An Elegant Afternoon at The Ritz London

Afternoon Tea is a quintessential English pasttime. As a person who adores drinking tea, attending Afternoon Tea was something I have always wanted to experience. I was one of those children who loved having tea parties, instead of drinking coffee throughout university I would order tea and in my kitchen I have a good variety of different teas. So, it's safe to say I am a huge tea lover. Since it was my first time in London, having Tea at the Ritz was necessary. However, there are lots of more affordable places to have tea.

​​Afternoon Tea is Served Literally Everywhere, Why London and The Ritz?

Since, I have never been to Afternoon Tea before, I did not know what to expect. Of course Afternoon Tea is served all over the world but England is where it originated which is why I waited until I visited London to do it. I wanted my first time to be spectacular, amazing, magical, [insert adjective here], I wanted all of the above! Also, since it was my first time in London it's only right that I make the most of it, even if that means spending a pretty penny!

​Making Reservations/ Menu Options

Making reservations at The Ritz is quite simple. If you are a planner like me, as soon as you know the dates of when you will be in London you will book your reservation. I booked my reservation three months in advance because I wanted to make sure I got a good time slot and I did not want to take the chance of all the times being booked up.

There are different options for Afternoon Tea; Traditional, Champagne, Celebration, Champagne Celebration and a seasonal option. Traditional Afternoon Tea comes with the classic scones, pastries, sandwiches and your choice of tea. The Ritz has a wide array of loose-leaf tea, 18 to be exact, so you are likely to find something you like. The Champagne Afternoon Tea is the same as the Traditional but comes with a glass of champagne. The Celebration Afternoon Tea is also the same as the Traditional but comes with a celebration cake (i.e.. a birthday, anniversary cake, etc). The Champagne Celebration Tea is the same as the others but a celebration cake plus a glass of Champagne is added.
* Prices vary

Click Here to book your reservation and check out the menu and Afternoon Tea options.

​The Food

Before the waiters bring your food they ask you if you have any allergies. When the waiters bring your tier with the sandwiches and desserts they actually take the time to explain what everything is. The sandwiches consist of egg with mayo, ham, cheddar cheese, cucumber with cream cheese, smoked salmon and chicken breast. The sandwiches are all really delicious! The desserts always vary, but I had a raspberry macaron, two raspberry cream cakes, mocha cake with chocolate filling and one I cannot remember. After awhile they bring the plain and raisin scores with cream and jam. You can ask for them to come earlier if you want to take pictures. The scones weren't my favourite, they were huge and I thought they were way too filling for all that food I had to eat alone. Remember if you are going alone you get the same amount of food as everyone else and you can request more food and tea as well for no additional cost. Unfortunately, whatever you don't finish you cannot take with you because of health regulations, which is the only downside. However, you can take home some scones!

​Dresscode

It is expected if you are going to The Ritz you need to be dressed to the nines, which is why the dress code is very specific. For men you need to be in a suit and tie with dress shoes, no ifs ands or buts. Women in smart casual clothing. You are allowed to wear tennis shoes and then change before the tea in the restroom or borrow shoes if you do not have any. If you are not wearing the following you will not be permitted to dine here!

​Experience

Afternoon Tea at the Ritz exceed my already high expectations for a 5 star hotel. From the moment you walk into the historical hotel until the moment you leave you feel like a celebrity enjoying the 5 star lifestyle. The Palm Court Salon, where the tea is held, is a beautifully decorated room. Everything here screamed opulence! The silverware, teapots and cups, the chandeliers, the trimmings around the ceiling, the list can go on and on. The service is top of the line and the waiter always came around to check on me, especially since I was alone. They offered to take photos for me and didn't mind doing it. This is definitely what 5 star service felt like! For a first timer, I had an amazing experience!