6 Best Afternoon Teas In Covent Garden

Covent Garden might be best-known for its theatrical splendor, but it’s also a hotspot for foodies. And if it’s afternoon tea you’re after, there are plenty of great spots where you can enjoy the tasty tradition – which makes the perfect 3pm pitstop for visitors spending a day in the West End. From glitzy hotels to French-inspired tea rooms and botanical restaurants, here we highlight the best afternoon teas in Covent Garden, complete with finger sandwiches, sweet treats and champagne galore.

6 Best Afternoon Teas In Covent Garden

L’oscar London

With its illuminated Onyx bar, deep purple colour palette and mirror-lined ceilings, L’oscar London’s restaurant is a feast for the eyes – but also a party for the tastebuds. Afternoon tea is characteristically decadent, featuring a selection of sweet and savoury treats created with flair and presented artistically. There are sandwiches of egg mimosa and black truffle on brown bread, and pastrami and cheddar cheese on tomato and basil bread, followed by classic scones with clotted cream and raspberry jam. Finish with cakes such as blackberry victoria sponge, and the famed L’oscar banoffee pie. All this can be paired with teas from Newby plus an optional glass of champagne for an extra £10. 

Price: From £49pp

Availability: Daily from 2.30pm – 5pm

BOOK: loscarlondon.com

(c) Jack Hardy

Corinthia Hotel

Oh, how we love Corinthia London: one of the capital’s most glamorous hotels, which stands proudly in the heart of the West End just round the corner from Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden. Afternoon tea here is a real treat, taken in the Crystal Moon Lounge, set beneath a glittering Baccarat chandelier to the sound of a resident pianist. Expect all the classics but with contemporary twists: sandwiches include turkey Caesar and truffle, and sundried tomato and basil with pickled courgette. Desserts are almost too pretty to eat (not quite though): after getting some footage for the ‘gram, tuck into yuzu and mango eclairs, lemon drizzle cake, pistachio and white chocolate cookies and more. Another USP here is the bespoke tea menu featuring blends exclusively made for the hotel, plus a wide selection of champagne.

Price: From £75pp

Availability: Monday – Friday, 2pm – 6pm, Saturday – Sunday, 1 – 7pm

BOOK: corinthia.com

One Aldwych

Children and grown-ups alike will find much joy in One Aldwych’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-themed afternoon tea, which offers a fun twist on the tradition. Enter a world of pure imagination: one which is piled high with ‘splendid savouries’ and ‘scrumptious sweets’, plus Willy Wonka-style tipples. The adults menu, features a ‘spinach roly-poly’ and ‘not quite as it seems beetroot macaron’, while little ones can enjoy more classic sandwiches of cucumber and cream cheese, and ham. For dessert, all diners can tuck into playful treats like ‘fabulous fussy floss’, ‘hair toffee mousse’ and ‘fizzy lifting lemonade posset’. And on the drinks side, adults can sip cocktails like ‘The Chocolatier’, a whisky drink with cherry liqueur and chocolate bitters, while children can choose from hot chocolate and mocktails.

Price: Adults from £70pp, children from £50pp

Availability: Wednesday to Friday 12pm – 3pm

BOOK: onealdwych.com

The Savoy

If quintessentially British is your cup of tea, it doesn’t get much better than The Savoy, one of London’s most famous and long-standing hotels. Its afternoon tea is renowned, having been a feature since the institution opened back in 1889, served in the beautiful Thames Foyer beneath a glass-domed atrium. The hotel upholds this tradition, while giving its offering a modern edge. Begin with sandwiches of Burford Brown egg and watercress, and salmon gravlax, plus savoury bites such as autumn squash and smoked applewood cheddar quinoa tart, and smoked duck with fig relish on a multigrain bun. Be sure to save plenty of space for the exquisite cake spread: current creations include the Sapphire Tart, made with crystallised violet and sapphire raspberry compote; and the Lavender Chocolate Cube, a mix of English lavender praline and blondie brownie. Vegan and vegetarian offerings are also available, and there’s a dedicated menu for children.

Price: From £80pp

Availability: Monday from 12.30pm – 5pm, Tuesday – Sunday from 12.30pm – 7pm

BOOK: thesavoylondon.com

The Petersham

For a botanical-inspired afternoon tea in Covent Garden, head to The Petersham, the West End sibling to the original Richmond garden restaurant. Decked out with greenery and flowers, it makes a lovely retreat from the hustle and bustle of central London – even better if there’s cake involved. All menus here are seasonal and Italian-inspired, and the afternoon tea follows suit, veering away from classic sandwich fillings and opting instead for combinations like courgettes, mint and chilli; aubergines and oregano; and mushrooms and parmesan. On the sweet side, enjoy delightful creations like raspberry and lemon choux, tiramisu tart, and blood orange macarons. All this can be paired with a seasonal Bellini, a glass of champagne, or, if you’re keen for a boozy afternoon, three delicious sharing cocktails.

Price: From £55pp

Availability: Thursday – Saturday 3pm – 4.30pm, Sunday 2pm – 4pm

BOOK: petershamnurseries.com

Mariage Fréres

The French can do afternoon tea too. Take a trip to the Covent Garden offshoot of Parisian tea room Mariage Fréres for a suitably chic twist on the British tradition. The flagship is home to the largest tea wall in the world, which displays a whopping 1,000 different teas – some of which you can try in the Salon de Thé restaurant, where afternoon tea is served. This one is well-suited to those who find larger afternoon tea spreads a bit daunting: it simply includes three tea-infused savouries, three tea-infused sweet treats and two scones, plus a cup of tea, and a cocktail if you fancy. Simple, yet effective.

Price: From £55pp

Availability: Daily from 12pm – 5.30pm

BOOK: mariagefreres.com