As Mother's Day approaches and new, spring menus are launched, the afternoon tea scene across the capital gets some pep in its step. Here's where we'll be scoffing scones and chowing down on cakes this month.
Spring Afternoon Tea at the Great Scotland Yard Hotel
International Women's Day and Mother's Day are celebrated in the new Spring Afternoon Tea at the Great Scotland Yard Hotel. It's a collaboration with perfume brand Floris London, and a portion of proceeds go to Breast Cancer UK.
The menu is inspired by Floris' Lily of the Valley scent. Dishes include a courgette, rocket and lemon quiche and a caramelised Jerusalem artichoke and Montgomery cheddar Yorkshire pudding. Warm scones are served, alongside Cornish clotted cream, and rhubarb and rose jam. There are several pastries too, including one which symbolises two breasts, one of which has undergone a mastectomy, adorned with a golden scar reminiscent of the Japanese art of Kintsugi.
Spring Afternoon Tea at the Great Scotland Yard Hotel. From £59 per person. Available now, until June 2024.
Afternoon tea at Café Lapérouse at The OWO
From one fancy hotel to another, Parisian restaurant Café Lapérouse — an indoor pavilion-style space inspired by the adventures of French explorer Jean-François de Lapérouse — is tucked away in The OWO hotel on Whitehall, and it's just launched its first afternoon tea, offering a French take on the British ritual.
The menu has finger sandwiches with fillings such as devilled truffle egg, and coronation chicken, as well as scones served with cream and jam. The Parisian twist comes courtesy of the French pastries, each paying homage to renowned French artisans. The banoffee and caramel mousse pastry is named after Honoré de Balzac, while a black forest cake is named after the writer and activist, Marquis de Sade (though we're not sure it's quite as decadent as its namesake).
Afternoon tea at Café Lapérouse at The OWO. £68 per person. Available now.
Afternoon tea at Number Sixteen
South Kensington townhouse hotel Number Sixteen overhauls its afternoon tea menu to celebrate the start of spring, just in time for Mother's Day. Served in The Orangery overlooking a hidden garden, the new menu features a selection of classic finger sandwiches (chicken, bacon and rocket; smoked salmon, chive and cream cheese; goat's cheese and sundried tomatoes; egg mayo with capers and cornichons) and freshly baked scones with clotted cream and preserves.
Desserts include a pineapple rum baba, a baked strawberry and custard tart, a coffee opera cake, and a rhubarb and white chocolate macaron.
It's served with tea, coffee or hot chocolate, or you can upgrade to a glass of sparkling wine or champagne if you're feeling fancy.
Afternoon tea at Number Sixteen. From £45 per person. New menu from 4 March.
Afternoon tea at Caviar House & Prunier, Piccadilly
Caviar and afternoon tea aren't obvious bedfellows, but that's not stopping Caviar House & Prunier from launching itself into London's afternoon tea market, with a new menu available from early March.
Seafood and caviar feature heavily. Scones — unusually, suggested as the starter, though of course you can eat in any order you like — are served with Balik salmon fillet, crème fraiche, and caviar. The savoury section includes a prawn brioche roll, enhanced with the secret house sauce, a Balik tartar sandwich, and a toasted grilled egg sandwich topped with caviar.
Intriguingly, the caviar theme extends to the sweet portion of the menu too. Lemon tarte, macarons, and petits fours are all laced with caviar, which, we're told, combines "the decadence of caviar with the delicate intricacies of fine patisserie".
Afternoon tea at Caviar House & Prunier. From £110 per person. Available from 1 March.
Mother's Day afternoon tea in the Painted Hall, Greenwich
For one day only, afternoon tea is served inside the Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich.
On Mother's Day, tuck into a traditional afternoon tea in exquisite Baroque surroundings, while a harpist plucks away. The menu consists of sandwiches, freshly-baked scones with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry preserve, and pastries and teacakes. Wash it down with tea, or splash out extra for a glass of prosecco or champagne.
Mother's Day afternoon tea in the Painted Hall. From £65 per adult/£40 child. Available 10 March only.
