Best Afternoon Tea in Mayfair

Capital A List Membership includes access to exclusive clubs and bars, and priority restaurant bookings in addition to many other benefits. For more information please visit Capital A List Membership.

Afternoon tea is an essential part of English culture, and in London, there are always ideal spots to indulge in tea and pastries as the sun is about to set. Nothing is better than enjoying a properly brewed gunpowder tea with a croissant, lemon tart, or any other sweet treat that complements the particular flavours of black tea.

Doing so in a well-designed and beautiful environment completes the experience. In London, some of the best afternoon tea is in Mayfair. The luxurious neighbourhood is known for its excellent food, and it wouldn’t be much different for tea. 

Gatsby’s Room at the Beaumont Hotel

Gatsby’s Room is a popular spot to get some of the best afternoon tea in Mayfair. Located in the luxurious Beaumont Hotel, the place is decorated to truly look like a Fitzgerald novel – the 1920s European decor takes over the paintings on the walls, the cushioned beige walls, and the many books displayed on shelves across the room. Entering the tea room is like being part of the famous literary work of The Great Gatsby. The place is open from early morning until late at night. Here you can enjoy the breakfast, lunch, dinner, and afternoon tea menus, all in a comfortable, cosy, and inviting environment. 

On the tea menu, you can merge classic British flavours and traditions with the novelty of American culture. There are vegan and gluten-free options for those with dietary restrictions as well. Find different offers of black tea, like the classics Earl Grey and the Indian Darjeeling. Green, white, and oolong teas are also available. Herbal infusions and rare, seasonal teas add to the charm of the experience. Not up for tea? Order house cocktails like the Airmail, with rum, honey, lime, and champagne. Sandwiches, scones, and pastries complement the entire experience.

Website: Gatsby’s Room

Address: The Beaumont, 8 Balderton St, Brown Hart Gardens, London W1K 6TF

Make A Booking

Kai

Kai is a Chinese restaurant in Mayfair paying homage to traditional Nanyang cooking. This means they explore the methods and cuisine from the southern seas of China. With a tropical climate, the area offers unique spices and flavours, all applied to the dishes served at Kai. Merging Chinese and English cultures, the place also offers its approach to afternoon tea. The Chinese Whispers Afternoon Tea is the place and moment where you can enjoy a cocktail, a nibble, and some chit-chatting with your favourite people. Kai Mayfair is also famous for its eclectic design and decor. The place brings you to a tea-house setting in southern China, with a classic feminine touch to the furniture and art. 

The tea menu includes infusions of black, green, white, oolong, and herbal teas, each with eccentric flavour and properties. Order macaroons with clotted cream of bao sandwiches to complement the experience. There are sets of sweets like the “Jar of Whispers & Conversations,” a jar of tea, and vanilla Sablé Breton treats shaped as symbols of memories and conversation starters. And, of course, glasses and bottles of champagne should never be left out of afternoon tea time. 

Website: Kai

Address: 65 S Audley St, London W1K 2QU

Make A Booking

Jean-Georges at the Connaught

The Michelin-star restaurant Jean-Goerges at the Connaught Hotel offers a classic British afternoon tea with a house twist. The twist is an add-on of luxury to the whole experience. Here, the restaurant takes you on a journey through the seasons. Every ingredient and infusion presented to the customer highlights the best of fresh and seasonal ingredients. Teas, sandwiches, and pastries all accompany the design of the dining room. Art from Louise Bourgeois hangs on the walls, and illustrations from Jean Jullian decorate the menu. Through the stained glass, watch the life of Mayfair go by. 

Here, you can dip your toes in Jean-Georges passion for East-Asian cuisine and flavours. On the afternoon tea menu, find a rich selection of teas, from classics like Earl Gret and Darjeeling Second Flush to more complex and intricate flavours like Raspberry and Rose or Jade Sword Organic. Finger sandwiches like cucumber with Greek yoghurt and mint or smoked salmon with coriander complement the experience. Are you looking for something sweet? Go for the caramel, apricot tart, verbena, and peach choux. Add a glass of Laurent-Perrier sparkling wine to the experience, and you will truly feel like part of royalty. 

Website: Jean-Georges at the Connaught

Address: The Connaught, 16 Carlos Pl, London W1K 2AL

Make A Booking

The Chesterfield

Some of the best afternoon tea in Mayfair and London happens to be held inside hotels. Luxury hospitality has its way of knowing how to please the elegant crowd. At Chesterfield Hotel, it isn’t any different.  Here, you will find a carnival-like setting for your afternoon tea experience. Whimsical and playful, as they describe it. Sweetshop-themed cakes, like the Coca-Cola-flavoured one, keep you wondering what other theatrical features await you. 

Liquorice, fruit salad, and candy tea are featured choices on the menu. You can order black, green and herbal tea blends for the most traditional types. The Lanson champagne tea is also for those who want to take it up a notch. Nibble on finger sandwiches like the honey ham, tomato chutney and cheddar cheese. Pastries and cupcakes include Reece’s peanut butter cup, drumstick macarons, and blue raspberry with bubblegum.

The setting and decor of the tea room take you to a candy wonderland. Shelves are packed with candy jars, and plenty of natural light shines over the loose-leaf tea selections. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free menus are available for those with dietary restrictions. 

Website: Chesterfield

Address: 35 Charles St, London W1J 5EB

Make A Booking

The Athenaeum

Continuing with our list of hotels that serve the best afternoon tea in Mayfair, we have the luxurious Athenaeum Hotel. Here, you can enjoy an utterly creative menu for a fixed price. Indulge in sandwiches, cakes, pastries, and traditional scones. There are savoury and sweet options on the menu, pleasing all types of preferences regarding the food that follows the tea. Poacher Chaddar scones and pork and apple sausage rolls take over the savoury menu, while jam and cream are poured over the sweet options. As an upgrade, you can choose the bottomless afternoon tea and enjoy limitless prosecco for 90 minutes. 

For the tea, choose from a wide selection of black teas, botanical infusions, house-blended wellness infusions, and classic green and white teas. Strawberry and champagne mousse, pistachio and strawberry tarts, orange cake, and peach and verbena cream are some options on the menu. Plenty of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options exist for those with dietary restrictions. The Audrey Hepburn-like design of the place highlights the luxury and class behind The Athenaeum philosophy. Velvet booths in bronze hues and dark wooden tables elevate the afternoon tea experience. It is a small and elegant environment, with delicious house creations from the pastry team.

Website: Athenaeum Hotel

Address: 116 Piccadilly, London W1J 7BJ

Make A Booking

The Biltmore Mayfair

The Biltmore is a small luxury hotel in Mayfair that offers elegant afternoon tea for guests and visitors. Executive chef Paul Walsh has crafted an intriguing menu highlighting the best English tea culture and adding unique touches. Using fresh and heritage products from around the UK, Walsh surprises everyone with sweet and savoury treats accompanying brewed tea and even a glass or two of Champagne. 

The menu includes sandwiches like Hereford beef sirloin and horseradish over white bread or smoked salmon, lemon, and chive cream over brown bread. Sweet options range from Champagne and passion fruit choux to Manjari 64% Valhrona chocolate and blood orange tarts. Plain scones come with fresh fruit jam or cream. A glass of Moet or Chandon can follow your fresh-brewed tea. 

Enjoy some high-quality tea at one of Mayfair’s top luxury hotels. At The Biltmore’s Tea Room, you can find light grey and purple hues of colour, both shining under the natural sunlight. Small round tables surrounded by couches and comfortable chairs. This is the place to spend hours chatting with friends. And there is also the Royal Jubilee Afternoon Tea, where you can enjoy a royal-themed event.

Website: The Biltmore

Address: 44 Grosvenor Sq, London W1K 2HP

Make A Booking

Claridges

Claridges is a luxury hotel in Mayfair that highlights every elegant aspect of the neighbourhood. With that philosophy, they could not possibly skip the traditional English afternoon tea. Since 1840, afternoon tea has been a vital feature of British culture, and the hotel honours its heritage with an extra house touch to the experience. At their elegant Foyer & Reading Room, Claridges serves one of the best afternoon teas in Mayfair. 

Exploring seasonal ingredients, the treats here are prepared daily. A selection of savoury and sweet goodies decorate the menu, celebrating traditional British tea snacks. Find classic finger sandwiches like cucumber, mint and lemon cream cheese on white bread. Dorrington ham with apple butter and Lollo Rosso on onion bread are famous. As for the sweets, pick from a selection of hand-made pastries. Taste chocolate sablé and pistachio praline, or maybe a tart raspberry Eton mess. 

Claridges also has a wide selection of freshly brewed teas. Try the house blend, which offers the complexity of black tea with a malty finish. There are plenty of black, green, oolong, and herbal infusions. Excellent coffee and iced tea are also available.

Website: Claridges

Address: Brook St, London W1K 4HR

Make A Booking

Flemings

Flemings is another luxurious Mayfair hotel offering a unique afternoon tea experience. Here you can try the G & TEA, where you’ll find two of the most emblematic English beverages in the same place. Enter a small, cosy room resembling a collection of travel memories. The walls, if not covered with books and small ornaments, are painted with reflections of India. Camels and elephants pass by an exotic background. Emerald green velvet booths bring colour to the beige-toned room, standing above all else. It is a piece of Georgian design and history right in the heart of Mayfair. 

This is the perfect place to sit for hours while enjoying tea or a gin-based cocktail. Order sweet snacks to complement the experience. The fixed-price menu includes a selection of gin and scones, sweet treats, and East Indian tea. All sourced from the best products in the UK and worldwide, the teas here are intriguing and complex. There are even gin-infused teas, mixing the best of both worlds. Macarons, éclairs, and pate de fruits constantly explore seasonal ingredients to deliver fresh and loud flavours. Find also some of the classic finger sandwiches to complement your entire experience.

Website: Flemings

Address: 7-12 Half Moon St, London W1J 7BH

Make A Booking

The Dorchester Hotel

If you’re wondering how to make the most of your day at Mayfair, The Dorchester Hotel has the answer inside their Orchid Room. Surrounded by elegance and luxury while tasting homemade cakes and sipping on tea, you will find a unique afternoon tea experience here. The head pastry chef, Michal Kwan, brings his creative flair to your table. Taste his tea-infused ice cream, and you will understand. 

The Orchid Room blends the traditions of English afternoon tea with a particular house touch to the experience. You can opt for traditional afternoon tea or champagne, where you can indulge in Grand Cru sparkling wines from some of France’s most renowned regions and vineyards. Accompanying the tea, you’ll get finger sandwiches like egg and cheddar cheese with chive cream on brioche. Pastry includes elderflower and yuzu tarts, black cherry tea mousse, and an almond sponge cake with rose jam. 

Find exclusive tea blends from the house. Classic and rare blends of herbal infusions, black and green teas, and caffeine-free infusions are also on the menu. A vegan menu is also available for those with dietary restrictions.

Website: The Dorchester Hotel

Address: 53 Park Ln, London W1K 1QA

Make A Booking

Bond St. Tea Rooms

Located within the Radisson Blu Edwardian Berkshire Hotel, the Bond St. Tea Rooms offers an elegant setting for afternoon tea. The venue has a stunning design, featuring chic and contemporary decor that with classic British charm. The plush seating, sophisticated colour palette, and stylish furnishings create an upscale atmosphere.

The Bond St. Tea Rooms offers an afternoon tea menu that caters to various tastes and dietary preferences. Traditional afternoon tea includes a selection of finely cut sandwiches with classic fillings such as smoked salmon, cucumber, cream cheese, and egg mayonnaise. Guests can also enjoy freshly baked scones served with clotted cream and strawberry jam and an assortment of pastries and cakes. Highlights include delicate macarons, decadent chocolate eclairs, and fruit tarts, all crafted with the finest ingredients.

For those looking for a twist on the traditional, the tea rooms offer a Prosecco Afternoon Tea, which includes all the classic treats accompanied by a glass of sparkling Prosecco. There is also a Vegetarian Afternoon Tea featuring a variety of vegetarian sandwiches and sweets.

The tea rooms are open daily. The afternoon tea service typically runs from midday to late afternoon, providing ample time to relax and savour the offerings. The attentive and friendly staff ensure every guest feels pampered and cared for.

Website: Bond St. Tea Rooms

Address: 350 Oxford St, London WC1 1BY

Make A Booking

Park Room

The Park Room, within the JW Marriott Grosvenor House on Park Lane, is a premier destination for afternoon tea in Mayfair. This elegantly designed lounge offers a sophisticated setting with views overlooking Hyde Park.

The afternoon tea menu here is traditional and indulgent. Guests can enjoy a selection of delicate finger sandwiches with classic fillings such as cucumber with garden mint butter, roast Norfolk turkey with cranberry sauce, and North Atlantic prawn with Marie Rose sauce. Open sandwiches featuring smoked Scottish salmon and Burford Brown egg mayonnaise add a touch of luxury to the offering.

A highlight of the experience is the freshly baked plain and raisin buttermilk scones, served with Devonshire clotted cream and a choice of British preserves, including strawberry, rhubarb, and ginger. The assortment of pastries includes creative delights such as “Fairy Dust” and “Woodland Whispers,” which are as visually stunning. They also offer a “Flower Fairies Afternoon Tea,” inspired by the enchanting world of flower fairies. For those looking to elevate their experience, there is the option to include a glass of “R” de Ruinart Brut Champagne.

The Park Room is open daily for afternoon tea from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The ambiance is enhanced by a resident pianist, adding to the luxurious atmosphere.

Website: Park Room

Address: 86-90 Park Ln, London W1K 7TN

Make A Booking

The Drawing Room at Browns Hotel

The Drawing Room at Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair epitomises British elegance and sophistication, offering one of London’s most refined afternoon tea experiences. Established in 1837, Brown’s Hotel has hosted many distinguished guests, including Queen Victoria, who is believed to have enjoyed her tea in the Drawing Room. The venue retains its historical charm with original wood panelling, striking contemporary artworks, and a genteel ambience harmonising English sensibilities with modern sophistication.

At the afternoon tea menu, guests can indulge in delicate finger sandwiches, such as Coronation chicken, roasted Iberico ham with mustard mayonnaise, and London smoked salmon with dill and lemon. The freshly baked plain and fruit scones are served with homemade strawberry jam and Cornish clotted cream.

The selection of pastries includes exquisite creations like the gateau religieuse with Madagascan vanilla, macaron raspberry with lychee and rose, lemon and olive oil madeleine with Amedei Chuao 70%, and the Bronte pistachio layers. The tea menu features a wide variety of options from Rare Tea Company, complemented by a premium Champagne selection, including Moët & Chandon, Ruinart, and Dom Pérignon.

For those seeking a plant-based option, the plant-based afternoon tea includes sandwiches such as chickpea hummus with crispy shallots and beetroot salmorejo with pumpkin seed pesto, along with vegan patisseries like coconut and raspberry delice and lemon and banana madeleine. The Drawing Room at Brown’s Hotel also offers a special Jungle Book-themed afternoon tea, perfect for families. This themed tea includes fun and creative treats inspired by the story.

Afternoon tea is served daily from 12:00 PM to 6:30 PM.

Website: The Drawing Room at Browns Hotel

Address: Ground Floor, 33 Albemarle St, London W1S 4BP

Make A Booking

The Dilly Picadilly

The Dilly offers a delightful and family-friendly afternoon tea experience. The Terrace at The Dilly features a bright, airy space with large windows that allow natural light to flood in, creating a warm atmosphere.

The afternoon tea menu at The Dilly blends traditional and innovative items. Guests can enjoy a selection of finger sandwiches with fillings such as smoked salmon, cucumber, and egg mayonnaise. Freshly baked scones, served with clotted cream and strawberry jam, are a highlight. The dessert selection includes a variety of delicious pastries and cakes.

For families, The Dilly offers a special children’s afternoon tea with kid-friendly sandwiches and themed pastries. Additionally, the hotel provides vegetarian and non-themed vegan afternoon tea options upon request, ensuring that all dietary preferences are catered to.

Afternoon tea is served daily from 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM, allowing guests ample time to relax and enjoy the offerings.

Website: The Dilly Picadilly

Address: 21 Piccadilly, London W1J 0BH

Make A Booking

Afternoon Tea at Café Royal

The Café Royal offers a lavish and historically rich afternoon tea experience in the exquisite setting of the Oscar Wilde Lounge. This Grade II listed room has mirrored walls, gilded features, and artistic ceilings.

The afternoon tea menu is a blend of traditional and contemporary treats. Guests are welcomed with an amuse-bouche, such as a truffle gougère, setting the stage for the indulgence to follow. The selection of tea sandwiches includes classics like smoked salmon, egg and truffle, roast beef, and curried chicken, providing a savoury prelude to the sweet offerings​.

Scones, both plain and raisin, are served warm with clotted cream and strawberry jam, maintaining the classic British afternoon tea tradition. The sweet delicacies are a highlight, featuring innovative creations like rhubarb vanilla mousse, chocolate sablé with pistachio praline, and an exotic fruit crème brûlée with coconut, mango, and bergamot gel​.

Café Royal’s afternoon tea also has an impressive selection of teas from Camellia’s Tea House, an artisan tea company known for its high-quality blends. Guests can choose from various teas, including Bai Mu Dan (White Peony), Japanese Sencha, Milky Oolong, and the distinctive Café Royal 1865 Breakfast Blend.

Afternoon tea at Café Royal is served daily from 12:00 PM to 5:30 PM.

Website: Afternoon Tea at Café Royal

Address: Café Royal, 68 Regent St., London W1B 4DY

Make A Booking