We don’t do afternoon tea where I live. We do happy hour. Happy hour consists of eating hot wings, chips, and salsa and drinking beer or margaritas — no comparison at all to afternoon tea. We (I) decided that on our last day in the UK, we must experience an authentic afternoon tea. I did my usual over-the-top research to find a unique, family-friendly restaurant that would be a fun experience for all to remember. Sketch Restaurant and Gallery in London kept coming up in my search for the best spots for afternoon tea in London, especially on Instagram. Exactly what I was looking for.

We discovered Sketch Restaurant and Gallery through extensive research, searching for a unique and family-friendly spot for the ultimate British experience. This gem of a restaurant exceeded our expectations in every way, from the impeccable service to the breathtaking design and the perfect blend of luxury and indulgence. Plus, when it comes to Instagram-worthy moments, Sketch doesn’t disappoint.

So if you’re ready to immerse yourself in the grandeur of afternoon tea, into a world of elegant treats and stunning decor, Sketch Restaurant and Gallery is the perfect destination.

Our experience with Afternoon Tea at Sketch Restaurant and Gallery in London was unforgettable.

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Afternoon Tea Sketch London

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Whimsical Sketch Restaurant and Gallery in London.

We dropped our coats and bags with the fashionable lady in the cloakroom and proceeded to the host.   We had a reservation for 4:30.  Reserve ahead of time if you decide to experience Sketch; it was quite busy.  We were about thirty minutes early, but they seated us quickly.

By the way, the hours of operation of Sketch Gallery are 9 AM-10 PM.

I am not sure if there is a dress code at Sketch, but most customers were dressed up.  We, on the other hand, had been walking London all day and were comfortably dressed.  Our casual attire didn’t seem to matter much.

Afternoon Tea at the Pink Restaurant in London.

Wow. It was VERY PINK. It was MAGICAL.

The lighting, the pink tulip seats, the walls, the Champagne, just PINK.  Very campy, over-the-top décor but somehow sophisticated, tasteful, and elegant at the same time.

Quirky framed sketches cover the walls, many with witty and sometimes absurd quotes and poems.  Very curious.  It made me feel kind of giggly, happy, and excited that I found this fun place for my family.

I am sure there is no experience like afternoon tea at Sketch in London.

The Menu for Afternoon Tea at Sketch Gallery in London.

The Sketch Menu is minimal, and admittedly, I do not know how to order tea.  Trusting the server, I asked him to bring his favorite tea and the usual treats served at Afternoon Tea.

The Tea.

Your tea options include herbal/floral, oolong, black, green, and a few special blends — Wuyi Oolong, Assam Gold, and Phoenix Honey Orchid.

This cute teacup and kettle arrived, and we drank this extraordinary tea.

Definitely not the sweet iced tea that I was served growing up in the South.  Far from it.  Simply fantastic.  When I reached the bottom of my first cup of tea, the cup noted,

“Forget About It!”  

How could I ever?

Afternoon Tea Sketch London

The Appetizer

The appetizer (the first course) was a quail egg, tiny cheese toast, and a little spoonful of Russian Osetra Caviar — I soon found out this caviar is one of the world’s finest, most prized caviar (and expensive at about $117 per ounce).  I loved this; how exquisite of a taste.  The kids wouldn’t touch it, lucky for me.

Afternoon Tea Sketch London. Caviar, quail egg and cheese toast appetizer at Sketch Restaurant, London.

The Second Course.

A plate of tiny delicate savory sandwiches arrives, including Gougères (kinda like a cheese puff pastry) with egg, watercress, dijon mustard, and mayonnaise, a chicken sandwich with pickled red onion on malted bread, and a cucumber, broccoli, and goat cheese mini sandwich.  Oh, and this dreamy truffle Croque with cream cheese on white bread was my favorite.

The dessert included petit fours, tartlets, macaroons, and tiny parfaits, each a delicate piece of art — an orange ginger cheesecake, a lemon marshmallow, and a chocolate tart with rum ganache and caramelized hazelnuts.

And for the kiddos, you get PB&J, ham, and chicken sandwiches.  They get a lemon marshmallow, too, plus a chocolate tart and a cherry pastry. And a strawberry jam penny which is a coin-sized piece of buttered bread with jam.  Then add four choices of juice — mango, apple, orange, and passion fruit.

I’m going to add a side note here.

My daughter has nut allergies, and Sketch provides a special allergy-free menu suitable for nut, dairy, and gluten allergies.  Her two-tiered platter came separately; this eases her mind and helps her to try new things without being anxious about a nasty reaction.  We all appreciate this (and it makes her feel special).

Family Travel London Lexy with her allergen free delights. Afternoon Tea Sketch London.

Next, the Scones.

Next came beautiful scones with jam and clotted cream.  There is some controversy as to what goes first on your scone, the jam or the clotted cream.   After thoroughly researching this controversial topic, it seems that the majority agree that raspberry or strawberry jam is first, then clotted cream.

The Final Course.

The final course was two small cakes.  Two pieces of art that tasted and looked amazing.  I was pleasantly full of food, sites, sounds, feels, smells, family, and fun.

The Price Tag for Afternoon Tea at Sketch.

At 60£ ($83 in USD) per person, the price tag of afternoon tea at Sketch is a bit costly, but the experience is an extra special treat worthy of the price.  If you want your afternoon tea with bubbly, the cost goes up to 79£ or $109USD). 

I Almost Forgot to Tell You About the Bathrooms at Sketch.

A plain white door opens to two sets of staircases.  I am assuming one for boys and one for girls, but I cannot confirm that as there were no gender signs.  The staircase winds up to a bathroom full of egg-shaped pods, and the ceiling is covered in multicolored tiles.  The bathroom is spotless, bright, colorful, and fun.

Egg shaped pods as toilets in Sketch Gallery in London.

 

I am running out of adjectives to describe this fascinating experience of Afternoon Tea at Sketch London.

I now know why this place is one of the most instagrammable spots in London, but it goes beyond the photos.  It has a fresh, fun, casual, relaxed vibe, and no, I won’t “forget about it!“

If you want to hear more about the beauty and excitement of London, you will love this post, How to Have the Best Family Vacation Ever in London.

Afternoon Tea Sketch London
Afternoon Tea. London. Viator
Afternoon Tea London