This Regal Afternoon Tea Experience Is One of the Most Festive Ways to Celebrate the Holidays

There are two things London especially does well: the art of afternoon tea and decking out in holiday spirit. And no place combines the two better than Hotel Café Royal.

The celebrity favorite hotel — one of Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards Top 100 hotels this year — has turned its iconic tradition into a merry experience for the season, with holiday touches every step of the way.

The theme for its Festive Afternoon Tea this year is Tales of the Enchanted Forest, an ode to the magic of storybook favorites, from Hansel and Gretel to Snow White. The service includes a selection of tea sandwiches, including pickled cucumber, Scottish smoked salmon, and Clarence Court egg, as well as a mix of plain and cranberry scones. 

But the highlights are its sweet delicacies, in which head pastry chef Maxence Blondelle has curated a delicate selection featuring a Chestnut treat with Mandarin, yuzu compote, and gingerbread sponge; Winter Cherry with stracciatella mousse and chocolate sponge; and Christmas Cake made of Brandy-soaked fruits and marzipan. They’re set out on the top tier of the tea service’s tri-level platters in the shape of Christmas trees and ornaments, with other celebratory touches.

Served through Jan. 3 in The Grill Room, the service starts at £85 ($109) per person, or £95 ($121) with a glass of Veuve Clicquot Brut. The Domino Room will also offer Festive Afternoon Tea on weekends through Dec. 29. 

To lean into Hotel Café Royal’s holiday offerings further, it’s also offering a Festive Tale Package, a two-night stay over Christmas day, which includes breakfast and lunch, as well as stockings hung with care and a horse-drawn carriage ride — plus be on the lookout for Santa himself. Throughout the season, hotel guests can also request a decorated Christmas tree in their rooms as well as enjoy holiday treats from pastry chef Albert Adrià. Former Nanny Louenna Hood has also curated a library with books from Royal bookseller Hatchards in the Kids Corner. 

Located near Piccadilly Circus at the intersection of Mayfair, Soho, and St. James neighborhoods, Hotel Café Royal is a coveted spot year-round, whether for a stay or just for afternoon tea, as T+L editor Susmita Baral experienced during her visit earlier this year. “There’s no shortage of afternoon tea choices in London, not surprisingly, but this establishment felt regal,” she said. “From the moment you enter, the gold and red hues and mirrored walls leave you awestruck.” 

Baral added that the ambiance, along with the high-quality tea and treats, accentuated her visit. As an added bonus, she also noted the hotel’s discrete location, despite being in the heart of everything, made it feel like a hidden gem.

“You can get great tea and treats in many places, but this room is truly magical,” she said.