Afternoon Tea at the Belmond Cadogan Hotel Chelsea: Review

I’ve had plenty of afternoon teas in London, but I don’t think I’ve had one where they serve it to you in courses as you would a meal.

The Cadogan Hotel, just a short walk from Sloane Square in Chelsea, manages to be both luxurious and cosy when it comes to its afternoon tea space, with a cocktail bar, comfy chairs and seasonally changing decorations.

The Cadogan Hotel manages to be both luxurious and cosy when it comes to its afternoon tea space. (Image: Emily Davison) I went there to try their afternoon tea and this was definitely a unique experience for a number of reasons.

The food at this afternoon tea has been created by well-known author and pastry chef Benoit Blin, who was a judge on The Great British Bake Off, along with a selection of teas by Newby Teas.

The hotel is also dog-friendly and Rosie, my guide dog, was even given her own plate of dog cookies to snack on and a bowl of water.

The hotel is also dog-friendly and Rosie, my guide dog, was even given her own plate of dog cookies to snack on and a bowl of water (Image: Emily Davison) There are two options where you can either choose to have the full Afternoon Tea experience for £75 a person, with cakes, sandwiches, scones and the works, or £50 a person if you want cream tea and cakes from the trolley instead.

We opted for the full experience, starting off with a glass of refreshing tarragon lemonade before moving onto English sparking wine.

We started off with a glass of refreshing tarragon lemonade before moving onto English sparking wine. (Image: Emily Davison) Unlike other afternoon teas served on a tea stand, they serve it in stages as you would a meal, beginning with drinks before moving onto savouries and finally sweets.

Unlike other afternoon teas served on a tea stand, they serve it in stages as you would a meal. (Image: Emily Davison) We first began with selecting our teas, which they bring over to you in a menu where you get to smell the different teas and we got recommendations from our server.

I settled on an Oolong tea blended with sweet vanilla, which was so decadent and delicious.

I settled on an Oolong tea blended with sweet vanilla, which was so decadent and delicious. (Image: Emily Davison)

This afternoon tea also takes a different approach from the standard finger sandwiches offered by a lot of afternoon teas, with a selection of savouries.

This afternoon tea takes a different approach from the standard finger sandwiches offered by a lot of afternoon teas, with a selection of savouries. (Image: Emily Davison) eafood options included a salmon gravadlax on toasted croissant with quail egg and cream cheese, and a Cornish crab brioche with pink grapefruit & trout roe warm tartine of wild mushroom.

Seafood options included a salmon gravadlax on toasted croissant and a Cornish crab brioche. (Image: Emily Davison) This was also accompanied by a BBQ corn bread with cured Wagyu beef & chilli sauce, and an egg mayonnaise sandwich with parmesan crisp & winter truffle.

For the sweet treats we began with a pre-dessert consisting of a light sponge with pineapple, rum and coriander to cleanse the palate.

The pre-dessert consisted of a light sponge with pineapple, rum and coriander. (Image: Emily Davison) We then moved onto scones served with clotted cream and jam, along with decadent pastries consisting of a raspberry Sakura pebble and a rich and decadent chocolate pastry with hazelnut on choux pastry.

We then moved onto scones served with clotted cream and jam, along with decadent pastries. (Image: Emily Davison) But the sweet treats don’t stop there, you can also opt for cake from the trolley with four different flavours from citrus lemon to a vanilla flan.

You can also opt for cake from the trolley with four different flavours. (Image: Emily Davison) You can also ask for more from every course if you fancy more, which in my opinion does constitute the larger price tag of £75.

If you’re looking for a luxury afternoon tea for a special occasion, The Cadogan is a great spot to try in London for your next trip out.