A tale of extravagance and style at sketch, afternoon tea London

sketch, with a lower-case, becomes a world of wonders as soon as you enter the building. It invites you to let go of your adult worries, and become a child yet again, immersed in the rustling leaves of a dense jungle, and the glamour of a grand tearoom entirely dressed in pink, with men in boiler suits, a tea master, and the caviar man at your service. The hopscotch greeting you at the floor of the entrance hall is only a hint at what’s to come. Be prepared for not just tea and food, but for an enveloping experience that includes everything from quirkiness in decoration to pure style in performance.

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Not Afternoon Tea at the OXO Tower – cocktails, a view, and (almost) no tea

Intrigued by the name of this afternoon tea, or rather “Not Afternoon Tea” as it is called, I decided to take my partner with me, mark the occasion as a romantic date, and see what it was all about. Cocktails and a view seemed like pretty good date material as well. But it could just as easily have been a girls’ night out too.
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Quality Newby tea at The Montagu, Hyatt Regency London

When my friend and I decided to meet for afternoon tea in London, she told me it would be her first proper British one in the UK, so I decided to go for a classic one. I’d never been to The Montagu at the Hyatt Regency before, but the menu and presentation looked promising. We were seated at the window in what was a large, open space with high ceilings, a bar to one end of the room, an open kitchen to the other. Divided by only a few pillars, the more lounge-like area next to the restaurant/afternoon tea space was alive with people chatting away. In our more quiet space, the atmosphere was relaxed, free from any disturbances.

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A Gintastic afternoon tea at Hush, Mayfair

I am very excited to be sharing this latest afternoon tea discovery with you, which I happened upon in a tucked-away street in Mayfair just this week. (more…)

A little punch goes a long way – Afternoon tea at The London EDITION

One day I came across a very nice deal for a Scandal Water afternoon tea at The London EDITION Hotel with an extra tea punch to take home, and I did not want to pass up the chance. I arrived at the hotel, followed directions to the designated room, peeked inside, and wondered if I had come to the right place. Upon entering, the room felt rather dark and oaky, with plump leather armchairs and a tucked-away bar with a rich display of colourful glass bottles of alcohol (the hard stuff). It felt mysterious and yes, almost scandalous. (more…)

A blending of two philosophies – afternoon tea at the Mandarin Oriental

If you’re a tea aficionado like myself, you won’t want to miss out on an afternoon tea at the Mandarin Oriental’s Rosebery lounge. At £53 per person it’s definitely amongst the more expensive options, but with an added extra £20 you can get the advice, expertise and, most of all, the unrelenting enthusiasm of tea master Ludovic Coco. (more…)

Afternoon tea surrounded by the gardens of Kensington Palace, the Orangery Restaurant

If you’d like to enjoy a cup of tea in a typical formal English setting, in a conservatory-like building with high glass doors, surrounded by beautiful gardens at that, then the Orangery Restaurant at Kensington Palace is the place to go to. (more…)

A whimsical Charlie-and-the-Chocolate-Factory tea experience at One Aldwych

If you love Roald Dahl, Tim Burton or, in other words, something whimsical, then One Aldwych is the place to visit. The afternoon tea itself is a hybrid between its classic concept and its quirky execution, much like the space in which you take it is a hybrid between a formal hotel lounge and a relaxed place to enjoy a Willy Wonka bonkers afternoon tea. But the best thing about it is that it’s not all show, meaning substance (taste) isn’t sacrificed for appearance. (more…)