[London] Afternoon Tea
For the June or July Sandwichist article for Londonist, I'm planning to review an afternoon tea. I've experienced the Lanesborough which was good, so I am looking for other ideas.
If anyone can recommend a brilliant place to go for afternoon tea (must include sandwiches) I'd be deleriously happy.
Thanks.
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It might be too late to add anything, but I read that the Orangery at Kensington Palace had excellent afternoon tea. Has anyone been there?
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re: hong_kong_foodie
It's still a good 'experience', but your fellow diners will be 90% tourists. (That can be said of most afternoon tea places, but it affects the Ritz in particular). It always makes the UK Tea Guild's 'Awards of Excellence' list though.
Brown's was their overall winner this year - you really can't go wrong with tea there.
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re: hong_kong_foodie
nanette
Jul 21, 2009 01:15 AM
It is good. Service is very good. I was quite pleased that they refilled our scones and sandwiches and were always refreshing our tea pots. I went with my mother who is disabled and they were very nice and accomodating, much more so than many other places.
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limster
May 20, 2009 01:58 PM
Very classic rendition of afternoon tea at Brumus at the Haymarket hotel, details in an old post: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/583326
Very well priced too at under £20, considering the quality.Haven't had time to post on afternoon teas I've had in the last couple of months, but Andaman at the St James Hotel and Club stood out - luxe environs, awesome pastry kitchen, and savoury stuff that goes above and beyond sandwiches (there was only one sandwich -- open faced and Italian-ish, with tomato and prosciutto); however in lieu of other sandwiches there were other good things, like caviar and blini with sour cream. And it's steal at £22 in a civilised and quiet part of St James. The offerings for tea change every month.
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Possibly not what you're looking for but the No 20 restaurant at the new Sanctum Soho Hotel do afternoon tea. The regular tea includes 'Cucumber, Marmite with watercress, free-range egg with mayonnaise, Bradenham ham with mustard, smoked salmon, Gentleman’s Relish with mustard cress'.
The slightly more interesting 'New English' tea includes a ham and cheese toastie, Millionaire's shortbread, teacakes, a packet of Munchies (?!) and a Long Island Iced Tea.
http://www.sanctumsoho.com/pdf/No20-A...
I still like the Dorchester and Browns for 'traditional tea'.
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re: zuriga1
I'm assuming it's the cocktail? I certainly hope so!
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re: zuriga1
A Long Island Iced Tea is an extremely powerful drink, if done right. Usually contains around four different kinds of hard liquor, and, because of the sweetness of the mixer, usually doesn't taste as alcoholic as it really is. Definitely a drink for when you don't have any plans for the rest of the day!
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Sketch is a very interesting place to explore... afternoon tea served after 3pm with sandwiches £24pp
http://www.sketch.uk.com/downloads/teamenu.pdfPlus Market Kitchen did a piece of Afternoon tea recently... here's where they went.
http://www.lanesborough.com
http://www.the-berkeley.co.uk/page.aspx
http://www.momoresto.com›2 Replies-
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re: grobeaar
nanette
May 21, 2009 05:30 AM
Funnily enough, I went to Sketch yesterday for afternoon tea and it was so not worth it.
While the jam and eclair were were good, the sandwiches were a major let down on stale bread and far too "creamy". The teapots do not come with leaves in them, leading me to believe it is produced from a bag and we were not offered more hot water/tea as is the standard anywhere else.
Scones were nice, but tiny. They get a couple points for playing The Clash rather than the typical piano music, but the tea part of the afternoon tea was a let down.
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zuriga1
May 20, 2009 05:07 AM
Brown's Hotel has always been a very luxurious (and pricey) afternoon tea. We always remember our first. :-) Sotheby's also has a very pleasant space and serves a good tea, but I'm not sure if it includes sandwiches. You could call to check. It's a pretty room.
Here's a link for so more good ideas.
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re: zuriga1
One of my favourite places for afternoon tea is Duke's Hotel in St James's. The thing that makes it stand out is that they include a hot, buttered crumpet! So you get lovely finger sandwiches, warm scones and clotted cream, a large pot of tea, cakes and crumpets. Its served in the (smallish) drawing room which has the most divinely soft and comfortable sofas and as its not that well-known it's relatively quiet.
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