Nowhere are there as many Afternoon Teas as in London. But sometimes it can get a little boring. The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea at One Aldwych is a culinary adventure in the heart of the city.
A Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea…. Is something my 8 year old self would have dreamed of. And my 12-year-old self. And to be perfectly honest, me now too.
One of my favorite childhood books combined with a real British Afternoon Tea, my favorite meal of the day?
Was I dreaming? No, I wasn’t. So it was that I showed up at the charming One Aldwych in London, ready for an afternoon of delicious decadence.
The grand entree to afternoon tea
I love any meal that starts with champagne.
After making our way to the chic mezzanine of the Indigo Restaurant at One Aldwych Hotel in Covent Garden, we were warmly greeted by the maître d’ and given a seat. Shortly thereafter, a generous glass of champagne was placed before us.
Next, we were briefly taken through the menu. The bustling restaurant featured high-end, stylish décor that struck a perfect balance between modern and timeless.
Before we knew it, our first course of savory dishes and finger sandwiches arrived.
The appetizers were perfect. We got a smoked salmon and chive crème fraîche sandwich, an egg mayonnaise and watercress sandwich, a chicken sandwich, a quiche with relish, walnuts and cheddar, and finished with a mini vegetable wellington.
They were beautifully presented on a black and white striped plate and were fantastic. If I had to choose, the vegetable wellington would be my favorite – it was just great.
Roald Dahl was clearly a man who understood the pleasure of food – and that is at the heart of the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea. No detail was too small, everything was…. stunning and delicious, just the way Willy Wonka would have wanted it.
After another well-deserved glass of champagne, we moved on to the sweet part of our meal. Our Charlie and the Chocolate Factory style delicacies were served on a large cake stand.
What was on the stand? In a nutshell… A golden chocolate egg filled with vanilla cheesecake and mango compote, chocolate caramel milk in a small glass bottle, blackberry and apple mousse, homemade rhubarb and vanilla custard cotton candy, lemon and white chocolate cake pops, a cocoa bean financier, blueberry brioche, and to top it off, warm dark and raisin scones with berry jam, apple compote and Devonshire clotted cream.
My goodness, that was quite a bite. In the truest sense of the word.
Absolute pleasure
At this point, I was a 10-year-old completely out of my mind, and I imagine Augustus Gloop would have felt the same way.
Every time I thought I had eaten the best thing on my plate, I ate something else and changed my mind.
I can honestly say that this was the best plate of sweets I have ever eaten at an Afternoon Tea. So delicious and so fun and quirky at the same time.
We finished off with a glass of champagne (because… why not?). By the time we left the hotel, the verdict was in. The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea at One Aldwych was fantastic.
A real treat with a modern take on a classic. I will definitely be back.
Good to know
Afternoon Tea takes place
Wednesday to Sunday 12 – 4 p.m.
One Aldwych Hotel, 1 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BZ
Afternoon Tea – £52
With a glass of champagne or cocktail – £65
Children under 12 years – £35
