The current Afternoon Tea offering by The Berkeley Hotel is the Pret-A-Portea: The Couture Cakewalk Spring/Summer 2022. There are 5 options for afternoon tea inspired by fashion designers which change semi-annually beginning at £64 or about $74. Afternoon tea is served all week from 1 - 5:30 PM, with reservations available for booking up to 90 days in advance.
Atmosphere
The Berkeley is a lovely hotel, and the employees I encountered were very kind and helpful. Upon being directed to the tea room I was quickly checked in and seated. The tea room was of moderate size with the section I was seated in having a lot of natural lighting due to the large windows and glass ceiling. The tea room was a comfortable temperature with light classical music playing. While it was spacious and bright there wasn't anything extraordinary about the room.
Tea Service
I have had this afternoon tea on my list for nearly a decade. Having previously been in love with fashion, and received a degree in it, I looked forward to seeing how the pastry chefs created their own works of art inspired by high-end couture designer collections. I loved the detail of having a card with my name on the table, it was such a subtle touch but one that I enjoyed. The service throughout was fantastic and the server initially went over the tea options with me, after choosing the White Peony (which was very light and refreshing while slightly sweet) my first course was brought out of sandwiches and savory treats that included a duck breast, chicken sandwich, and smoked salmon among others. The flavors were simple, the only option I enjoyed was the egg sandwich. Unfortunately, everything else was bland and un-noteworthy. After the savory options, the Spring Summer Collection 2022 was presented on a lovely tier. A small booklet on the table had pictures and descriptions of each pastry and the inspiration for it. My lovely server recalled all of the information from memory and walked me through the flavors of each one. While absolutely beautiful I was disappointed with every option. Each dessert either lacked flavor or was far too sweet.
Overall Score
As someone who looked forward to this for years, it was a letdown. If you have a free afternoon and don't mind spending about $74 for a nice cup of tea and Instagram-worthy pictures I suppose it's worth it otherwise, I cannot recommend it. There are elegant options in London around the same price and superior casual experiences for much less as well. The Pret-a-Portea earns a soft 3/5 stars for a nice atmosphere, great service, and lovely details.
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