Harden's survey result
Summary
It’s back! The “opulently decorated” rococo grill at the Café Royal – complete with “wonderful gilding”, ornate murals and painted ceiling – is one of London’s most historic dining rooms (dating from 1865). So it’s been puzzling since the building’s conversion from an event venue to a hotel over a decade ago that it has left this true icon to trade as the ‘Oscar Wilde Bar’, open only for an albeit “exceptionally good afternoon tea” (“the extensive tea menu is treated like a wine list… sandwiches are well thought-through, but the real stars are the scones… with the best strawberry jam ever and their own Earl Grey jelly!”). But, in June 2025, the hotel announced the re-launch of the room under its original name (last seen about 15 years ago). The new menu is an all-star cast of luxurious comfort items… oysters, caviar, crudo, steak, lobster… and best of all priced with four-star not five-star pricing (with numerous mains under £30): there are many more expensive places in the West End, but few with this kind of pedigree. Top Tip – pre-theatre in particular looks a good deal at £40 for three courses. Reports please!
Summary
“London at its most decadent” – this is one of the capital’s top afternoon teas in the Café Royal’s stunning rococo grill room (dating from 1865): “an opulent chamber packed with history, as well as mirrors so you can see everyone else!” (not to mention endless nymphs and cherubs painted all over the ceilings). It’s “a traditional afternoon tea and all the better for it – a great selection of really fresh sandwiches, followed by scones (with the best strawberry jam ever) and, if you still have room, the patisserie options (and if you don’t have room, don’t worry as they will pack it up beautifully for you to take home). And to wash it all down, there is a tea menu and you can choose as many different teas as you would like to try. And you are helped through it all by charming and knowledgeable staff. A delight”.
Summary
“Gorgeous finger sandwiches, very pretty patisserie” and “fantastic staff” are all par for the course at an upscale afternoon tea, but it’s “the opulent surroundings that make it special” in this “beautiful room” – the architecturally dazzling, rococo former Grill Room from 1865, now named after its most famous denizen and a must-visit for gastronomic history buffs.
Summary
If you’re ticking off London’s luxe afternoon teas, that offered in the Café Royal’s former Grill Room needs to be on your list. Its succession of cakes and savouries is well-reviewed, but of course the star of the show is the rococo room, designed in 1865: a story-book riot of mirrors and painted ceilings (which, for many decades back in the day, was one of the capital’s great restaurant destinations).
For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Café Royal Grill?
68 Regent St, London, W1B 4DY
Restaurant details
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £35.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £6.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 12.00% |
68 Regent St, London, W1B 4DY
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | CLOSED |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑5:30 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑5:30 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑5:30 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑5:30 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑5:30 pm |
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