Fashionable Afternoon Tea in London: The Berkeley’s Prêt-à-Portea

The Berkeley’s Prêt-à-Portea afternoon tea in London is beautifully inspired by the themes, designs and colors of high fashion.

Fashionable Afternoon Tea in London

There are dozens upon dozens of afternoon teas to choose from in London but there’s only one Prêt-à-Portea.  The title plays on the French phrase prêt-à-porter which refers to ready-to-wear clothing in the fashion industry. The luxurious Berkeley hotel, features this unique experience where the quintessential English tea melds with the exciting world of haute couture.

This year the Prêt-à-Portea celebrates a decade of success, so that’s why pastry chef Mourad Khiat’s  featured sweets are 10 of his favorite creations from the past 10 years – the “10 Greatest Hits.”

The Berkeley’s Prêt-à-Portea

At this afternoon tea, the menu tells the story.  The Berkeley’s pastry chefs attend London Fashion Week for inspiration. It shows. Think dainty and delicious pastries shaped and flavored with a fashionista twist. I savored a Burberry trench coat cookie with creamy royal icing! I then indulged in an incredibly delightful blood orange Victoria sponge cake inspired by Moschino’s ‘yellow M’ handbag, encased in sweet red chocolate.

The Berkeley’s Collins Room, a beautifully styled and elegant dining room at the luxury hotel is the perfect setting for these fashionably forward inspired sweets and this tea is always in style. Every six months, the menu changes per the changing seasons in fashion.

Tea, Champagne and Savory Bites

The Berkeley’s Prêt-à-Portea afternoon tea in London also offers a champagne option.  As part of our experience we were presented choices of Laurent Perrier, Bollinger, and Ruinart champagnes. We chose the Bollinger Rosé – perfect.

The champagne accompanied a gorgeous selection of miniature savory mousses, canapés, and finger sandwiches. I loved the bite sized savories especially the beautifully colored beet root gazpacho.

Following the savories and champagne we chose our tea.  The loose-leaf tea list is varied, about 20 choices of black teas, flavored teas, green teas, an oolong tea, as well as herbal teas. Then of course the highlight: our runway inspired desserts.

Besides the Burberry biscuit and Moschino mini purse cake, here were a few more of my favorites:

Manolo Blahnik’s Hangisi quintessential pointy toe stiletto ginger biscuit.

Lanvin’s almond sponge, honeycomb and chocolate mousse draped with a light meringue ruffle.

Jimmy Choo’s glittery gala pointed-toe shoe velvet praline cream cake with hazelnut croquant and sweetheart bow.

Simone Rocha’s ethereal embroidered tulle dress vanilla éclair filled with salted caramel crème patissière.

Charlotte Olympia’s dramatic cinnamon biscuit boot with black and red icing.

Dolce and Gabbana’s duo of blackcurrant bavarois and star anise pannacotta, topped with chocolate owl dress design.

Conclusion: The Berkeley’s Prêt-à-Portea Afternoon Tea in London

Highly recommended for anyone who would love to experience a cosmopolitan afternoon tea in London. It is especially a must for guests in love with high style. It’s the only place in the world that offers such a unique and delicate collection of sweets inspired by the world’s finest designers.

The Berkeley Afternoon Tea

Reservations can be made on the website:  www.the-berkeley.co.uk

Prêt-à-Portea service:
1 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. daily

Dress Code:
Elegant smart casual; no shorts, vests, sportswear, flip-flops, ripped jeans or baseball caps.

Afternoon tea is £52.00 per person.

Champagne Afternoon Tea starts at £62.00 per person.

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I also experienced an elegant afternoon tea in the heart of Athens, Greece.  Check out my earlier post:  A British Afternoon Tea in Athens.

*Travel Greece, Travel Europe was a guest of The Berkeley’s Prêt-à-Portea afternoon tea in London. As always, all opinions are my own.

Have you ever experienced afternoon tea in London or anywhere else in the world?