Browns: Afternoon Tea Treat

Good evening everyone! 

Few weeks ago, when the weather was normal and cheerful, the girls and I went for a fabulous afternoon tea and cake experience at Browns arranged by my beautiful designer friend (the design power behind Four Corners Interiors).  

The location was great and central, easy to get to. It was really busy when we got there. We were glad that we had an advance booking. 

The outside

The interior was chic and lovely with lots of different seating arrangements and lights downstairs. Upstairs in the private room, the design was plain with just a long table in the middle and chairs around it. 

Entrance 

Closer look of the interior 

We booked a private room upstairs to get more privacy and to be as loud as we wanted. The service was really great.  

The pretty floor I found when I went upstairs 

Treats!

The food was nice with a selection of finger sandwiches of smoked salmon, eggs and cheese and a selection of very sweet desserts. I expected a bigger loose tea selection, but to compensate they had a whole box of tea bags from Twinings tea. I was really enjoying the food and the company and I forgot to ask if they had any gluten free, dairy free alternatives.

Close up

Overall, It was a good experience with great service. The girls and I really enjoyed it. 

Ladurée Parisian Tearoom in London

Happy Wednesday! 

Hope everyone is having a lovely day. I was very blessed to spend my afternoon at Ladurée. One of my favourite spots in town plus its central location -the Harrods branch- makes it great to meet people from all over London. 

Ladurée is a French brand with a rich history and a charming story. It was established by Louis Ernest Ladurée in 1862 as a bakery, but an unfortunate fire burnt down the place. It was reopened in 1871 as a pastry shop with fabulous paintings by the famous painter of the time, Jules Cheret. 

Paris was becoming a more of a destination for luxury, art and literature. Ladurée's wife, Jeanne Souchard, came with the idea to turn the pastry shop to a tea salon. The first of its time. Then the place was handed down to family and each added to its development and growth. Their delicious macaroons were introduced by Ladurée's cousin, Pierre Desfontaines in the early 20th century. 

Later, it was bought by David Holder and his group in 1997, where it was promoted and taken internationally (more on the story on their tumblr website). 

The interior design of the place is a mix of simple and elegant. The white and the pastel colours gives the place its simplicity, but the chandeliers and the sculptures gives the place its elegancy and class.  

Their deserts were a work of art and looked and tasted divine. 

Their macaroons have the perfect texture!

There are three main seating spaces. The first two spaces are facing the deserts bar. One is downstairs and the other is just above it upstairs. The third space is inside the sculpture room with the black velvet. I like the third space the most. 

Their menus and cutlery are in pastel colours as a continuation of the branding. The menu had some good choices and my highlight was that their meat and chicken was halal! That made my day! It's a luxurious cafe in Harrods, so the menu prices match the location. 

I had their jasmine ice tea, but couldn't drink it without the added sugar syrup and lemons. The waiter made sure I enjoyed it. I liked that a little extra bit of care. 

I ordered the mini burgers and they were really nice. 

Then came tea time! I tried their speciality tea with cinnamon and orange blossom *perfect blend for fall* that complimented the desert well. We ordered the Ispahan. It was a "smooth rose flavoured macaron biscuit, rose petal cream, fresh raspberries and lychees" This one tasted SO GOOD! Light, the right level of sweetness and the rose petal cream was amazing! We also ordered the chocolate cake; Tentation. It was very chocolaty, rich, moist and full on. I think these are my two most favourite deserts they have.   

Update: the Harrods Laduree branch is very UNfriendly towards kids. I took my almost three year old nephew there and they didn't even give us a baby seat and they tried to let us leave when we got there by saying the waiting will take long when they had tables available. I was very disappointed.  

Rosewood Hotel

Happy September everyone! 

I had the loveliest start of the month and the week at the Mirror Room at the  Rosewood hotel, where I spent the majority of my Monday enjoying a wonderful afternoon tea experience drinking up their delicate loose tea, eating their delicious, moist deserts while being surrounded by one of the most beautiful interiors. My friend, the owner of Oriss Magazine, was invited to try their afternoon tea when the hotel first opened and she loved it so much and told me all about it. We were there from 3pm to 8pm! You can tell it was heavenly just by the amount of time we spent there.  

The interiors were done spectacularly that I couldn't get enough. The hotel is in a historic Grade II Edwardian estate. It was originally designed by the architect H. Percy Monckton in 1914. It was recently renovated by EPR Architects, who worked in collaboration with Interior Designers Tony Chi and Martin Brudnizkii  (more on the hotel's story on their website). 

Let the pictures speak for themselves.   

The black and white geometric flooring goes so well with their wood and glass panel walls and door. It gave the corridor depth and warmth.  

I liked how each corridor has its own character with different floorings and lighting. 

I just love how the tables are styles so elegantly with flowers, lights, notebooks and various objects.  

This is a mirror wall, hence the name, the mirror room. It was also used in the ceilings above the ceiling lights. The reflection of the lights on the mirror expanded the place.   

The Flower choices were great. I thought it was stylish using four big vases instead of the usual one. The orange bloom was a perfect greeting for fall! 

The afternoon tea menu was stylish and set really well with two choices of vegetarian sandwiches, fresh scones and unlimited supply of the yummiest London deserts.  

The sandwiches were creamy and yummy. 

Their followed with scones, jam, butter and a lemon custard that was very summery.  

Then the desert buffet! All the choices were tried were mouthwatering and delicious. I loved the setup of the buffet. It was simple and in the back there was a fire place that added to the drama of the place.

Our picks!

The macaroon addiction had to be fulfilled. 

We concluded with pie. 

It was all beautiful! I felt so pampered being there. 

By the time we left, the whole atmosphere changed and the candles and fires were lit. Inside and outside. 

The afternoon at the Rosewood hotel was such a treat. A splurge now and then is always needed. Well surly go there again!

Yumchaa Cafe

When I was younger the only hot drink I liked was hot chocolate and as I grew older, my taste buds enjoyed tea and with being in the UK -Tea Capital of the world- my love for tea has been growing. Now, everyone who tries a new tea place tells me about it and even suggests meeting up in tea shops! win win. Few weeks ago, my classmate tried Yumchaa tea shop in Camden and instead that I go with her. She didn't have to ask twice! 

What I found different in Yumchaa is they have all the types they offer laid out in lovely small cups with the names, so you can smell the tea and see it before choosing it. I thought it was cool and it gives each person a more hands on approach to tea. It was a good way to start a conversation as well. My classmates and I, compared the different types, laughed at the names and enjoyed that experience. 

The teas were also catgrorized and separated based on their types in a lovely way. Instead of having it written in menu pages. 

There was a good selection of deserts as well, which is always needed with a good cuppa!

The interior space was quirky, cozy and casual. 

In the center of the cafe, they had an glass ceiling that allowed access to natural light in the cafe, which brightened up the space. 

There were different chairs and sofas around. The mix was fun. 

Overall, it's a nice place to have tea, read a book or meet friends. Check it out when you are in Camden next. They have other locations as well. Details on their website. 

Tea at Liberty London

The coolness of Liberty - full review here -  continues with their homey coffee shop. They are not only an inspiring place for interior designers and a great place to shop, you can also have some afternoon tea and cakes there! >> I know it feels like Liberty has paid me to write all these blogs heheh, but they aren't I just really liked it! 

The place is compact and has a homey feel. 

I liked the black and white wallpaper that was covered with frames of different mat colours. 

I was a little disappointed with their tea selection. They had only the usual 4-5 kinds. Their deserts looked better than they tasted or maybe it was what I picked. It was still nice and much needed after wandering for two hours in the place! :)