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Food + Drink

Indulge in Chocolate Week in London

Chocolate Week is the week where visitors from across the globe flock to London for one reason and one reason only: to eat copious amounts of chocolate in the name of cultural exploration.

Attend the events, the workshops and feast your eyes on counter after counter of delicious bonbons, but you might find yourself asking, where’s the dining experience in all of this? All Citizen Femme women know that you cannot have a fantastic trip without at least one fantastic meal, so how about this – indulging in chocolate through our favourite meal of the day: afternoon tea. Here are our top London picks of Chocolate week high teas.

If you’re a chocolate-lover looking to indulge, I have picked out 2. But for the last weekend of Chocolate Week, you can take a look at the events here and enjoy tastings, chocolate catwalks, chocolate flavoured wine and so much more!

The Thames Foyer at the Savoy

You’ve come to Chocolate Week for the chocolate, so why not just skip to the good stuff right away? ‘Tea at the Savoy’ is a British institution. The place is famed for having one of the best and most historic afternoon teas in London, accompanied by a relaxing grand piano, bone china and quintessentially British furnishings all around. It truly is a sight to behold; the elegant décor and atmosphere alone of this beautiful nineteenth century hotel will make it worth the trip. But you’re here for the chocolate, of course – the chocolate afternoon tea. Yes, you heard us correctly, except ‘afternoon tea’ has had a decadent makeover by the Savoy team. There’s the usual scones and jam available to dig-into by day, but by night you’ll find the devilishly delicious ‘Temptation Wheel’ in its place, and this really is a chocolate-lover’s dream come true. Presented on a beautiful, illuminated mahogany spinning wheel, the menu is divided into a painter’s palette of flavours, from which you can choose your poisons. From light and fresh flavours at one end to rich and indulgent treats at the other, each dessert has been carefully matched with a hand-made chocolate and a uniquely blended cocktail.

The wheel is brought to the table on a specially commissioned domed bell cart and the passion and expertise of Executive Pastry Chef, Ludwig Hely, and his team is infused into each and every bite. Try the ‘Chocolati’, a heavenly dessert made with 63% Gran Blanco dark chocolate and served in an edible coco pod. And then there’s the chocolate-lovers cocktail, the ‘Winding Road’, which will take your tastebuds on a journey of Bacardi Ocho, ruby port, coffee maple and indulgent chocolate bitters that you’ll never want to end. And of course, a luxury hand-made chocolate comes paired with every selection, in flavours ranging from honey, to caramel and cream, to coffee, tobacco and fig. You can even watch these bite-size indulgences being made before your eyes in the glass-fronted chocolate kitchen by the Savoy’s award-winning chocolatiers. And all of this takes place in the dark of night, after 7.30 pm, with smooth jazz played on the piano beside you. The most adult afternoon tea we’ve tried.

Open 7 days a week: 1:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m Contact: [email protected]/+44 (0)20 7420 2111 Dress Code: Smart Casual (no trainers)

Or, if you’re trying to be healthy:

Afternoon tea doesn’t have to be indulgent, you know. You can still celebrate Chocolate Week without putting on the pounds. There are two ‘healthy’ afternoon teas in the city which we rate as worth their salt, that will sit much more kindly on your waistline and make you feel guilt-free. Firstly, we love the ‘tea-tox’ afternoon tea at Brown’s Hotel, London. Queen Victoria used to take tea in The English Tea Room, which is always a good start. This new renovated venue is bright and airy, just like the fluffy open sandwiches on offer in this tea. Dig in to healthy poached salmon and dill crème fraiche on rye bread and smoked mackerel and soft-boiled quail’s eggs sarnies and enjoy fresh fruit scewers with yoghurt and honey. The cakes are made from low-fat dairy and the low-calorie sweetener Xylitol and the flourless orange cake with its yoghurt topping is a particular hit. There’s no scones though, however. The price of healthy is high.

Open 7 days a week: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m Contact: [email protected]/+44 20 7518 4155 Dress Code: Smart Casual/ Business attire

Or why not try the guiltless afternoon tea at the Wellington Lounge at Intercontinental, Park Lane? This ‘healthy’ afternoon tea toasts Chocolate Week with a rum cocktail, before moving onto gluten-free bread sandwiches filled with smoked aubergine and roasted red pepper, petit fours created with agave syrup instead of refined sugar and deliciously flourless blueberry and yoghurt chiffon cake amongst. There’s even a selection of warm wholemeal scones with crème fraiche. The perfect way to celebrate Chocolate Week without the guilt!

Open 7 days a week: 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m Contact: [email protected]/+44 (0)20 7318 8509
Dress Code: Smart Casual (trainers, t-shirts, shorts, sportswear not permitted)

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