If you’re looking for a charming English Afternoon Tea that’s fit for both queens and kings then The Rubens at the Palace is your perfect match. With pastries created by the talented Sarah Houghting, who was featured on Bake Off: The Professionals, this Afternoon tea has a view of the Royal Mews of Buckingham Palace from the comfort of their Palace lounge.

Arriving at the hotel we were greeted by a very cheery and welcoming doorman. We stepped into the lounge where there was a pianist playing classical renditions on ballad pop songs. His soundtrack accompanied our regal Afternoon Tea.

We were shown to our table and 2-seater sofa with a front row view of The Royal Mews. These seats were so comfortable and the perfect spot for people watching! The waitress checked for allergies and dietary requirements before proceeding to explain that the Afternoon Tea was a set menu and the only choice we needed to make were what we wanted to drink. If you’re celebrating something special or looking to treat yourself there is an option to add champagne. The menu featured a variety of different black, green and herbal teas but I was a little overwhelmed so she helped me find a strong bodied milk tea. Her recommendation had a robust rich flavour that paired well with both the savoury and sweet items.

Food came out promptly and our server took the time to explain each item. The sandwiches, scones, clotted cream and preserve were all refillable but remember to save room for the sweet selection! Sandwiches were a selection of traditional flavours with a little twist. The toasted almonds around the chicken mustard mayo were delightful and added to the texture. Another favourite was the smoked salmon rose atop the cape seed loaf - they were so generous with the salmon!

The scones and sweets were the star of the show having their own tiered stand next to the table. There were three varieties of scones - plain, fruit and cheese, and these were served with clotted cream, lemon curd and blackcurrant preserve. The blackcurrant preserve was sweet, rich and flavourful but I much preferred the lemon curd which was tart and zesty.

The true highlight were the selection of pastries and cakes, all of them looked exquisite and each had its own distinctive flavour. The rhubarb and vanilla sponge cake was pillowy soft with a sharp burst of rhubarb flavour. The classic zingy citrus meringue tart was well balanced with the sweet, candied lemons and almond cream filling. However, the piéce de résistance was The Crown - a chocolate mousse with a praline filling on a chocolate sablé, so light and airy with a crunchy biscuit base. A dessert for every chocolate lover’s dream!

Staff were very warm, welcoming and attentive from start to finish. They took the time to make the rounds and check in on guests. We felt cared for and were definitely treated like royals!

Find out more about The Rubens at the Place Afternoon Tea and book here