Reviewing The New Festive Afternoon Tea at Corinthia London*

Afternoon Tea is an integral part of British culture and a widely appreciated Sunday afternoon activity. The classic experience is usually offered by cafés and 4-star hotels. Think Ascot, Sketch or Peggy Porschen as London’s top addresses. Even in Central, high-end hotels in Westminster have been very popular for the extravagant tradition. The afternoon tea at Corinthia London has recently improved its highly sought after experience for Christmas. I was kindly invited to preview their new festive afternoon tea in London*.

Located in a leafy side street leading up to Trafalgar Square and overlooking the Thames is the 5-star hotel The Corinthia. It’s known for its exquisite penthouses and lavish suites. Regular guests include celebrities such as Victoria Beckham, Will.I.Am, Bill Clinton or Beyonce. The Corinthia will soon also be known as THE place for Afternoon Tea.

Lately, the hotel has invested in reinventing its Afternoon Tea experience which is served all year round. The team have tweaked the menu and launched a luxurious experience with a contemporary twist. The overhauled menu does not venture into new culinary territory as such. The classic elements of an Afternoon Tea are very much incorporated. It is more the combination of taking a fresh turn on some of the classical elements which show bravery and bring British longstanding tradition into 2018.

Please Note: This post was updated in December 2023. Please check the current festive menu for afternoon tea at Corinthia London to avoid disappointment.

The Crystal Moon Lounge at Corinthia London

The Afternoon Tea at Corinthia London honours the British tradition and is served in the most luxurious setting ever.

The service is discreet and highly professional, yet greets you with a warm welcome upon arrival. The service scores with excellent hosting skills throughout the entire stay. The hotel serves their Christmas high tea in the lavish Crystal Moon Lounge. Its signature style is dominated by a magnificent chandelier as its centrepiece.

Under this opulent globe of shiny lights sits a marbled lounge with white sofas. They are extremely soft and you may sink into the fluffy cushions once sat down. The atmosphere is filled with soft piano tunes playing classic Christmas songs.

The lounge is open plan, which sets customers right into the heart of the hotel. It makes you feel welcome and become a part of this exclusive high-end world. You never know who may walk past you. There are interesting people dressed in suits and lavish fur coats coming in and out of the hotel. You’re right in the middle of the main action without getting the feeling of disturbing the flow.

The real head-turner is the tasteful cutlery and bespoke tea sets. Those have been tailor-made specifically for the new Afternoon Tea experience. The 25 sets consist of black or red striped teapots. The plates come either in silver or gold shimmering. The cups have the same designs and reflect the striped pattern of their saucers. It’s a marvellous effect and enhances the experience to the next level. The delicate porcelain is very elegant and complemented by crystal Champagne flutes. Each set costs around £200. With such a set up there’s only one thing missing: the food.

Afternoon Tea at Corinthia London: My Experience

With a selection of more than 26 different teas, the choice is tough. From mango tea via rooibos, green tea to British Earl Grey or even Matcha – each tea is carefully curated and prepared by a tea sommelier. There’s also the option to choose Hot Chocolate. Unconventional but popular with guests. The twist is Hot Chocolate made with milk and a dissolved piece of fine Chocolate. This applies a tender hint of chocolatey flavour and a more dairy taste to the drink.

Festive Afternoon Tea in London: Finger Sandwiches, First Course

The selection consists of five delicately placed sandwiches. Fillings include egg & truffle mayonnaise; cucumber, radish & cream cheese; turkey, caramelised apple & chestnut stuffing; horseradish cream with watercress and salt beef or the classic salmon sandwich.

My personal favourites were the egg & truffle mayo and the beef with horseradish cream. Both choices were flavoursome with a delicious creamy texture that would leave you wanting more. I had seconds on both of them and I don’t regret it at all. The truffle in the egg & mayo sandwich was full of flavour and very exquisite.

The horseradish & beef version was an excellent blend of the two flavours venturing into new culinary territory. Though I find horseradish to be sharp and unpleasant at times, this one was more creamy with a very subtle hint. At first, I thought it was cream cheese. Highly recommended.

Festive Afternoon Tea in London: Traditional Scones, Second Course

The presentation is everything with the next course: scones.  Either a plain or raisins version is served in a wooden tea box. Alongside comes strawberry or rhubarb jam and Cornish clotted cream. The amazing display was an Instagrammer’s dream! The scones themselves were light and fluffy with a wonderful shiny sweet glaze on top. In combination with the rhubarb jam and clotted cream, this divine treat took this Christmas high tea experience to the next level.

Festive Afternoon Tea in London: Cakes & Patisserie, Third Course

The festive afternoon tea at Corinthia London continues. After tasty sandwiches and sweet scones, the final course was an epic highlight. The hotel breaks with the tradition of having a delicate cake stand to present the cakes and patisserie, but a Victorian silver trolley displays all the festive delights instead.

Each piece is designed of the highest quality with absolute impeccable precision. The food could have easily come straight out of a French patisserie. In fact, there’s a French man involved. Chef Loic Charbonnet has created beautiful compositions such as chestnut, mandarin & hazelnut tartlets, mini black forest cherry eclairs, white chocolate & cranberry snow baubles, traditional Christmas loaf (aka Stollen), rum vanilla chocolate truffles and a ruby grapefruit with mascarpone Chantilly & coconut meringue.

The stars of the trolley are the snow baubles with their meticulous shiny glaze. These little baubles are a pure joy to look at and the inside doesn’t disappoint either: made out of vanilla and white chocolate mousse there’s a delicious fruity cranberry core embedded on a crunchy crisped rice base.

The glaze has a hint of cranberry flavour but is never too sweet, too sticky or overpowering. Unlike the Black Forest cherry éclair which has a rich cherry filling and a very boozy cherry on top. The combination of the dark chocolate paired with the taste of cherry will never get boring plus it’s a nice reminder of my German culture.

Final Thoughts on the Christmas High Tea Experience

I absolutely loved the new festive afternoon tea at Corinthia London. The presentation was everything and the whole Christmas high tea experience felt sought after and worthy of a 5*Hotel in Westminster. From the first impression of stepping into the Crystal Moon Lounge, to the Victorian treat trolley and knowledgeable tea sommelier, this Christmas high tea experience was a true delight.

Not only were hotel staff extremely accommodating and attentive, but the food was stylish and delicious.

There are only two minor treats, which I didn’t enjoy as much. Though visually stunning the hazelnut tartlets and the grapefruit Chantilly were a bit mediocre for my likening. The tartlets have an interesting texture, somewhere between nutty and gritty with a rather dull taste.

The mandarin livens up the combination but is too weak to make the tartlet a culinary standout. Unlike the grapefruit in the mascarpone, Chantilly with its sharp and bitter flavours make a disturbing contrast to the sweet and otherwise creamy mascarpone and coconut meringue. Overall though, the Chantilly is a cute dessert and a safe crowd-pleaser.

It’s been an extraordinary visit at the Corinthia London, which I highly recommend if you happen to be in London for the pre-Christmas period. The hotel’s Christmas high tea experience costs around £95 (excl. champagne) and is a flawless delight. The service has been impeccable and very attentive. Seconds were served with a warm smile and even vegetarian/vegan options were no inconvenience at all. This is a wonderful addition to the Afternoon Tea scene in London which I can highly recommend.

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Till next time,
Carolin

*AD| The afternoon tea at Corinthia London experience was gifted by Hotels.com, but all views are my own.

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