Afternoon tea at Cafe rouge
Afternoon tea at Cafe rouge
Afternoon Tea Options
There are three afternoon tea experiences on offer, each with its own twist. If you're in the mood for a leisurely start, there’s a brunch version available until early afternoon. Prefer to stick to the classics?
A more traditional afternoon tea is served from noon. For those feeling a bit more adventurous, a “Rouge” afternoon tea option is also available from midday onwards—bringing a dash of Parisian flair to the table.
Checking Availability and Making a Booking
If you’re eager to try afternoon tea at Cafe Rouge, here’s what you need to know about securing your spot. First things first—reservations are essential. I recommend checking availability on their website or giving your local branch a quick ring. Be sure to book ahead, especially if you have your heart set on a weekend visit.
You’ll want to arrive about 5 minutes before your selected time slot. Afternoon tea usually runs for about an hour, so plan accordingly if you’re making a day of it.
To make a booking, just sign up or log into their online system. It’s straightforward and you’ll get an instant confirmation. I’ve found it’s best to book a table before your visit, as they often don’t accept walk-ins for afternoon tea—especially around lunchtime. If you're booking alongside any accommodation or events, make sure both reservations line up to avoid any hiccups.
Now, on to the fun part—the menu.
For those celebrating, you can even add a glass of fizz for a small extra charge, which gives the whole affair that extra celebratory sparkle.
Fancy a little fizz?
If you'd like to add a celebratory touch to your afternoon tea, you can opt for a glass of fizz for an extra £5 per person. Perfect for toasting, or simply making your afternoon feel a bit more special.
The tea selection is basic with English breakfast. Earl grey. Mint. Camomile or rooibos tea to choose from. If you don't fancy tea you can choose a coffee or hot chocolate. We chose a mocha which tasted like a regular coffee. My guess is that the staff got our hot drink order wrong.
When to Arrive for Your Afternoon Tea Booking
We found it best to arrive just a few minutes before our scheduled time—about five minutes early is ideal. This gives you plenty of time to settle in and soak up the atmosphere without feeling rushed. Plus, it makes sure your table is ready and waiting so you can get straight to the all-important tea selection.
Our hot drink arrived well before our food. Hot drinks were not unlimited. So we were a little parched half way through our cakes.
Service wasn't good if I'm honest. Thankfully though, the croques were delicious. Croques are toasties. Or toasted sandwiches. There is only one vegetarian option on the afternoon tea menu. I'm glad we enjoyed the taste of the vegetarian crouques. As we're vegetarian.
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| Croques |
The vegetarian croque at Cafe Rouge contains portobello mushrooms. Baby spinach. Goats cheese and truffle oil. The portobello mushrooms were very meaty. The cheese and truffle oil was creamy and flavoursome. As a vegetarian I highly recommend the croques at Cafe Rouge and would pop in for this toasted sandwich again.
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| Afternoon Tea - Scone. Strawberries and cream |
Next was the scone. Strangely there was only one scone on our trolley. Considering their were two of us, I found this odd. The scone was a fruit variety. It was was delicious and warm. Cream was provided, along with some strawberries. The cream was just okay. Not the best cream I've enjoyed.
Afternoon Tea Serving Times
When it comes to timing, Cafe Rouge keeps things simple. If you're in the mood for brunch, you'll want to get there before 1pm. For those after the traditional afternoon tea experience, it starts at noon and continues into the afternoon. The same goes for their ROUGE afternoon tea—service also begins from 12pm onwards. So, depending on your cravings (and your punctuality), you can plan accordingly.
Our cake selection was a lemon and poppy seed slice. Red velvet chocolate. Shortcake slice and carrot cake topped with granola. My favourite dessert during Cafe Rouge afternoon tea was a yummy pot of chocolate mousse.
How long does afternoon tea last?
If you're wondering how long to set aside for afternoon tea at Cafe Rouge, an hour is a good amount of time. That gives you plenty of opportunity to nibble your way through each tier, sip your hot drink, and people-watch—or discuss whether your mocha actually tastes like mocha. There's no rush, but don't expect to linger for the entire afternoon (unless you order extra treats).
The afternoon tea trolly was very dusty and presentation was non existent. All in all there were only a few positives about afternoon tea at Cafe Rouge.
Menus and Allergen Details
If you're curious about what's on offer or have dietary restrictions to consider, you can find the full afternoon tea menu—including allergen details—on Cafe Rouge's website. They provide updated information on ingredients and options, so it's a good idea to check before you visit to avoid any surprises. Just look for the “Menus” or “Allergens” section.
Booking For Larger Groups
If you’re thinking about rounding up a big crowd—say, twelve people or more—for afternoon tea at Cafe Rouge, there’s a slightly different process. Instead of booking online as usual, you’ll need to fill out a group booking form. Once that’s done, someone from the team will get in touch to help finalise the details and make sure everything’s sorted for your gathering. It’s worth doing, especially if you have any special requests or dietary requirements (vegetarian croques for everyone, perhaps?).
So, if you’re planning a birthday, a hen do, or just have a lot of friends who love scones, it’s best to go the group booking route to avoid any hiccups on the day.
Important Disclaimer
This is a review of afternoon tea at Cafe Rouge. Greenwich O2 branch. Cafe Rouge is a French themed restaurant with branches across London and the UK. The afternoon tea menu at Sketch during the time of visit and at the time of this post includes meat, vegetarian and seafood options. All information was correct at the time of listing. The photos of afternoon tea at Cafe Rouge are originals. Along with any text and personal opinions about Cafe Rouge afternoon tea and menu are copywritten by said owner of www.bestafternoonteainlondon.co.uk The photographs and text on this blog must not be copied. Distributed. Sold or printed without prior written consent of this travel and lifestyle blog owner. contact the site owner for more details.
