With a plethora of hotels and restaurants in London serving afternoon tea, it’s often difficult to know which one to try next. It is something so stereotypically British that it is often on the top of people’s lists for birthdays, special occasions, and long overdue catch-ups, not to mention the tourists flocking to London in search of clotted cream and sandwiches with the crusts cut off.
For traditional tea lovers, The Ritz undoubtedly reigns Queen, but for glamour and sophistication, The Savoy is the very best. The first luxury hotel in Britain, The Savoy opened in 1889 and is still to this day one of the most well-respected five-star hotels in the world.
The Savoy Afternoon Tea Review
The breathtaking Thames Foyer is the location of The Savoy’s famous afternoon tea, with the comfortable and plush seating surrounding the winter garden gazebo which sits beneath a stained-glass cupola. The gazebo is the home of the pianist, who tinkles on the ivories whilst you sip your tea and nibble on those delicate crust-less sandwiches. At The Savoy you’re able to choose from a variety of traditional afternoon tea or high tea options, with all of them created by The Savoy’s Executive Pastry Chef, Daniel Pearse and his team.
The teas on offer are JING, with the flavours varied and ranging from the traditional to the more exotic. Champagne is of course a must, with The Savoy serving a choice between Louis Roederer Brut Premier, and Deutz Rose.
When it comes to the food, you’ll find the tiered cake stands abound with flavorsome treats. The finger sandwiches are traditional, you’ll find no unusual and quirky afternoon tea here. The cakes and pastries however are both imaginative and delicious, and handcrafted each morning by Pearse’s team. If you have a particularly savoury tooth, they also do a savoury focused ‘High Tea’ for those not too keen on all of the sweets that come with the traditional. However if, like me, you can handle even the most saccharine treats, the scones are all homemade and perfectly textured, with accompanying clotted cream and jams.
Service at The Savoy is as attentive as always, and no sooner have you taken your first bite when you are asked whether or not everything is OK. For an afternoon tea that is special, glamorous, and delicious in historical surroundings, you simply can not beat The Savoy, and they even offer Vegan and Vegetarian afternoon tea options too.
The Savoy Traditional Afternoon Tea starts from £75pp. Find out more and book on the website.
Louise Walker is AGLAIA’s Editor in charge of all content creation and management. She splits her time between London and Miami, and can always be found at a swanky hotel bar sipping on a Negroni. Contact her for any questions or if you would like to become an AGLAIA Contributor: hello@aglaiamagazine.com
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