A grand looking room with green leaves and a golden cherub coming from the walls. There is 2 laid tables next to each other. Both tables are filled with multiple variations of scones, cakes and jam. There is a silver tea pot and cups of tea on one table.
Restaurants & Nightlife

London’s best afternoon teas

The ultimate guide to eating tea and cake in the capital.

Author

Words by Georgie Young

5-minute read

Saying the British quite like tea is like saying The Ritz is quite a nice hotel. Because us Brits don’t just like tea. We’ve created an entire lavish ceremony around finger sandwiches, scones, cakes, and – yes – tea, as well as some of the most opulent rooms to enjoy it in. So, here’s the Quintessentially-approved list of London’s best afternoon teas.

Palm Court at The Langham

Victorian aristocrats invented afternoon tea as we know it, so it’s only fitting that you receive the royal treatment in the very salon where it all began 160 years ago. The Langham’s white-glove service, glasses of Champagne, featherlight scones, and thinly sliced finger sandwiches make it fit for a king. And chef royalty Michel Roux Jr. and Executive Pastry Chef Andrew Gravett are unveiling their winter collection of pastries this October. But the crown jewel? The mulled cider and apple crème fraîche tart (it’s Michel Roux’s cup of tea). 

Elegant afternoon tea set at Palm Court, The Langham, featuring fine china, a selection of sandwiches and pastries, and a serene ambiance. Elegant afternoon tea set at Palm Court, The Langham, featuring fine china, a selection of sandwiches and pastries, and a serene ambiance.
1C Portland Pl, W1B 1JA
A 2 tired cake tray with brown scones on the bottom and 3 different lines of cakes on the top. A 2 tired cake tray with brown scones on the bottom and 3 different lines of cakes on the top.
150 Piccadilly, W1J 9BR

The Ritz

Afternoon tea at The Ritz quite literally sets the gold standard for the rest of London. It’s served amongst the golden statues and glittering chandeliers of Palm Court; a glitzy setting for a traditional tea accompanied by live piano sonatas. All the classics like cucumber sandwiches and crumbly scones are present and correct, as well as 20 types of loose-leaf tea, and it’s all rounded off with a couple of slices of cake served tableside from the guérdion trolley.

JOIA Bar at art’otel

Seen from the rooftop of London’s new art’otel, landmarks like the London Eye are shrunk to the size of a doll’s house. Or perhaps a cinnamon custard tart, which joins smoked salmon sandwiches and almondy choux buns on JOIA’s new afternoon tea menu, served two floors below. To hydrate, keep things classic with a selection of loose-leaf teas, or else toast the neighbouring, red-bricked towers with a classic glass of Champagne.

A table site next to a window overlooking a building. The table has 2 glasses of prosecco sat on it, next to a teapot and cup of tea. There is a cake stand with scones, cakes and sandwiches on 3 different tiers. A table site next to a window overlooking a building. The table has 2 glasses of prosecco sat on it, next to a teapot and cup of tea. There is a cake stand with scones, cakes and sandwiches on 3 different tiers.
1 Electric Blvd, Nine Elms, SW11 8BJ
A white table cloth with white and pink plates laid on it full of cakes. A cake tray sits at the back of the table with 2 tiers, the bottom of lined finger sandwiches and the top a mix of different bite size cakes. On the table is jam, butter and a bowl of bread. A white table cloth with white and pink plates laid on it full of cakes. A cake tray sits at the back of the table with 2 tiers, the bottom of lined finger sandwiches and the top a mix of different bite size cakes. On the table is jam, butter and a bowl of bread.
53 Park Ln, W1K 1QA

The Dorchester

There’s no denying The Dorchester’s pedigree – after all, it’s been a favourite amongst film stars and royalty since it opened in 1931. And its afternoon tea is, as you’d expect, a masterclass in British innovation, with award-winning pastry chef Michael Kwan turning out creations like strawberry roulades and pistachio choux. The surroundings are also a real treat: you’ll be cosying down in pastel banquette sofas and marvelling at floral artworks.

Fortnum & Mason

There’s a reason afternoon tea at Fortnum & Mason is high on the hit lists of London tourists: it is, quite simply, iconic. It’s been serving traditional sandwiches, scones, and sweet treats for over a century – but since 2012, tea has been taken in the glitzy Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon (so named when the late Queen opened the room in 2012). Don’t have a sweet tooth? There’s also a savoury-only menu, which includes minted pea scones, smoked trout éclairs, and duck mousse melba.

A close up on a lady's hands with pink nails reaching for a cake on a zoomed in cake tray showing some orange fruit and a slice of cake. A close up on a lady's hands with pink nails reaching for a cake on a zoomed in cake tray showing some orange fruit and a slice of cake.
4th Floor, Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, W1A 1ER
A wooden table with 2 glasses of prosecco, a China cup or tea and a teacup. There is also a 3 tier cake stand with pastries, clotted cream and a mic of coloured cakes, jam and butter, A wooden table with 2 glasses of prosecco, a China cup or tea and a teacup. There is also a 3 tier cake stand with pastries, clotted cream and a mic of coloured cakes, jam and butter,
193–197 High Holborn, WC1V 7BD

Colonel Saab

Afternoon tea has been given an Indian makeover at olde worlde Colonel Saab – starting with the sandwiches, which have largely been swapped for the likes of tikona samosas and crispy chakli. Some traditional elements are still on the menu (like, raisin scones and English breakfast tea), but you can also try a selection of Indian-inspired desserts, such as coconut and rose laddu and lentil and jaggery payasam.

Claridge’s

If you want to know how seriously Claridge’s takes afternoon tea, just look at the length of its afternoon tea menu. Each element of the painstakingly traditional tea has been carefully outlined for diners – from the angle and thickness of the sandwich bread to suggested tea pairings for each course. The food itself is served from a specially designed stand and eaten from specially designed plates, and you’ll be serenaded by tinkling piano music: if you want a traditional experience, this is it.

A table with a a tray of finger size sandwiches on it next to a plate of cakes and cups of tea and glasses of prosecco. A table with a a tray of finger size sandwiches on it next to a plate of cakes and cups of tea and glasses of prosecco.
1 Brook St, W1K 4HR
A white table with a white cake stand on it with a mix of finger size sandwiches and cakes. On the table is small white plates with red macaroons and a glass of rose wine. A white table with a white cake stand on it with a mix of finger size sandwiches and cakes. On the table is small white plates with red macaroons and a glass of rose wine.
9 Conduit St, W1S 2XG

sketch

Sketch is a restaurant that thrives on eccentricity – from its egg-shaped bathrooms to the Yinka Shonibare art plastering its sunny yellow walls. The same goes for its afternoon tea menu, which joyfully puts a French twist on the English classics with inventions like salmon lollipops and apricot and lavender Battenburg. Seasonal clafoutis served tableside from a sparkling trolley further proves that it’s possible to have both style and substance.

Pavllyon London

If there’s a Frenchman we’d trust to take on afternoon tea, it’s Yannick Alléno. The 16-Michelin-starred chef is the culinary talent behind Pavyllon (itself the recipient of a Michelin star earlier this year) – so, it’s safe to say his afternoon tea is set to be a corker. The team has stuck to tradition with the ‘so British’ scones, but there’s still a lot of French flair – like, the Fuji apple tartlet and mini religieuse chocolat.

A cake stand with a mix of multi-coloured cakes and jars of clotted cream stands on a marble table with a man pouring a tea pot of red liquid into a cup. A cake stand with a mix of multi-coloured cakes and jars of clotted cream stands on a marble table with a man pouring a tea pot of red liquid into a cup.
Four Seasons Hotel at Park Lane, Hamilton Pl, W1J 7DR
A glass of prosecco on a wooden table next to a black circular cake stand with sandwiches and cakes on 3 tiers. A glass of prosecco on a wooden table next to a black circular cake stand with sandwiches and cakes on 3 tiers.
National Gallery, Trafalgar Sq, WC2N 5DN

Ochre at the National Gallery

Afternoon tea is an art form at Ochre – not least because it’s situated inside the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square. But an ordinary museum café this is not: this is a sophisticated fine dining establishment with a genuinely great afternoon tea. It's been designed to celebrate the gallery’s 200th birthday, meaning that yes, there is birthday cake on the menu, as well as other suitably artsy sweets like a chocolate and raspberry mousse (or ‘paintbrush’, as listed on the menu) and lemon choux with candied peel.

One Aldwych

Fizzy lifting drinks, snozberry jam, and chocolate milkshakes mixed by waterfall: One Aldwych’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tea is little short of magical. So, it’s a good one to take the kids (and yourself) to as you have fun discovering the likes of not-quite-as-it-seems macarons (spoiler: they’re savoury), scones with snozberry jam and ‘all the creams’, and a cloud of candyfloss. Oh, and that fizzy lifting drink? Shorthand for Champagne.

A wooden tray with a green bottom with a chocolate milkshake in a cola bottle with a red and white striped straw coming out. There is a vanilla milkshake next to this with whipped cream and strawberry sprinkles surrounded by small cakes. A wooden tray with a green bottom with a chocolate milkshake in a cola bottle with a red and white striped straw coming out. There is a vanilla milkshake next to this with whipped cream and strawberry sprinkles surrounded by small cakes.
1 Aldwych, WC2B 4BZ
A table laid with a cake stand and delicious looking cakes surrounded by china tea pot and tea cups. A table laid with a cake stand and delicious looking cakes surrounded by china tea pot and tea cups.
Catherine St, WC2B 5JF

The Lane

To cream, or not to cream? That is the question at The Lane, which is the only restaurant in London serving afternoon tea inside a real-life theatre – Theatre Royal Drury Lane, to be precise, which was recently restored to its former 1812 glory. The theatrical theme continues across the plates, patterned with performers, and the cakes have more than a little pizzazz, thanks to the artful touch of artisan baker Lily Vanilli.

Image Image

You’ve got good taste. We’ve got the specialist knowledge.

We keep our members up to date on all the latest restaurant openings and trends. And we secure them priority seats and exclusive perks at the world’s finest drinking and dining spots.

More to explore

Restaurants & Nightlife

Afternoon teas with a twist

Discover something different this afternoon tea week with these ten quirky teas

Read more
Restaurants & Nightlife

London’s best new hotel restaurants

In the era of super-hotels, hotel restaurants are stepping up – here are five to know.

Read more
Restaurants & Nightlife

London’s best new hotel bars

From a rooftop disco den to Soho's new home of hedonism, here are seven fun new bars to try.

Read more
Quintessentially Noted GIF

NOTED

Stay in the know with our monthly newsletter – a complimentary edit of everything new and noteworthy in the luxury world.

Loading Loading

By signing up to the newsletter you confirm you have read & agree to the Privacy Policy.

Make an enquiry