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.