Having heard so many good things about the Pret-a-Portea at The Berkeley we decided to try it while we were staying there.
See also our review.
The tea was served at the Caramel Room, which was designed by Alexandra Champalimaud. We booked online at the hotel's website ca. 4 weeks before. We were lucky seatings were still available on Friday afternoon, but Saturday and Sunday were already booked out.
We chose consciousiously the seating at 16.30 hours, because we were checking out at the Intercontinental Park Lane (see also review) the same day and wanted to make sure we could check in at The Berkeley, photograph the room and make ourselves fresh. It was perfectly timed.
The Pret-a-Portea was originally created in 2005 to bring in shoppers from the surrounding Knightsbridge/Mayfair area. It was only planned to be temporary, but the tea was such a success it stayed for good.
As the name suggests Pret-a-Portea is fashion inspired, so there is a spring/summer and autumn/winter "collection".
We had to wait a bit before our table was ready. There was a name sign in the shape of a pink high heel marking it.
We had a table in the middle of the room.
The clientele was international.
Our waitress explained to us how the afternoon tea functioned since it was our first time we took part. We could have from everything second or more helpings and we could even try different teas or have refills. We were also asked for any food intolerances or allergies.
We chose Amazing Apple and Pear Caramel Tea. One of us enjoyed also a glass of Laurent Perrier Rose Champagne.
The china was designed by Paul Smith - a perfect fit to the exhibition ["Hello, My Name is Paul Smith"] we did visit at the Design Museum during our stay at the Berkeley Hotel.
First arrived the sandwiches - all were fantastic and since they were so tasty we asked for another round of the egg and ham sandwiches. They were our favourites.
One bread type was especially unusual it was made with beetroot. Another one was lemon flavoured. The shapes were round and squared.
Next were the savouries - no scones - BBQ roast duck tartlets, goats cheese, chilled water cress soup, chestnut panna cotta and marinated sword fish.
Everything was great. The chilled water cress soup and the goats cheese were our favourites.
The highlight was of course the sweets. There was a Burberry Trench Coat, a Giovanni Rossi over the knee boot ginger bread, an Emporio Armani and Jean Paul Gaultier inspired cream/mousse, a Saint Laurent Victoria Sponge Cake bag, a Vivienne Westwood macaroon, a Miu Miu Polka Dot Jaconde and Gianduia Mousse, a Giles Sacher Torte and an Oscar de la Renta Orange Bavarois. All was decadent, creative and full in flavour.
Stand outs were the Emporio Armani violet cassis mousse with light Curacao jelly and the Jean Paul Gaultier gold quilted banana and caramel cremeaux and passion fruit compote.
It was amazing and we were totally spoiled, getting second helpings from everything and even though we said we were fine the staff double checked there wasn't really a need for third servings. It was the most generous afternoon tea we ever had.
The staff was always there when needed, engaging and passionate - finding just the right balance between being professional and warm, but discreet. You could see they enjoyed what they were doing and seemed sad to see us go.
We received two little carton handbags filled with a few more goodies as present before leaving.
Cost was 108 GBP (ca. 130.50 Euro / ca. 180.80 USD) including service charge - time and money well spent.
We would recommend the Pret-a-Portea highly. It's unique, tasty and inspirational.
©2014
See also our review.
The tea was served at the Caramel Room, which was designed by Alexandra Champalimaud. We booked online at the hotel's website ca. 4 weeks before. We were lucky seatings were still available on Friday afternoon, but Saturday and Sunday were already booked out.
We chose consciousiously the seating at 16.30 hours, because we were checking out at the Intercontinental Park Lane (see also review) the same day and wanted to make sure we could check in at The Berkeley, photograph the room and make ourselves fresh. It was perfectly timed.
The Pret-a-Portea was originally created in 2005 to bring in shoppers from the surrounding Knightsbridge/Mayfair area. It was only planned to be temporary, but the tea was such a success it stayed for good.
As the name suggests Pret-a-Portea is fashion inspired, so there is a spring/summer and autumn/winter "collection".
We had to wait a bit before our table was ready. There was a name sign in the shape of a pink high heel marking it.
We had a table in the middle of the room.
The clientele was international.
Our waitress explained to us how the afternoon tea functioned since it was our first time we took part. We could have from everything second or more helpings and we could even try different teas or have refills. We were also asked for any food intolerances or allergies.
We chose Amazing Apple and Pear Caramel Tea. One of us enjoyed also a glass of Laurent Perrier Rose Champagne.
The china was designed by Paul Smith - a perfect fit to the exhibition ["Hello, My Name is Paul Smith"] we did visit at the Design Museum during our stay at the Berkeley Hotel.
First arrived the sandwiches - all were fantastic and since they were so tasty we asked for another round of the egg and ham sandwiches. They were our favourites.
One bread type was especially unusual it was made with beetroot. Another one was lemon flavoured. The shapes were round and squared.
Next were the savouries - no scones - BBQ roast duck tartlets, goats cheese, chilled water cress soup, chestnut panna cotta and marinated sword fish.
Everything was great. The chilled water cress soup and the goats cheese were our favourites.
The highlight was of course the sweets. There was a Burberry Trench Coat, a Giovanni Rossi over the knee boot ginger bread, an Emporio Armani and Jean Paul Gaultier inspired cream/mousse, a Saint Laurent Victoria Sponge Cake bag, a Vivienne Westwood macaroon, a Miu Miu Polka Dot Jaconde and Gianduia Mousse, a Giles Sacher Torte and an Oscar de la Renta Orange Bavarois. All was decadent, creative and full in flavour.
Stand outs were the Emporio Armani violet cassis mousse with light Curacao jelly and the Jean Paul Gaultier gold quilted banana and caramel cremeaux and passion fruit compote.
It was amazing and we were totally spoiled, getting second helpings from everything and even though we said we were fine the staff double checked there wasn't really a need for third servings. It was the most generous afternoon tea we ever had.
The staff was always there when needed, engaging and passionate - finding just the right balance between being professional and warm, but discreet. You could see they enjoyed what they were doing and seemed sad to see us go.
We received two little carton handbags filled with a few more goodies as present before leaving.
Cost was 108 GBP (ca. 130.50 Euro / ca. 180.80 USD) including service charge - time and money well spent.
We would recommend the Pret-a-Portea highly. It's unique, tasty and inspirational.
©2014
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