Hazel surprised me with Afternoon Tea at Fortnum and Mason for my birthday. I had heard great reviews and I was excited to go. Fortnum and Mason was a short walk from Green Park Tube station. I didn’t know Fortnum and Mason was a Department Store until we arrived and I saw the immaculate stands of chocolates and gifts. The store was heaving with crowds of people, there was hardly any space for us to make our way to the lift to go to the Tea Salon. The lift could barely fit 5 people but the sign said up to 10-13 people. How? I do not know lol.
We took the lift to the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon located on the 4th floor. When the lift door opened, we saw the beautiful Christmas decorations. The decorations were elegant with a gold and mint green colour theme. The receptionist advised taking a seat while our table was being prepared. During this time, we captured some photos so we can remember the experience. After a short wait, we put our coats in the cloakroom and were escorted to our table.
There was a peaceful and relaxing ambience which was completely opposite from being on the shop floor. Most tables were taken in the tea salon with a mixture of groups, friends and couples. We were seated at a lovely table by the window with views of the useless and bustle on the high street.
We were presented with a selection of menus; Tea selection and Afternoon Tea options. There was a variety of teas to choose from but we opted for the Wedding Breakfast Tea which was the typical English Breakfast Tea. We chose the traditional afternoon tea. An assortment of sandwiches and cakes arrived at the table. The presentation was simple but enticing. The sandwiches consisted of:
- Egg Mayonnaise with Cress
- Cucumber with Mint Cream Cheese
- Ham with English Mustard
- Smoked Salmon with Tartare Dressing
- Coronation Chicken
Coronation Chicken and Egg Mayonnaise are not my favourite choice so I stuck to the Ham and Salmon options. The bread was deliciously soft paired with the subtle flavours from the Smoked Salmon and Tartare Dressing.
The cakes looked luscious; ranging from a Sticky Toffee Cake to an Apricot Tart. We were both on our second pot of tea so I was unable to eat much of the cakes.
To follow we had a Plain and Fruit Scone each. This was paired with Clotted Cream and either Lemon Curd or Strawberry Jam. The Lemon Curd was sweet but tangy. I’m a huge fan of lemon desserts.
Coming to the end of the afternoon, the waiter presented me with a Battenberg Birthday Cake with a candle which was a pleasant surprise. I blew out the candle and made a wish. The waiter then asked if we wanted to select a cake from the Cake Carriage. We couldn’t refuse; why not make the most of the experience. A massive Victoria Sponge Cake was on display next to a Battenberg Cake and a Chocolate Tart. We both chose a slice of Victoria Sponge Cake to take away.
Overall, the Afternoon Tea was splendid. Our waiter was polite and friendly. The atmosphere was pleasant but the service was slow. However, I will still give top marks as it was a grand experience.
Rating:ย 10/10
On our way back to Green Park station, we stopped off at The Ritz to take photos in front of the Christmas Tree outside. When we were taking photos, a member of staff suggested taking photos inside, next to the big Christmas Tree. We were a bit hesitant as we didn’t want to get told off but he reassured us that it was acceptable. The Ritz is very traditional and sophisticated. The Christmas Tree was a captivating centrepiece that caught our eyes as soon as we walked inside. It was massive and very impressive with stunning red and gold decorations. The Ritz is on our list of places to visit in 2020.
To end the day, Hazel took me for cocktails at Lyan-ess Cocktail Bar within the Sea Containers in South Bank. We were guided to a small table by the window with a view of the Thames. The busy bar was lit with dim lighting and the decor was modern chic with a blue and hints of gold. There was a mixture of people in their late 20s to early 30s. A DJ was enjoying himself playing music in the corner. The cocktail menu was creative and original with names such as Peach Emoji and Mario Cart Spritz. I chose the Pina Leaf Highball which combined Grey Goose, Purple Pineapple and Soda. Hazel went for the Red Winter which consisted of Peach, Strawberry and Martini. I was going to pick the Breakfast Bellini but I wanted to try something new. My cocktail was strong but I was a bit disappointed as I thought it was going to be sweet and fizzy. Hazel enjoyed her cocktail.
Overall, the vibe was casual and chilled. Staff were accommodating and provided a great service.
Rating: 7/10
Overall, I had a fantastic day. The afternoon tea was so luxurious and the cocktail bar was cool. The bonus was visiting The Ritz and taking a photo by their spectacular Christmas Tree.
I hope you enjoyed. Please follow my blog to keep up to date with my latest posts. Until next time.
Petrina x
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