aperol, earl grey tea, rhubarb and egg white.

The savouries on the menu are the perfect blend of Britishness and the NoMad’s New York roots, creating the feel of an elevated deli with smoked salmon bagels, truffled egg sandwiches, cucumber and cream cheese sliders and pastrami, daikon and mustard sandwiches – all of which were very tempting when it came to asking for seconds.

And then, we had the sweets. Created by NoMad’s pastry chef Martha Hernandez, the patisseries were an intriguing landscape of flavours – most of the deserts fell into the fruity category, with a tropical cheesecake, an aptly tart cassis and shiso tart and choux buns filled with lemon, vanilla and olive oil, but the hotel does offer a small bite of indulgence with its sacher-torte (an ideal addition for cleansing the palette).

But it was the scones that stole the show for us. Coming out in two waves, savoury and sweet, the first was a blue cheese and sage creation served alongside the sandwiches, and the second were small, triangle-shaped rum currant and orange zest bakes topped with sugar. Both of these were incredibly moreish – especially when eaten with a steaming cup of tea. Review by Charlie Colville

Price: From £65pp 

Availability: Thursday – Saturday, 2pm – 4pm 

Address: 28 Bow Street, London WC2E 7AW

BOOK: thenomadhotel.com

Afternoon Tea with a Twist at Charlotte Street Hotel

For an alternative to bottomless brunch, why not go for a delightfully boozy afternoon tea? Head to Oscar at Charlotte Street Hotel and sample the Indulge menu for your chance to tuck into three miniature cocktails with your meal. The menu features all the classic bites, including smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwiches plus the all-important scones – and you can enjoy sweet treats like vanilla cupcakes or strawberry and prosecco mousse cake alongside your specially-selected drinks. What’s not to love? Review by Ellie Smith

Price: From £40pp

Availability: Wednesday and Thursday, from 2.45pm – 4.45pm and Friday – Sunday, from 12 – 4.45pm

Address: 15-17 Charlotte St., London W1T 1RJ

BOOK: firmdalehotels.com

Champagne Afternoon Tea at L’oscar London

The Champagne Afternoon Tea at L’oscar London is nothing short of enchanting. This boutique hotel in Bloomsbury boasts elegant interiors – a sexy ambience, the space is lit only by low lamps and birds set in amber – which form the perfect backdrop for your finger sandwiches and snacking.

Once your culinary journey begins, expect to be approached by their expert staff to pick from a range of teas longer than the food menu. Our recommendation? Try an impressive special blend by the hotel.

Then follows an onslaught of the savoury and sweets, arriving in a steady stream on beautiful china plates. The sandwiches are the perfect bites, and all present a bit of a twist on the classic afternoon tea fare; an egg mimosa and black truffle sandwich on soft brown bread is a standout menu option, offering a burst of umami in one mouthful. The sugar rush that follows is as beautifully presented as it is tasty. Each of the little cakes are white, green and pink tributes to London’s cultural capital, from Oscar Wilde’s literary prowess to the exceptional dome at The Baptist. Finally, the scones are the perfect denouement to this spirited afternoon tea – fluffy, classic offerings to be lathered with raspberry jam and lemon curd and clotted cream.

This tea can be booze-free, or enjoyed with a light tipple (a refreshing flute of Michel Reybier Champagne). A cooler-than-cool grown-up afternoon tea option. Review by Tessa Dunthorne

Price: From £59pp

Availability: Daily from 2.30pm – 5pm

Address: 2-6 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4AA

BOOK: loscarlondon.com

The Crown Afternoon Tea at Vintry & Mercer

Obsessed with The Crown? This royal-inspired culinary experience at Vintry & Mercer is for you. It unfolds on the Mercer Roof Terrace, a radiant space at the crest of the gorgeous boutique hotel. Enjoy views of St Paul’s Cathedral and The Shard as you tuck into an array of delights, each with charming royal influences.

Standout savoury offerings include the coronation chicken vol-au-von, complete with a perfectly spiced mango chutney, alongside the bitesize and ludicrously tasty Yorkshire pudding laden with roast beef and horseradish.  Meanwhile, the scones are wonderfully fluffy, and the addition of earl grey jelly alongside the classic clotted cream and strawberry jam is a delightful surprise.

The picture-perfect sweets and pastries are the centrepiece of this opulent menu, and they taste as lovely as they look: nibble on a chocolate sceptre, or sample a sovereign’s orb crafted from genoise sponge filled with raspberry and orange blossom mousse. Top off your afternoon with a glass of champagne, or try the exceptional teapot cocktails – the ‘King’s Blend’ is particularly divine, featuring apple eau de vie, St Germain liqueur, lavender syrup and lemon juice. Review by Martha Davies

Price: From £49.50pp

Availability: Every Saturday and Sunday from 12pm – 5pm

Address: 19-20 Garlick Hill, London EC4V 2AU

BOOK: vintryandmercer.com

Afternoon Tea at Royal Lancaster London

For an intimate afternoon tea experience away from the busy central London crowds, pay a visit to this quiet corner of Paddington tucked away at the the top of Hyde Park. Taken in the Royal Lancaster London’s Hyde Café, afternoon tea is paired with soothing music, sleek marble furnishings and friendly staff who can cater to any allergy or dietary requirement.

This is an afternoon tea menu built around the traditional staples, so expect your classic (but still outrageously tasty) sandwiches – beef and horseradish, smoked salmon, cucumber and egg mayo – as well as freshly baked scones and sweet treats. The ‘sweet bites’ in question present a range of flavours, from florals and fruits to honey and chocolate. Pull up your napkin and tuck into the Lancaster Rose (a vibrant pink raspberry and lychee mousse with apple flowers), the Bee Hive (a creamy, honey-laced panna cotta), the Mango and Coconut Opera (a tropically flavoured pandan rice cake) or the Chocolate Ganache Cake (a rich, dark chocolate cake with Earl Grey ganache and jelly) for a tasty afternoon treat.

Once you’ve had your fill of warm scones and tea, diners can make their way out and over to nearby Hyde Park – where they can stroll away the rest of the afternoon (and walk off any lingering fullness). Review by Charlie Colville

Price: From £49pp

Availability: Monday – Sunday, 1 – 4pm

Address: Lancaster Terrace, London W2 2TY

BOOK: royallancaster.com

Covent Garden Crescendo Afternoon Tea at Middle Eight

Theatre-goers will know Covent Garden well, having spent many a day and night trekking up and down the West End to see some of the capital’s buzziest shows. If pre-theatre dining gives you itchy feet (there’s nothing worse than walking into a full theatre a few minutes late), then an earlier timed afternoon tea might be the more appealing choice. Cue Middle Eight’s new musically-inspired afternoon tea, which the team describe as ‘a symphony of sweet treats and sandwiches’.

Middle Eight is nestled right in the heart of theatreland, making it an ideal base to spend the afternoon before making your way to one of the many musicals and plays showing in the capital. Afternoon tea is served in The Balcony, tucked away from the hotel’s busy restaurant and check-in desk so that guests can enjoy their meal in a more relaxed (but no less refined) setting.

The current menu has been curated by Head Pastry Chef and former Bake Off: The Professionals semi-finalist, Clanny Rodrigues, and comes in the classic three stages of savouries, sweets and scones. But first thing’s first: tea. Middle Eight has partnered with British family business Novus Tea to put together a selection of soothing white, black, green and herbal teas. While an intimate selection of teas, the team can happily give suggestions based on your tastes. And if you have something to celebrate, you can dial things up with a glass of prosecco.

A selection of sweet and savoury treats come with a flourish of activity, set at your table on a four-tier cake stand (scones are served later on a separate plate, still warm from the oven). The team are brilliant when it comes to handling dietary requirements and allergies, with items prepared separately to avoid cross-contamination in the kitchen. To start, tuck into coronation chicken, grilled vegetable and smoked salmon sandwiches, as well as a warm and flaky sausage roll made with Londoner sausage meat and chopped herbs.

Cleanse the palette with something sweet; Middle Eight presents no less than five small desserts to try, all following a musical theme from name to decoration. Hazelnut eclairs come topped with piano keys, pistachio macarons are decorated with musical notes and bite-sized almond cakes come with miniature chocolate guitar in tow. The closing act of the afternoon tea experience comes in the form of two large scones – vanilla and fruit – which you can lather with jam and clotted cream, or take home with you if your belt is feeling a bit too tight. Now, with bellies full and spirits high, you can leisurely make your way to the next performance of the day. Review by Charlie Colville

Price: From £55pp

Availability: Wednesday – Sunday, 1pm – 5pm

Address: 66 Great Queen St, London WC2B 5BX

BOOK: middleeight.com

Regency Afternoon Tea at The Lane

Situated in the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, The Lane has become quite the hotspot for theatre lovers. The venue, which boasts a pastel backdrop of pink and green, shimmering chandeliers, stucco ceilings and imposing neoclassical columns, should be an entry on any tea-lover’s bucket list. The Regency Afternoon Tea menu features treats by Lily Vanilli, dubbed ‘THE baker of London’. Expect a mini sticky toffee pudding, a strawberry ice cream sandwich, and a fluffy vanilla cake brimming with passionfruit and buttercream and finished with a handmade chocolate cupid. You can also sample a brand new selection of savoury bites including seasonal mini pies and a bitesize English crumpet topped with smoked salmon and Earl Grey-infused cream cheese. Review by Charlie Colville

Price: From £68pp

Availability: Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 5.30pm

Address: Catherine St, Covent Garden, London WC2B 5JF

BOOK: thelane.co.uk

Read our full review here