Oscar Wilde Bar

Renowned as one of the best luxury bars in London, the Green Bar offers botanicals and tonics alongside classic and modern cocktail concoctions.

Luxury Bars London | Hotel Café Royal

What’s the next big thing to order at the cocktail bar?

Last year we saw more people asking for gin, and receiving it in elegant and voluminous gin goblets.

People also sought out independent distilleries and brewers to find more unique and interesting flavours, adding ever more to the mixologists palette.

We checked in with Derren King, Green Bar manager and master mixologist, to get his insights into what will be the big cocktail trends of 2018.

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Luxury afternoon tea at the Café Royal Hotel's Oscar Wilde Bar ...

And that’s what Rosana and I recently did when we went for afternoon tea at the Hotel Café Royal on Regent Street.

Although the Oscar Wilde Bar is also open for cocktails, light dinners and occasional cabaret evenings, we were there specifically to try the High Society Afternoon Tea.

Let’s see – working our way down from the top, here’s what was on offer: bright green absinthe Green Fairy macarons (textbook shape and texture and with a botanical whiff of absinthe, rather than an overwhelming flavour); a Pear Regent (a disc of shortbread topped with apple purée/jelly and finished off with a blackcurrant crème coated in a whisper of chocolate and gold leaf ); little choux buns filled with a lime cream; “Profile 66” chocolate citrus tartlets;  “Opéra 1865” banana cake layered with passion fruit cream; and a mini terracotta flower pot filled with apple purée and pistachio paste topped with a crumble.

A deliciously louche way to enjoy one of London’s best afternoon teas in a historical setting – and afterwards you can head for the Green Bar elsewhere in the hotel where you can enjoy Absinthe or Absinthe cocktails from the beautiful Art Nouveau-style Absinthe fountain dispensers.

DISCLOSURE:  I enjoyed my afternoon tea as a guest of the Hotel Café Royal but received no further remuneration to write this post.

Fathom - It's Our Cup of Tea: Café Royal Hotel in London

Tea at the Oscar Wilde Bar at the Hotel Café Royal.

Situated on Regent Street, a stone's throw from Piccadilly in the heart of London, Café Royal stands in a league of its own.

Fully restored four years ago, Café Royal was part of a London Renaissance that gave rise to new luxury spots and trendy designer eateries.

There are several noted restaurants on site, including Green Room designer absinthe bar and The Café, a stylish, European-style, glass-fronted spot overlooking Regent Street, is great for light lunch and dinner and watching the world walk by.

Hotel Café Royal is situated near Piccadilly Circus, the beating heart of London.

Afternoon Tea At Oscar Wilde's Favorite Bar

The Oscar Wilde Bar where afternoon tea is served at Café Royal, London The Oscar Wilde Bar at Hotel Café Royal dates back to 1865 and with its gilded interiors, mirrors and ornate Louis XVI decor, is probably London's most opulent setting for Afternoon Tea.

diptyque afternoon tea at Oscar Wilde Bar, Café Royal, London In London's competitive Afternoon Tea market, something special is required to stay in the game.

This fall Hotel Café Royal has joined forces with the luxury French candle and perfume brand diptyque to offer a special gift candle to their afternoon tea guests.

Pastries are an essential part of Café Royal's afternoon tea The “diptyque Festive Afternoon Tea” features delicacies created by Executive Pastry Chef, Sarah Barber who has worked in a range of Michelin-starred restaurants and published Patisserie Perfection, her first pastry cookbook in 2015.

diptyque afternoon tea at Café Royal, London I loved the cakes (the mini Victoria sponge was my favorite), almost too gorgeous to eat and the classic scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam.

Luxury afternoon tea London | Hotel Café Royal

Nestled between the elegance of Mayfair and the creativity of Soho, the Oscar Wilde Lounge is the space where great minds came together to change the world.

It is in this very room that Oscar Wilde fell in love with Lord Alfred Douglas, Aubrey Beardsley debated with Whistler, David Bowie retired Ziggy Stardust and Mick Jagger, the Beatles and Elizabeth Taylor danced the night away.

Dating back to 1865 and formerly known as the Grill Room, the gilded room was renamed in honour of our most famous patron becoming the Oscar Wilde Lounge.

Today, this dramatic setting is home to Hotel Café Royal's award-winning afternoon tea service, presented masterfully by our dedicated restaurant team and creative chefs.

We are proud to have been named the Best Traditional Afternoon Tea in the UK at the Afternoon Tea Awards 2017/18.

Oscar Wilde Lounge | Bars and pubs in Piccadilly Circus, London

The Oscar Wilde Bar is found inside Regent Street's 5 star Hotel Cafe Royal.

The bar takes its name from its famous patron, but has also hosted the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, David Bowie and Mick Jagger over the years.

In honour of its stylish past, the bar now serves afternoon tea during the day.