I went to a 'Bridgerton'-themed afternoon tea in London, and I thought the whimsical experience was ideal for a superfan like me
Ayomikun Adekaiyero  Â
Insider's Ayomikun Adekaiyero attended an afternoon tea based on "Bridgerton."Ayomikun Adekaiyero/Insider / Netflix
- I recently attended a "Bridgerton"-themed afternoon tea at Lanesborough Hotel in London.
- The Regency-era hotel hosts the tea in partnership with Netflix until November 2022 for $78 per person.
Editor's note: Insider received a complimentary meal as part of a press tour. Spoilers ahead.
I recently attended a "Bridgerton"-themed afternoon tea at The Lanesborough, a five-star, Regency-era hotel in London known for its luxurious decor and dining experiences and ritzy clientele.
Exterior photo of the glitzy Lanesborough Hotel. Anthony Weller / View Pictures / Universal Images Group via Getty Images
According to the hotel, it was also once the home of Viscount Lanesborough, for whom the property is named.
I was excited to step inside the grand hotel and experience an extravagant affair fit for royalty and "Bridgerton" fans alike.
The reporter outside Lanesborough Hotel in London, UK. Ayomikun Adekaiyero
Lanesborough Hotel's "Bridgerton" afternoon tea was created in partnership with Netflix and Shondaland. It runs until November 2022 for roughly $78 per person and costs $14 more to include a special Pall Mall Cocktail.
Though there wasn't as much pageantry as I expected, and I thought $78 per person might be too steep for the average tourist ...
There are multiple lavish events in the "Bridgerton" such as when the noble families present themselves to Queen Charlotte. Liam Daniel / Netflix
... I thought the hidden details in the food and decor were a delight for "Bridgerton" superfans like me and made the experience more worthwhile for tourists looking for something whimsical.
The entrance had so many plants that it felt like we were going outside. Ayomikun Adekaiyero
To me, the design and atmosphere of the room were flawless. Purple flowers and floral arrangements surrounded the room ...
A tin of "Bridgerton" branded afternoon tea tins displayed when you walk into the tearoom. Ayomikun Adekaiyero
... and if you've seen the series, you will know that flowers are a big theme in both seasons and represent love and purity.
White roses, often seen at celebrations like weddings, often symbolize purity. Netflix
Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) is constantly surrounded by white roses in season one to represent her innocence. Whereas in season two, Lilacs, which are also purple flowers, become a reoccurring theme to represent love.
I felt like I was stepping back in time as I entered the elegant Lanesborough Grill restaurant, which featured multiple grand chandeliers and Roman-themed columns.
This chandelier could have been a picture from "Bridgerton" and I wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Ayomikun Adekaiyero
No "Bridgerton" event would be complete without a classical orchestra rendition of pop songs, and we were fittingly serenaded by songs from the show during tea.
"Bridgerton" is known for its grand ball scenes and pop song covers. Liam Daniel/Netflix
As I listened to a cover of Harry Styles' "Sign Of The Times," I acquainted myself with the menu, which looked just like one of Lady Whistledown's society papers.
The menu even copied the layout of Whistledown's papers. Ayomikun Adekaiyero/Liam Daniel/Netflix
The menu also featured a bee logo, which is the Bridgerton family's crest. Bees crop up in multiple scenes in the first two seasons.
The bee appears on Benedict's clothing in seasons one and two and elsewhere throughout the show. Ayomikun Adekaiyero/Insider/Shondaland/Netflix
The guests at my table were first served a Pall Mall, a gin punch cocktail named after the lawn game played in the show. They told me it was flowery with a fruity aftertaste at the end.
The glass it was in was also elegant enough to have had a place in the world of "Bridgerton." Ayomikun Adekaiyero
I opted for a non-alcoholic drink instead, which I thought had a very strong citrus taste and reminded me of the Featherington family's citrus-themed outfits.
The drink was similar in color to Penelope Featherington's (Nicola Coughlan) dresses. Ayomikun Adekaiyero / Netflix
Each family in the show has a particular set of family colors.
Next, we were served a "Bridgerton-"themed afternoon tea blend, which I thought had a strong, earthy taste with a slightly sweet, fruity finish.
Insider's reporter drinking a cup of tea. Ayomikun Adekaiyero/Insider
Tea played more of a role in the series' second season. In episode three, Benedict tries a tea filled with hallucinogens to help his creative mind, but instead, he makes a fool of himself.
Benedict (Luke Thompson) drinks spiked tea in "Bridgerton" in season two. Netflix
In episode 3, Colin (Luke Newton) gives his brother Benedict (Luke Thompson) hallucinogenic tea to help the worrying artist relax. Fortunately, my tea only contained caffeine when I added sugar.
Next, the food arrived on a gorgeous, three-tiered cake stand with dainty flowers and leaves wrapped around it.
Tea sandwiches and cakes were served on tiered serving platters. Ayomikun Adekaiyero/Insider
Our table was so stacked with food and drinks that it reminded me of the lavish teas and dinners in the show.
"Bridgerton" dinner tables are often filled with numerous food options. Netflix
The bottom tier featured an assortment of classic tea sandwiches like coronation chicken, cucumber, and egg salad.
The finger sandwiches were surprisingly quite filling. Ayomikun Adekaiyero
Though I was a little disappointed that the tea sandwiches didn't have ties to the show as far as I could tell, I thought they were pretty tasty.
Smoked salmon, egg salad, coronation chicken, and cucumber sandwiches. Ayomikun Adekaiyero
Another round of sandwiches appeared when we were halfway through the first, and I was a little apprehensive about trying another. But I soldiered ahead.
A roast beef slider. Ayomikun Adekaiyero
The following two tiers featured a selection of stunning "Bridgerton"-themed cakes: The Queen's Diamond, The Rake, A True Love Match, The Lady Whistledown, and All is Fair in Love & War.
The two trays of comically-named desserts. Ayomikun Adekaiyero
A True Love Match, a classic sponge cake with a white chocolate badge depicting "Bridgerton" Queen Charlotte, was by far my favorite since it didn't have overwhelming flavors.
Close-up of A True Love Match as it is falling apart. Ayomikun Adekaiyero
The Queen's Diamond, a creamy chocolate dome, came in a small, jewelry-like blue box. The dessert was so detailed that one of the guests mistakenly thought the box was edible, too.
The small rocks around the chocolate help it stand out. Ayomikun Adekaiyero
The pink color was a nod to Edwina Sharma, this year's diamond of the season. The diamond is a special title given by Queen Charlotte to the woman she thinks is the biggest catch of the unwed women in London.
Charithra Chandran as Edwina Sharma in "Bridgerton" season 2. Netflix
Each season, Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) picks one woman out of all the un-wed women in London to be her Diamond of the season, which enhances a person's chances of getting married. In season two, Edwina (Charithra Chandran) was selected despite not attending the official gathering in front of the Queen.
The Rake featured a chocolate collar on the outside as a nod to Anthony Bridgerton's fashion and status.
The chocolate was meant to represent a shirt and jacket collar. Ayomikun Adekaiyero / Netflix
The hard exterior proved difficult to break, which made it a bit of a hassle to eat, in my opinion. But this also felt like a fitting nod to the Viscount's character.
The destroyed "Rake." Ayomikun Adekaiyero
All's Fair in Love & War was a pale blue flower dessert with a bee on it, which I thought was the most obvious nod to the Bridgertons out of all the food.
The bee appears on a pink rose in "Bridgerton" season two. Ayomikun Adekaiyero / Netflix
As previously stated, bees are the family's crest, while blue is the family color for the Bridgertons.
Daphne (Phoebe Dynavor) and her sister often appear in bright baby blue in "Bridgerton." Liam Daniel/Netflix
After finishing most of the desserts, I began to regret not saving more room for the scones.
My scone after I deconstructed it and poorly put it back together again. Ayomikun Adekaiyero
They were gloriously soft and reasonably sized. Overall, I was surprised by the generous portion sizes, and I left the afternoon tea feeling stuffed.
A shot of cream and jam on a scone. Ayomikun Adekaiyero
I was hoping for more spectacle during the tea, especially since the series is filled with drama and extravagant meals and parties. A live performance or lawn games could make the event more exciting.
"Bridgerton" is known for its lavish balls and weddings. Netflix
But the food was filling, the drinks were tasty, and the attention to detail was gratifying.
We were given more tea to take with our scones. Ayomikun Adekaiyero
At around the same price as afternoon tea at an equally posh establishment, I thought this tea was ideally suited for "Bridgerton" fans and tourists looking for something Instagram-worthy.
Insider's reporter trying to take a decent photo while drinking the Pall Mall (non-alcoholic) cocktail. Ayomikun Adekaiyero
The "Bridgerton"-themed afternoon tea, which runs until November 2022 at The Lanesborough, costs around $78 per person, while traditional afternoon tea costs about $76 per person at Harrods and $82 per person at The Ritz London.
Popular Right Now
Popular Keywords
Advertisement