Soho’s Secret Tea Room had been on the top of my list for afternoon tea in London for its 1940’s-inspired decor and music and affordability. I also thought it would be fairly quiet for my friend and I to catch up before I left last October. Despite the fact that our tea was at 3pm, the tea room was still busy with guests enjoying Sunday brunch. Nevertheless, we were grateful to have arrived early to secure a table (even though we had booked ahead of time) with a view. As there were only two on staff, we had to wait quite a while before someone could serve us so I would recommend having a snack or light lunch beforehand. Thankfully, the staff were friendly!
We both ordered the Traditional Afternoon Tea (£17.50 per person) which included:
- a pot of tea (I chose China Rose Congou, which is basically a very rose-scented black tea and goes well with milk!)
- 6 round sandwiches of our choice (we could choose 3 kinds: eggs & cress, cucumber & cream cheese, and something with chicken)
- homemade scone (one plain and one fruit to be shared) with strawberry and blueberry jams and clotted cream
- a slice of homemade cake of our choice (I chose red velvet) and a mini tart
We both enjoyed our afternoon tea, especially the homemade cakes. The photo above does not include my red velvet as I took some time to decide on a cake (all looked so appetising) and ate it at home without taking a photo.
There’s a lovely fireplace to the left of this photo but for the diners’ privacy, I did not take a photo of it.
If you enjoy listening to some 1940’s jazz and swing tunes and you don’t mind sitting close to other tea drinkers, I would recommend coming here to escape the hustle and bustle below.
Address: 29 Greek St, London W1D 5DH, UK (The Coach & Horses)
- Go inside the pub and ask one of the staff members about the Secret Tea Room / afternoon tea. They will then direct you to the tea room.
Hours: Mon-Sun 12-5pm
Tips:
- Book a table in advance
- Arrive early to ensure that the table isn’t given away
- Have either a light lunch or brunch if your tea is around 2-4pm to hold you over
The Lady and the Rose 