Nothing can beat a good ol’ cuppa and a dunk of your favourite biccie now, can it? We always jump with joy when a new afternoon tea spot pops up on our doorsteps. Especially when it’s decked out with a twist on the British classic and anything where champers can be involved is always an added bonus. We’ve picked out our five favourite new afternoon teas filled with everything from a Japanese twist on the quintessential British meal to celebrating the ironic moment from the summer of ’69.
Baglioni Hotel London
Adding a splash of Italian sparkle to your traditional afternoon tea is Baglioni Hotel London. You’ll find the sarnies updated using tramezzino bread, an Italian take on white bread but it’s even softer thanks to the use of milk. Plus a selection of tramezzini with capriccios salad, grilled veggies – both of which are from Veneto. Swimming over from Sicily are the swordfish served cream cheese and chives, while there’s gorgonzola cheese and walnuts selected from Lombardia – just to name a few!
And it’s not afternoon tea without cakes and scones. Baglioni Hotel London’s afternoon tea is piled high with chocolate praline packed with mascarpone cheese from Lombardy, panna cotta with wild berries from Veneto and so many more treats. You can even fill your scone with Nutella, a crowd favourite among Italians and British alike.
Where: 60 Hyde Park Gate, London, SW7 5BB
Nearest station: High Street Kensington (0.6 miles)
Website: www.baglionihotels.com
Jumeirah Carlton Tower
Grab your dads old flares and flamboyant flowery shirt because we’re headed back to the flower-power years. Looking back, the summer of ’69 was filled with momentous events from the ‘first’ moon landing to the release of Britain’s most iconic boyband to date, The Beatles’ album, Abbey Road. To celebrate this hippy-infested era, Jumeirah Carlton Tower, winner of the UK Afternoon Tea of the Year awards in June 2018, is marking the key moments from 50 years ago with a new playful afternoon tea.
Head Pastry Chef Thomas Coley and his team have created everything from a rainbow Battenberg cake complete topped with an electric guitar allowing you to rock out as if you’re at Woodstock festival to a cake to mark the first man on the moon, it’s completed with whipped lemon ganache and a silver space rocket.
Where: 1 Cadogan Place, Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 9PY, United Kingdom
Nearest station: Knightsbridge (0.4 miles)
Website: www.jumeirahcarltontower.com
Sexy Fish
If you’re tired of the same ol’ afternoon treats, head down to Sexy Fish as they’ve introduced a Japanese take on the classic British meal. Chef Director, Bjoern Weissgerber, has been busily creating a showstopper menu. Highlights include smokes salmon and pickled cucumber in a steamed bun; Thai chicken sandwich with puffed rice bread; a matcha, cherry and rose éclair; and a yuzu, lemon and sesame tart.
In true Sexy Fish fashion, the tea stand itself resembles a fish tail and swirling tentacles branching out with the tasty treats. It sounds *reely* good!
Where: Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square, London W1J 6BR, UK
Nearest station: Green Park (0.3 miles)
Website: www.sexyfish.com
Balthazar
It’s all about New York, New York at Balthazar this summer as they introduce an afternoon tea experience that’ll have you red, white and blue with greedy exhaustion after tucking in. If you’re sat, dumfounded, wondering “but why New York?” then know that Balthazar in fact opened its doors in 1997 in Manhattan’s Spring Street and so there really is reason behind the Big Apple-esque curation that we can’t wait to try!
Expect adorable finger sandwiches triumphing NYC flavours, such as a pastrami bun with egg, pickle and mustard; coronation chicken and apricot and cucumber, mint and homemade hummus. Next, you’ll move onto lip-smacking pastries that don groovy names reminiscent of New York. Highlights include the Spring Street, named after the signature recipe for Balthazar New York’s famous baked cheesecake, and the cookies ‘n’ cream tart with white chocolate cookie and coconut mousse.
Of course, it wouldn’t be an afternoon tea without a whiskey chaser or two! The team has put together a delightful tipple named The Yankie cocktail with Makers Mark, Boker’s Bitters, a sugar cube and Blanquette sparkling wine. Well, all of that has got our tummies positively rumbling!
The NY-Tea, as it is so aptly called, will be available from Monday, 10th June, from 3-5pm Monday to Saturday and 3-6.30pm Sunday.
Where: 4-6 Russell Street, Covent Garden, London WC2B 5HZ
Nearest station: Covent Garden (0.2 miles)
Website: www.balthazarlondon.com
Thomas's
In honour of Burberry’s house founder, Thomas Burberry, Thomas’s has launched their own fashionable take on a classic afternoon tea. Located with Burberry’s iconic store on Regent Street, this classy high-tea comprises a selection of sarnies, scones, crumpets and English style cakes.
The pièce de résistance, however, is the passionfruit and milk chocolate Burberry bar featuring the house’s monogram, celebrating the house’s founder and heritage through a new signature house code of interlocking TB initials. In true Burberry style, it’s picture-perfect and totally classy. Snap one for the ‘gram before digging in!
Where: 121 Regent Street, W1B 4HS
Website: www.opentable.co.uk/thomass
Strand Palace Hotel
The Stand Palace Hotel has opened its doors to a new Art Deco restaurant and bar which can only mean one thing – there’s also a new afternoon tea in town! Take in the relaxed and ambient tearoom and enjoy Haxells take on the delicious treat afternoon treat. Working with the Tea Palace, you’ll have the choice of 13 different loose tea varieties, or opt for a glass of prosecco or champers to toast your special afternoon, cheers!
Where: 372 Strand, London WC2R 0JJ, United Kingdom
Nearest station: London Charing Cross (0.3 miles)
Website: www.strandpalacehotel.co.uk
