Celebrate August’s afternoon tea week with some of the Capital’s most stand-out sweet treat showstoppers in Knightsbridge.
Like the neighbourhood itself, Knightsbridge’s afternoon tea offering is a contemporary and playful mix of haute couture, on-trend design, French patisserie flair, traditional exuberance, and natural delights. Hitting the perfect sweet spot, SW1X’s latest afternoon incarnations include:
THE WORLD’S FIRST CHURROS AFTERNOON TEA
Billing itself as London’s first ‘luxury desserts bar’, The Knot Churros specialises in outlandish sweet treats (many with vegan-friendly alternatives). Included in the decadent afternoon tea offering at the Knightsbridge flagship are signature glazed churros with a choice of Belgian chocolate dips, a selection of bagels, glitter popcorn, candy floss and soft serve ice cream with sprinkles. On the drinks front, there is a choice of tea, lattes, or fun-flavoured slushies. More than just the food, the interiors at this new Knightsbridge boutique are eye-catching and equally opulent, with plenty of Instagrammable backdrops including swings, floating flowers, pretty pink walls and even a pink baby grand piano. Prices from £30 per person. www.theknotchurros.com
THE LANESBOROUGH’S QUEEN CHARLOTTE AFTERNOON TEA
The Lanesborough Hotel’s latest seasonal afternoon tea is inspired by Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. Created in partnership with Netflix and Shondaland, Head Pastry Chef Salvatore Mungiovino has crafted a limited-edition menu that pays tribute to the key characters. Options include Your Majesty, an exquisite sharing cake, King George Dreams of Venus inspired by The King’s love of astronomy, the flowery and fruity Lady Violet’s Buzzing Garden and the Danbury Delight, a nod to Lady Danbury’s love of hats and jewels. Alongside the delicious pastries, guests can feast on a selection of sandwiches including tea cured salmon with lemon and caper cream, Coronation chicken and devilled egg mayonnaise. Sweet and savoury scones complete the Regency inspired afternoon tea menu. The Lanesborough Queen Charlotte Afternoon Tea costs from £75 per person, with gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan menus available. www.oetkercollection.com/hotels/the-lanesborough/
AFTERNOON TEA WITH AN ITALIAN SUMMER TWIST AT BULGARI HOTEL LONDON
The new summery twist on Afternoon Tea at Bulgari Hotel London marries Italian ingredients with the glorious colours and scents of English flowers. It begins with a carefully curated selection of Italian savoury delicacies by Executive Chef, Adriano Cavagnini followed by decadent dolci delights created by the talented resident pastry chef and chocolatier Gianluca Fusto. Inspired by the colourful florals of the season, the dolci include the Peace, with vanilla mousse and lemon biscuit; the Fior di Basilico with tomatoes and raspberry ganache and basil; the Baba Rosa with a cocoa biscuit, strawberry and coconut ganache; and the Sambuco with mascarpone, Sambuco, pistachio, and peach and vanilla cream. Served in The Bulgari Lounge, this Italian afternoon tea delight is accompanied by a choice of tea and costs £105 per person. https://www.bulgarihotels.com/en_US/london/bar-and-restaurant/the-lounge
FEYA KNIGHTSBRIDGE – A DELIGHT FOR INSTAGRAMMERS
Feya’s forest-inspired décor and birdcage seating, make it an Instagram hot spot. Afternoon tea costs just £37.50 per person and features wild mushroom quiche, coronation chicken brioche and smoked salmon blinis. Sweet tooths will enjoy the selection of the finest mini patisserie plus traditional scones served with jam and clotted cream. There is also an extensive choice of premium teas plus a vegetarian tea option for the same price.
https://www.feya.co.uk/_files/ugd/390a12_4be7e558eb3b4d6f8c67efaf68c7ac36.pdf
HAUTE COUTURE ON THE BERKELEY’S PRÊT-À-PORTEA CAKEWALK
A firm favourite of sweet-toothed fashionistas, The Berkeley’s latest Summer 2023 Prêt-à-Portea is a catwalk-inspired showcase of cakey fun! After a selection of canapés and sandwiches, the collection opens with Loewe’s viral Anthurium dress, reimagined with Sacher sponge, espresso caramel and Valrhona 70% chocolate mousse, set on a croustillant base and topped with a chocolate flower. Next, The Berkeley pastry team pays a heartfelt homage to the late and great Vivienne Westwood with a Madagascar vanilla biscuit portrait intricately iced, complete with iconic red hair.
Hermès’ tasselled bucket bag is crafted out of Victoria sponge sandwiched with apricot jam, wrapped in chocolate and finished with a chocolate feather plume. Moschino’s vibrant ensemble is made with tropical mousse with a banana and passion fruit centre, set on Sablé Breton biscuit and finished with a meringue flamingo. Two designers appear in Prêt-à-Portea this season for the very first time: Zimmermann’s playful striped co-ord is a cylinder of joconde sponge, filled with blueberry bavarois. This is topped with a chocolate skirt and wafer-thin biscuit legs, akimbo. US label Thom Browne’s avant-garde look is a fraise des bois tart with strawberry crémeux, topped with a lime and mint truffle and red chocolate hat.
The season’s showstopper takes inspiration from Kenzo with a cake designed to share – a velvety citrus cream with lemon confit and coconut gel, set on a Sablé biscuit base and topped with sugar flowers. Prêt-à-Portea is priced from £80 per person. Vegetarian options are available. https://www.the-berkeley.co.uk/restaurants-bars/afternoon-tea/
PÂTISSERIE PERFECTION AT THE BERKELEY WITH CÉDRIC GROLET’S AFTERNOON ‘GOÛTEA’
Bringing afternoon tea harmony to Anglo-French relations is French pâtissier Cédric Grolet’s Goûtea. Served in his namesake pâtisserie at The Berkeley, this fusion of Goûter (the French tradition of sweet snacking) and the best of British afternoon tea, is a showcase of miniature pâtisserie perfection. Comprising eight savoury and sweet creations, this season’s, sun-soaked flavours include sculptured ‘apricot’ cuts which open to reveal a fragrant rosemary and apricot gel centre, while miniature classics include a Vanilla Flower and Scone – Cédric’s witty take on tradition. Cédric Grolet’s Goûtea costs £85 per person.
https://www.the-berkeley.co.uk/restaurants-bars/cedric-grolet-at-the-berkeley/
A SUMMER ‘SEASON’ AFTERNOON TEA OFFERING AT THE ROSEBERY, MANDARIN ORIENTAL HYDE PARK, LONDON
The Rosebery’s new afternoon tea edit makes the most of summer and ‘The Season’, with a new menu developed by talented Executive Pastry Chef Emmanuel Bonneau. Served from bespoke and quirky hanging stands in a beautiful light strewn room, it opens with a timely nod to Wimbledon. Match Point Delight is a Kefir lime mousse with a mango and passion centre; while Ascot Elegance a joyful mascarpone mousse, blueberry compote and citrus genoise. Regal Rowing comprises an almond sponge, strawberry jelly and vanilla buttercream and, as an ode to summer, Blooming Blossom is an apricot mousse, pistachio cremeux and apricot compote. Finally, Sweet Summer is a decadent dark chocolate ice cream and dulce de leche masterpiece.
Alongside the sweet treats, guests can enjoy delicate sandwiches – many with a quirky twist – such as the Rosebery Coronation Chicken, with chicken breast, sautéed mushrooms, coriander and pineapple chutney; the Clarence Court Egg Truffle Sandwich, with egg and black truffle on white bread and the Applewood Cheddar Cheese featuring caramelized onion and granny smith apple. A menu of 29 different types of loose-leaf tea is also offered and to further enhance the experience there is a choice of Champagne, Sake, beers, wines or sparkling tea pairings. There are gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan choices available too. Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London Rosebery’s Afternoon Tea costs £75 per person. Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian and a Children’s Menu are also available.https://www.mandarinoriental.com/en/london/hyde-park/dine/the-rosebery
ANGELO MUSA – DELICIOUS AFTERNOON TEA WITH A FRENCH SPIN IN HARRODS
As Pastry World Champion, Best Craftsman of France and Executive Pastry Chef at the Michelin-starred Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris, Angelo Musa knows a thing or two about cakes. Fortunately, his culinary artistry can be savoured in technicolour at his Angelo Musa High Tea namesake patisserie on the Fourth Floor at Harrods.
The Angelo Musa afternoon tea at Harrods puts a French spin on the quintessential British afternoon tea experience, and the menu promises an array of delicious savoury and sweet treats. Guests can start with picture-perfect sandwiches and savouries including the Croque Forêt (a toasted chestnut mushroom and parmesan sandwich, gruyère cheese, black truffle) and a crab and lobster brioche, and the patisserie selection features warm scones, as well as Angelo Musa’s famous homemade jam. Angelo Musa High Tea costs £75 per person. www.harrods.com
A TASTE OF TRADITION – HARRODS CLASSIC AFTERNOON TEA
For a taste of British tradition, there’s no finer destination than The Harrod’s Tea Rooms. Changing with the seasons, high tea at Harrods promises a tiered selection of mouth- watering treats, from delicate finger sandwiches and freshly baked scones to picture-perfect patisserie, all freshly made by talented Harrods chefs.
This summer, try the seasonal afternoon tea menu. Guests can delight in the fresh flavours of strawberry and yuzu, lime and timut pepper, apricot and thyme, as well as chocolate and passion fruit across a new range of mini desserts. These are served alongside mouth watering savoury bites, including a warm Parmesan madeleine and smoked-salmon vol-au-vents with fennel and orange mousse. Harrods tea selection is among the best in the world: Earl Grey, Hawaiian Black, Arishan Tai Milky Oolong, Superior Sencha – and all these can be enjoyed in the famous Georgian tea rooms, beneath the Art Deco skylight, accompanied by live piano music. For an extra dose of decadence, customers can also add on a glass of Harrods Champagne. Classic Afternoon Tea and Vegan Tea costs £65 per person. Kids afternoon tea is also available for £33 per person. www.harrods.com
AFTERNOON TEA AT THE FIFTH FLOOR CAFÉ AND TERRACE AT HARVEY NICHOLS
A proper institution, The Fifth Floor and Terrace is the perfect spot to enjoy a leisurely afternoon tea – and this summer’s menu does not disappoint. Served in the light and spacious Fifth Floor Café and adjoining alfresco terrace, which overlooks the Knighsbridge rooftops, the Afternoon Tea is a wonderfully classic affair.
Dainty finger sandwiches, including Coronation chicken, cucumber and cream cheese and the savoury delights of a tomato, mozzarella and basil brioche are served alongside scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam. Making the most of those gloriously ripe summer fruits, the patisserie selection features a lemon cream tea biscuit with blueberries, a plum jam shortcake with strawberries and a delicious, layered honey cake with raspberries. Prices from £35. https://www.harveynichols.com/restaurant/knightsbridge-dining/cafe-and-terrace/
THE PARK TOWER KNIGHTSBRIDGE ROYAL SUMMER TWIST TEA
There’s nothing quite like the nostalgia of a traditional British Afternoon Tea, and at the Park Tower, Chef Gautam Chaudhary has added a royal twist to this classic experience during this coronation year. The Regal Ritual Afternoon Tea offers an indulgent harmony of floral and fruity flavours and with sumptuous sandwiches and fresh from the oven scones served with jam and clotted cream.
Available in the stunning Knightsbridge Lounge, the tea parlour backdrop features a hand painted canopy of magnolia blossom on draped silk and features a spectacular 18-foot teardrop glass chandelier. The Regal Ritual Afternoon Tea costs £49 per person.
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