Taste creative treats at this artistic afternoon tea in London

In recent years, afternoon teas have become much more than scones, clotted cream and sandwiches. While typical tea essentials are still part of the classic tea experience, afternoon tea has since taken a turn. Rosewood London was one of the first hotels to lead the trend, launching its Art Afternoon Tea in 2017.

The original interpretation of tea, created by executive pastry chef Mark Perkins, took inspiration from Banksy, Alexander Calder, Damien Hirst, Yayoi Kusama and Mark Rothko. In the past, Art Afternoon Tea has paid tribute to David Hockney, Van Gogh, among other renowned artists. This year, the hotel launched a new version of the experience in collaboration with John Booth, a London-based artist who has worked with brands including Selfridges, Paul Smith and Fendi.

Served in the hotel’s chic Mirror Room, the experience begins with sandwiches followed by scones, clotted cream and jam. From there it continues with the edible masterpieces, each inspired by the works of famous artists. For this year’s version, you can snack on three different cakes including The Twins, a double-sided cake with a chocolate date biscuit, a shortbread biscuit, a praline crunch and a vanilla custard.

Other tea creations include the Tropical Tulip, inspired by Booth’s tulip motif with purple and pink cake and mango mousse, alongside the Painter’s Palette, vanilla cheesecake, pink sponge and a raspberry jelly which represents the brushstrokes. The experience also includes plain and raisin scones, both baked fresh daily, as well as strawberry shortcake and an Amarena Bourbon pastry.

If tea isn’t your forte, the property itself is a dining destination, home to Scarfes Bar, one of the World’s 50 Best Bars, alongside the Holborn Dining Room and Pie Room.

Taking inspiration from classic gentlemen’s clubs, Scarfes Bar is well known for its impeccable cocktails, all of which use unique combinations. More than 1,000 books decorate the space, and caricatures by British artist Gerald Scarfe, for whom the bar is named, are hidden in plain sight. The spot recently unveiled a new cocktail menu with 22 drink options, each a twist on a classic cocktail. Over the past few years, it has maintained its ranking among the 50 best bars in the world.

South African chef Nokx Majozi runs the hotel’s Pie Room, which offers incredible hand pies to take away. This is a great place to purchase one (or more) artisan pastry creations, all handmade on site and served on the restaurant’s menu. Pie masterclasses are also offered at the Pie Room, allowing visitors to learn how to make the much-loved pies, from dauphinoise tart with Comté potatoes and caramelized onions to sausage rolls.

Rosewood London is also home to the Holborn Dining Room. The restaurant serves traditional British dishes and has a Gin Bar which houses the largest collection of gin in the city. Local ingredients feature in all dishes, but you can’t go wrong with regional menu options like Scotch egg, smoked haddock and different hand pies.