Angela Zaher’s London: Restaurants Worth a Detour for The Parlour, May 2025
Time for Tea. I have taken you out for a Sunday roast and given you a glimpse of a Royal Ascot fine dining package for those who time their visit to coincide with this prestigious horse race in June. I have also suggested you delve into some of the over 100 global cuisines on offer in London such as Sri Lankan and Spanish cuisine. Now it’s high time we talk about high tea.
Afternoon tea is a refined social ritual and not adding at least one to your UK itinerary is negligent, to put it mildly. Every hotel worth its stars will serve one as does every major department store (not just Harrod’s). The one I tried for you is at The Parlour in the Great Scotland Yard Hotel and the quality, range and opulent surroundings make it a top choice for tea. Not much of a detour as it’s pretty central- a stone’s throw from Trafalgar Square and 5 minute walk from Embankment tube station.
The decor at The Parlour, like the rest of the hotel, is quirky, fun and surprising. All the design details top notch and I made lots of notes for a forthcoming design project I’m working on. Everything has a nod to the antique but freshened up, with a quintessentially British sense of humour. I was immediately won over by the crockery- designed with the map of our lovely Thames, the plates are set next to the saucer so that the river runs through them. The grandfather clock with a transparent, empty interior, baroque style wallpaper and black and white checked tiles- you feel like you’re in Sherlock Holmes’ drawing room- the Benedict Cumberbatch version. There’s much to look at and admire.
I opted for the gluten free afternoon tea, with a glass of champagne of course- afternoon tea is not worth doing if it’s not done properly. I don’t have an issue with gluten but know many who do so wanted to check out the quality there- my friend had the normal one for comparison, we came at it with a scientific approach. The sandwiches, meticulously cut, beautifully decorated quiche, grilled courgettes on a black tortilla chip (it’s these surprising twist that make one afternoon tea stand out from another) all arrived on a glass topped jewellery case with dry ice wafting through. A wonderful piece of theatre and pomp and circumstance to underline the fact that ordinary isn’t tolerated here. Then the sweet course- a traditional 3 tiered cake plate with a rich cake (pistachio and raspberry entremet) on the first, fine patisserie on the second (champagne cream éclair/ coconut and white chocolate tea cake) and the essence of afternoon tea- scones- on the third (plain and white chocolate- phew no raisins/sultanas). There were some tweaks on my gluten free version, all excellent, I would only dock a few points on the scones- fell apart too easily.
All in all, a delightful experience and just like the lemongrass and ginger tea blend I chose for my tea, elegant, refreshing and must be savoured in sips. Please make time for tea at The Parlour- it’s honest- Tea perfect!
Angela Zaher is a freelance writer based in London. Her articles have been published in The Evening Standard, Delicious, Platinum, Good Housekeeping and Business Insider. She’s a columnist and writes regular restaurant reviews for luxury lifestyle magazine, Time & Leisure. She is on the Committee of the Guild of Food Writers and organises foodie events on an ad hoc basis. Find her on instagram @angela_zaher.
