The Upcoming
  • Cinema & Tv
    • Movie reviews
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Show reviews
  • Music
    • Live music
  • Food & Drinks
    • News & Features
    • Restaurant & bar reviews
    • Interviews & Recipes
  • Theatre
  • Art
  • Travel & Lifestyle
  • Literature
  • Fashion & Beauty
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureFood & Drinks

Le Méridien put the G&T in afternoon tea

Le Méridien put the G&T in afternoon tea | Restaurant review
21 September 2012
Selina Periampillai
Avatar
Selina Periampillai
21 September 2012

Le Méridien in Piccadilly, a plush, suave five-star establishment (which we hadn’t noticed was there before to be honest), have honed in on the afternoon tea indulgences by putting their G&T Bar to good use.

Tea-lovers can opt for something a bit different and original by taking up the luxury Gin & Tonic Afternoon Tea at £32 a head, rather than the normal choices for straight-up tea and cake. Seated in the light room adjacent to the Terrace Bar & Restaurant, we were lucky enough to be seated in their large yellow chairs (and even offered the addition of a pillow). The rest of the area seems more appropriate for business meetings and those who don’t plan on slouching out for three hours.

But let’s get to the menu: scanning for the gin & tonic options we discovered there were many choices including various gins infused with herbal, spices or fruity notes. We opted to firstly try the Chilli & Vanilla Sloane Gin as recommended by our ever-accommodating waitress, and the Bulldog infused with Lychee.

They came to our table in small clear teapots with strainers, which we jumped with excitement to try – minus the syrup provided. We nearly choked on the hard kick of alcohol and growing heat of the chilli, with delicate vanilla trailing off afterwards. This proved to be a surprising favourite the second time round when we used the addition of the syrup for that extra sweetness.

The Bulldog infused with Lychee was floral and delicate in flavour compared to the first; it was also served chilled and reminded us of elderflower hints – a lot more subtle-tasting.

The tray of afternoon tea treats included traditional finger sandwiches, all delicious, and placed above them was a cupcake with two mini macaroons sticking out of the top like butterflies wishing to take off, but stuck in a swirl of buttercream – this was herbal lavender.

The mini danish pastry, forest fruity cream panna cotta and even more mini macaroons were all pleasant in that they accompanied the gin well. A tip would be to purposefully leave the mini chocolate rolled gooey patisserie hiding amongst the rest until last. It was a soft, indulgent, “stick to your fingers” bitter chocolate treat to die for.

The next level to the tray was filled with four large scones. These were not too sweet, and a perfect bake with clotted cream and fruit jam to perk up even the tiniest of bites.

Moving back on the gin, the third one we tried was the sweet basil infused with rosemary which smelt like strong cardamom spiced chai in fragrance and definitely had a herbal note. However, you couldn’t taste the rosemary as much.

Finally finishing and craving a cup of tea (ironically), we ordered some green and jasmine flowering tea to help soothe the sugar fix from the cakes and alcohol. After spending over three hours relaxing, our tables were covered in teapots and cups.

For the price you pay at Le Méridien, it remains competitive with other places. Whilst the Gin & Tonic Afternoon Tea experience is good, the actual food, pastries and desserts included are nothing spectacular. Maybe a trip to their G&T bar alone to taste their infusions makes for interesting conversations, as it is something out of the ordinary.

★★★★★

Selina Periampillai

For more information or to book a table at Le Méridien, 21 Piccadilly, London W1J 0BH, visit the restaurant’s website here.

Related Itemsreview

More in Food & Drinks

Parisian bar Little Red Door to take over Adam Handling’s Eve Bar on 7 July

Food Desk
Read More

50 Next: London chef Santiago Lastra recognised in Bilbao as one of the 50 young people shaping the future of gastronomy

Food Desk
Read More

Taste of London 2022 at Regent’s Park: Creativity in gastronomy is alive and kicking

Ashiana Pradhan
Read More

Adam Handling’s Eve Bar launches new cocktail menu

Food Desk
Read More

Hotly anticipated Pan-African restaurant Tatale to open on 14 July

Food Desk
Read More

Taste of London returns to Regent’s Park next week

Food Desk
Read More

Paul Ivić takes vegetarian sensation Tian Bistro to Croatia for a summer-long pop-up

Filippo L'Astorina, the Editor
Read More

50 Best announce collaborative dinners in London: Where and how to book

Food Desk
Read More

Nightjar in Soho: “A retro, clandestine style”

Cristiana Ferrauti
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap
  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Africa Fashion at the V&A
    ★★★★★
    Art
  • Beauty and the Beast: The Musical at London Palladium
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Netflix Walking Tour: From Bridgerton to The Crown, a free walking tour through the filming locations
    Cinema & Tv
  • St Vincent at the Hammersmith Apollo
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Minions: The Rise of Gru
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • The Railway Children Return
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Eric Ravilious: Drawn to War
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Beauty and the Beast: The Musical at London Palladium
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • The Terminal List
    ★★★★★
    amazon
  • Baymax!
    ★★★★★
    disney
  • The Railway Children Return
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Beauty and the Beast: The Musical at London Palladium
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • St Vincent at the Hammersmith Apollo
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Netflix Walking Tour: From Bridgerton to The Crown, a free walking tour through the filming locations
    Cinema & Tv
  • Africa Fashion at the V&A
    ★★★★★
    Art
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why
With the support from:
International driving license

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Barbershopera: Cabaret Sauvignon at Trafalgar Studios | Theatre review
The Rain that Washes at the Leicester Square Theatre | Theatre review