Having Afternoon Tea is elegant, classy and everything you expect from watching Downton Abbey; and at the same time, it feels like your very own delicious buffet brought directly to your table. Whatever it is you want more of, the waiter just brings it to the table.
Today, we will look at two different places for the best Afternoon Tea in London. Fortnum & Mason versus the Dorchester!
In this post I will make very objective points for each place. I do have a winner in my head but I would recommend both places for different things. In the end, I hope this post helps you draw your own conclusion on where to go for your next, or first, Afternoon Tea.
Food
Fortnum & Mason
Afternoon tea at Fortnum & Mason was delicious!! Each sandwich was a delight; the pastries were amazing and the scones with clotted cream… to die for! They bring everything out at the same time in a 3 tier stand.
I’ve always been more of a savory person, rather than sweet, so I stuffed my face with finger sandwiches before trying any scones. I loved the salmon finger sandwiches so much, and politely asked the waiter if he could bring me one or two more… He came back with 6 more just for me! That same great service followed with every scone, pastry, and finger sandwich. If you wanted more of something there was no hesitation to bring whatever you liked. The service was top-notch; super-fast, always polite, and very attentive!
Anyways, when it eventually came time to dig into the scones (with clotted cream and jam) I was already full! I decided, I had to eat one anyways, and found it so delicious I could have eaten 10 more!! Now, I feel I must disclose that the first time I went to F&M, was also the first time, in my life, that I had scones or clotted cream… but, nonetheless, it was an experience that I definitely fell in love with, and every time I go back to F&M the scones and clotted cream are a must-have!
The Dorchester
The Dorchester also has finger sandwiches, pastries and scones with clotted cream and jam. Unlike Fortnum and Mason where all the food is brought at the same time, first they bring the sandwiches and when you decide you are finished with savory food, they take away the sandwiches and bring the sweet foods.
The finger sandwiches were good, but not what I expected from a hotel like the Dorchester. Some of the sandwiches were delicious but others I simply couldn’t finish. The pastries were very good, the scones were really ok, but the clotted cream… was horrible!! Both my husband and I couldn’t believe how bad it was, and I couldn’t eat it. It had a chemical after taste and ruined the scones for me. Even Starbucks’ packaged clotted cream was superior to that of the Dorchester.
Pro tip: If you don’t have afternoon tea at Fortnum & Mason, you can go to their bakery floor and buy the scones and clotted cream separately. That is what I did after the bad clotted cream experience from The Dorchester.
Tea
Fortnum & Mason
Now let’s talk about tea, Fortnum has so many tea selections, and there are categories from each tea:
- Green tea
- White tea
- Rare tea
- Black tea
- Oolong tea
- Yellow tea
- Herbal infusions.
They also carry their own blends of course, like the “Jubilee”, created for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. Or “Wedding Breakfast” to commemorate the proposal from William to Kate.
The Dorchester
The Dorchester also carries their own exclusive blends, seasonal teas and rare teas. And has a big variety of different teas to choose from.
If you know nothing of tea (like me on my first trip to London), just ask for a recommendation from the waiter. Both places have very knowledgeable staff when it comes to tea, and they are happy to recommend something based on your preferences.
Ambience
Fortnum & Mason
Fortnum & Mason is truly one of my favorite places in London. It is a beautiful store with four floors full of different things, both elegant and wonderful. The first time I walked into Fortnum & Mason, I was in awe of everything I was seeing. There are some floors that feel like a museum but with objects you can touch and buy. I still get that wonderful feeling when I walk into the store.
The food hall has so many things you can buy for a picnic or a 5 course dinner at home.
When it comes to the actual floor where the restaurant is located for Afternoon Tea, the atmosphere is very classical and more subdued than the rest of the building. It is very simple yet classy, and there is a pianist right at the entrance playing music during tea time.
Read this post: Hidden Gem in London
The Dorchester
The Dorchester Hotel is one of the most famous hotels in London and it’s synonymous with luxury. As soon as you enter you can feel the elegance of the decor, and majestic flower centerpieces, it is truly a beautiful sight. The restaurant is right past the lobby and it is incredibly beautiful, it feels so elegant and royal.
There is also a pianist playing the piano for a nice musical ambience. The decor is rich and bold; it feels like the kind of place you could have a wedding or engagement party.
Food intolerance and/or Allergies
Fortnum and Mason offer different menus, they have a gluten free menu, vegan menu, vegetarian menu, and a dairy free menu. They even have the menus available online for you to peruse.
The Dorchester does not have any information of that kind on their website. I emailed them asking if they carry menus for people with allergies or intolerances. It has been well over two weeks and I still haven’t heard from them.
Price
Both places offer alcoholic drinks, Fortnum’s list is a little wider than The Dorchester’s.
Note: You need to make reservation for both places.
- Afternoon Tea at Fortnum and Mason – 60 GBP
- Afternoon Tea with Alcoholic Drink – 75 GBP
- Afternoon Tea at The Dorchester – 59 GBP
- Afternoon Tea with Alcoholic Drink – Minimum of 68 GBP
Conclusion
To me the overall winner is Fortnum and Mason, the price for both places is very similar but when it comes to the food, Fortnum beats the Dorchester in a heartbeat. Also the tea and alcohol selection is bigger. If you are a foodie there is no way I would recommend the Dorchester to you.
However, I would recommend The Dorchester to someone that doesn’t care as much for the food and tea, as enjoying a beautiful elegant afternoon tea experience. If you just want to go somewhere to have tea, have a good time, taking lots of beautiful pictures, then I definitely recommend The Dorchester.
Now, let me know in the comments below if you have been to either of these places, or if you decided to go after reading my post, and what you thought. I would love that!
Cheerio
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Excellent review. Definitely you have been around!!!!
Thank you!! I appreciate it!