The Kensington Hotel launches Marie Antoinette-inspired afternoon tea to celebrate V&A exhibition

The Kensington Hotel in South Kensington will launch a new afternoon tea experience titled Let Us Eat Cake on 20^th September 2025. The offering coincides with the opening of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s latest exhibition, Marie Antoinette: Style, which is the first UK exhibition dedicated to the French queen. The themed afternoon tea draws inspiration from the opulence and aesthetic of Marie Antoinette’s court life, fashion, and gardens.

The menu has been designed to echo the decorative elegance of Versailles, with a fan-shaped format reflecting 18th-century French design motifs. Guests can expect a selection of intricately crafted pastries, including Le Gâteau du Jardin, a strawberry genoise sponge layered with vanilla Chantilly and fresh strawberries; Le Brisé de la Dauphine, a lemon shortbread shaped like a fan; La Robe de la Reine, a blackberry and lemon curd tartlet topped with blackberry mousse; and Le Macaron Petit Trianon, a raspberry and white chocolate almond macaron. These are served alongside traditional and fruit scones with clotted cream and homemade jam.

Savoury options include finger sandwiches such as Egg Salad on Brioche; French Chicken Tarragon on White Bread; Avocado Purée, Sundried Tomatoes and Crumbled Feta on a Savoury Pink Brioche Roll; and Pastrami with Horseradish Cream and Baby Rocket on Brown Bread. Vegetarian and vegan menus are also available, featuring alternatives such as French Tarragon Tofu, Vegan Cheddar with Pesto and Tomato, and Hummus with Black Olive Tapenade.

For those seeking an alcoholic accompaniment, the hotel will offer The Queen’s Coupe (£23), a cocktail made with Belvedere Vodka, Pimms, Earl Grey cordial, clarified clotted cream, and Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve NV, garnished with a rose petal and raspberry rim.

The afternoon tea is priced at £59 per person, or £73 with a glass of Champagne or The Queen’s Coupe. It will be served in the hotel’s dining space, a setting evoking the charm and grandeur of a private Victorian residence.

The V&A’s Marie Antoinette: Style exhibition, sponsored by Manolo Blahnik, will explore the fashion and legacy of the 18^th-century queen, whose influence has spanned over two centuries of design, film, and decorative arts. The Kensington Hotel is located at 109–113 Queen’s Gate, a short walk from the museum. 

Food Desk
Photo: Justin De Souza

For further information and reservations, visit The Kensington’s website here.