Afternoon Tea at The NoMad

An invitation to Afternoon Tea at The NoMad is one not to be passed up and was immediately confirmed in the Place & Plate calendar. We positively relish the news of a brand-new tea offering, and London is the city that does it best.

Afternoon tea is a time-honoured tradition that feels more important than ever, especially given the hectic schedules we all face. It’s an opportunity to switch off for an hour or two, and indulge in some of the finest sweet and savoury delicacies, all the while sipping on a calming tea infusion fresh from the pot. It’s our idea of bliss.

Knowing that the tea has been curated by the team at The NoMad was a sign of something special. This newcomer to London’s hotel scene – opened in 2021 – already came with an impeccable pedigree with the original NoMad becoming a much beloved fixture of midtown New York since 2012.

The move to the other side of the pond was welcomed with opened arms, not least for the prime spot in the heart of Covent Garden. The location? A magnificent Grade II-listed building which used to be the former historic Bow Magistrates Court.

This newly revamped luxury space has been overseen by the masterful eye of New York interior design firm, Roman and Williams. The aesthetic is a nod to 1920’s New York which seamlessly complements the Victorian features throughout the building.

The Dining Room

The magnificent dining room, which is the beating heart of the hotel, is a hotspot for Instagrammers and Photographers alike.

The soaring glass ceiling lets in abundance of natural light and is one of London’s most breath-taking dining rooms. It is best viewed initially on the ground floor, so you have a bird’s eye view of the space below. We took a video to give you a better idea of how it looks – trust us that it looks even better in person.

The Teas

We adore a good cup of tea, and when we discovered the brand of tea that would be served, we knew we were in for a treat.

Rare Tea Company specialises in the world’s best loose-leaf teas with an plentiful selection, ranging from matcha, white, herbal and black teas.

Being a fan of herbal, it didn’t take too long to land on the Oolong Golden Lily Milk. This delightful Taiwanese tea has a smooth, milky flavour, and is a great choice if you are new to herbal teas and looking for a gentle introduction.

The Savouries

We were delighted to discover the first course is entirely dedicated to the savoury element of the tea. In most afternoon teas, you’ll find the sandwiches, cakes and scones all huddled together in one stand. The fact they have chosen a separation between each course was incredibly pleasing. There’s nothing better than a truly relaxed tea, where you’re not being hurried along for the next sitting.

At the top of the stand, you will find smoked salmon on an everything bagel, which is an appetizing, salty first bite and the perfect size – nothing is ever too big on an afternoon tea menu.

Working our way down to the cucumber and herbed cream cheese, which offers a modern update on the traditional filling. Sitting alongside was a perfectly toasted sandwich brimming with a creamy egg salad with truffle and chive. The umami-rich filling was truly decadent – we could have gone for seconds.

An additional plate then arrived at the table with two perfectly bronzed, blue cheese and sage scones. The crumbly outer edges give way to a warm, cushiony centre which I promptly filled with the accompanying savoury cheese spread. If I loved scones before, I will almost certainly put them at the top of my afternoon tea list after tasting these.

Last but certainly not least to the pastrami, mustard and daikon, which was a moreish, tangy end to the savoury element. The pastrami was perfectly crumbly, and the spiciness of the mustard was well balanced.

The Sweet

As soon as the cakes and pastries made their way to the table you could hear a cacophony of ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ – totally deserved in this case. A beautiful stand of pastry, gateaux and warm scones was a delight to the senses.

To begin, the airiest, olive oil choux filled with a generous amount of lemon and vanilla cream. It’s how choux should be done.

Sitting prettily alongside was the tropical cheesecake, all spherical, glossy and attractively pleasing. The cheesecake has the lightest filling with a crisp biscuit base adding an element of texture.

As a fan of fresh fruit tarts, the cassis and shiso didn’t disappoint – the berries were bursting with their natural sweetness with the aromatic shiso lending a beautiful herbal note. I still think about this dessert, which should tell you just how good this was.

If rich, chocolatey gateaux is your thing you can never go far wrong with a Sacher-Torte, and this was exceptional. Rich, cocoa laden sponge, with apricot jam and a glossy mirror glaze is the ultimate chocolate-lover’s dream.

And finally, to the sweet, rum currant scones which were delicate and petite in size (just what you need after so many treats) with a satisfying crunchy, sugar coating. Slice in half and laden with as much strawberry jam and clotted cream as you can fit – bliss in a bite!

The Cocktails

We love a cocktail menu with a theme, and it won’t surprise you to find out that each cocktail is focused on a specific tea blend.

If you’re after something refreshing, look no further than the Yuzu Arnold Palmer, made with Grey Goose Vodka, Yuzu, Crushed Sunset Oolong Tea and Lemon. It’s a bright, thirst-quenching burst of citrus on the palette with the subtle aromatic notes of the tea – simply delicious.

If you fancy a cocktail, we highly recommend ordering just before the savoury element of the tea. Also, all the cocktails can be made without the alcohol – just mention your preference when ordering.