Pan Pacific London’s Ginger Lily Bar & Lounge offers a seasonal Afternoon Tea experience designed for lingering over tea in style while watching the world go by.
Moments from Liverpool Street Station, the multi-award-winning Pan Pacific London occupies a prime position in the heart of the City of London.
Our seasonal summer afternoon tea was served in the Ginger Lily Bar & Lounge, comfortably air-conditioned on a warm day, and flooded with natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows. Despite its central location and adjacent foot traffic (which made for excellent people watching) it was immediately apparent how calm and spacious the space felt.
We took our seats amongst soft tones, plush velvet seating, natural stone tables, and manicured indoor greenery. From the outset, service felt warm and personable. Francesca and Ludvick looked after us, sharing thoughtful tea recommendations and explaining each course as it arrived.
A crisp glass of Taittinger Champagne served in elegant stemware marked the start of our afternoon tea journey. Shortly afterwards came a cool and refreshing palate cleanser of fragrant jasmine pearls and lemongrass, crowned with a rose and steeped for 24 hours.
An amuse bouche arrived in two parts, a welcome deviation from the expected sandwiches, scones, and sweets. First came the fennel, jasmine and pink peppercorn velouté, which had a satisfying, savoury depth. The consistency was deliciously velvety (and a little thick to drink) which meant that we used the teaspoon accompanying our palette cleanser, as a spoon hadn’t been provided.
Alongside the soup sat a flaky, room temperature sausage roll, featuring apricot and a dijonnaise topping. It was comforting, hearty, and the perfect balance of sweet and savoury, though the amuse bouches overall felt more aligned with cooler seasons than a summer menu.
The savoury sandwich selection arrived alongside our chosen teas. From an enticing menu of White, Green, Oolong, Black, and Tisanes varieties, we chose Darjeeling and Oriental Sencha tea by Newby London, the world’s most awarded luxury tea brand. The teapots were generous, and later on, a white peony tea became a surprise standout — light and delicate, with subtle notes of peach and melon, resembling a sophisticated iced tea. Our tea strainers initially appeared slightly marked, and were immediately replaced when mentioned.
The mint and pickled cucumber with cream cheese and coronation chicken proved that classic combinations endure for a reason, although the bread encasing the chicken sandwich felt a little thicker and slightly drier than anticipated.
The standout was undoubtedly the Burford Brown truffled egg with mayonnaise and watercress on mini brioche. Rich and buttery, the truffle transformed what could have been a simple filling into one of the highlights. The Marie Rose prawn cocktail was visually appealing, though more restrained in flavour by contrast. The brioche-style savouries were also slightly difficult to eat without any cutlery.
One of us selected the vegetarian menu, which included vegetarian and vegan items and some items overlapping with the main menu. The vegetarian elements felt stronger, as the plant-based cream and cheese tasted slightly overpowering, as is often the case with vegan substitutions. Unfortunately, an olive pip was discovered in one of the vegetarian sandwiches.
Francesca also shared a useful tip for future visitors: savouries can be replenished on request, and unfinished pastries can be boxed to take away.
Soon it was time for scones. Plain and raisin varieties arrived warm on a raised stand with glossy golden tops, accompanied by raspberry jam, clotted cream, a bright, citrusy lemon curd, and a silver knife for serving. The lemon curd was particularly moreish, while more clotted cream wouldn’t have gone astray with a single small serving needing to stretch across all four scones. The golden raisin scone had enough flavour to enjoy entirely on its own, and both scones leaned slightly denser in texture.
The stunning blue and orange fine bone china crockery used throughout was made exclusively for Pan Pacific London by William Edwards England, making the setting effortlessly colourful and distinctly summery.
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The final course featured four mini masterpieces, and was a case of saving the best until last.
Presented in beautiful pastel shades of blue, pink and green, the sweets were adorned with intricate details and floral touches. Importantly, no two pastries felt alike, creating a balanced finish rather than an overly sweet or sickly one.
The blue macaron delivered a burst of sweetness with a surprise fruit compote centre, the Rhubarb Meringue Tart provided a lively tang, even though the meringue taste was undetectable, while the mango mousse combined multiple textures (the crispness of the shell, the contrast of the mousse) and felt like the most playful sweet of the arrangement. The matcha, strawberry, and vanilla creation offered a gentle ending, with earthy notes that didn’t overpower.
Pan Pacific London’s seasonal afternoon tea succeeds in balancing tradition with modern flair. Warm service, thoughtfully curated teas, creative presentation and pairings made for a delightful few hours and unhurried reprieve from the steady thrum of bustling London.
Summer Afternoon Tea Menu:
Palate Cleanser
Jasmine and Lemon by Newby Tea
jasmine pearls, lemon peel and agave
Amuse-Bouche: Fennel, Jasmine and Pink Peppercorn Velouté
Apricot Sausage Roll with Dijonnaise
Savoury Selection
- Mint and Pickled Cucumber with Cream Cheese on finger white bread
- Coronation Chicken with Golden Raisins: finger sundried tomato bread
- Burford Brown Summer Truffled Egg with Mayonnaise and Watercress on mini brioche bun
- Marie Rose Prawn Cocktail
Palate Cleanser
White Rose by Newby Tea
silver needle, Persian rose and rose agave
Scones
Plain and Golden Raisin served with Cornish clotted cream, raspberry jam and lemon curd
Sweet Delicacies
- Blueberry and Lemon Macaron: lemon curd ganache and blueberry compote
- Exotic Mango Mousse: kaffir lime and mango compote, black sesame sable
- Rhubarb Meringue Tart: mascarpone diplomat, rhubarb compote, ginger
- Matcha Strawberry and Vanilla Opera: strawberry compote, matcha sable
With a vegan and gluten free menu available, as well as a Children’s Afternoon Tea, which invites children to decorate their own cupcakes and biscuits.
Afternoon Tea London – find more experiences
in our High Tea Venue Directory
Reviews for this venue:
- 16 October 2022: Afternoon Tea at Pan Pacific London
