About.com Rating
Jumeirah Carlton Tower's Chinoiserie is a welcoming and stylish venue to escape the frantic metropolitan pace for a restorative cup of tea.
For more afternoon tea reviews see:
Best Afternoon Tea in London.
Address:
Jumeirah Carlton Tower
Cadogan Place
London SW1X 9PY
Tel: 020 7235 1234
Email:JCTinfo@jumeirah.com
Website:Official Jumeirah Carlton Tower Website
Dress Code: No strict dress code. When I visited some guests wore jeans and T-shirts while others wore designer dresses.
Times: Daily: 3pm - 6pm
Menu and Prices
Afternoon Tea at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower costs from £40 per person or £50 per person with a glass of champagne including:- Tea of your choice
- Assorted Finger Sandwiches
- Raisin and Plain Scones with Devonshire Clotted Cream and Strawberry and Apricot Jam
- French pastries and Fruit Cake
Individual teas cost £5 per person.
(This review is from 2009 - price updated in 2013 - so do check the latest information before booking.)
Tea Menu
The tea selection is divided into:- Select Teas
- Flavored Teas
- Green Teas
- Herbal Infusions
I started with the Jumeirah Carlton Tower English Breakfast Tea which was strong and pleasant. It would be nice if an afternoon tea blend was available too.
I then tried the White Peony which although listed under Green Teas is actually a 'white tea', often called 'Pai Mu Tan'.
It was light and refreshing and I stuck with that for the rest of my afternoon tea.
The Jumeirah Carlton Tower English Breakfast Blend was described as having a "bold coppery hue" and I felt that described a lot of my time at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower; the decor, lighting, crockery, etc. The hotel has that kind of Middle East glamor that requires gold touches and, to me, a dated overtone of amber glows but I must say it is one of the cleanest hotels I have visited in London. The friend who accompanied me always has concerns about cleanliness and the Jumeirah Carlton Tower is impeccable.
Chinoiserie
Afternoon Tea is served in the Chinoiserie in the hotel lobby. The open room has different seating options and we chose a corner sofa with a large coffee table. Others sat at tables for two and there were large family groups too. Actually I was impressed just how many families came in for afternoon tea and young children were most welcome.The air-con temperature was just right as often in London on a hot day (it was 27C/78F on the day I visited) air-con gets put on maximum and we all freeze while inside. Not at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower as they seem to know all the small things that make your time there more pleasant.
The friendly staff, who wear brocade jackets, made us feel extremely welcome. Linen place mats are laid for each guest upon arrival and the waiting staff pour your first cup of tea for you so you feel well looked after. When a couple of friends came by to meet us, staff were not concerned we were staying longer and simply laid more table places. We ended up staying 3 hours and felt relaxed the whole time.
The Cake Stand
The traditional three-tiered silver cake stand was well-presented with finger sandwiches in three different breads, French pastries with a strawberry theme (I visited during Wimbledon fortnight) but the scones were my favorite this time as a napkin was folded in such a way to keep them warm yet you could still see them. I wish I had taken a photo as it was a clever technique.
I can report the scones were delicious and were still warm even after I had my sandwiches. The scones were light but not crumbly and the Devonshire clotted cream with divine with the strawberry and apricot jams.
A La Carte Options
The Knightsbridge location makes the Jumeirah Carlton Tower a perfect location to visit for a spot of light refreshment while on a shopping trip to Sloane Street, Harvey Nichols and Harrods. As you may not want to eat so many cakes when clothes shopping, there is an 'a la carte' menu so you can choose a special tea and just the sandwiches, or the scones, or just the French fancies. This makes the venue even more appealing as a oasis of calm while on a hectic shopping spree.
Resident Harpist
I was amazed to discover a resident harpist plays beautiful music throughout the afternoon. She is positioned near the hotel entrance and it is such a calming sound I'm sure it helps with the relaxed atmosphere. She is a talented musician and I saw a group of young children sitting on the floor entranced by her performance.I would recommend afternoon tea at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower for families as children were definitely welcome, as well as friends on a shopping trip in Knightsbridge.
Disclosure: My Afternoon Tea was complimentary and the hotel knew I would be writing a review.
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