5 of the Coolest Afternoon Teas Available in London Now

Lead image: The Yayoi Kusama afternoon tea at Rosewood London (photo: Patricia Niven)

1 The Hatter’s Tea Party at The Egerton House Hotel, Kensington
From 17 May
This new afternoon tea from Egerton House hotel looks phenomenal. Inspired by the timeless classic Alice in Wonderland, and the unforgettable Mad Hatter, comes this fun, frivolous tea party featuring treats like the Queen of Hearts (a homemade raspberry jam tart with almond crumble), Pearl of Oysters (a white chocolate Lanson Champagne truffle), Plum Pudding (vanilla posset with stewed plums), and Eat Me (a chocolate cake with a rich buttercream icing). Sandwiches include H Forman’s smoked salmon, free-range egg mayonnaise, Blythburgh roast ham and English mustard, cucumber and cream cheese, and coronation chicken. Priced £52pp or £68 with champagne. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and kids options are available. You can also enjoy a picnic version to go for £55pp, or £125pp with butler service.
17-19 Egerton Terrace, Kensington SW3 2BX; egertonhousehotel.com

2 It’s A Little Bit Mad at The Lanesborough, Knightsbridge
Cruella de Vil is back. The fashion-obsessed heiress, with a penchant for furs and an eye for Dalmatians, returns to cinema screens on 28 May 2021 in Cruella. In homage to such incredibly chic wickedness, The Lanesborough hotel in Knightsbridge has launched a new Cruella-inspired afternoon tea called It’s A Little Bit Mad. Running throughout the summer, the afternoon tea features fantastical cakes like Anarchy Reigns, a millionaire shortbread presented on a mini artists easel; Runaway Diva, a treacle tart with a whipped dulcey ganache and Cruella’s iconic red lips; Fashion Makes Art Makes Fashion, a black-and-red chocolate and raspberry Battenberg cake; and Totally Unexpected, a red choux bun hat with caramelised banana and pecan nut crema. Available 28 May-4 August priced from £55pp (a children’s version is available from £25.
Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge SW1X 7TA; the-lanesborough/afternoon-tea

Egerton House Hotel has launched an Alice in Wonderland afternoon tea

3 Yayoi Kusama Afternoon Tea at Rosewood London, Holborn
Inspired by the upcoming Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirror Rooms exhibition at the Tate Modern, Rosewood London’s very own Mirror Room is offering a new Art Afternoon Tea. Executive Pastry Chef Mark Perkins, combines unique Japanese flavours with traditional French pastry and patisserie. Kusama’s conceptual sculptures and bold art has been translated into three courses with traditional sandwiches, classic pastries and a trio of Kusama-inspired cakes. There’s Flowers That Bloom at Midnight, made with coconut mousse, strawberry yuzu jelly, matcha green tea sponge, strawberry crisps and an earthy sable biscuit; All My love for Tulips, with a yuzu mousse, raspberry yuzu jelly, almond pan de gene, green tea sable, raspberry cremeux and chocolate petals; and Dots Obsession – Soul of Pumpkin, with a dark chocolate sable, passion fruit cremeux, jivara chocolate mousse, flourless chocolate cake, praline feuilletine and passionfruit ganache. Available from 20 May priced from £65pp. You can even add the limited-edition Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2012, created in partnership with the artist herself, from £125pp.
252 High Holborn WC1V 7EN; rosewoodhotels.com

The new Cruella afternoon tea (photo courtesy of The Lanesborough)

4 Prêt-à-Portea at The Berkeley, Knightsbridge
Prêt-à-Portea has made a fashionably late return to The Berkeley. The trend-led afternoon tea will showcase SS21 couture cakes inspired by designers from Valentino to Versace. This season’s collection opens with Donatella Versace’s ocean-inspired cocktail dress, reimagined as a coconut darquoise and mango confit encased in a fruit mousse and topped with a shimmering sugar starfish. The bold capsule collection of cakes also includes Tod’s neon tote bag transformed into a citrus Victoria sponge, glazed with acid-lime icing and sandwiched between florescent green Valrhona chocolate Ivoire; and Isabel Marant’s high shine, disco-inspired purple ensemble as an almond sponge with a beriolette jelly centre, glazed in glittering purple and topped with a matching chocolate bow. But the showstopper has to be Michael Halpern’s feather couture gown reimagined as a light financier cake with raspberry compote, Amatika chocolate dome with praline crunch, grue de cacao and black wafer legs sit akimbo on top. Available now priced from £60pp.
Wilton Place, Knightsbridge SW1X 7RL; the-berkeley.co.uk

The Yayoi Kusama-inspired afternoon tea at Rosewood London (photo: Patricia Niven)

5 Sketch London, Mayfair
The Lecture Room & Library at Sketch London was awarded its third Michelin star last year, making it one of only five UK restaurants to hold three stars. High praise indeed. While its afternoon tea is served in a different restaurant, The Gallery, the accolade certainly still stands your tea and cake in good stead. And the surroundings couldn’t be more lovely, served in the famously bubble-gum pink restaurant, complete with a live string classical trio playing daily. Delicate treats include a cherry and pistachio Battenberg, orange cheesecake, bergamot macaroon, and lemon and orange marshmallows. The savoury treats are just as good, with the likes of egg gougère (a baked savory choux pastry made of choux dough mixed with cheese) and truffle brioche bun with cream cheese on the menu. As always, a trip to the fantastical loos for a selfie is a must before leaving! Priced from £60pp.
9 Conduit Street, Mayfair W1S 2XG; sketch.london

Prêt-à-Portea has made its fashionably late return to The Berkeley (photo courtesy of The Berkeley)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by sketch (@sketchlondon)