AFTERNOON TEA AT 108 PANTRY

108 Pantry is an elegant and contemporary space located in The Marylebone hotel’s Edwardian townhouse, located just a few minutes walk from Oxford Street.

Slightly confused with the different entrances, we ended up coming through from the main hotel entrance, passing by the chic lounge on the way in.

The place has quite a homely vibe to it, furnished with vibrantly coloured plump velvet sofas and armchairs, and parquet floors. I also particularly liked the quirky pieces of crockery on the walls: from cats wearing eyeglasses and fascinators to a fish casually puffing away on a slick cigarette.

We were seated on a  lovely plush red velvet sofa by the window – comfort and good lighting, which is what I love (not just for blogging reasons…). The lovely waiter, dressed in a smart waistcoat,  kindly showed us a selection of six different teas, which included some decaffeinated options, all from the Rare Tea Company range. We were allowed to have a whiff of each of them to take in the lovely aromas before we settled for the Earl Grey and Darjeeling tea, the latter of which I seem to have grown more partial towards these days. Later on, I also tried the Wild Red Bush Tea which was also delicious with its distinctive deep red colour.

At 108 Pantry, guests can choose between healthy (gluten-free), indulgent (with a glass of rosé Champagne) and classic versions of afternoon tea.

We both went for the Classic Afternoon Tea, and after saving up our appetites all morning, we were quite excited when the three tiered tower of delights was brought over. They served a selection of fresh sandwiches with classic fillings of ham, cucumber, smoked salmon and cream cheese, and egg and mayonnaise.

Moving up a tier were the warm and fluffy homemade buttermilk scones with a side of Devonshire clotted cream and jam. 

And finally at the top were the delectable cakes and pastries: pistachio cake, a dainty meringue swirl with a passion fruit centre, an indulgent chocolate brownie, and jelly shot with fruits.

Even though we were quite full by the time we (barely) finished the top tier of sweet treats, I just could not resist exploring the tantalizing array of cakes and pastries on display at the counter. There is after all ALWAYS room for more cake…

We tried a slice of Guinness and Baileys Cake which was really moist and delicious, sweet banana and caramel profiterole, and a couple of dainty macarons. 

I was tempted to try one of everything, but I (reluctantly) decided to hold back this time – my hips and waistline will probably thank me for this later.

I have never really quite explored much around the Marylebone area, so I was quite pleased to have visited 108 Pantry which was an enjoyable way to spend the afternoon. The ambience is very chilled and relaxed, the service polite and efficient, and of course the splendid afternoon teas are ideal for the occasional treat. 

The Classic and Healthy Afternoon Teas are normally priced at £28 per person, whilst the Indulgent option costs £38 – do check out their website for further details.

Also, not to forget that Afternoon Tea Week 2015 runs from 10th-16th August, so remember to get your afternoon teas booked in – because you deserve it.

The Cheekster, signing out x

The afternoon tea was complimentary, but views and photos are my own.