September Guide: 5 New Afternoon Teas in LondonBy Adam Hassanali
Looking for the new afternoon teas in London? Whether it’s a special, one-off tea collaboration or a sparkling, themed tea, we’ve found some of London’s best teas this month:
1. For a Champagne Afternoon Tea: Browns
What: Browns Covent Garden has just reopened after a £2.5 million refurbishment with a stunning Art Deco design to the Grade II listed building. To coincide with the restaurant’s 50th anniversary, the team have recently launched a champagne afternoon tea.
Eat and Drink: It’s your classic afternoon tea affair with sandwiches, brioche rolls, warm scones and cakes, and with the addition of a slice of raspberry marble birthday cake, created specially for the occasion. With every Browns afternoon tea, a 50p donation is made to Shelter, the charity tackling homelessness.
Where: 82-84 St Martin’s Ln, Greater, London WC2N 4AG
2. For a Classic Tea: Balthazar
What: The traditional French brasserie Balthazar has brought together Parisian flavours and transatlantic flair for its ‘Taste of Balthazar’ afternoon tea.
Eat and Drink: Tuck into Balthazar mini hamburger, a roll crammed with tarragon-poached chicken and truffle mayonnaise and Comte cheese and ham croissant. No afternoon tea would be complete without a delectable selection of desserts. There’s everything from Paris breast – a delightful choux pastry filled with luscious praline cream to the – to the gateau opera and crowd-pleasing crème brûlée.
Where: 4-6 Russell St, London WC2B 5HZ
3. For A Mad Hatters Tea Party: Sanderson London
What: Sanderson London’s iconic Mad Hatters Afternoon Tea is inspired by the magic that is, Alice in Wonderland.
Eat and Drink: Choose from a range of bespoke tea flavours including the White Rabbit: china white silver needle tea infused with white grapefruit, vanilla & almond white chrysanthemums, the Mad Hatter, green tea infused with passionfruit, guava & mango and the Queen of Hearts, red rose congu tea infused with red rose petals, hints of vanilla & chocolate. When it comes to food, savoury options include the Tweedle Brothers (choux pastry with egg and avocado); the Caterpillar Swirl served on dark finger bread with brown shrimps; and the Mad Hatter served on a charcoal bun and beetroot bun with smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato & truffle mayonnaise. There’s lot of great sweet treats too (but we don’t have the word count to mention them all).
Where: 50 Berners St, London W1T 3NG
4. For a Selection of Premium Teas: 100 Queens Gate
What: The beautiful Victorian glass and mirrored atrium at 100 Queen’s Gate is one of London’s hidden gems, where you can enjoy an intimate Afternoon Tea among the décor of cherry blossom and lavish greeneries. Plus, they are currently offering 20% off all mid-week Afternoon Teas.
Eat and Drink: The Botanica Afternoon Tea includes a range of savoury and sweet treats, including traditional options like oak smoked salmon, creamy horseradish finger sandwiches and freshly baked scones along with contemporary plates like sea salt caramel cheesecake, rich caramel cheesecake with caramel and sea salt glaze. All are beautifully presented on a stylish tiered tower, accompanied by a selection of premium Newby teas, as well as an optional glass of Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée Brut NV.
Where: 100 Queen’s Gate, South Kensington, London SW7 5AG
5. For a Cake Trolley: The Stafford London
What: The Stafford London has launched a brand new afternoon tea, with the cakes and pastries served tableside from a bespoke handcrafted trolley.
Eat and Drink: To start, sandwiches and scones including H. Forman & Son smoked salmon with horseradish crème fraîche on granary bread, and honey-roasted ham and mustard mayonnaise on onion bread, alongside a truffle egg bun. Plain and fruit scones are served with whipped clotted cream and strawberry jam. The new cake trolley is then presented tableside, with each guest able to select five seasonal cakes or pastries from the display.
Where: The Stafford London, 16-18 St James’s Pl, London SW1A 1NJ
