Afternoon Tea at Pan Pacific London

Afternoon tea at Pan Pacific offers a contemporary departure from the multitude of classic offerings in the capital, ditching the tiered cake stand for an elegant precession of floral-inspired savouries, scones and sweets. Far from a traditional tearoom, the affair is served in the modern, ground-floor Ginger Lily Lounge, where vast floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking One Bishopsgate Plaza make for excellent people watching from one of its plush, pale pink armchairs.

Every element of the menu has been elevated to some degree, from additional courses to surprise twists. Long before we reach the savouries, we’ve already enjoyed a refreshing ‘palate cleanser’ of jasmine and lemon tea, followed by a delicate apricot sausage roll with fiery Dijonnaise and a fennel, jasmine and pink peppercorn velouté. These are wonderful warm-up acts to the main event.

Next, a quartet of fluffy brioche rolls are generously stuffed with luxurious fillings, from truffled egg mayonnaise to a punchy Marie Rose prawn cocktail, but it’s the pickled cucumber with fresh mint on fluffy white bread that steals the show. Scones are served warm, with thick clotted cream, sharp raspberry jam and zingy lemon curd, and to drink, an extensive selection of Newby Teas are served in colourful china.

We finish with four beautiful patisseries, each one more distinctive than the last. A striking blue macaron filled with lemon curd ganache and blueberry compote has the perfect soft chew, while a dainty tartlet topped with rhubarb compte and vanilla-spiked mascarpone diplomat is a vision in pink. We slide our fork through a supremely soft matcha and strawberry opera cake, eventually making contact with a crisp sable base. And to finish, a fantastic mango mousse with keffir lime and black sesame is the perfect finale to this cake quartet.

For £58 per person, we’d consider this one of the best-value afternoon teas in the capital for the quality, while professional and friendly service ensures the whole experience feels extra special from start to finish.

Liverpool Street is known for its hustle and bustle, but did you know that just around the corner is an elegant, peaceful spot where the whole city melts away? Pan Pacific London is a stylish, five-star hotel on Houndsditch known for its luxury facilities and elegant dining options, including a fantastic afternoon tea offering. 

Served in the Ginger Lily Bar and Lounge, the space is masterfully decorated to transport you with rich wooden panelling, swathes of thick drapes and a luxurious, chocolate colour palette. Think sumptuous banquettes and atmospheric lighting, that make you want to stay - and sip Champagne - all day. 

The lounge is used for afternoon tea Thursday to Monday in two sittings. The main menu follows a format of palate cleanser, amuse-bouche, savoury selection, palate cleanser, scones and sweet delicacies. To start, the palette cleanser introduces the experience with a gentle tea of jasmine pearls, lemon peel and agave, followed by an amuse-bouche of apricot sausage roll with dijonnaise, or for vegan diners, fennel, jasmine and pink peppercorn velouté.

Across the savoury selection guests can enjoy sandwiches such as Marie Rose prawn cocktail, followed by Coronation chicken with golden raisons, as well as mint and pickled cucumber, and Burford Brown summer truffled egg. Another palette cleanser comes in the form of a white rose tea with silver needle, Persian rose and rose agave, before moving onto the scones. 

Scones are served warm and freshly baked, with both plan and golden raisin options, alongside pots of Cornish clotted cream, raspberry jam and lemon curd. Finally, end on a sweet note with a blueberry and lemon macaron, an exotic mango mousse with kaffir lime, mango compote and black sesame sable, as well as rhubarb meringue tart with mascarpone diplomat, rhubarb compote and ginger. The matcha strawberry and vanilla Opera cake with strawberry compote and matcha sable also sounds divine. 

The afternoon tea can also be served with a glass of champagne and everything is available for vegan diners, as well as a seperate menu for children.