The Promenade at the Dorchester

Most famous for its sittings of afternoon tea, the daily cake bonanza served in this legendary hotel’s fabulously OTT Promenade is a ritual that should not merely be the preserve of tourists. The traditional afternoon tea clocks in at £29.50 (add another tenner for the rose Champagne version), for which tea takers are plied with an avalanche of dainty sandwiches, scones with clotted cream & homemade strawberry jam, French pastries & 25 types of tea that range from Earl Grey, jasmine & English breakfast to more esoteric varieties from China & India, plus caffeine-free versions. Note, however, that a minimum spend of £12 rules out the possibility of dropping in just for a restorative cuppa. Outside of teatime, there are comprehensive breakfast options, while light meals are served at lunch & dinner & cocktails dispensed from a horseshoe bar.