Afternoon Tea at The Capital Hotel

Small but perfectly formed, the Sitting Room at the Capital Hotel offers all the allure of a grand afternoon tea, only on a more intimate scale. Always a foodie destination, this luxurious family-run townhouse hotel maintains lofty gastronomic standards even at teatime. Quirky themed teas pop up occasionally, but the regular offering is also top-drawer: sandwiches are neat crusts-off triangles generously filled with smoked salmon, chicken salad, egg-and-cress or crab mayonnaise; warm home-baked scones are paired with clotted cream, jams and preserves (also made in-house), and cakes might include gooey 'sunken' chocolate cake or dainty saffron egg-custard tart. At £29.50, tea in a top-tier London hotel doesn’t get any more affordable than this. There’s also a choice of Champagnes by the glass (including Jacquard, Ayala and Bollinger) for £39.50, so make like a local and have a quick glass before hitting Sloane Street.

One of London's finest luxury hotels, the award-winning 5-star Capital Hotel in Knightsbridge sits just a stonesthrow away from notable West London landmarks like Harrods department store, Hyde Park and the Victoria & Albert Museum. As well as offering studio apartments and being home to The Restaurant at The Capital, relaxed, opulent Sitting Room at The Capital also serves a fine selection of sandwiches, scones and sweets for afternoon tea, on every afternoon of the week. 

Traditionalists can plump for the traditional afternoon tea menu, which serves a selection of classic finger sandwiches (cucumber cream cheese, Coronation chicken, smoked salmon crème fraiche, egg & cress) before rolling out a selection of sweets, scones, cakes and pastries. The signature afternoon tea at The Capital Hotel is the Floral Elegance Afternoon Tea, which celebrates Chelsea Flower Show - a key date in the London event calendar - with an elegant afternoon tea that delivers theatre and occasion as well as flavour. 

The Floral Elegance Afternoon Tea also takes place in The Sitting Room every afternoon. The sandwiches are similar to the traditional tea, but the sweets are taken to another level with strawberry and English rose choux buns, raspberry mousse with white chocolate glaze on sable biscuits, lavender vanilla macaroons and elderflower and white chocolate delices. After that, guests can enjoy a final course of scones, cakes and pastries, with a selection of fine teas and a glass of Gratiot - Pillière NV Brut Tradition Champagne if they choose. The Floral Elegance Afternoon Tea is available between the 16-31 May, during Chelsea Flower Show fortnight.

Other themed afternoon teas appear regularly at The Capital Hotel, but the traditional afternoon tea is available every day of the year.