Our Review Of Seventy Five At Liberty: You Can Now Have The Prettiest Afternoon Tea Inside A True London Icon

You’ve got to admit, few places are as legendary as Liberty London. Since its inception in 1875, tourists and locals alike have been flocking here in search of luxury fabrics and innovative design, but since last April, a new restaurant has popped up at this shoppers’ paradise. We heard good things about the afternoon tea offering, but did it live up to the famous name? Keep reading to find out...

Just by Regent Street, Liberty has been a mainstay on the fashion scene, but now you have the chance to dine inside.

DesignMyNight's Review Of Seventy Five Restaurant At Liberty London

Previously Café Liberty in 2011, then Arthur’s in 2017, Seventy Five restaurant can be found on the second floor of Soho’s much-loved, Grade II listed department store, past incredible designer clothes that I can only dream of having in my wardrobe. Headed up by chef Joe Holness (of Da Terra and Fera at Claridge’s fame), this new incarnation capitalises on what Liberty does best, timeless elegance, but with a thoroughly modern twist.

In case you didn’t know, Seventy Five is a nice reference to Liberty of London’s long-lasting legacy in the capital (having opened in 1875). Indeed, 2025 marks their 150th birthday, and we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than sampling a quintessentially British tradition: afternoon tea. This’ll set you back a reasonable £50, but to make things extra luxe, we opted for the Champagne afternoon tea (£66) which includes a glass of Bollinger special cuvée.  

Set against Liberty restaurant’s world-famous Tudor-style windows, Seventy Five restaurant is drop-dead gorgeous; cosy but sophisticated. Think tones of olive green, coral and burgundy, with a mirrored bar area to the far right-hand side. Marble-topped tables contrasted beautifully with the plush velvet jacquard seats, plus our white lampshades brightened up the whole space. My favourite element? The striking cream-coloured linen centerpiece, a nod to Liberty’s renowned haberdashery heritage. Playful sketches adorned the walls, including those by Sir Quentin Blake, arguably best known for illustrating Roald Dahl’s books.

Pull up a pew at Liberty of London restaurant's chic but welcoming bar space.

The three-tiered afternoon tea is every bit as charming as the space; each plate has a delightful pink, blue or green trimming, reminding me of something Oliver Bonas would try and copy. On top of each level were an array of delicately presented treats, starting with the savoury. My favourite was the wild mushroom vol-au-vent; just imagine a mouthful-sized, glazed stack of light, crisp layers, revealing a herby, earthy middle and finished off with chopped parsley. We couldn’t detect much truffle, but it didn’t matter as this was divine. As I’m a vegetarian, my dinner date (otherwise known as mum) happily took the coronation chicken brioche for herself. These plump, finger-shaped bites were overflowing with the recognisable sunshine-esque filling, bringing together earl grey-infused raisins, apricots and tasty chunks of meat.

It wouldn’t be afternoon tea without a cucumber sandwich, and I couldn’t get enough of the silky smooth cream cheese on wholemeal, fluffy bread. We’d like to praise the team for letting us swap the trout filo tart for a vegetarian alternative, aubergine, and honestly, it was showstopping. This petite spherical number benefitted from light-as-air pastry encasing smoky flesh, decorated with yoghurt piping around the side. Personally, I think this should be on the main menu too.

As we sipped our glasses of fizz, attention turned to what actual brews we’d like to try on Liberty's London menu. You get two of these drinks each, and while mum went for a cappuccino for that caffeine hit, the refreshing green lemon infusion was calling my name. It felt instantly cleansing, and I even had a second round of it.

While keeping it fancy at afternoon tea, you'll spot artworks by a notable face or two. 

In an unconscious move to counteract my temporary healthiness, our buttermilk scones were lapped up next – two plain and two fruity. Served warm and with a lovely glistening egg wash on top, these crumbly goodies were smothered in strawberry jam and clotted cream – it all felt very indulgent. 

Moving on to our final tier at the Liberty cafe restaurant, and coming in a close second for my fave of the afternoon, the zingy lemon tart absolutely excelled. The triangular base was buttery and soft, plus you couldn’t help but love the dainty Italian meringue piping and lime zest.

Kudos to our host Cal, who advised us to be careful when eating the flower-dotted pistachio crème choux, as it tended to ooze out. Napkins at the ready, we popped the nutty, craquelin puffs right into our mouths, commenting on how delicious the satin centre tasted. Meanwhile, the strawberry and elderflower macarons wouldn’t look out of place at Barbie’s supper club, as the perfectly chewy sweets had a stunning bright pink colour, hiding a jam and white chocolate ganache middle.

Finishing our day out in London, the blueberry and verbena pavlova was easy on the eye, that’s for sure. But it also tasted amazing, from the hints of lemon and slices of raspberry to the airy meringue base. The yoghurt mousse was completely lickable too.   

Seventy Five Restaurant At Liberty London Review: Overall

We’ll definitely be talking about our experience at the Liberty London restaurant for a while. The addition of tarts rather than more sandwiches added a new dimension to the classic, and although not strictly traditional, this went down very well with us. Aptly reflecting the brand’s class, but with a contemporary twist, you can be sure of a good time at this afternoon tea... and will leave very full as well.  

Still hungry? You can refuel at these incredible Carnaby Street restaurants nearby.