Afternoon Tea Week: Four of the best to try

The Italian, tried and tested: Tozi Grand Cafe

Generating a huge amount of hype and its fair share of footfall when it first opened in late 2022, Battersea Power Station is an area on the up. In this once barren no-man’s-land, behemoth brands from Lulu Lemon to Nike have rushed to take centre-stage, snagging the best spots and drawing influencers and shoppers in their droves. Step out of your taxi on a balmy summer evening to discover a buzzing social scene, whether looking to enjoy a drink in one of the development’s new river-side spots, or to try your hand at the sport of the summer, padel.

Relatively established in view of the development’s short lifespan, Tozi Grand Cafe opened earlier this year on the upper level of Electric Arcade, in the stylish new art’otel. Celebrating the start of Afternoon Tea Week with the launch of a new Italian Afternoon Tea, we couldn’t turn down the chance to give it a try. Designed together with Good & Proper Tea, the tea is true to Tozi’s traditional fare, mixing Italian morsels with a British tea-time twist.

Served on classic tiered bone china, the savouries featured delectably light, freshly-baked ciabatta, and zesty focaccia piled with burrata. Accompanied by a selection of cheese, charcuterie, and pane Carasau, and of course a glass of franciacorta, our tastebuds were whisked to Italy….

Replacing the traditional British scones, Maritozzi proved a revelation featuring lightly sugar-kissed buns, filled with fruity jam and fluffy whipped cream. On the top tier, beautifully house-baked pasticcini were delicate and colourful, each featuring a subtle tea infusion. Morello cherry & hibiscus crostata sat alongside chocolate & Earl Grey torta, and Strawberry & Green Tea infused macarons. For purists, Good and Proper’s English Breakfast or Earl Grey were served strong and hot, alongside earthy Jade Tips Green Tea or suprisingly savoury Hisbiscus, served in shining silver teapots.

Fusing authentic Italian morsels with the elegance of Tozi Grand Cafe, the afternoon tea is available daily from 3pm – 5pm. For shoppers looking for a momentary pause and some relief from the hustle and bustle of Battersea, the restaurant and beautiful terrace are a perfect spot to enjoy this uniquely Italian experience.

tozigrandcafe.co.uk
3A Electric Boulevard, London SW11 8BJ

Three More to Try this Afternoon Tea Week:

The Classic Tea: Afternoon Tea at The Stafford

The Stafford’s quintessentially British afternoon tea has been devised by Lisa Goodwin-Allen (also of Michelin-starred Northcote in Lancashire) and The Stafford’s Head Pastry Chef, Magdalena Velczenbach. Priced from £70 per person, guests can expect delicate finger sandwiches in traditional flavours and plain and fruit scones served on a cake stand.

For dessert, The Stafford has recently introduced a brand-new bespoke cake trolley for an added sense of theatre, with guests able to choose a seasonal selection of cakes and pastries tableside, to accompany coffee or one of a selection of fine teas.

thestaffordlondon.com
16-18 St James’s Place, London SW1A 1NJ

The Sugar-Free Tea: ‘A Tribute to Nature’ at The Carlton Tower Jumeirah

Devised by award-winning pastry chef Jessica Preálpato, A Tribute to Nature focuses on seasonal, locally-sourced produce and unexpected pairings. True to Jessica’s signature style, the afternoon tea menu has no refined sugars, using carefully selected layers of flavours to showcase the key ingredients and magnify their natural taste. Priced from £75 per person, guests can expect dishes such as savoury truffle croissants filled with duck egg and black truffle, and pastries including a finger chocolate hazelnut and star anis, a citrus fruit éclair, and a pear and kumquat tart.

jumeirah.com
1 Cadogan Place, Ground Floor, The Carlton Tower Jumeirah, London SW1X 9PY

The Untraditional Tea: ‘Summer Garden Collection’ at The Orchid Lounge, Pan Pacific London 

While summer weather may be in short supply here, Pan Pacific London is bringing a slice of sunshine to the city with its new Summer Garden Collection afternoon tea. Available in the hotel’s elegant The Orchid Lounge priced from £62 per person, the savoury selection features Siu Mai dumplings in a variety of flavours, including prawn and salmon roe and mushroom, alongside steamed lotus and sweet potato buns. Delicate patisseries inspired by summertime gardens include the Lemon Drop with lemon verbena, raspberry and peach or the Basil Smash with strawberry, basil and kalamansi – alongside tea from The Rare Tea Company or a glass of English sparkling wine.

panpacific.com
The Orchid Lounge, Pan Pacific London, 80 Houndsditch, London EC3A 7AB