Parisian charm and English afternoon tea – two of our favourite things brought together – is just too good to ignore, especially with the Paris Olympic Games in full swing.
The Dilly Hotel has created a beautiful Olympiad-themed afternoon tea. Sweet treats resemble key French landmarks, including a pistachio and honey photo cake of the Mona Lisa, the Olympia Column made of cassis cremeux, the Olympic Medal as a strawberry ginger macaron, and to finish off, the Eiffel Tower, as a milk chocolate mousse with mandarin gel. Seeing these edible works of art is a treat; eating them is a delicious delight.
French flair
Stay strong, though, because you’ll need room for French-themed sandwiches, each a nod to the games. Here are the selections: Jambon-beurre, with sliced ham and cheese, orange marmalade, and butter on a French baguette; Crêpes, with roasted vegetables, pesto, and soft cheese roll-ups; Tartines, with smoked salmon, cream cheese, and capers; and Sandwich Lyonnaise, with egg mayonnaise, mustard cress, and focaccia.
The tea menu is exotic and diverse, allowing you to drain as many teapots as you want. The refreshing mango mocktail is a must-try. If you like your tea strong, ask for first-flush loose-leaf Darjeeling, which boasts a delightful light amber colour and a fragrant muscatel flavour. A round of light Jasmine green tea is perfect to wash it all down before a finale of warm scones. If you’re in the mood for bubbles, treat yourself to a crisp glass of Pommery champagne Brut or Rosé.
Hotel on Picca-dilly
Afternoon tea is served within the hotel’s sweeping open-plan Terrace. It’s hard to believe that in the1930s, there was an outdoor pool here – one of the largest in London. Now it’s wonderfully light, spacious and flower-filled restaurant under the hotel’s glass roof.
Speaking of changes, The Dilly has seen many of them over the course of its rich and eventful history. Dating back to Edwardian times, the building was designed by Richard Norman Shaw in 1904 in a Neo-Baroque style based on 17th-century English Palladian architecture. It first opened as The Piccadilly Hotel in 1908, before being bought by Le Meridien in 1986. The hotel became an independent property under the ‘The Dilly’ name following an extensive refurbishment in May 2021.
Modern London in historic setting
The newest version of The Dilly has taken much of its inspiration from the capital: there are Union Jack-blue walls in the lobby, London bus-red armchairs, and a life-sized phone box, so guests enter with no doubt where they’re checking in.
Despite these fun additions, you still have a sense of having found yourself preserved in the past, but in a universe where style and glamour meet a more fresh and casual mood. What fun! And if you come to London for the postcard landmarks – royal parks, Mayfair, the buzz of Piccadilly, and the nightlife of Soho and Covent Garden – you’d struggle to find a more centrally located hotel than this one!
Parisian Afternoon Tea at The Dilly is available until August 18th and is served daily from 12:30pm to 4:00pm. It’s also worth knowing that the tea can be made gluten-free.
More information can be found here.
Image credits: © The Dilly, Jodi Hinds, Travel with Style
