DUKES London is a charming 5-star hotel tucked away in the heart of St James’s, Mayfair. Just moments away from Buckingham Palace, this luxurious home away from home is bursting with history and is known for its elegant decor and exceptional service.

From the moment we entered the hotel, we were greeted with a warm smile and directed to the drawing room where we had the pleasure of enjoying Afternoon Tea. The drawing room was cosy and sophisticated, with plush armchairs, a cosy fireplace, and large windows overlooking the quaint courtyard.

Once seated, we were presented with the tea menu which featured an extensive selection of teas and infusions from the East India Company. The knowledgeable server helped us choose a tea that would match our tastes, and we ended up opting for the traditional karak, a rich black tea with masala-style spices, and a deliciously smooth peppermint tea.

Now let’s talk about the food. Alongside DUKES’ Traditional Afternoon Tea, you can choose from a Vegan Afternoon Tea and a Little Dukes and Dutchess Afternoon Tea designed for children. There’s also a Champagne Afternoon Tea, which includes a glass of Pommery Brut Royal N.V Champagne and a special MarTEAni Afternoon Tea, which includes three beautifully-paired mini gin martinis. I’d heard so much about DUKES’ famous martinis, considered some of the best in town, so I just had to try the MarTEAni Afternoon Tea.

The food arrived neatly presented on a three-tiered stand and it’ll come as no surprise that the patisserie tier was the first to catch my eye. At the top were an array of miniature desserts. We first tried the rhubarb parfait with crème diplomat and poached rhubarb. This was light and creamy, like a mousse, with tiny pieces of chocolate throughout. We loved the delicious surprise centre! Next up was the Schezwan choux, caramelised cheesecake and a blood orange compote which was beautifully crafted and bursting with flavour. The final cake of the day was a mouth-watering Gateau opera which was topped with a hazelnut truffle and a caramel-filled chocolate ball.

Each Afternoon Tea includes two types of scones, plain and golden raisin, and both were warm and crumbly with a golden crust and a light texture. They were served with Rodda’s clotted cream and strawberry jam. I couldn't resist spreading a generous dollop of both on my scone, one made up the Devonshire way and the other, Cornish. The combination of the sweet jam and the rich cream was heavenly, and the scones themselves were some of the best I've ever had.

The sandwiches all had completely different types of bread which I loved. There were H Forman’s London cured smoked salmon and dill cream cheese on caraway bread, Burford brown egg mayonnaise in a brioche roll and roasted gammon, fig relish, and aged cheddar on spinach bread. The star of the show was the goats cheese and roasted onion squash tart. The crumbly pastry was incredible and clearly baked by a very talented pasty chef.

Throughout our Afternoon Tea, the staff were attentive and knowledgeable, ensuring that our tea was topped up and that we were comfortable, without being intrusive. The atmosphere was relaxed and serene with the quiet sound of laughter and conversation from other guests.

All in all, my Afternoon Tea at DUKES London was everything I had hoped for and more. The attention to detail, the quality of the food and the tea, and the impeccable service all combined to create a truly memorable experience. If you are looking for a quintessentially British experience in the heart of London, I would highly recommend afternoon tea at DUKES London.

Afternoon Tea at The Drawing Room at DUKES London is priced from £39.50pp. Please click here for more details.