Alice’s Queen of Hearts Afternoon Tea at Kona Restaurant, London
Where? Kona Restaurant based in Taj Suites and Residences, Buckingham Gate, London
When? Daily with sittings at 12:30pm, 2:30pm and 4:30pm
How much? £45 per person
Themed teas are a big thing these days – across London you can take your pick from teas themed around Harry Potter, Mary Poppins, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory…and now the recently launched Queens of Hearts Tea at Kona. We were lucky enough to try the experience for ourselves during the February half term break – here’s what to expect…
Location
Kona Restaurant is part of the Taj 51 Buckingham Gate suites and residences – a luxurious hotel in the heart of Westminster and a skip from Buckingham Palace itself. Expect a smart location in stunning surroundings. Tucked away in a flourishing courtyard this place looks and feels opulent even from the outside.
Theme
The team at Kona have really gone to town with their Queen of Hearts theme. The attention to detail, especially in the cakes and tableware is certainly impressive. On entering the restaurant we were taken to our table, adorned with an elaborate, giant ‘Mad Hatter’s’ top hat, Alice in Wonderland crockery and play cards. The scene is set, so let the feast begin!
Food
The Queen of Hearts theme remains prominent through every aspect of the tea..from the arrival of the sandwiches with the coronation chicken standing guard over a chess board of cucumber, egg and salmon to the array of cakes in the form of chess pieces. Stand out highlights include the Tea Part at 6 dark chocolate hat, No White Roses Victorian red velvet cupcake with chocolate ganache and the Running Late strawberry pocket watch macaron – all intricately decorated and tasting divine.
Drink
A wide selection of fine teas is available to accompany this magical spread – we went for a pot of Lapsang Suchong and a pot of English Breakfast. The children were thrilled to share a huge pot of hot chocolate between them. Of course if you fancy adding bubbles to your tea a selection of Prosecco and champagne is available at an extra cost.
Verdict
The Queen of Hearts Tea is a really special afternoon tea experience. Despite the luxurious, five star feel of the hotel as a chaotic and slightly noisy family we felt extremely welcome throughout our visit thanks to the warm welcome we received from every member of staff. This is the perfect way to celebrate a special occasion or to make a get together really stand out. So what are you waiting for..in the words of the Mad Hatter himself…there’s always time for tea!
The Queen of Hearts Tea is available daily at Kona from February 2020. With thanks to Taj 51 for inviting us to experience the tea for ourselves for the purpose of review.
