Winter Garden Restaurant

Landmark Hotel - Winter Garden

Date of Visit: 16.09.17
Time: 4pm

Review:

A short 7min walk from Baker St station and moments away from Marylebone station the hotel is ideally located with many bus routes and Selfridges and Oxford street a short bus journey away. 

As you enter you see the grand courtyard and palms greeting you and transporting you to a new place in time and location. You feel like you have travelled to a new country and ready to start your holiday and culinary journey awaits. 

A great feel and the open area is even more impressive if you walk up the staircase and view from the mezzanine level with the live pianist and comfortable seating area. 

As you enter the winter garden you are immediately greeted and we were seated not to long after even though we were early. 

Menus provided and explained in detail but luckily i also enquired before hand about vegetarian options so was aware this was an option. However when the menu was explained we were again asked about any dietary requirements and given options of no meat, no gelatine and no alcohol but i have a feeling that many other options available and very impressed by this. 

You are first served with your selection of tea and you can order other drinks if you wish you just maybe charged. Anytime you wish your tea is served to you and refreshed as you need. 

Staff always attentive and you are never kept waiting too long. Always smiling and friendly. 

Soon after the sandwich selection arrives without the crust and each one is explained. If you finish your selection more are immediately offered and served up. All great tasting with fresh ingredients and not overpowering, cucumber sandwich was fresh and especially also liked the pepper and cream cheese. 

After you have completed your sandwiches your scones are served followed by your dessert selection and again you are offered more scones should you wish and at every stage tea is topped up as needed. Scones again home made and fluffy and you get to select two jams (we had strawberry and apricot) and you also get clotted cream but ample servings provided. I am not a scone person but still loved them. 

Lets see if you get space for dessert but amazing little selection provided and such great flavour and each looks like it was meticulously made. Hence it is worth ordering one of each of the afternoon teas as you can then get to taste the various desserts and yes you can take away any you don’t finish in a nice handy take away box which also has some style to it. 

You won’t go away hungry.

Booking Process: Booked via email and after chasing once the process was easy and responses forthcoming. You do have to provide your credit card details for booking to be confirmed and there is a cancellation charge. 

Location: 222 Marylebone Road, London NW1 6JQ

Decor & Lighting: Very large and bright courtyard given you are sitting in the glass atrium so flooded with natural light. 

Ambience & Acoustics: You have a live pianist playing but it is very much background music and you can hear any conversation with ease and given the expansive area they have done extremely well with the acoustics. 

We had the following:

Drinks: Winter Garden Blend (Tea), English Breakfast (Tea)

Food:  

Winter Garden Afternoon Tea (Vegetarian Version)
Chocolate Afternoon Tea (Vegetarian Version)

Sandwiches: Cucumber, Egg Mayonnaise, Buffalo mozzarella with pesto and tomato, mixed pepper with cream cheese.  
Scone: Apple and Raisin, Chocolate chip and fruit peel.
Dessert: Pistachio and Raspberry Bakewell, Coconut and chocolate macaroon, Banana, pecan nut and milk chocolate cake, blood orange and white chocolate mousse, Pistachio and chocolate Opera gateau, to name just a few…

Desert: See Above

Bill / Cost: £165.00 for three inc service charge etc (£50-60 per head without the champagne option)

Conclusion: A very pleasant afternoon, we arrived early and had to wait a short time but the hotel did take us earlier as soon as they could accommodate. Every effort made to meet your dietary requirements so i would recommend a visit as even if you don’t like the menu it is worth asking for the other options as you will probably be pleasantly surprised. Even offered and provided a fruit platter for my mother who is diabetic. especially nice place to celebrate a birthday or anniversary. 

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.0

I've always wanted to visit The Landmark Hotel after admiring some beautiful images of the stunning architecture, so what better time and excuse to visit than to celebrate our second girls reunion this year. Now that the three of us have settled in different parts of England (Newcastle, Birmingham, London), London seems to be the most strategic location to meet up - which definitely gets a thumbs up from me (!)  Awarded 2 AA Rosettes, the Winter Garden is an all-day brasserie that is situated in the heart of the soaring eight-storey glass roof atrium. I do love places with high ceilings and natural light, and the palm trees gave the feel of being back on a tropical beach resort - now if only the temperature outside would warm up a bit ...

Overall, the food, service and ambiance was brilliant. The setting is quite unique for London so would be a great choice for a special occasion. I’ve heard the Afternoon Teas are good (well, award-winning actually!) so will have to make a repeat visit.

It’s not everyday that we get the opportunity to spend time somewhere as luxurious as The Landmark London but today is an exception and we are here to enjoy a special Wimbledon-themed afternoon tea as guests of Ladbrokes Bingo. The Landmark London is a seriously impressive 5 Star hotel, and the eight story atrium complete with palm trees provides a magnificent setting for an afternoon tea.

I’ve no idea where this obsession has come from all of a sudden – but right now I just can’t get enough of afternoon tea. The idea of an afternoon tea or high tea, first came about in the 1800’s when a lady named, Anna – The Duchess of Bedford, complained of “having that sinking feeling” during the late afternoon. Anna wanted something simply to satisfy her afternoon hunger and see her through till dinner time. It was supposedly from here onwards that afternoon tea was born and saw it flourish during the 1880’s – becoming both an excuse to eat and dress up for the occasion. Afternoon tea is usually served around 3/4pm as a filler between lunch and dinner, where as high tea is served around 4/5pm and is meant to replace ones dinner. When it comes to historic, tradition and a true taste of the classic afternoon tea, The Landmark London is one of the finest London has to offer.

The Landmark London hotel is actually a rather odd place (in a good way). Firstly it’s huge – there are so many rooms, event spaces and large open hallways. There may be lots of people staying here, but you wouldn’t know – it’s all so tranquil and within the hustle and bustle of London, I rather like it this way. I’ve not stayed at the hotel before but I imagine it’s the place you come to relax, looking down from your window over the Winter Garden where the afternoon tea is held, with soft notes from the harp or piano playing in the background – a writers dream location. To get a real sense for the afternoon tea offering we went for the classic ‘Winter Garden Afternoon Tea’ priced at £40 or £45 with a glass of brut Champagne. We opted for the glass of buttery Champagne and followed with the Winter Garden tea – which was full of smooth tannins, flavour and purity.

Food wise the tea kicked off with a lovely selection of finger sandwiches. Organic egg mayonnaise and mustard cress, Lapsang Souchong smoked salmon, classic cucumber and my favourite – corn-fed chicken with tarragon creme fraiche on walnut bread. The other lovely thing they do here is constantly replenish your sandwich selection (if you wish) with a full tray making its way around the room throughout – just be carefull not to fill yourself up too quickly! The scones here are certainly some if the finest you’ll find in London too.  We had the oh-so-hard task of having to sample two varieties – the classic and an apple with raisin creation. Both were utterly delicious, especially once spread with the thick Cornish clotted cream and our chosen home-made jams (you get to pick two). We went with a refreshing Gooseberry & Elderflower jam, plus a mouth-watering Bergeron Apricot (classic French summer apricot variety).

The sweet selection of cakes and pastry didn’t disappoint either – they were all magnificent and very intricately put together. The flourless pistachio bakewell with homemade fig and lemon jam was perhaps our least favourite if we had to choose one, but it was still very good. Cappuccino bavarois was the messiest to eat – but well worth it and tasting not too dissimilar to a tiramisu. Our favourite two (we couldn’t pick just one) was the hazelnut and orange macaroon along with the stunning white chocolate and pomegranate mouse which was topped with a heavenly white chocolate truffle – I even managed to eat them both before the other half even got a look in.

So I’ll admit, I’m pretty new to the whole afternoon tea experience. I’ve not grown up divulging in it and it’s only in my 20’s that I’ve now become a little bit addicted to the idea, but from my experiences so far The Landmark London is certainly the best afternoon tea I’ve had to date. It’s got decadence, history, class and tradition all encompassed under one stunning glass roof. At a starting price of £45 – it isn’t cheap – but it is worth every single penny.

The best Afternoon Tea I have had in London.
Everything was great. I loved the variety of different pastries and savories. It was well presented and the taste of each pastry was incredible. We had a good mix of everything. Later on we got scones with clotted cream and jam!! (you can chose btw plain or with raises) 
The Winter Garden is a great location to have friends over and enjoy a delicious cup of tea! 
PS. They also serve Gluten free afternoon tea!

Everything was perfect except the minimum order amount is £55. Since there is no such information anywhere and we learned this at the time of ordering, I was not satisfied only because of this issue. However, I was pleased with the atmosphere, food and service. Also, thanks for the cake they gave us for our wedding anniversary.

Wonderful tea experience. Beautiful venue, delicious tea, and tasty treats. You will leave quite full. Loved the hotel’s specialty teas - the Landmark blend with Bourbon vanilla was my favorite and tested like a wedding cake in a cup.

Booked the Landmark for afternoon tea for my mum as a surprise for her birthday! It did not disappoint, the sandwiches were tasty and tea was divine. The landmark blend was my favourite with vanilla notes. It is unlimited sandwich refills and unlimited tea / coffee refills with the choice of one change during the sitting. The 4* I have given due to the service which I felt they could have been much more attentive, asking for refill sandwiches and drink top ups. I have been to many afternoon teas all over the world and the service here was not great especially for the price paid.

The garden is very beautiful!! From the moment I walked through the door, I was greeted with warmth and hospitality that made me feel like royalty. The ambiance was elegant and sophisticated, with plush armchairs and soft lighting creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere. The staff were all very friendly and nice we were lucky to be served by Emily, who was beyond friendly and listened to all our requests and provided them perfectly with a beautiful smile on her face. The tea itself was a true delight, with an impressive selection of teas from around the world. The tea sommelier was incredibly knowledgeable and guided me through the various options, helping me choose the perfect blend to suit my taste. The tea was served in beautiful bone china cups and accompanied by a delicious array of pastries, cakes, sandwiches, and scones. The pastries and cakes were masterfully crafted and tasted as good as they looked. The sandwiches were fresh and bursting with flavor, and the scones were warm, fluffy, and accompanied by jam and clotted cream. Each bite was a treat for the taste buds, and I savored every morsel. But what really set this afternoon tea experience apart was the exceptional service. The staff were attentive and accommodating, anticipating my needs before I even had to ask. They made me feel like an honored guest, and I left feeling pampered and relaxed. In summary, I cannot recommend this afternoon tea experience enough. If you're looking for a memorable and indulgent experience, look no further than [name of establishment]. It truly exceeded my expectations and left me with wonderful memories that I will cherish for a long time

We booked the place for the high tea on my friend's b’day. It was a good idea we choose this restaurant because the vibe of the place is so good and it makes you feel like you are on a holiday with all the palm trees and soothing piano music in the background. The selection of teas was great it comes with varieties of sandwiches and cakes which was delicious and the service is on point.