Part of the Bloomsbury Hotel in the heart of Fitzrovia, and a short walk from Tottenham Court Road tube station, this indoor-outdoor restaurant has been at the top of my go-to list for a long time. Undoubtedly lending its name from the Virginia Woolf novel, I legitimately felt like the only blogger who had yet to set foot in the Dalloway which is made even worse considering I am a literature blogger first and foremost. This is why when Emily and I decided to do high tea in London like the queens we are, I immediately suggested the Dalloway.
Known for their ever-changing decor that moves with the seasons, Dalloway Terrace did not disappoint and I think their latest installation might be their most beautiful one yet!
“Mrs Dalloway is always giving parties to cover the silence.” ―
After much confusion bumbling around the Bloomsbury and the adjoining bar The Coral Room while seeking how to actually access the terrace, we arrived slightly late for our afternoon tea. However, staff were most accommodating.
Dalloway Terrace’s Spring Jungle is a visual feast. Vibrant pink hibiscus-looking flowers joined by huge banana leaves are the main focus of the jungle canopy along with bamboo and palms interspersed with orchids. It made for a real treat on a rare boiling afternoon in London, giving you the sense you’re sitting in some luxury English garden in the country, but with a retractable roof to shield you from those UV rays.
Boasting a menu that covers all the bases including breakfast, brunch, all-day dining and afternoon tea, we snapped a obligatory gram or three (OK, more like a hundred!) and got stuck in.
We spent a few minutes ogling the various menus with growling tummies before coming to a decision. They have such an extensive array of choices, but alas, I am one girl with only so much stomach space! It all sounded mouth-wateringly fantastic and I am adamant to return again someday to sample their brunch menu. All of Dalloway Terrace’s menus can be found here for your perusing.
The standard Afternoon Tea at Dalloway Terrace is around £40 per person. However, I opted for the Champagne Afternoon Tea because as Madonna would say, we’re living in a material world and I am a material girl. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of a fancy now and again – also, champagne in the sun is a big mood! This includes all the tasty treats that the regular option has to offer, but comes with a glass of Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut at an extra £10. Emily chose from their all-day dining menu with Seared Scallops accompanied by pickled cucumber, heritage radish, lime mayo and baby cress. To drink, she chose our trusty old favourite – an Espresso Martini!
Dalloway Terrace’s Spring Jungle Afternoon Tea menu is laced with Sri Lankan influences, adding tropical fruits and spices to classic dishes, and is created by Head Pastry Chef Chris Dodd.
The waiters will happily talk you through every item that graces the adorable Afternoon Tea stand, but for those curious, I’ll break it down for you here.
Starting with the bottom plate, we have a selection of four savoury sandwiches. I am sadly allergic to anything aquatic aside from cod, so I had to forgo the Smoked Salmon & Lemon Crème Fraiche on Guinness bread. They gave me an extra Coronation Chicken on brown seeded roll as a replacement alongside their Mini milk bun Devilled Egg Mayonnaise and Marinated Cucumber & Cream Cheese.
Of course, no Afternoon Tea would be complete without scones! Post-Afternoon Tea, me and Emily embarked on a two-day quest trolling Tinder boys to settle our debate about how to pronounce it. Naturally, they were useless in assisting us so we’re still none the wiser. Dalloway Terrace offer two buttery soft scones; vanilla and golden raisin with pots of clotted cream and some delicious raspberry jam.
Finally, we reach the top tier of sweet treats. This is where I feel the Sri Lankan twist is most prominent. My personal favourite was the Mango & Coriander Tart with Pink Peppercorn Meringue, but there’s also the most adorable Chocolate Mousse with cashew praline and prune compote, a Lychee & Coconut Cake with lime glaze and a Pineapple & Red Chili Terrine.
Dalloway Terrace have also added some Sri Lankan options to their extensive range of teas by the Rare Tea Company, but I settled on a dependable and much needed pot of Earl Grey.
Obviously, the Dalloway Terrace is a prime Instagram hot-spot. In my research, I’d come across a few people claiming that there’s some form of anti-photo rule. Thankfully, as you can see by the existence of this post, that isn’t the case at all. Dalloway Terrace actively encourage guests to take photos and staff seem pleasantly fine with taking a second to snap a photo for you so long as you’re sure to respect fellow diners and don’t use their gorgeous back drop for commerical reasons. For more information, their photography policy can be found here.
Wearing: Petite Pink Check Strapless Mini Dress [Size 4], Brixton Baker Boy Hat [Size XS], Jaspar Conran Brown ‘Rome’ Cross Body Bag, Ace and Tate Byron Sunglasses in Midnight [w/ prescription], Shoes discontinued
As Emily and I devoured the last of our platters and our time at the Dalloway came to an end, we marveled at the summer scene around us.
I’m thrilled we chose the Dalloway Terrace to officially pop my Afternoon Tea cherry. Not only was the food beyond scrumptious, but the setting itself is breathtaking. We were lucky to blessed with abnormally warm weather, but apparently the covered element of the terrace is heated in the winter so it sounds like it’s paradise all year round.
Before we left, we got a few more photos with the floral decor before heading off to seek more Instagram-worthy back drops because #content. That being said, I would race back to the Dalloway in a heartbeat! I’m really eager to see what stunning seasonal decor they will sport next and I’ll without a doubt be sure to return. After all, one must sample all the menus, right?
No Comments