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As for anything that has to do with tea, nobody can denies that "British do it better". If you happen to have some time in London and are eager to try a very special tearoom which mixes tradition and modernity (though not at a cheap price - we must admit), here it is a good hint for you.
On the corner of Wilton Place and Knightsbridge, close to Hyde Park, it's housed The Berkeley, an elegant hotel where the old and the new is mixed in a luxurious and modern building. Here, in so called "The Caramel Room", you can drink a very special tea.
Designed by the New York designer Alexandra Champalimaud, this inviting tea room, with its low lighting, chocolate coloured walls and leather studded chairs, invites you to taste a very "fashionable" menu: all the cakes and fancies in the tea are inspired by the latest fashion season's collections which change twice a year.
The Prêt-à-Portea is in fact the smart event that offers a catwalk twisted on a beloved tradition. The style of the world's top fashion designers, such as Bottega Veneta, Ralph Lauren and Versace, becomes a stylish way to enjoy tea. Envision (and munch) Oscar de la Renta yellow dress cookies, Fendi chocolate baguettes and trendy accessories such as a Prada jewelled broad choux bun or an Anya Hindmarch 'Natalia' coffee beach basket, Elizabeth Hurley Beach fuchsia vanilla bikini biscuit, Valentino zesty lemon crunch, Balenciaga monochrome striped chocolate éclair.
For an added treat, you can choose a tea menu that comes with a glass of Moët & Chandon Champagne, served in a coloured Bacarrat flute.
The Caramel Room is open from 2-6pm everyday priced at £31 per person. (£39.50 including a glass of champagne, or alternatively for the fashion conscious, £46 per person including a glass of couture champagne). Pre booking is recommended as Prêt-à-Portea is often sold out.
A great afternoon tea is on the itinerary of most London visitors, and Hyde Park offers more than an occasion to enjoy a good cup of tea. It is nice too for a tourist walking in Hyde Park early in the morning when Londoners are jogging and riders are out with their horses. Its fun to spot the bronze statue of Peter Pan hidden beside the serpentine lake or peer into the gardens of Kensington Palace. The Orangery at the palace is a perfect place for a drop-in tea break. The world’s tallest stack of scones faces you as you enter the grand hall. Tea and dress here is casual.
Also the Promenade at the Dorchester Hotel is one of the venerable locations for meeting friends for tea. The room is sophisticated, the service is flawless, and the food is unending. You can easily forget about the passage of time in this opulent setting that has hosted most of the world’s celebrities.
Finally, I want to recommend the Conservatory at The Lanesborough, which has recently become one of the top choices for afternoon tea in London. Its high glass roof, graceful chandeliers, and potted palms make it an oasis in a city that can be overcast and gray. The tea selection is extensive, and the pastries are too beautiful to eat. Drinking well, doing it "cool" If you after all are not so fascinated by the traditional British beverage and you're looking just for a good cocktail and for a really cool location, the Absolut Icebar is without a doubt, London's latest hot spot.
