Afternoon Tea at Claridge's

Tea house · Mayfair

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Highlights

Claridge's Hotel offers a luxurious afternoon tea experience, blending exquisite refreshments, attentive service, and a captivating, historic ambiance.

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Claridge's, Brook St, London W1K 4HR, United Kingdom Get directions

Open (Until 5:30 PM)

$$$$ · Menu

"If the Ritz is for those who like people to know how they’re spending their money, Claridge’s is for those who prefer a touch of discretion. Nestled in the back streets of Mayfair, it is arguably London’s classiest act, an aristocratic outpost that refuses to be anything other than itself. From the top-hatted doormen to the liveried waiters, it’s a hotel that maintains a high level of decorum, and you don’t have to splash the cash to stay here to experience it,come for thefamous afternoon tea served on jade-and-white striped china."

The Best Restaurants in London
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Mar 16, 2022

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"Live piano and violin (sometimes even a double bass) accompany the much-acclaimed tea menus here. You'll find a variety of small-batch Tregothnan English Estate blends, which are the perfect companion to the finger sandwiches, warm scones, and clotted cream. Their famous Marco Polo jelly is not to be missed, neither is a walk through the Art Deco lobby to check out the stunning sweeping staircase."

The Mayfair & Marylebone Guide
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Mar 16, 2022

View Postcard for Afternoon Tea at Claridge's

Dean Norrie

Google
Visiting Claridge's Hotel for afternoon tea was such an amazing experience! I absolutely loved the elegant ambience—it perfectly complemented the exquisite tea and pastries, which were truly top-notch. The rich history of the building added a special charm, setting the tone for an unforgettable visit. Thank you for such a delightful experience. I can’t wait to return and enjoy even more!

Sónia Martins

Google
What a wonderful experience. The tea room at Claridge's is absolutely stunning in fact everything is luxurious even the toilets. The service is extremely attentive and really five stars. The food was presented beautifully with high quality fresh ingredients. Good variety of teas. Everything was absolutely delicious. Highly recommended.

Añuli C

Google
Claridge’s afternoon tea is more about the experience than the food. We celebrated my partner’s birthday here, and it was truly memorable. It is a beautiful place, with an elegant atmosphere that immediately puts you at ease. The service was impeccable—our server, Alex (Alexander), was outstanding and made us feel exceptionally well cared for. The sandwiches were enjoyable, though not particularly remarkable. The scones and sweets were good, and I appreciated the opportunity to sample a wide variety of teas that were new to me. Overall, it was a delightful experience.

Seerat singh

Google
We recently enjoyed afternoon tea at Claridge’s in Mayfair, London, and it was truly a standout experience. The hotel went above and beyond to accommodate our group’s needs, even reaching out a day before to ask if we had any special requests. They were kind enough to create a vegan menu for a few people in our party and toasted the sandwiches for my partner, who doesn’t eat cold sandwiches. The attention to detail was impeccable, with staff refilling our tea every 5 to 10 minutes and making sure all dietary restrictions and preferences were perfectly met. They even arranged a highchair for our nine-month-old niece, ensuring she was entertained and comfortable throughout the afternoon. The customer service at Claridge’s is the best we’ve experienced, with the kitchen going out of their way to accommodate every request. From the elegant ambiance to the exceptional care, Claridge’s afternoon tea is a must-do experience that leaves you feeling truly special.

Zaynab Peerbux

Google
A Perfect Afternoon "Everything about our afternoon tea was sublime. The staff were attentive, providing impeccable service and making thoughtful recommendations. The array of pastries and scones was delightful, each bite better than the last. We left feeling not just full, but thoroughly pampered and content." Special thanks to Sulima who attended to us and also the lovely gentleman that took our payment and gave us extra scones to take home.( we forgot to ask his name) We will definitely be back!

Foodie Files Melbourne

Google
An insanely extensive tea variety. If you are a tea aficionado you certainly want to visit for the opportunity to try some rare and exclusive blends. This is overall a delightful experience steeped in history and tradition with friendly service and delicious food. At just over $400 AUD for two it is certainly not cheap and whilst its essentially limitless refills you probably can’t eat much more than what was initially provided regardless. Enjoyable live music, stunning and opulent floral arrangements and amazing opulence make this a highly recommended lovely way to spend an afternoon

Hisham Alharbi

Google
The afternoon tea at Claridge’s is a delightful experience, blending tradition and luxury in an elegant setting. The selection of finger sandwiches, warm scones, and exquisite pastries is beautifully presented and delicious. Angela, our waitress, was wonderful—attentive and knowledgeable, making the experience feel truly special. With impeccable service and a serene atmosphere, Claridge’s offers a perfect afternoon escape.

Ayesha Manan

Google
After lunch, me and my husband went for afternoon tea, but they were only serving Christmas lunch. Be careful if you go on Christmas Day and around holiday season. The atmosphere was great and very Christmasy indeed.

Janine R.

Yelp
Claridges tea is wonderful. Bright and elegant with live piano and/or violin. One would be hard pressed to find a better spot for tea. The staff is without compare and quite accommodating. Splurge and get the champagne with tea. This is not just tea, it's an event. The staff will accommodate food allergies. The sandwiches are always fresh, the scones always perfectly cooked, their jams are flavorful. Ask for tea jelly in addition to the raspberry and strawberry jams. Their desserts change at various times during the year. Meticulously crafted and always wonderful. Request to sit in the main room for the full effect or in the reading room for a quieter experience.

C K.

Yelp
My daughter (who is a new mom with a 5 week old baby) took me to afternoon tea at Claridges for Mothers Day. The food was superb. We especially liked the ham sandwich and the Gruyère truffle (which was their special of the day). We each tried 2 different teas - all were excellent. The best part of this experience was the service. It was the best service we have ever experienced. Marius was our server. He spent time with us -not just telling us about the food but even the history of afternoon tea! Claridges is lucky to have a server that is charming, attentive and gracious and who provides excellent customer service. He helped make it an enjoyable Mother's Day for us. We even got a pot of mini daffodils on our way out for Mother's Day!!

Tian G.

Yelp
Great afternoon tea here! They have five kinds of sandwiches, among which I enjoyed the chicken one the most so I asked for some extra pieces. The sandwiches go well with the green tea! Then there are the scones and the sweets. The scones were pretty petite but were warm and delicious. The jam was really yummy but a little sweet, so it goes better with the plain one than the raisin. I asked for some milk to go with my Himalayas black tea. It accompanies the sweetness quite well. After the macaron I got full so I asked for the rest to go. The sweets are packed nicely. Excellent service! Attentive and polite. Really professional! The decorations are also fantastic. Worth the price and the fame.

Miko B.

Yelp
Like most other high tea places in London, Claridge's is not worth the price. You dine here for the opportunity of feeling like a classy English noble. Tea, scones, and sandwiches should never cost this much. Just so you know what the experience is all about though, try it once, and then never again. // Traditional Afternoon Tea (£60)

Ashley Y.

Yelp
I really can't believe that I didn't really been to that many amazing places in London. I made my stop here due to this place is the top one afternoon tea place in London. Yes it's really fancy inside with great service and interior etc. I ordered one with a glass of champagne which would cost you £70 with service charges. So I had tried couple different teas. They served several selections of sandwiches, scones and some pastry. They were good but was it worth for the price? It's a tough question. I could understand why other ppl give decent rating and I agree this was a cool place. If you are looking for a place that you could pretend you are an elegant and classic noble, this would be a one.

Kerri O.

Yelp
I made a reservation to have afternoon tea here at Claridge's right after booking my trip to London. Having afternoon tea here is like a once in a lifetime experience... At 50 pounds per person for just tea, finger sandwiches and pastries, is it worth it? To me its yes and no after my visit here. We were seriously underdress for the afternoon tea, consider I wore pants and nice sweater and my husband wore a polo shirt. People were all wearing suits w tie, some even wearing cocktail dress, people.. Its afternoon tea for godsake... Although we were underdress, the servers treated us no different than how they treat other people. To me its all about the experience, being able to step into this gorgeous hotel and sit among all the rich people and being treated like the queen for the day, its like being in a different world, there was a middle eastern young man sat next to us who was acting like he was the king of dubai and just generally being a total diva, it was fun to observe these rich people... Its like watching a live episode of the housewives...Was the tea and food worth the 50 pounds per person price tag? Heck no, but it is an experience I will not forget for a long time to come.

Melissa L.

Yelp
It was time to introduce my husband and teens to afternoon tea and I chose Claridge's for their first experience. Their thoughts? They loved it. I had made reservations and we arrived early. I was glad we arrived early so that we could go to the bar for a drink. I love the history of this hotel; home to the Churchill's, etc. When our table was ready, they brought us to our table. It was a beautiful dining room in all white linens. There were only a couple of other tables in the room with one other family and another couple there. It was chic, yet casual and I was thrilled they sat us next to a large window. My daughter and I had a comfortable couch to sit at while my husband and son sat across from us in large armchairs. We were greeted quickly by a friendly and knowledgeable server. They offer an excellent and large variation of tea options. My teens were a bit apprehensive (I think they were worried they would break something), but took a chance with their tea choices. Everyone is brought out their own teapot based upon their choice. Their thoughts? Everyone was blown away. My son (who drinks the most tea in our family) still talks about his tea that day. As if that weren't enough, they bring out a selection of tea sandwiches & scones that are delicious! Excellent service, Beautiful atmosphere, Delicious Sandwiches & Scones, Incredible selection of tea.

Megan Z.

Yelp
I was here recently for my first official afternoon tea ever, and wanted a London traditional tea experience. I did an extensive amount of research prior to visiting London on the different venues and the thing that sold me was Claridges was recommended for single guests who wanted to have tea. Since I was alone this was important to me. I found the service was excellent, my waiter was attentive but not overbearing or ignoring me. Having travelled alone all over the world I do appreciate when I'm not ignored for simply being a party of one. Bring a book to read or you can people watch. The piano music was nice to listen to also. The room was beautiful and elegant, in a way it was like stepping back in time with the art deco decor. The Chihuly was a beautiful centerpiece in the foyer. The food was wonderful, I loved the sandwiches especially the quiche they were serving that day. I had seconds on the quiche. The scones with the marco polo jelly was delicious. I couldn't finish the desserts, so they were kindly boxed up and I had them later. I especially like the chocolate tart. Try the cloud blend. Darjeeling is my favorite, the cloud blend is similar, very flavorful and something new to try if that is your tea palate. It is expensive, but I found it to be worth the experience, especially since I was dressed up to go to the Opera afterwards. With regards to cost, I factored this experience into my budget for the trip so you can always plan for this.

Francesca T.

Yelp
I've wanted to come to Claridge's for the longest time and I finally made reservations to come for my birthday lunch. They had the Christmas tree up, which was beautiful, and the entire place is so fabulous and classy. They gave me an entire vegan menu, which was amazing, and both my salad and club sandwich were excellent. I had some champagne to go with my food and my friends all enjoyed their experience as well. Claridge's is definitely a must-have experience in London, especially if you're lucky enough to be in town during Christmas. However, make reservations early because they're booked very much in advanced. Overall, excellent service, amazing ambience and delicious food!

Cathy O.

Yelp
My husband wasn't very keen on going to tea, but he was converted. Claridges is gorgeous-even the restrooms were grand. Service was impeccable, as was the cellist and pianist. We were helped to select two teas, which were replenished throughout our visit. Our server explained many tidbits about the teas. I had the "rare Chai" and a white lemongrass tea. Both were exquisite. The sandwich assortment was nice and we were asked if we wanted more. He brought another half dozen as "refills." I don't typically use much butter or jam, but tried it on my scones and they seemed to melt in my mouth. Anyone who knows me knows there's no such thing as "too many sweets" -- except there were! We couldn't finish everything, though we had to try bites of it all. Some of the flavors were intense (chocolate and passion fruit) but oh so good. As it was just past our anniversary, and a day after my birthday, we got little plates of extra desserts with messages and a candle. And a little box of fudge for each of us to take away. We were relaxed, treated royally, fed like little piglets, and pampered. Yes!

Melanie C.

Yelp
After napping on the lawn of St. Paul's Cathedral, we were pumped for our afternoon tea. We were seated in a cozy corner (perhaps to keep us away from the classier people). The bench seating with extra cushions was super comfortable. The tea selection was a little overwhelming. I thought I knew what I was doing when I ordered the Sencha. Turns out there were 2 different varieties. Another member of my party knew she wanted a chai tea, but there were numerous varieties. Thankfully, the server was extremely patient with us. We were also told that we had the option to switch teas throughout the meal too! They claimed that some tea leaves were handpicked from exotic regions... I tried to taste the difference, but my palate just isn't that refined. Afternoon tea starts with tiny crustless sandwiches. My favourites were the cucumber sandwiches and the smoked salmon sandwiches. The dudes seemed to prefer the ham and cheese one. When we polished the tray, they asked if we wanted more. Unlimited cute sandwiches? Yes please. I've been to a few afternoon teas and have never had this bottomless option. Next came the scones with the richest butter I've ever tasted. I knew better than to fill myself up with these though. Because the last platter was the desserts plate. They were all 5-star! The cheesecake was light and topped with some fruit from Japan. The passionfruit mousse in a tiny shotglass was the favourite at the table. Obviously we ordered more of these. The chocolate treat was incredible too. As was the peach tart. I personally didn't have a favourite - they were all tied for first place! I stuffed my face so much that afternoon that I skipped dinner. All of our servers were very friendly. And they tolerated our non-British (unladylike) behaviour. We were not rushed at any point. In fact, they kept trying to feed us more. We got nice keepsakes at the end (like a bonbonniere). SPOILER ALERT: It was a cute tin with tea. Note: I learned from my Scottish friend that afternoon tea is not the same as high tea. I don't think I've ever had high tea as it involves a whole hot dinner, apparently. Also: When I rudely lifted my china to see who made their cute cups and saucers, the name I found, of course, was Claridges.

Emily G.

Yelp
We came to Claridge's as part of our company's UK tea tour (The Rolling Tea Cart) and were completely blown away. This is 2 days after tea at the Ritz. Their afternoon tea was immaculate. The staff was friendly, attentive and wonderful. The ambiance was very art deco and every detail was phenomenal. We did a whirlwind afternoon tea tour through Ireland, Wales, southwest England and London and this one took the cake (literally and figuratively). Without a doubt the best tea experience we've ever had. Worth the price by far.

Erin O.

Yelp
As an American in London, might as well celebrate Thanksgiving with afternoon tea in The Foyer of Claridge's. Definitely better food here than the Savoy, though I liked my tea better at the Savoy. I also liked that they obliged us here and served all 3 courses at once, so my daughter could enjoy sweets and scones while I focused on the savories. (Wish I had asked the same at the Savoy.) They gave a wink and a nod to our American Thanksgiving with a special turkey sandwich, pumpkin scones, and pecan mini pies. The sandwich selection was salmon, cucumber, egg salad, turkey, and ham. Again, somewhat bland across the board, but slightly better than Savoy. The scones were pumpkin and blueberry served with clotted cream and an unusual jam that I don't remember what they said it was. Desserts were a parfait (I wanted more but was too full...but so good!), beautiful chocolate somethings (my daughter had several), and pecan pies. The desserts here far out-tasted the ones at the Savoy and looked so much more appealing. Gorgeous setting, but I wasn't thrilled that we had to sit right beside the hostess pedestal. Very close to 5 stars. They sent us home with a small box of 2 truffles to wish us a Happy Thanksgiving. That was classy and memorable. If I had to pick between the two, I think I now like Claridge's a bit more than Savoy. Next time, I will try Brown's. Pinkies up! (Not sure why others are listing this under Claridge's Bar. But it's The Foyer at Claridge's that delivers the famous afternoon tea.)

Lisa S.

Yelp
I am a huge afternoon tea fan and this was the best experience I have had in London and the US. The hotel and tea room is absolutely gorgeous. The tea room has beautiful Art Deco style - very old world glamorous. There is live music (violin and piano) which is really lovely. Staff and service is top notch - true British hospitality. I had some dietary restrictions and they were very much accommodated. The staff always checked in on me but not in an obtrusive manner. The sandwiches were extremely tasty - the veggie ones were my favorites. You can ask for more once done. Scones were really great as well and came with Marco Polo tea jam which was not too sweet (other jams available upon request). The pastries were beautiful and tasty - my favorite was the chocolate hazelnut tarte and the apricot eclair. They box them up for you if you don't finish! People watching is also amazing - everyone is very well dressed and tasty a mix of tourists and locals. Highly recommend! Make sure to book way in advance - I think they open reservations 2-3 months in advance and weekends and Fridays fill up quickly.

Kenny C.

Yelp
How does one NOT go to Claridge's on a trip to London? Had a lovely afternoon tea for the two of us. I actually had to get a lactose-free menu which tends to be a step-down from the regular lactose-abundant menu but I was surprised at how delicious all my sandwiches and pastries were compared to the other set. Also, it goes without saying (so I'll type it) that their tea selection is just stunning. First-class in service, quality and atmosphere. I enjoyed doing tea at other hipster-y places too, but this is just a classic that stands on its own.

Nicola M.

Yelp
THE most beautiful setting for afternoon tea. I heard Foyer and was a bit concerned..who'd think of afternoon tea in a foyer would be a grand affair? Add the five star rating of Claridges hotel and throw in some art deco splendour, 18 ft high ceilings, an elaborate chandelier and enough flowers to make Chelsea Flower Show quake in competitive fear. It's breathtaking in there. Even the lavs were wonderful! Who gushes about toilets? Well, see these and I beg you to differ. Think Gossip Girl dressing room/make up area with lamps, white towels and general luxeness. Then you go into to toilet area, which an attendant wipes down before you go in. She then turns a tap on for you upon exiting the cubicle. Excellent, excellent. They were a little rude but they didn't spoil my experience. Hell, I was donning pink lips so had to return no less than 4 times to keep my look fresh. Now, we actually were here during Chelsea Flower Show and so, that was the afternoon tea that was on offer at the time. This includes pink champers and floral sarnies but is an extra cost. I was a little dubious about the floral sarnies and prayed that they didn't just serve those as I was hankering for a chicken sandwich fix. They served both. And kept them coming. Fabulous. The floral ones were actually heavenly. And they decorated them with edible pansies. I had lavender tea which was fairly nice, and the server even offered me two teas as I was undecided...super helpful! Hubby's tea was nicer, annoyingly. You get given a little Claridges tin of tea to take away at the end of you tea session. Love that touch. Cakes. Obviously this needs its own paragraph. So good. So much detail. Almost too beautiful to eat. Almost. I did manage to shovel many of the morsels down. The scones were delish, though did miss strawberry jam, it was some sort of honeyed something or other. The macaroon had a rose petal on it, complete with dew drops. Sigh. A pianist plays throughout and this never fails to bring a little tear to my eye. Dramatic? Maybe, but it really does evoke the senses a bit of live classical musique. Everything about this trip was perfect. They brought over a birthday slice of lemon and lavender cake complete with candle. Love touches like this. Speaking of touches, due to so many posing, I mean, toilet trips, I spied the sweets by the exit. With Claridges sweet bags, natch. Of course I devilled into those and loaded up a bag for the journey home. Thank you Claridges, thank you. I'll be back. Often.

D B.

Yelp
Tea at Claridge's is a must if you are a fan of afternoon tea. The room was elegant and the air was filled with music provided by the pianist. Our server was well informed about the selection of teas and offered helpful suggestions. Each serving of tea is prepared one at a time so that the tea doesn't become overly strong while sitting in the pot. The server would add hot water to the teapot for each pour. The sandwiches were all delicious and we were offered seconds of any that we wanted. Then came the scones; which paired perfectly with the clotted cream and Marco Polo jam. Rarely, if ever,do I not have enough room for dessert but after pots of tea, seconds of sandwiches, and two scones, I wasn't able to finish the desserts. Not to worry though, the desserts were packaged up to go and the manager insisted we have more scones to takeaway too.

Anya R.

Yelp
I don't know much about Tea Rooms, but my experience at Claridges was pretty great! The food and tea was phenomenal, and the service was great - super helpful and friendly when it came to our choosing tea, pastries, etc. I'm attaching a picture of my favorite -- rose flavored macaroons.

K S.

Yelp
I've been to tea here twice during two separate trips to London. My daughter and I enjoyed my first visit to Claridges for tea about two years ago. I enjoyed it so much, I took a friend during my most recent visit. It didn't disappoint! My friend has some food limitations and dislikes - without batting an eye, the waiter suggested substitutions and she was thrilled. Allow a minimum of two hours!

Renee C.

Yelp
Visiting from the US and wanted to go out for traditional tea while in London and we were not disappointed. Staff were extremely friendly and professional. We arrived early and were seated immediately. The hostess explained everything very well since this was our first visit here and felt welcomed right away. The sandwiches were very tasty and surprisingly filling. The hardest thing was trying to decide what tea to get. They came by often to make sure our tea was filled and our plates filled with food. The desserts were not as sweet as desserts in the US but offered your tastebuds a variety of textures and flavors that sweets don't have in the states and was a nice treat. Will definitely come back the next time we come to London.

Carmela S.

Yelp
Wow. Holy shxxxxxxxxxt. I mean come on!!!! I had the vegetarian breakfast which cost £34 and was definitely the best breakfast I've ever had!!!! That mushroom I'd something I'll take to my grave...the raisin pastrie too....and the fresh orange juice....the scrambled eggs....the vegetarian sausage.... yeah....I was on a food high for the rest of the day.

J L.

Yelp
I admit, I'm not a tea expert. I'm also not a culinary expert. It actually annoys me how people who have access to the internet suddenly think of themselves as food experts. I digress. Even though I'm not a Michelin judge, I do know what I like... Being in London, I wanted to do as some of the locals do and have "tea time". I looked around and was able to get a last minute reservation to Claridge's. The hotel was very beautiful and gave off the ambiance of "high society". After being seated, our French server was gracious enough to explain the menu and how everything worked. It's not cheap, but the experience was wonderful. It included several types of tea and small snacks such as finger sandwiches and pastries. If you are in London and want the quintessential royal "tea team" experience, Claridge's is the place to go.

Irene B.

Yelp
Claridge's would have to be my favourite afternoon tea spot and although not fit for a student/cheap travel budget, I say definitely give it a go! You must treat yourself to afternoon tea here at least once. I love everything from their great selection of teas and sweet pastries to their friendly service (the place is not as stuffy as it might appear).

Mickey T.

Yelp
What can I say about afternoon tea at Claridges which hasn't been said before? Bottomless tea, infinite sandwiches and mille-feuilles (is that what they were?) that were a work of art. Great ambience with the piano player in the background. At the end of the day it is just afternoon tea, but Claridges is somewhere where you would go with your friends for the experience, even if it's just once. It is not really my scene, as it is ever so slightly pretentious, though I think I would definitely come again.

Laura B.

Yelp
During our first visit to London in August 2015, our lunch and Afternoon Tea at Claridge's are among our most memorable highlights. Since the age of 12, I have been guilty of ordering Caesar salad almost everywhere we go for lunch, and Claridge's is one of the very best I ever had, but it wasn't even close to the best thing we had during our time at Claridge's (that's a toss up between the tea, amazing sweets, and impeccable service). I've never experienced tea quite like the Malawi Antler - it was unique (in a you can't believe that tea could be so amazing kind of way) and accompanied by the best service we encountered during our stay in London (and exceeded several Michelin-starred establishments in this regard). The staff were welcoming, insightful, extremely thoughtful, and perfectly timed. Thank you, Claridge's, for a truly magical experience!

AlMaha A.

Yelp
irst visit to Claridges for the afternoon tea , really fancy inside with great service and interior , i enjoyed it

Emily M.

Yelp
Most classic and traditional tea in London! It's pricey, but what in London isn't? Love everything about it.

James W.

Yelp
Went today for afternoon tea. Final treat before we left London. Nothing else to say but FANTASTIC! Can't imagine how afternoon tea could be better unless it were less expensive. All food, tea and service were EXCEPTIONAL. Waited on by Killian. Exceptional service. Did I say that already? :) Very attentive. My wife is gluten sensitive and Claridge's had the absolute best gluten free products. Would definitely do again and honestly not sure I'd even bother trying anywhere else. Why take a chance? Just go to Claridges and pay the tariff.
Afternoon Tea at Claridge's on Postcard