Nestled between Buckingham Palace and St James' Park, you'll find stunning hotel Taj 51 Buckingham Gate. Second only to the palace in terms of grandeur, this expansive collection of suites and residences features a courtyard full of opulent fountains and greenery, and it's also home to multiple restaurants and bars.
One of these eateries is Kona, best known for its afternoon tea - having received an Award of Excellence at the Afternoon Tea Awards 2018 and 2019. They reflect the luxury of the area in their menu, which is themed around A Midsummer Night's Dream (though they also offer an Indian-themed afternoon tea too). And after so much praise, I obviously had to try it out for myself.
DesignMyNight’s Review Of Kona's Afternoon Tea
The Kona afternoon tea menu is inspired by Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Need To Know:
- Address: 51 Buckingham Gate, SW1E 6AF
- Area: St James'
- Cuisine: afternoon tea
Ambience & We Think Perfect For
- Atmosphere: after a dazzling walk through the impressive courtyard, we were equally impressed by the restaurant itself. The decor was simple, largely made up of white and natural colours, also featuring lots of pretty green plants and portraits along the walls. I have to praise their commitment to the theme too - our table was decked out in floral, fairy-inspired trinkets to match Shakespeare's iconic story, and our lovely waiter explained how each item on the menu fit with the play too.
- Perfect For: treating yourself or your loved ones to a magical, special experience.
Service & Price
- Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Value For Money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Cost: £85 per person
Each menu item was beautifully presented, from the edible flowers to the shot glasses.
Menu Highlights
Food: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The A Midsummer Night's Dream afternoon tea menu is split into five sections, and comes with unlimited tea, as well as a welcome shot. Each course was beautifully presented, both thanks to the decorations on the dish and the our waiter talking us through its ties to the play. We chose the vegetarian menu, though a version incorporating meat and fish was available too.
- Viola Moelleaux - our meal began with a light sponge cake, topped with an edible violet flower. Described as 'echoing love’s delicate spell', it was a fluffy, airy bite that both engaged our appetites and impressed us visually - served in a tree trunk-looking bowl on top of a flower crown.
- Selection of savoury bites - the first tier of our afternoon tea was made up of elegantly presented savouries, from a black olive tapenade pinwheel to the dill cream cheese and dukkah-spiced avocado open sandwich. My favourite was the spiced butternut squash hummus and caramelised onion puff, boasting a generous helping of hummus that combined with the rich caramelised onion to create a powerful, delicious flavour.
- Selection of cakes - we each received four sweet treats on the stand, each one inspired by the play's main themes of love, magic and the woodlands. My personal top pick was the bright red dark chocolate heart, topped with a passionfruit sauce that added a tropical element. There was also a bright green pistachio and cream treat, with a hard exterior and soft centre, that was perfect for anyone who loves sweet flavours.
- Scones - of course, no afternoon tea is complete without scones. These perfectly cooked ones came with cinnamon clotted cream, dried orange pieces and a choice of berry jams, and they were the ideal size to leave you satisfied but not too full.
The Kona menu is just as impressive as the hotel's exterior.
Drink: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Teas - there were countless tea options, but our favourite was their signature mulberry blend. It was fruity, sweet and unique, complementing the food brilliantly. I also enjoyed the hibiscus and berry option a lot.
- Puck's Mischief - the experience began with a welcome shot (with a non-alcoholic version available), inspired by the potion that Puck creates in A Midsummer Night's Dream. It was made with bourbon, homemade wild berries sherbet and bitters, creating a boozy, almost medicinal taste.
Our Overall Experience At Kona St James'
DesignMyNight Review Out Of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I can see why the Kona afternoon tea has won awards, as it was probably the best one I've ever tried. Frequently, themed menus at restaurants have only a few nods to their inspiration, but this one was fully committed. The table decorations were gorgeous, and the food beautifully presented too, and I loved the added touch of their waiters bringing the story to life - it was a real experience. I've rarely drank so much tea in one sitting, as all their blends were delicious, washing down carefully thought-out tiers of intricate sweet and savoury eats. If you're looking for somewhere special to indulge in afternoon tea, I highly recommend this place.
