When it comes to treating that special lady in your life, whether it’s your mum, missus, hot date or girlfriend, a trip to this Mayfair hotel for afternoon tea is sure to put you in the good books.

The Venue
Flemings Hotel is a great bolthole away from the tacky tourist stands and tour guide hawkers of nearby Piccadilly. A classic Mayfair townhouse, Flemings incorporates a hotel, apartments, restaurant, cocktail bar and a street-facing front room, which offers a selection of afternoon teas for a discerning clientele. As soon as you walk into this light and airy space, your pulse immediately hits a more sedate pace.

A radical redesign of their interior has created somewhat of a chaotic sense of opulence. The Front Room at Flemings has chartreuse felt cushions paired with heavy dark woods, trippy statement mirrors, big puffy sofas and bizarre wallpaper that looks like a series of illustrated teeth. Whilst the design is most definitely an acquired taste, it is an exceedingly comfortable and ultra-relaxing room.

The Atmosphere
Serene and cocoon-like. Great for girly afternoons, business meetings and romantic dalliances. Service is warm, friendly and knowledgeable meaning that, even though the room is hushed, there are no awkward moments. Music floats through the air and the sound of Debussy’s masterpiece Claire de Lune perfectly fits the mood.

The Food
Three types of afternoon tea – Traditional English, Chocoholic and Savoury Martini – are available. Prices range from £23.50 per person to £32.50 per person, although those watching there waistlines or bank balances can settle in for much cheaper cupcake (from Primrose Bakery) and tea combo. At the top end of the price scale, the Savoury Martini option offers a different angle on the classic format of finger sandwiches and scones. Immaculately presented on a triple-tiered gold-plated stand, the idea is that you start at the bottom and work your way up. The first tier has several delicious canapé sized bites: a Scotch egg encrusted with black pudding; smoked salmon and cream cheese with tiny dots of caviar; and a rabbit foie gras on toasted buttery brioche. Further up the pyramid in-house made cheese sticks are fresh and flaky if a little underwhelming in terms of cheesy flavour, and the same can be said for the cheese scones, although the freshness of these and the olive scones is admirable. At the very top miniature cakes in the form of petit fours round off proceedings, with the custard and raspberry one outshining the dry dark chocolate and chilli option.

The Drink
A stiff gin or vodka Martini is proffered as part of the savoury deal, and you can choose to have it with a twist (infused with lemon) or classic (with an olive). Bottles of Perrier Jouet are on hand if you want to really go to town. Glasses can be added to your sitting for around £10 each. A bewildering mix of exotic teas and blends are also available if you want to stay off the booze.

The Last Word
With its champagne, cupcakes and bespoke selections of afternoon tea, there’s no doubt that Flemings has a powerful allure for girlfriends after a stint along the designer boutiques of New Bond Street. It’s not all about the girls though – guys can take their loved one and live off the brownie points for days.

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