Hotel Café Royal is located on Regent Street in London. They offer an Afternoon Tea for £70 per person or about $80 in their Oscar Wilde Lounge that looks right out of the height o the Gilded age. They often have fun-themed teas, this review is on their Van Gogh theme. Currently, their tea is inspired by Queen Elizabeth II and her 70-year reign.
Atmosphere
The lowly lit Oscar Wilde Lounge was absolutely gorgeous with gold molding, mirrors, and renaissance inspired art and statues on the walls and ceilings. The chairs were rather low and uncomfortable but I was distracted from this for most of the meal as there was so much to see. Along with the beautiful decor there was an incredibly talented pianist that elevated the atmosphere that much more.
Tea Experience
I have to be honest, I was debating on skipping this tea experience as I had already had great tea experiences and truly, I wish I had. The highlight of this tea was the elegance of the lounge, however the darkness was a bit off-putting (the photos and videos have been lightened significantly), the food was beautiful to look at but nothing at all worth the price. The biggest disappointment was the tea. Initially it was a blue color, and I was given a small glass and was advised to add it to my tea. Once I did it changed purple, after taking a sip I realized it was some type of lemon additive which I did not care for at all. I typically drink my tea without any sugar or cream additives and when I do choose to add something it is never lemon. So I was disappointed by that and was only there for about 35 minutes as I was uncomfortable in the chair, and didn't enjoy the tea or food.
Overall Score
Ultimately, I feel like I paid nearly $100 to sit in a pretty room. I was soo disappointed as I'd hope the good service and elegance of the experience would be a reflection of the food and unfortunately it was not. There are far too many all around great options within London to choose this sub par one. Overall, the Oscar Wilde Tea Lounge in Hotel Café Royal earns a 2.5/5.
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