The Best Hotels & Restaurants For Afternoon Teas in London 2023

Whether it’s Mother’s Day, Christmas, Afternoon Tea Week or the weekend, here’s London’s best hotels, resturants and spots for when you’re in the mood for an exceptional afternoon tea. 

 

1 Cedric Grolet’s Afternoon Goutea at The Berkeley

French pâtissier Cédric Grolet’s Goûtea is a harmony of Anglo-French traditions. 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 sublime miniature pâtisserie.The meal comes with eight savoury and sweet creations, it includes the classic vanilla flower and Paris-Brest with seasonal patisserie including an illusion apple.

Price: From £85

Address: Wilton Place, SW1X 7RL

Website: the-berkeley.co.uk

2 The Berkeley’s Pret-a-Portea Cakewalk

This tea puts a contemporary twist to afternoon tea with catwalk-inspired creations, winning Best Themed Afternoon Tea at the Afternoon Tea Awards 2023. Just like catwalk collections, the tea’s ‘cakewalk’ does too, and it currently opens with Loewe’s viral Anthurium dress, a Hermès’ tasselled bucket bag, Zimmermann’s striped co-ord, a Moschino number and a homage to the late and great Vivienne Westwood with a Madagascar vanilla biscuit portrait intricately iced, complete with the style queen’s iconic red hair. 

Price: From £80

Address: Wilton Place, SW1X 7RL

Website: the-berkeley.co.uk

 

3 WICKED Afternoon Tea at The Clermont, Victoria Hotel

For a wickedly indulgent treat for musical fans, The Clermont at Victoria Hotel has partnered up with West End hit WICKED to make an afternoon tea to make a green with envy-inspiring treat. In addition to the finger sandwiches and scones, sweet treats are appropriately green – chocolate and pistachio bombes and lime cheesecakes for example. And add a couple of themed cocktails to your tea while you’re at it.

Price: From £40

Address: 101 Buckingham Palace Road, SW1W 0SJ

Website: theclermont.co.uk

4 Grand Saloon Afternoon Tea at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, West End

Served in the grand Grand Saloon, Drury Lane’s staple afternoon tea is created by Lily Vanilli and starts with madeleines topped with lapsang-souchong glazed salmon, and bitesize canelés with whipped ricotta and pickled beetroot. For the sweet treats at the end, a trolley will roam the room serving Absinthe mint choc chip ice cream by the scoop. Also, look out for seasonal variation for dates like Mother’s Day. 

Cost: From £59/£35 adult/child

Address: Catherine Street WC2B 5JF

Website: thelane.co.uk

 

5 Traditional Afternoon Tea at The Savoy

Taken in the Thames Foyer, The Savoy serves up an elegant tea that is both traditional and fresh. Expect the likes of pickled cucumber on chive and lemon cream cheese spinach bread, traditional coronation chicken, as well as feta and leek tartlet. Finish with fresh and fruity desserts of the likes of seasonal fruit tart, apple delice or a vanilla mousse with cocoa nibs.

Cost: From £75

Address: Strand, WC2R 0EZ

Website: thesavoylondon.com

6 Cherish Finden’s Kopi Tiam at Pan Pacific, City

Accoladed pastry chef Cherish Finden (ex-Langham & Bake Off: The Professional Judge) infuses a traditional English afternoon tea with Singaporean influences. Her Kopi Tiam afternoon tea leads with bao, dim sum and choux, and finishes on sweet treats that look like tiny sculptures, and change with the seasons and often inspired by iconic London events. You can also have a traditional English afternoon tea – currently Summer Garden theamed – which comes with the same chocolate-y, creamy, sugary works of art.

Cost: From £66

Address: Pan Pacific, 80 Houndsditch, EC3A 7AB

Website: panpacific.com

7 High Chai at Cinnamon Bazaar, Covent Garden

Rooted in West Bengali tradition – the province of India in which the resturant’s Executive Chef Vivek grew up – High Chai at Cinnamon Bazaar brings notes of fire and spice to the traditional tea-time spread. Finger sandwiches are replaced with fragrant treats likes the Kadhai spiced paneer roll and inventive chaat bites, followed by sweet delights such as Shrikhand cheesecake and saffron macarons.

Cost: £27.50

Address: 28 Maiden Lane, WC2E 7JS

Website: cinnamon-bazaar.com

8 Hotel Cafe Royal, Piccadilly

This West End hotel serves its afternoon tea in the exquisite Oscar Wilde Lounge which is still in its original 1800s glory (including wine stains on the ceiling’s paintings from raucous nights back in the day). The room is worth a trip on its own, but the afternoon tea served within its lavish baroque walls is equally decadent.  The hotel is currently serving a traditional tea, but watch out for seasonal riffs and partnerships with major exhibtions. If you’re lucky, a pianist on the room’s baby grand will tap out no-so-modern classics like Toto’s Africa while you dine. 

Price: From £70

Address: 10 Air Street W1B 4DY

Website: hotelcaferoyal.com

9 Garden Afternoon Tea at Petersham Nurseries, Richmond

Combining the charm and romanticism of the English countryside, Petersham Nurseries’ Garden Afternoon Tea is as celebratory of Britain’s bounty as the setting is. With the nurseries’ wild gardens for a backdrop, tuck into the likes of ricotta, confit tomatoes and basil crostinis; goat’s cheese, beetroots and candied walnut tarts; and plum and thyme cheesecake. Don’t forget to stroll around the grounds after.

Price: From £45

Address: Church Lane, Off Petersham Road, Richmond TW10 7AB

Website: petershamnurseries.com

10 Champaign Afternoon Tea at Searcys at The Gherkin

The Gherkin serves up one of the best views in the City, alongside a tradtional afternoon tea, which you can fancy up with a glass or two of champagne, or go bottomless.

Price: From £55

Address: 30 St Mary Axe, EC3A 8BF

Website: searcysatthegherkin.co.uk; sevenrooms.com

11 The Petersham, Covent Garden

The Petersham has several afternoon teas to choose from, that come with all the simple elegance and florally charm as the tea served in its Richmond sibling, just a bit closer to the city. To munch, you’ve got the likes of Cornish crab crostino; smoked trout and labneh blinis; as well as pear mousse and lemon meringe tart. 

Price: From £55

Address: Floral Court, 27 King Street, WC2E 9DS

Website: petershamnurseries.com

12 High Palms High Tea at The Landmark London

A quintessential London afternoon tea held in the Landmark London’s eighth floor glass atrium. The award-winning meal includes the likes of smoked Scottish salmon; and egg mayonnaise, black truffle and chive sandwhiches, followed by treats such as rhubarb bakewell tart with honey and ginger cream; and dark chocolate custard with salted caramel and vanilla sauce – delicious.

Price: From £65

Address: 222 Marylebone Road, NW1 6JQ

Website: landmarklondon.co.uk