Kettners Champagne Afternoon Tea

Afternoon gents! We do like a touch of class here at DC, and it doesn’t really come much classier than Kettner’s. We’ll start with a little background on our chosen venue and some pretty handy facts to drop into conversation at the table… Originally opened in 1867 by Auguste Kettner Napoleon III Chef – thankfully they went with the abridged name – Kettner’s was renowned for its risqué parties, and was host to the likes of Oscar Wilde and Agatha Christie. So when Dapper Chapper were looking for a stylish venue in which to enjoy an Afternoon tea, we didn’t look any further than this Soho landmark.

The first thing you notice as you enter is the elegant décor, most notably the elegant white grand piano, velvet upholstery and large sash windows. It’s all rather decadent, and you can absolutely see it as the venue for those elegant parties we mentioned.

As any good experience should, it started with a glass of Laurent-Perrier champagne as we perused the tea menu, which has a great selection. In short time a stunning three-tiered stand appeared on our table, filled with dainty and appetizing morsels. We started at the bottom with a selection of sandwiches – ham & mustard, smoked salmon & cream cheese, cucumber, egg mayonnaise, and something a little bit special, smoked chicken, mango & mint. All delicious, and perfectly formed.

 On the middle tier were were a selection of light and fluffy scones with a welcome crunch on the outside, accompanied by pots of deliciously rich clotted cream and jam.

After a slight loosening of belts, it was then time to tackle the top layer of sweet treats. We had a mini éclair, chocolate truffle, chocolate tart, strawberry tart, passionfruit tart and two chocolate wafer cones with a crème patisserie filling to choose from. Although it was a close-run race, our highlight if we had to pick one was the passionfruit tart. Just the right balance of creamy filling and crumbly pastry. Another refreshing glass of fizz later and we were utterly satisfied.

So if you’re looking for somewhere with a touch of glamour and charm to enjoy a Sunday treat, then Kettner’s comes highly recommended by us.