Afternoon Tea at Corinthia London - (Near Westminster, South East)

3 /5 Toni Novachkova: Very good blend tea, wonderful scones, fluffy and delicious! The sandwiches are the usual, the pastries are beautiful and delicious in themselves, but they also repeat the usual Viennese pastries. They are not well balanced, too sweet. The service is not up to par. Part of the hall is a kind of corridor, through which people from the hotel constantly pass, people in bathrobes for spa... it is not a 5 * experience. They forgot the ordered water, the supervisor refused to clear the used dishes, in the end they brought us someone elses outerwear. I do not recommend.

3 /5 jeremy parker: Entering the Corinthia via Northumberland Avenue, the walk through the flower shop and bar area immediately sets an elegant tone. The scent of fresh blooms, the soft lighting, and the hum of quiet luxury promise something special. The Crystal Moon Lounge itself is visually striking; the chandelier glitters magnificently, and the floral arrangements are beautifully done. Sadly, the experience that followed didn’t quite live up to the grandeur of its surroundings. We were greeted warmly and shown to our table, though the chairs were notably tired and in need of replacement, a detail that slightly undermined the setting. Worse still, our seats felt awkwardly positioned in a corridor, with a steady stream of guests and staff walking past. Not exactly conducive to relaxation or romance. The Champagne was excellent and undoubtedly the highlight of the afternoon. The sandwiches were good and the cakes attractively presented, though the serving of just one slice of marble cake to share between two people felt a little mean-spirited for such an establishment. The Moroccan tea was lovely, and the scones tasty though disappointingly small charming, perhaps, but lacking the generosity and finesse one might expect from a venue of this calibre. Service throughout was polite and professional, but while everything was competently executed, nothing felt exceptional. For the price, one expects not simply good but memorable. One final observation there is no dress code, and some guests arrived in T-shirts and trainers, which further diluted the sense of occasion. Overall, while the Corinthia’s Crystal Moon Lounge dazzles at first sight, the afternoon tea experience feels underwhelming and overpriced, a triumph of setting over substance. With a little attention to detail, improved seating, more thoughtful presentation, and perhaps a touch of exclusivity it could truly live up to the splendour of its chandelier.

4 /5 Laura Dennis: I had a wonderful first afternoon tea at the Corinthia after wanting to visit for many years. As soon as we walked in the staff were very friendly and this continued throughout our visit. The service was more informal than I have experienced at similar London afternoon teas which I actually prefer as it felt more personable. The afternoon tea is served in the Crystal Moon Lounge which was a smaller room than I expected but still offers a luxury and intimate feel about it. I felt the staff were incredibly accommodating to dietary requirements; being pregnant there were two sandwiches I couldn’t eat but was provided with alternatives which wasn’t expected but of course appreciated! The egg mayonnaise was definitely the stand-out for me, the other sandwiches were good but if I’m being honest I dont feel they had that wow factor or were justified, I personally feel for £85 per person cucumber and cream cheese shouldn’t be offered! I had the decaf English breakfast tea which had a gorgeous subtle caramel taste. I then moved on to a white peach and mango tea, recommended by our waiter, and I could have drank three more teapots of it! I loved how the scones were served; they were warm, fluffy and served with Cornish clotted cream and both strawberry and apricot jams, although both plain. The sweets trolley came last, the milk chocolate and pecan gateau was absolutely divine and the peach and cream eclair was the perfect light palette cleanser. Overall I really did enjoy this afternoon tea and pleased that I finally got to experience it, but I do feel the savouries could have been better.

3 /5 Rhenie Flower: Our afternoon tea experience at Corinthia Hotel London was, unfortunately, a tale of two very different experiences. We arrived early and began at the Northall Bar, where we enjoyed delicious lattes and sparkling water served in elegant glass and metal mugs on silver trays. It was a beautiful, refined start and set expectations high. Our bartender was an absolute delight and even personally walked us to our afternoon tea reservation at the Crystal Moon Lounge—a thoughtful touch that immediately felt luxurious. The Crystal Moon Lounge itself is stunning. The chandelier alone is worth admiring, casting a warm glow over plush leather chairs while soft piano music fills the space. The ambiance promised exactly what one hopes for from a high-end London afternoon tea. The good: The scones were delicious—perfectly textured, and truly the star of the experience when paired with clotted cream and jams. The tea selection was excellent, and the champagne was served in the most beautiful flutes. The pianist added a wonderful sense of occasion and even stopped by to chat; he was jovial, charming, and a highlight of the afternoon. These details genuinely felt special and high-end. The disappointing: Despite the elegance of the main lounge, we were seated in what was essentially a corridor adjacent to the tea room. While we could see the beautiful central seating area, our table was along a thoroughfare where hotel guests passed continuously with shopping bags and luggage. This completely undermined the experience and made it feel anything but posh or intimate. The food beyond the scones fell flat. The sandwiches were underwhelming and frankly not worth the effort, and while the pastries were visually lovely, they lacked flavor and substance. Service was adequate but impersonal—efficient, yet without the warmth or attentiveness one would expect at this price point. After paying over £200 per person, we left feeling underwhelmed and disappointed. Afternoon tea should feel indulgent and memorable, especially on holiday, and this simply missed the mark. We’ve already booked a reservation at Fortnum & Mason in hopes of a proper afternoon tea do-over. A beautiful setting with flashes of excellence—but sadly, not the experience we were hoping for.