The esteemed high-end department store Harvey Nichols serves afternoon tea in its light-floored fifth floor restaurant. Should you go? Here’s what the experience is like. (Be sure to check with the venue on Covid restrictions.)
Harvey Nichols 5th Floor Restaurant
109-125 Knightsbridge, Belgravia, London SW1X 7RJ
The menu for afternoon tea at Harvey Nicks features a woman’s perfectly manicured hand: “Pinkies up” it entreats. Tea here though is less a prim and proper affair and more about being in the midst of the fun and buzzy environment of a temple of fashion and commerce.
Who goes to afternoon tea here?
Sitting amid the unadorned wooden tables, you might be next to a trio of women having cocktails, a family having a light meal, a couple with toddler twins who had popped up for snacks and other afternoon tea-ers. The mood is lively, the sound level is high. Just across the low edge of the restaurant lies a conveyor belt sushi restaurant and the bubble tea counter. At times my mother found it hard to hear our conversation — something to keep in mind with large parties or those who have difficulty hearing.
Within this casual atmosphere, we were served a range of savoury and sweet treats that ranged from interesting to sublime.
What is the food like?
The scones — plain and raisin — were tasty, and served with strawberry jam and salted caramel (my mother enjoyed it but is it gilding the lily?). I inhaled the coronation chicken on brioche, my sister-in-law liked the cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches. The roasted vegetable wrap looked tempting, but the filling had made the tortilla soggy and unappetising, disappointingly. After one bite we skipped it to move onto the French pastries.
There we discovered the tangy delights of the lime pie, a perfect pistachio macaroon, a red velvet cupcake with its swirled hat of icing topped with a black and white decorated disc, and a light and heavenly mini-eclair. At the 5th Floor, the food was the highlight for a casual, light-hearted afternoon tea experience. And where else can you sip tea, eat tiny sandwiches, then admire the Jimmy Choos, the Alexander McQueens, the Balenciagas and the Victoria Beckhams on the way out?
Harvey Nichols 5th Floor Afternoon Tea at a glance
The look: Buzz, chatter and high-gloss clatter
Tasty highlight: The mini chocolate eclairs were the best I’ve ever tasted
Perfect for: City lovers who enjoy a buzzy atmosphere with a bit of luxury shopping on the side
Child-friendly? Yes! From babies to school-age kids to teens enjoying cream tea, we saw a range of ages, and the casual vibe means no need to coax them into “fancy” clothes
Price: Available from 3-5pm. Traditional Afternoon Tea, £35 per person, Champagne Afternoon Tea, £40
You can make reservations, but on the day we went (Sunday late afternoon) there were plenty of tables.
www.harveynichols.com/news/2015/07/13/afternoon-tea-london
+44 207 235 5250 / reception@harveynichols.com
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Oh dear, you don’t expect a soggy bottomed wrap at Harvey Nicks do you?? Looks good though, great that it’s child friendly and the price isn’t unreasonable either.
Nat.x
Ha ha. Yes, exactly! What would Mary Berry say? It’s very child-friendly, even with babies and toddlers.
Looks yummy!
The food was absolutely the highlight!
How delicious does it look! Although dearie me to the soggy tortilla. Why have i never managed to get here?
It’s the perfect place to drop by, especially you are out *shopping*!
I love afternoon tea – glad you had fun!
So many places do it. It’s nice to find versions that are a little bit different.
yum!! take me there x
Ha — you’d love it!
I love the afternoon tea at Harvey Nichols. They do a mini one for children as well. Yours looked scrumptious, what a treat! #CityTripping
Jo, thanks for the note. It was indeed a treat.
Those french pastries look amazing! It’s not really my thing, afternoon tea, but if Harvey Nichols are doing it I’m sure it will be mighty fine! #citytripping
Well, Alex, the great thing is you could go with friends or kids who have afternoon tea and you could have a salad, main or dare I say it cocktail?
Mmmm we have had two afternoon teas with Jamie now. Both a massive hit with him. Oh no to the soggy wrap but the rest looks super yummy #citytripping
It’s lovely to find an afternoon tea that’s family friendly. This one definitely fits the bill.
Oh so jealous! I miss the not-overly sweet, overly-glazed pastries in the UK. The US just figures the more sugar the better. #CityTripping
You’ve hit the nail on the head: sometimes those pastries look so delicious but the heavy glaze can be very intense!
I love that “Pinkies Up” photo / advertisement. Looks so cool! I have never had tea (I mean, proper tea in great London style). Hope to have that experience one day. #citytripping
Yes very stylish! Browsing the gorgeous clothes and shoes suits the Pinkies Up theme.
This looks so lovely! My older son and I love to have tea together… I’ll be pinning this for later! #citytripping
Hilary, thanks! If you go let us know how it is.
Sounds fab! I do like a bit of afternoon tea – and that’s not a bad price either, especially the champagne one! Although would have steer clear of the handbag section afterwards. Alcohol and shopping never end well for my credit card! Thanks for linking #citytripping
I find I absolutely don’t mind shopping after a glass of bubbly. It’s later when the bill arrives that I regret it!
You all certainly know how to do tea the right way! Everything looks so scrumptious, particularly the salted caramel – that is my absolute favorite!! #citytripping
Ha. Salted caramel is not my cup of tea (so to speak) but my mother and sister-in-law loved it.
Salted caramel’s an interesting choice. I like the idea of slathering it on, on top of the jam! The afternoon tea sounds competitively priced, given what other similar places charge.
Nell, I think you are an afternoon tea expert! It *is* a good price. You definitely get a more casual feel to the experience while enjoying scrummy food. If you want a white glove and tinkling piano music experience, this isn’t it. But you definitely come away feeling like it’s a special experience.
Didn’t you, Susanna, and I have lunch here once? The name sounds familiar.
We did! We ate in the restaurant and it was lovely!
Ivelunched at the 5th Floor buy never taken tea …. time to remedy that