Even after over 7 years of living in London, there always seems to be so much that I have not seen, and this time I had the pleasure of visiting the ultra chic Savage Garden London, tucked away on the top floor of the Doubletree by Hilton, a stone’s throw away from Tower Hill station. Exiting the elevator on the 12th floor, our eyes were drawn towards the bright pink neon sign on the window, ‘Is this just Fantasy’ (good ‘ol Bohemian Rhapsody), and next to it, a strategically placed golden picture frame that captured the view of Tower Bridge in the distance.
I loved the sleek interiors and shiny marbled floors that exuded a modern and sophisticated feel, with a touch of urban punk. More quirky neon graphics caught our attention as we made our way through to the dining area, a light and airy space furnished with plush velvet sofas in a mix of classy shades of subdued greys, deep blues, and a contrasting orange sofa along the wall. Copper details and furnishings featured around the room that added an extra touch of glamour.
We were welcomed with chilled glasses of Ayala Brut Majeur champagne whilst we perused the menu. From their selection of Dammann Frères loose leaf teas I ordered the classic and timeless Earl Grey Yin Zhen, the aromatic flavours of Bergamot combined with black tea, silky buds and a sprinkling of flower petals making the perfect pot of tea to enjoy on a Saturday afternoon.
The afternoon tea treats were just as vibrant-looking as the surroundings, served on a three-tiered stand shaped like a birdcage. We started from the bottom with the savouries which looked much more intriguing than your usual traditional selection of finger sandwiches. A couple of Asian-inspired meaty options included a rare roast beef and wasabi remoulade open sandwich, and mini tacos stuffed with smoked chicken, Korean ketchup, spring onions, chillies and sesame seeds that had a pleasant hint of spice to it. One of my favourite fillings was the beetroot cured salmon with smoked soft cheese, confit lemon and caper berries served in the form of a mini sandwich roll – a quirky twist on a classic. Vegetarian options can sometimes be a bit dull and boring, but their slider was a surprising contender, the flavoursome sweet potato patty complemented by a refreshing coriander yoghurt, spicy peanut crumb and red onions.
Moving upwards, we tucked into the Savage scones – light, buttery, and warm to touch, they were coloured a pretty shade of red and served with strawberry jam and clotted cream.
Finally, we slowly worked our way through the ‘Never say never’ sweet desserts, that included a moist cherry and coconut lamington, a rich and indulgent dark chocolate crémeux sphere, and last but not least, a black tea choux that was sprayed with an eye-catching edible gold colouring – a delightful mouthful that was my favourite amongst the trio.
Overall it was a lovely experience and definitely the first of many more visits to come in the near future. I am definitely looking forward to returning to check out their bar and outdoor terraces when the weather is sunnier – certainly the place to be on a hot summer’s day to enjoy some cocktails whilst admiring 360-degree views of the London skyline.
The Savage Garden afternoon tea is available seven days a week from 12noon – 4pm at £30 per person (£35 with a glass of Ayala Brut Majeur Champagne).
- I was invited to review the Savage Garden afternoon tea – all views and photos are my own.
