Sketch Afternoon Tea Review | Is It Worth It?

In this Sketch afternoon tea review, I break down afternoon tea at Sketch London, from the blush pink gallery and truffle sandwiches to the Insta-worthy toilets.

Blasting full pastel pink in colour, Sketch London is a dreamy place that looks something out of the blingy-aesthetically curated feed on Instagram and Pinterest.

One look at the Sketch Gallery, and you are sure to put this bubble-gum restaurant on your bucket list. In this review of afternoon tea at Sketch London, I’ll break down everything you’ll need to know.

For more afternoon tea options, read my guide on the best afternoon tea in London

There are many places in London where you try the traditional English afternoon teas in dainty china with your fingers gracefully around the cup.

But, at the same time, there are far fancier places offering quirky afternoon tea experiences in London, and that’s exactly what Sketch is about.

The gorgeous European restaurant mixes it up by serving teas from around the world – from China to Japan to Morocco – the afternoon tea at Sketch London has it all.

When first looking for afternoon tea in London, I walked into the elitist Fortnum and Mason in Piccadilly, where they serve traditional mid-day flavours in pastel-blue chinaware.

Later, I walked into the more modern, creative, and colourful Bafarat Cafe in Soho.

Sketch Afternoon Tea Review

Now it’s Sketch’s turn. I visited Sketch, housed in a whitewashed 17th-century edifice, and the place shone bright pink through its arched windows.

I knew I had to experience what was inside. Perhaps, it was the faceless bull terrier sculpture attached to the wall. It didn’t take me long before. I was seated on one of its plush pink sofas.

A Little About Sketch Pink Room

The pretty pink room is a quirky and artsy 18th-century, 220 years old townhouse tearoom nestled in the Mayfair District.

It earned its third Michelin Star in 2019 and the winner of the Afternoon Tea Awards 2016 – Highly Commended.

Imperial and retro on the outside, the place turns into a hip lounge on the inside every evening.

But, in between, the pink room offers a 60s-style tea salon to enjoy rare blends of English afternoon tea in London. 

The Sketch Gallery, or the fancy pink room (as you probably know it on Instagram), has undergone a makeover recently. The Gallery owes its surreal transformation to the Turner prize-nominated artist David Shrigley.

He is the one who replaced the old black-and-white frames with new 239 eye-popping comics and outré artwork.

The visually soothing, monochromatic backdrop merges with the eclectic menu and funky artwork to give you a tearoom experience like no other.

All the Rooms at Sketch London

Sketch is a fabulous place, but not just for afternoon tea. In addition to its aesthetic pink Gallery, it has four other rooms dedicated to different gastronomical pleasures. They are:

· The Parlour

· The Lecture Room & Library

· The Glade

· The East Bar & Pods

Sketch the Parlour

Open Monday to Sunday, 9 am to 10 pm, the Parlour is yet another gorgeous space offered by Sketch London. The room is more casual (and affordable), with a selection of cocktails and fruit bowls on its menu.

The mornings here offer light breakfast, and the afternoons bring in the concise lunch menu.

However, the best time to visit the Parlour at Sketch is after the evening. When the other rooms serve daring dinners, this room dims the light, plays live music, and focuses on cocktails.

Sketch Lecture Room and Library

The Lecture Room and Library Room are reminiscent of the hall from Beauty and the Beast. The same panache and academia ooze in this room. Orange tinted window gives the whole space look dipped in live sunset.

Awash in red and golden, this two-starred Michelin restaurant makes for an unforgettable meal, which again is curated by celebrated chef Johannes Nuding.

This palatial Sketch London room hosts dinners from Tuesday to Saturday between 5 and 7 pm. For lunch seating, arrive any day from Friday to Saturday between 12 and 4 pm.

The Glade at Sketch

Serving Michelin-starred food by chef Pierre Gagnaire in a picturesque setting wins hearts.

The scenic decor concept includes chairs that wear ballet shoes in unreal floral paintings that will transport you into an enchanted forest. Literally, by the looks of the Parlour, it practically begs to be Instagrammed.

The quirky touches here include pink-spilling stairs and self-playing piano. The Glade opens Monday to Sunday between 11:30 am to 3:00 pm for lunch and 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm for dinner.

Sketch East Bar & Pods

It is decorated with a harlequin ceiling, easter eggs, and sculptures of a rabbit and a bee! Hmm… what could it be? Well, this photoshoot-worthy room is the Sketch London toilet. The cute loo gets a seasonal makeover too!

Sketch Afternoon Tea Review | My First Impression of Sketch Gallery

I step into the Sketch Gallery, the dining room of the stunning restaurant, and am immediately entranced by the pleasing pink hue of the area.

Comfortable pink velvety sofas and pink blush chairs sat against blush-pink walls decorated with funky white-pink-purple artwork. Warm lighting gave the whole place an orangish hue, complementing the overall décor.

My first thoughts? It was lavish. I wanted to click a thousand pictures for Instagram and Pinterest (and as you can see, I did just that!)

The professional staff was very welcoming and gave me a rundown of how my experience in this unique tearoom was going to be.

The staff was knowledgeable and attentive, making everyone in the room feel special and excited.

All this while, musicians play live in the background, setting a romantic ambience to enjoy your Sketch London Afternoon Tea.

Sketch Afternoon Tea Menu

What makes the Sketch Gallery so attractive for teetotallers is its attention to detail. It offers a creative menu, another one of its quirky touches, including a wide variety of tea to pick from or a champagne afternoon tea if you are celebrating a special occasion. This was one of my favourite afternoon tea experiences.

Once seated, the Tea Master comes to the table with their cart. They let you take in the aroma and talk to you through the tea selection to help you make the right decision.

With the tea arrives the delicious midday meal, including the quintessential trio on the Sketch menu afternoon tea:

· Assorted finger sandwiches in smoked salmon, truffle Croque, coronation chicken, asparagus & tea mayonnaise, cucumber & ricotta, and Egg gougere & watercress.

· Sultana or plain scones served with Cornish clotted cream, organic strawberry & poppy jam, organic blackberry, blueberry, and Earl Grey jam.

· Petits Gateaux like peach ruby cheesecake, lemon marshmallow, strawberry tart, red fruit Battenberg, cake and guanaja chocolate éclair.

That’s not all. Alongside the expected trinity, the Sketch Gallery serves you its sugar-sprinkled, traditional Victoria sponges. There is even a caviar man, that comes around with caviar if you want to have the full rich girl experience in real life.

Those who wish can also start their afternoon tea with a glass of Pommery Brut Royal or Pommery Brut Rose champagne.

Over-enthusiast I got straight to the real tea stuff by ordering the Peppermint tea to start. The tea was tasty and refreshing. What’s more?

Sketch lets you have as much as you want. 

That’s right. You pay once to enjoy unlimited tea poured into your ceramic cups, which boast distinctive mordant texts and drawings, yet another quirky touch. So, if you like variety like me, you can choose multiple teas to taste.

Sketch Afternoon Tea Price

The Sketch Afternoon Tea costs £85 per person. Known as the Sketch Classic Afternoon Tea, the order includes unlimited tea of your choice, finger sandwiches, scones, cakes, and traditional Victoria sponges.

You can order a glass of Pommery for an extra £29.50 per person and a glass of Pommery Brut Rose champagne for an additional £25 per person.

Sketch Afternoon Tea Timing

You can enjoy the tea, meal, and ambience of the Sketch from Monday to Sunday between 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. I recommend booking your table in advance.

Sketch London Afternoon Tea Review | Everything Else You Need to Know before Booking a Table at Sketch Gallery

What is the Dress Code in Sketch London?

When stepping into the glamorous tearoom, you have to dress art smart. The Gallery requests its guests to wear outfits with a sense of style and character. Sportswear or beachwear is not allowed inside the pink room.

What is the Sketch London reservation policy?

It is recommended to book tables in advance when planning to sip delicious tea at the Sketch tearoom.

You can make your Gallery afternoon tea or dinner reservations up to 3 months in advance.

However, depending on the rush, the reservations may start late or close sooner. You can also add your name to the waiting list by calling +44 (0) 207 659 4500 or emailing reservations@sketch.london.

What is the Sketch London cancellation policy?

You can cancel your Sketch Gallery reservations free of cost until 72 hours before the booked date. Late cancellations or no-shows will cost you a penalty.

The fine varies depending on which room in Sketch London you booked. For Gallery, it is £30 per person.

Can You make a reservation for dessert only?

No, a reservation for dinner at the Sketch Gallery requires you to enjoy at least two courses, including the main course.

If you want to taste just the cakes and patisseries, book the table between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm in the Parlour or the Glade, where the late afternoon menu is served. Both the rooms operate on first-come, first-serve walk-ins.

My Take on the Afternoon Tea at Sketch London

This stunning pink room is worth a visit for its creativity, aesthetic, and delicious afternoon tea at Sketch.

The professional tour around the room and rundown of the experience while the music plays in the background is a cherry on top.

The Sketch afternoon tea is worth the money, and it’s been one of the best afternoon tea experiences so far. It’s not an Instagram hype kind of place.

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