Our Review Of The Cartier-Inspired Afternoon Tea At The Egerton House Hotel London

There's a few things that Britain has really nailed, from roast dinners to queuing, but I think we can all agree that afternoon tea is one of our very best achievements as a nation. This decadent pastime dates back to the 1840s, and there have been all sorts of inventive twists on the meal since then, often featuring quirky themes. That's exactly what I recently tried at The Egerton House Hotel's Treasures and Tea - a luxurious offering inspired by the world of fine jewellery, in honour of the Cartier exhibition at the nearby V&A Museum.

The Egerton House Hotel tea room is a relaxed space to dine in.

DesignMyNight Reviews The Egerton House Hotel Knightsbridge

This elegant Knightsbridge hotel features a dedicated tea room and lounge bar, decked out in dazzling chandeliers, patterned carpets and striking portraits, with a white marble fireplace in the centre. We were shown to a cosy table in the corner, complete with comfortable arm chair seating that made you feel like you were dining in a countryside manor house rather than a hotel.

This particular afternoon tea will set you back £75 per person, though we added on a glass of Champagne each to bring the total to £94. We sampled both the Lanson Rosé and the Laurent-Perrier Brut, the former being a more fruity tipple while the latter was crisp and dry.

We chose the vegetarian option, though there are classic, vegan and gluten-free menus on offer too. There were six different finger sandwiches within this selection, each cut to a uniform size and beautifully presented on a tiered silver tower. 

Choose between Champagne afternoon tea or hot drinks only.

My particular favourite was the free-range egg mayonnaise, which had a rich, tangy flavour, followed closely by Mediterranean-style grilled vegetables served on miniature sourdough slices. Other fillings included fresh guacamole and rocket, cheddar and tomato and cream cheese with thinly sliced cucumber - this one came on an especially delicious sundried tomato bread.

Before the next tier, we ordered some tea from their extensive list. As recommended by our waiters, we began with a black tea - the Assam breakfast. Later in the meal, we moved onto some fruitier blends, a classic South African rooibos that had notes of Seville orange and vanilla, and the rich blackcurrant and hibiscus - packed full of summery flavour.

Next up was two huge, homemade scones each, one plain and one fruit - served fresh out of the oven and still warm. These had a fluffy, almost doughy texture, and the Devonshire clotted cream melted straight into them. There was also a choice between zesty lemon curd and a sweet strawberry jam, with generous portions of each provided.

They offer sandwiches to suit all dietary requirements.

The scones were enough to fill anyone up, but we bravely ploughed on to the desserts, the real highlight of the experience. There were five gorgeous cake slices that we split between us, the first being a reinvention of the traditional Battenberg, infused with vanilla and toasted almonds before being topped with a thin curl of red-coloured chocolate. Equally sophisticated was the Rivière de Framboise: an indulgent chocolate brownie coated in raspberry cheesecake and an assortment of fresh berries.

There were two more chocolatey treats, a dark chocolate mousse cake and a buttery tart that was filled with dark chocolate ganache, topped with a delicate watch face made of chocolate - a nice nod to the cartier theme. Lastly, the gemstone-inspired lemon sponge came with a mouthwatering buttercream icing - though we felt the lemon flavour was slightly lacking on this one.

Overall: The Egerton House Hotel London

This beautiful, intimate tea room is the perfect place to escape from the hustle and bustle of London, and The Egerton House Hotel Afternoon Tea perfectly captured the art of this iconic British pastime. There was a huge amount of food and a great range of sweet and savoury flavours, with tasteful nods to Cartier and the art of fine jewellery throughout the menu. The only drawback is the price, but you're paying for a refined experience in a five-star hotel here.

Book your spot at The Egerton House Hotel's restaurant, and check out these other hotel afternoon teas across the city.