Mayflower Hotel– Afternoon Tea

Washington, D.C, May 2014

4 out of 5 stars

Some friends and I recently had afternoon tea at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., and we thought the service, tea, and food were excellent.  We were a little disappointed that the tea was served in the bar/club area and not the hotel lobby, which is prettier.

Atmosphere.  The historic Mayflower is one of my favorite hotels in D.C., and I like to walk through the lobby whenever I get a chance.  It has high ceilings and several sparkling chandeliers hanging in a straight line. 

The hotel was recently renovated to include the Edgar Bar and Kitchen, which is where the tea was served.  It has a business lunch vibe, with leather booths, an exposed brink wall, and some D.C. specific-touches, such as a bust of George Washington on the back wall and prints of historic documents.

Perfectly nice, but I missed the elegant room where the hotel served afternoon tea a few years ago, with the large chandelier and floral arrangements.

Tea/Food.  They offered several options of loose teas (Mighty Tea brand), and we thought they were all good.  We tried the Earl Grey, wild blackberry, orchid oolong, and jasmine.  The food was served on three-tiered stands (one for each of us), which was a nice touch.  The tea sandwiches were tasty, and each one was made on different type of bread.  We had salmon on pumpernickel (our favorite), cucumber/mint on white, chicken salad on pita, ham and gouda on a roll, and mozzarella and tomato on focaccia with herbs.  The only one we thought was just okay was the mozzarella sandwich, which was on the bland side.  

The desserts included a raspberry-mini tart, chocolate dipped strawberry, mini-éclair, homemade Oreo cookie (interesting), and a cherry scone.  We didn’t have any favorites because we liked all of them.  The scone had a nice flavor, and we all raved about the crème and lemon curd served with it. 

Service.  The service was outstanding.  The best I’ve experienced at a D.C. afternoon tea.  The staff was friendly, attentive, and  accommodating to our requests. 

Cost.  The cost was $28 for the standard afternoon tea.  More if you want a glass of champagne.

Would we go again?  Yes.  The Mayflower Hotel afternoon tea is a good deal for the quality and amount of food served (it was the least expensive of the places reviewed to date for this blog).  The experience would have been even better if the tea was served in a prettier location of the hotel.

London Calling! Afternoon Tea at the Goring Hotel - London, England

April 2014

5 out of 5 stars 

Washington vs. London - Afternoon Tea

In late April, a tea drinking friend and I were visiting London, and we wanted to know how the afternoon teas in Washington, D.C. compared to the best in London.  We decided to go to the Goring Hotel because it won the Tea Guild's prestigious award for "Top London Afternoon Tea 2013."

The results?  Washington, D.C. afternoon teas can hold their own.  Of course, we only tried one hotel in London, but we thought that the food quality and assortment were comparable in both cities.  However, when it came to service and attention to detail, the Goring won hands down. 

Atmosphere.  The Goring Hotel is gorgeous, and the perfect atmosphere for an afternoon tea.  The hotel is located near the Victoria tube/train station, tucked away on a pretty tree-lined street.  A man wearing a black top hat greets you at the door.  The minute you walk into the lobby you feel the formality. 

We walked through the bar area, filled with small tables and leather chairs, to reach the terrace room where the tea was served.  The room was painted in breathtaking gold and red colors, with portraits of someone’s important ancestors hanging on the wall.  

Our table was next to large glass windows and doors that looked out to a deck with black iron chairs and tables.  Beyond the deck, we could see the lush green grounds, making us feel like we were dining at a British country estate rather than a London hotel.

Tea/Food.  The Goring offered several tea selections, including black, oolong, white, green, and herbal.  We chose the Goring Afternoon Blend, a black tea that was excellent, but a little strong for me.  The tea was served in a well-polished silver teapot.  The china was a vibrant yellow with a black silhouette of a woman in the center of the plate.

The sandwiches and desserts were wonderful.  We were offered a starter of egg whites mixed with tomatoes and a clear jelly on top.  It tasted better than it sounds.  Next, we received eight tea sandwiches for the two of us, including chicken salad, cucumber, ham and cheese (the best one), and watercress.  There were four scones with raisins, served with clotted cream and strawberry and raspberry jams.  The clotted cream was much thicker and brighter yellow than what I am used to in D.C. – it looked like a scoop of butter, but tasted great.  The sweets included a small piece of chocolate layer cake, pistachio tart (very nice), a macaroon, custard, meringue, and orange sponge cookie.  The desserts were tasty, but I didn’t enjoy all of them because they seemed too alike in texture (spongy) to me.  My friend enjoyed them very much.

Service.  The service was impeccable.  There were multiple servers attending to guests, and we were continuously checked on and offered refills.  I especially enjoyed the way they poured the tea – carefully and very slowly.

Cost.  The Goring is expensive, about $39 pounds for the traditional tea.  It’s more if you choose the optional glass of champagne and strawberries.

Would we go again?  Yes, without hesitation.  The Goring is one of the most elegant and professionally served afternoon teas I’ve experienced.  However, there are so many great places to go for afternoon tea in London that I might try another place next time.  If you decide to go to the Goring Hotel, it’s a good idea to make your reservation well in advance because it’s a popular place.

Tea Cellar, Park Hyatt Hotel

Washington, DC,  March 2014

4 out of 5 stars

The Tea Cellar has a great tea selection and food, but the space is loud.  The cost of tea is separate and not included in the afternoon tea price.

Atmosphere.  It’s not your typical afternoon tea environment.  The Tea Cellar is part of the Blue Duck Tavern, a modern and contemporary space, decorated with a combination of blonde and dark woods and chrome fixtures.  Very nice, but the plain wood tables without table clothes made me feel like I was eating at friend’s kitchen table.  There were more comfortable looking tables with couches and private spaces surrounded by glass.  I would reserve one of those tables next time.  Our table was next to the bar area and it was loud and hard for us to hear each other.  Even the wait staff couldn’t hear us when we asked questions. 


Tea/Food Quality.  The selection and the quality of tea (Rare Tea Company) are terrific.  The tea menu includes over 30 teas, divided by category, such as herbal, performance, white, and black.  They are served by the pot and vary by price, from around $8 and up, in addition to the cost of the afternoon tea.

We ordered three pots of tea for five people and that was plenty.  I recommend ordering one of the performance teas (tea blooms into a flower).   We were very pleased with our tea choices, which included underwater garden (lovely taste and smell), Japanese Gyoroku tea, and the Earl Grey (both very nice).  I am partial to Earl Grey at afternoon teas, and this was an excellent one.  Not too strong and very fragrant.  The tea was served in glass teapots. 

The Park Hyatt offers savory and sweet items on a buffet table, which is self-serve.  When we arrived, they were out of the savory items, and it took a long time until they were replenished.  That was not a problem though because we loaded our plates with desserts in the meantime.  The sweets were terrific.  We all loved the scones, orange, fruit and nut, jams and crème.  Not too sweet and a nice texture.  Others included gluten free brownies, chocolate-covered strawberries (nice), mini pear tarts (our favorite), raspberry macaroons, chocolate custard cup, mini berry tart, chocolate cookies, and apple cinnamon cake.

When we received the savory items, we were pleased.  We had mushroom soup (delicious), crab and egg salad (very nice combination), lentil and pumpkin salad, and brie with a dollop of fig jam on a baguette slice.  All were open-faced sandwiches, which seemed to go with contemporary atmosphere.

Service.  The service could be improved.  When I made the reservation, I asked if they had an afternoon tea, and was told that it was $32 per person.  However, when we arrived, they said they changed the policy and it was $40 a person without tea.  We asked to speak to a manager, and they honored the $32 price, which was appreciated.

Cost.  $40 for the sweets and savory items, and an additional cost for the tea. 

Would we go again?  Yes, but I thought it was odd that the price of afternoon tea did not include tea.  For a good cup of tea and multiple selections, this is the place to go, but for a cozy and quiet environment, I would look elsewhere.