Our Review Of Afternoon Tea At The Athenaeum Hotel And Residences In Mayfair: Fancies And Foliage

When I was ten years old, I had a fixation with scones; so much so, I went through a period of having them for breakfast every day before school. I managed to find a pack of six for pretty cheap in the supermarket, smothered them with cream and jam, and inhaled them to get my sugar fix before plummeting into a then-curious state of hunger by first break. My love for the tea time snack was exhausted at a young age, inducing an indefinite scone hiatus until I discovered the joy of an afternoon tea.

The dining room (pictured) is where The Athenaeum Hotel and Residences' afternoon tea takes place. 

DesignMyNight Reviews The Athenaeum Hotel And Residences Afternoon Tea: Fancies And Foliage

The Athenaeum Hotel and Residences in Mayfair’s version of the British-born experience reflects its five-star luxury, elegance and grace. Nestled adjacent to Green Park and only moments from Hyde Park, its central location makes it the ideal spot for a morning of sightseeing followed by an afternoon of herbal infusions and sweet treats.

My friend and I were beckoned in by a welcoming doorman under a striking floral arch; he then led us past an immaculate reception, adorned with hints of Art Deco decor (I could only imagine what the rest of the hotel looked like). We were visiting on a balmy Sunday in London for the Fancies and Foliage Afternoon Tea, with the addition of the tea blending trolley (£85 per person), which included a signature cocktail as well as a bespoke tea, designed by knowledgeable staff trained by master tea blender Alex Probyn.

The cocktail was made using Sipsmith gin and St Germain, and arrived with a gorgeous rose pink colour to it, garnished with an individual dark purple flower and tasted delightful. It had the same citrussy and berry notes akin to a Cosmopolitan, but with more of a botanical air to it.

Time for tea: create your own blend of tea courtesy of the trolley (pictured on the left). 

I must admit, I’d never had my own tea made for me before, and when confronted with a string of questions as to how I liked it, I realised how little I’d given thought to the very drink that contributes heavily to my daily hydration.

We agreed on caffeinated, as well as warm and spicy notes, and after smelling various pots, settled on the combination of black tea (assam), caramel and clove. This mix had a subtle spice to it that crept in the more you nursed it, and an underlying sweetness that helped tie everything together. It was delicious.

When it came to the food, we were treated to a selection of finger sandwiches; the Maldon-cured salmon with horseradish creme fraiche and dill in between Guinness bread was a creamy treat that melted in my mouth, and the addition of stout in the bread gave it a moreish treacly flavour. The Coronation chicken Khobez flatbread was completely different to its predecessor - it was smaller and a lot more fruity, thanks to large sultanas.

On the other end of the spectrum again was the aged Butlers cheddar cheese sandwich on tomato bread, which was very tangy and bold, whereas the sourdough affair, filled with Singaporean Kaya egg, was much more subtle and earthy.

Pluck your treats straight from an elegant blossom tree cake stand (pictured). 

To bridge the gap between the dessert and the savouries were warm and fluffy scones that felt as though they had just come out of the oven. These were just as good as I had imagined them to be - far from dry and willing to hold as much clotted cream and Tiptree jam as we wanted to spread over their crumbly intersections.

The real spectacle was the nature-inspired sweet fancies, displayed atop a decorative blossoming tree cake stand. I immediately plucked a tart and rich matcha and yuzu cheesecake from one of its branches, before moving on to the delicate strawberry and cream cake, which was so light it was like what I’d imagine diving mouth-first into a cloud of strawberries would be like.

The tangy mimosa cake was adorable, topped with a little fondant bee, and the forest rose tart looked like something out of a French patisserie. Not to mention the blueberry hydrangea - the fifth and final cake that was chocolate heaven.

The best part about it all, though, was that we were able to take what we couldn’t finish home with us, which we gladly did so, as we departed into the heat and fumes of the city, beginning our race to get the dainty cakes home to safety.

Overall: The Athenaeum: Fancies And Foliage Afternoon Tea

I had a wonderful time having afternoon tea at The Athenaeum Hotel and Residences; the theme was executed well in the desserts as well as the presentation, and I felt as though I was having an enchanting respite, which is what, I believe, an afternoon tea experience should be. The hospitality was immaculate, and I loved the uniqueness of the tea trolley. As a guest, it made me feel special - as I said to my flatmates upon my return, have you ever had your own blend of tea made for you?

For more gorgeous spreads, check out our guide to pretty afternoon teas in London.