It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for folks. Forget the Michelin Guide announcing which restaurants have received the venerated Michelin stars. And who cares which London cocktail bar has been crowned the best in the UK? (Okay, we do actually care quite a lot about that one – we’re inclined to a drink or three!) What we’ve all been eagerly awaiting is the results of the Afternoon Tea Awards 2023.
The awards, sponsored by AfternoonTea.co.uk, crowned three afternoon teas the top in London. The three number one spots were given for different categories: Best Traditional Afternoon Tea, Best Contemporary Afternoon Tea, and Best Themed Afternoon Tea. To make their decisions they considered all aspects of the experience, not just the food and drink itself. This included the booking experience, service, and more.
The best afternoon teas in London
Now, look, we’ve got our own article already on this topic, but we didn’t go quite so far as to present any awards. (Is that something we can just do?) According to the Afternoon Tea Awards 2023, here are the best afternoon teas in London:
Best Traditional Afternoon Tea – Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
The Rosebery, nestled inside the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, sure does serve up a stunning afternoon tea. A seasonally rotating selection ensures that even repeat afternoon tea-ers will be treated to something new and delicious. Said the Afternoon Tea Awards judges:
“This was everything afternoon tea should be. Great service, great food, great tea, in an amazing setting. It’s actually incredibly hard to find anything to fault, or an improvement to suggest!”
📍 66 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LA.
🚇 Nearest station is Knightsbridge.
Best Contemporary Afternoon Tea – The Carlton Tower Jumeirah
Judges singled out the experience during the A Tribute To Nature afternoon tea at the Carlton Tower for being unique, with a fine-dining feel. The afternoon tea, courtesy of decorated pastry chef Jessica Prealpato, is “inspired by the flora of British gardens”. And that means afternoon tea sippers and munchers are in for a treat, as Prealpato was awarded the title of World’s Best Pastry Chef in 2019 and Pastry Chef of the Year by Gault et Millau in 2020. Unexpected flavour pairings work to disrupt the traditional experience and surprise and delight diners.
📍 1 Cadogan Place, SW1X 9PY.
🚇 Nearest station is Knightsbridge.
Best Themed Afternoon Tea – The Berkeley
Judges hailed the Berkeley’s Prêt-à-Portea afternoon tea experience as being one of the best that they had ever tried. And it sure is a striking example! The current experience takes inspiration from the catwalks cakewalks of Autumn/Winter 2022, celebrating “designers from Dolce & Gabbana to Jean Paul Gaultier”. It’s not just about cakes though, don’t worry, as they still do plenty of delicious canapés and sandwiches to accent the offering.
📍 Wilton Place, SW1X 7RL.
🚇 Nearest station is Hyde Park Corner.
The following afternoon teas also received a special nod from the awards in the form of an ‘Award of Excellence’:
- The Promenade at The Dorchester
- The Landmark London
- The Milestone Hotel
- The Rose Lounge at Sofitel London
- Mirror Room at Rosewood London
- Maison Lounge at The Cadogan
- The Stage at The Londoner
- The Guardsman Hotel
- The Orchid Lounge at Pan Pacific London
- Gatsby’s Room at The Beaumont Hotel
- The Lanesborough Hotel
- Indigo at One Aldwych
- The Drawing Rooms at The Ampersand Hotel
- The Chesterfield Mayfair