With National Afternoon Tea Week upon us, we thought of no better reason than to traipse round London and added inches to our waistlines as we chatted to friends and Aunts over finger sandwiches and pots of Earl Grey. Here is our Gentleman’s Selection of Afternoon Tea venues in London. Do enjoy your leisurely afternoon.
If you think of Afternoon Tea, The Ritz is one of the first places that comes to mind. Afternoon Tea is served with style in the Palm Court under the skylight. The pianist flutters his fingers on the Ivories and you are almost taken back to a century ago when the Ritz first started serving Afternoon Tea.
It is tradition, formality, elegance and a truly English experience, even down to the fact that the dress code is strictly adhered too. Gentlemen must wear a Jacket & Tie and no jeans or trainers are accepted on ladies as well.
One small tip: booking is essential and you will probably need to do so weeks in advance. It is not the cheapest Afternoon Tea in our selection (from £47.00 pp), but if you are seeking to impress those foreign relations then this is the place to go.
The PG says – The Overseas Gentleman’s Choice
If Bertie Wooster were alive today and had to whisk Aunt Dahlia off to afternoon tea, there would be no better place than Fortnum & Mason’s fine Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon situated at the top of the building on Piccadilly.
The soft pastel colours, the fine teas and the gentle service make this a must for any visiting family, especially those difficult Aunts! The tea selection is massive, with various accompanying notes that would make a sommelier proud. And on your way out you can stop in the shop and pick up your own tea to try at home.
Guests are required to dress smartly and it is on the upper price bracket for tea (from £40.00pp), but it makes up for it in an ambiance and sophistication that would make any Aunt proud of their Nephew!
The PG says – The Entertaining Aunts Gentleman’s Choice
Part of the Mandeville Hotel in Marylebone, tucked behind Selfridges, but with an ambience all of it’s own as it resembles a modern gentleman’s club.
Indeed it is the place we tried one of the non-traditional Afternoon Teas; their Gentleman’s afternoon Tea. It consisted of various hearty cakes, such as Treacle Tart and savouries that included Sausage Rolls, with lashings of fine tea. It is not the largest selection of teas, but is very well done. If you don’t fancy tea, they can always whistle you up a Whiskey Cocktail.
It is reasonably priced (from £26.50pp) and one that you and your most male friends can attend and be proud of and not feel like you should bring the ladies.
The PG says – The Manly Gentleman’s Choice
It has to be said this is #1PG’s favourite Afternoon Tea spot and he is a frequent visitor with his wife. As with all Firmdale hotels, they are beautifully designed with modern elegance and flair.
It is not as formal as some of the other venues, but provides both intimacy and atmosphere that is perfect for a 1st date or any date with a special person. There are delightful touches such as refills for your sandwich plate and tea pot that are included, plus they frequently come round with little morsels from the chef for you to try, all on top of a delightful cake experience. You will not be rushed out for a second seating but you can always amble over to the Bar for a Cocktail.
There is no formal dress code but most people are dressed smartly. The price point is exceptionally reasonable (from £22.00pp) and certainly it is a venue to which any Gentleman should be proud to take his lady.
The PG says – The Dating Gentleman’s Choice
The Delaunay is charming, situated on Aldwych at the end of Drury Lane, it has inherited it’s neighbours’ flair for the dramatic and sense of style. As you would imagine, it being the sister to The Woolsey, everything is attention to detail and the service is friendly and efficient.
They do things differently, it is billed as a Viennese Tea, they swap out the scone for a special Poppy Seed Gugelhupf with apricot jam and whipped cream and it is worth trying even if you are a traditionalist!
There is no Dress Code and tourists mingle with business men and Ladies in their finery. It is most reasonably priced (from £23.75 per person) and somewhere you can take a friend who would never normally have Afternoon Tea and they would not be put off!
The PG says – The Stylish Gentleman’s Choice
Claridges Hotel is a British institution, and is still popular with the society of the day from celebrities, businessmen, politicians and the Jet-Set as it has been since the 1920s.
It has a thing for being beautiful does Claridges and the design of the chairs to the style of the tea service is all thought through and this is true of the service as well. It is a grand Afternoon Tea experience that is far from a tourist experience and as you would expect from the great hotel, great service.
If you want to impress, then this is the top draw of our search in London for the Gentleman who likes his tea.
Dress code is smart and you are generally expected to make an effort. It is the most expensive tea on our list (from £62.00pp), but it comes with a lot.
The PG says – The Classic Gentleman’s Choice
Disclaimer – The PG Team have been to each of these venues in the last 12 months, we have paid for each meal and have not been asked to review any of these establishments. Prices and details are correct at the time of publishing.
