Harden's survey result
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).
Summary
A “beautiful venue with impeccable service”, the rococo riot of the Café Royal’s former Grill Room, designed in 1865, is “worth a visit just to see the over-the-top decorations” – and its “afternoon tea does not disappoint”. “Care is taken to serve cakes with a London theme and the savoury course includes more than just sandwiches. Second helpings were offered… and accepted!”
For 33 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 Oscar Wilde Lounge at Café Royal?
68 Regent St, London, W1B 4DY
Restaurant details
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £39.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £4.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 15.00% |
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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