Lady’s Fortnum & Mason Afternoon Tea Review

Today I want to share my Fortnum & Mason afternoon tea review with you. This London institution is one of the most famous places to partake in the tradition. Set in the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon, it offers a range of options for both tea and food (and champagne, of course). If you’re curious to know what afternoon tea at Fortnum’s is really like, read on.

Fortnum & Mason Afternoon Tea Review

I’ve come to Piccadilly to enjoy Fortnum & Mason’s afternoon tea with a friend who’s visiting from out of town. We wanted to indulge in this oh-so-British ritual, and I couldn’t think of a better place than one that was officially opened by the late Queen.

I booked a table, and now we’re here and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for us. With such heritage behind the name, we hope it lives up to our expectations.

Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon

When we arrive for our Fortnum & Mason afternoon tea, we’re greeted at a reception desk. There are bright, airy tearooms on either side of it, and behind it there’s live music coming from a piano.

Soon we’re seated at a table along a banquette in one of the rooms. We’re surrounded by white linen, pink flowers, and blue chairs with patterned backs. The signature teal dishes are harbingers of delicious things to come.

Fortnum & Mason Afternoon Tea Menu

Soon our server presents us with the Fortnum & Mason afternoon tea menu. It’s the most extensive of any I’ve seen in London (and I’ve seen a lot of menus for afternoon tea in London).

The main difference between it and the others I’ve encountered is that it has multiple menus for different dietary requirements and restrictions. From a gluten-free afternoon tea menu to vegan and vegetarian ones, there are a lot of options.

But it doesn’t stop there. It also has several variations on the theme.

There’s a high tea menu, for example (if you don’t know the difference between afternoon tea and high tea, you can read my blog post about afternoon tea etiquette). There’s even a savory afternoon tea menu.

I’m so intrigued by all the choices I almost forget to focus on deciding which one I want. Almost.

When our server returns to take our order, we choose our menus and teas (there’s an extensive tea menu as well). We can’t help saying yes to a glass of champagne to start, too. It would be rude not to, right?

Fortnum & Mason Afternoon Tea

The bubbles arrive in good time, and soon our full Fortnum & Mason afternoon tea is presented at the table. We each receive a pot of tea and a three-tiered tray of sandwiches, scones, and pastries.

It looks like more than we could ever eat, but our server assures us we can have as many complimentary refills as we’d like.

The sandwiches contain all the classics. From cucumber with cream cheese to smoked salmon and coronation chicken, they’re staples of any traditional afternoon tea in London. They’re delicious, too.

The scones are plain and fruit, and they come with strawberry and blueberry preserves and clotted cream (which have a whole tiered tray of their own). They go down a treat as we hold the old “jam or cream first” debate.

The pastries are a colorful array of everything from red velvet cake to meringues and eclairs.

They’re the only part of the Fortnum & Mason afternoon tea offering that falls a tiny bit short of my high expectations, though. None of the flavors wow me, but they’re still good enough that I can’t help having a bite of each.

Still, the food has been top-notch overall. It’s also been incredibly filling. When our server comes by to ask if we want seconds of anything, we smile, wave the white flag, and ask for the bill.

Fortnum & Mason Afternoon Tea Review

So what was the final verdict on our Fortnum & Mason afternoon tea? We had a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

We loved the elegance of the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon, the irreproachable service, and the range of menu options. The food was good, and the live music added to the ambiance.

If you’re looking for a classic afternoon tea in London, this place is a great choice.

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