Hotel cafe royal afternoon tea review
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Looking for afternoon tea in London? Check out Hotel Café Royal in London for high tea. Check out our review of Hotel Café Royal in London for afternoon tea. Show Where is the afternoon tea? Afternoon tea at Hotel Café Royal is taken in the opulent Oscar Wilde bar that opened in the mid 1800s. What’s the vibe like? Ornate sculptures and dimly lit gothic-style gold lamps line the mirrored walls, curved 1920s red leather chairs sit round tables covered in pristine white linen, and a live pianist playing modern and classic tunes brings life to this exuberant lounge. What are the afternoon tea options? Our friendly and knowledgeable waiter takes us through the afternoon tea options of classic afternoon tea (£45pp or £55pp with a glass of Laurent-Perrier Brut), or a Diptyque candle afternoon tea, that includes a glass of Champagne and a candle to take home (£65pp). Selection of sweet and savouries What’s on the tea list? The familiar tea selection is peppered with more unusual flavours – rich and floral lychee and rose noir, caffeine-free organic rosebud; and an 1865 signature English breakfast tea, strong in taste and colour with a creamy, slightly bitter finish. What’s the savoury round like? The savoury round kicked off with a subtly sweet pickled apple muffin, topped with velvety piped goat’s cheese and an accompanying pippette for squeezing in more juice if desired. Onto the sandwiches; peppery cream cheese and slithers of crunchy cucumber came on light white bread; smoked salmon with silky dill crème fraîche was soft and well-seasoned; egg and tarragon mayonnaise on fluffy brown bread had a lovely smooth texture with a slight crunch; roast Aberdeen Angus beef was slightly dry but we enjoyed the crunchy watercress and punchy horseradish. We finished with free-range Cotswolds chicken with a creamy and zingy lemon verbena dressing. Selection of sweet and savouries What are the scones like? Warm and fluffy with shiny golden tops, served with chunky strawberry jam and thick clotted cream. Scone rating: 7.5/10 And the sweet pastries and desserts? An intricate, airy mousse-like lemon verbena cheesecake with a nutty, crisp base kicked of our sweet pastries, topped with a marbled white chocolate slate. The rose victoria sponge was a little too heavy on the rose and had a slightly dry sponge, but featured a super-smooth jelly layer; an oaty, soft, slightly chewy Tahitian vanilla bar with a creamy topping was better. The star of the show, beautifully presented on a gold board, was the violet and blackcurrant cassis tart, jammy and rich with a buttery, crunchy base and a delicate white chocolate topping. Situated on Regent Street a stone's throw from Piccadilly in the heart of London, Hotel Café Royal stands in a league of its own, with an illustrious and colorful 150+-year history as one of the most renowned meeting places in London, frequented throughout the ages by everyone from Oscar Wilde and Winston Churchill to Lady Diana and David Bowie. While the city outside couldn't be more pulsing, the hotel within is a serene oasis of sophistication and elegance, the look is a mix of French opulence (in The Grill Room lounge and in original ceilings and bannisters throughout the public spaces), Milanese minimalism (the rooms and suites), and Japanese Zen (Akasha spa). Originally the headquarters of a sporting club, the building was closed between 2008 until 2012 for extensive renovations by new owners The Set, the bijoux hotel group known for converting a handful of beautiful old European buildings into new properties (like the wonderful Conservatorium in Amsterdam and Lutetia in Paris, both Fathom Favorites). Still shimmering from the revamp, Café Royal is now one of the most special places to stay and meet in London. Book Itand check whether the hotel is running special offers that can apply to your trip. Or contact the Fathom Travel Concierge if you'd like help planning your time in London. What's On SiteA stunner from the first impression, the hotel underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation in 2018 when designer Piero Lissoni (who also had a hand in the Conservatorium revamp) shifter the lobby entrance to quiet Air Street. The double-height guest reception area is dominated by a beautiful Murano glass chandelier and accented by bookshelves filled with volumes curated by Maison Assouline, which can also be found in an adjacent lobby sitting area. Traces of the past remain, of course: The original owner's initials are still visible in the marble surrounding the revolving door at the Regent Street entrance. Of special note here is the sublime, 1,200-square-meter subterranean Akasha Holistic Wellbeing. The luxurious spa and wellness center (and members' club) in the basement has an eighteen-meter pool and nine treatment rooms, including one for couples. There's more: a private hammam, London's first Watsu pool for hydro-therapeutic treatments, a 3,200 square-foot gym with LifeFitness equipment, holistic yoga, core, and bootcamp classes, and trainers on hand to lend a hand. This is where I spent my spare time drinking tea, swimming, and chatting with guests. It's also where I had the best shiatsu massage this side of Tokyo. Food + DrinkCafé Royal began life as a wine cellar and was once considered to have the finest wine collection in the world. By 1890, it had become the place to see and be seen in London: Oscar Wilde would meet his lover Bosie here when it was a restaurant and meeting place. At Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal, the intimate (only 34 seats), Michelin-starred, French-inspired fine-dining restaurant, the food is simply exquisite. The ornate, gilded Grill Room, established in 1865 and originally named for Louis XVI, serves an award-winning traditional afternoon tea service, including vegetarian and vegan options. Cake & Bubbles is the new dessert and Champagne concept overseen by World's Best Pastry Chef Albert Adrià, who is known for creating the groundbreaking El Bulli restaurant with his brother Ferran. Adrià had recently run a pop-up at Café Royal; this is his first permanent restaurant outside Spain. Located in a glass and marble spot overlooking Regent Street, the eatery will serve sweets and savories (including the renowned cheesecake and tomato tartare from his Tickets restaurant in Barcelona) from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Green Bar serves inventive cocktails inspired by the Café Royal Cocktail Book, written in 1937 for the United Kingdom Bartenders Guild in 1937. Recipes span a century, with a focus on the 1920s and '30s. This being London, gin features heavily. This being the 21st century, light bites and share plates are served to prevent you from going home too do-lally to find your house keys. Should the specter of other people seem too daunting, especially at daybreak, there's always room service. In the RoomDesigned by architect David Chipperfield, the hotel has 160 gorgeous rooms situated off sleek hallways. Many have amazing views over bustling Piccadilly Circus and Regent Street and include all sorts of luxuries like toiletries from Diptique and complimentary Nespresso. My room was generously sized, with a sophisticated combined living room and bedroom that was larger than most of the apartments I have lived in. It had a beautiful sitting area, a large entrance hall, and the most amazing view over central London. The bathroom had a vast bath and a television behind the mirror. Six signature suites with names like Royal Wing and Presidential Suite come with private butlers and extras like luxury guest bedrooms. The three-bedroom Dome Penthouse in a listed part of the building is another highlight. What to Do NearbyNeighborhood VibeHotel Café Royal is situated near Piccadilly Circus, the beating heart of London. Here, throngs of tourists wander towards Covent Garden and nearby Buckingham Palace and up to the many shops on Regent and Oxford Street. This is as lively as London gets. What To Do NearbyVisitors are spoiled for choice. Nearby stores include Selfridges and legendary toy store Hamleys. The fabled outdoor market in Covent Garden is always good for live entertainment. For food, there's roast duck at yummy Chinatown locales like Hung's (27 Wardour Street; +44-20-7287-6580), eateries in the theater district like Opera Tavern, and grand Parisian brasserie fare at Brasserie Zédel. Art lovers can head to Royal Academy of Arts, contemporary galleries like Blain: Southern and Marian Goodman Gallery, the art doyenne of New York's London spot in an awesomely renovated building on Golden Square. After hours, one cannot miss Milroy's, the oldest whisky shop in London. It has been taken over by a young mover and shaker who has added a hipster cocktail bar. And down side streets in Soho are racy alternative club nights like Boylexe for male burlesque. Keep Exploring LondonFathom's London Guide A Tour of London's Literary Side Live the Fairy Tale at an English Forest Inn This article was originally published in 2016 and is updated as offerings change, most recently in 2023. Is there a dress code for the Cafe Royal?Booking in advance is highly recommended. Dress code: We kindly ask that gentleman wear a jacket; tie is optional, trainers are not permitted. What is the best time to book Afternoon Tea?People usually have afternoon tea between 3 and 5pm, and 4pm is often cited as the best time for afternoon tea. Many hotels and restaurants offer it from noon until early evening, though, so you don't have to stick to the rules if you want to have it earlier or later. |
