The Hyde Café at the Royal Lancaster Hotel greeted me with a rather majestic entrance but the afternoon tea dining area, located behind the reception and partially hidden by some tactfully placed panels, is elegantly understated.
Surprisingly and somewhat refreshingly, there was no pomp and circumstance in this excellently-reviewed hotel, just an inviting atmosphere with a touch of lavish elegance.
The lack of ostentatious decor – besides the stunning golden hanging metal racks used to display the dishes – gives this experience a much more approachable feel while maintaining its sophistication.
The staff greeted me with a warm smile, and then, proceeded to guide me and my guest through our drink options, as we struggled to choose from a carefully curated tea menu. A great bonus was that it was free-flowing, which allowed us to try a selection of the finest Camellia’s Tea House teas from around the world.
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However, after sampling three different varieties selected to a very high standard, the cherry blossom tea, blended with peony petals, rose petals and cherries, really stood out. This choice, daringly divergent from the popular Earl Grey or trusty English Breakfast tea, presented delicate yet distinctive cherry notes and a slightly sweet and tart finish.
A culinary feast then began with the classic finger sandwiches, portioned to perfection, with the right ratio of freshly prepared fillings to soft, airy bread.
We followed these with what, to me, was the highlight of the food selection: pastry chef Scott Villacora’s warm, baked-to-order scones, both plain and raisin.
As a big clotted cream fan, I was exhilarated to find that these delicious baked goods were accompanied by a very large scoop of it and plenty of strawberry preserve to go around.
Finally, the dessert portion of our meal was composed of four perfectly balanced cakes featuring different flavour profiles and textures to surprise every palate.
The dark chocolate and pecan delice featured a classic chocolate crunch, the toffee and orange cheesecake was a quintessentially British take on a classic, the pear petit gateaux incorporated exotic spiced flavours and the mango Thai lime tea cake had a cloud-like sponge.
From only £39, this congenial Central London outpost is the ideal setting for a quiet Sunday afternoon, made extra special if combined with a walk through the neighbouring Hyde Park.
