Vegan Afternoon Tea
At The Rubens at the Palace, vegan afternoon tea is treated with the same ceremony, creativity, and indulgence as its traditional counterpart - proving that plant-based dining can be every bit as refined. Carefully crafted by the hotel’s pastry and culinary teams, the Vegan Afternoon Tea is a polished celebration of flavour, seasonality, and thoughtful sourcing, set just moments from Buckingham Palace.
The experience begins with an elegant selection of savouries that reinterpret British classics through a modern vegan lens. Expect delicate finger sandwiches filled with spiced tofu “egg” mayonnaise and watercress, cucumber and dill crème fraîche, grilled vegetables with tomato hummus and vegan parmesan, and a standout plant-based “chicken” sandwich with grain mustard mayonnaise and toasted almonds. Each bite is designed to be balanced, familiar, and quietly inventive.
No afternoon tea would be complete without scones, and here they arrive warm and freshly baked (both plain and fruit) served with homemade seasonal preserve, lemon curd, and plant-based clotted cream, offering all the comfort of tradition without compromise.
The sweet course is where the experience truly shines. Highlights include a roasted plum frangipane cheesecake, a light and nostalgic rhubarb Victoria sponge with vanilla soy whip, a dark chocolate and blood orange brownie with 80% chocolate cream, and an apple and pecan financier crown layered with caramel apple and silky plant-based mousse. Each dessert is meticulously plated, making the stand as beautiful as it is indulgent.
Paired with teas from The Royal Tea Library - featuring ethically sourced, exceptional blends—the Vegan Afternoon Tea at The Rubens feels ceremonial yet welcoming, indulgent yet considered. It’s a compelling choice not only for committed vegans, but also for anyone curious to experience how plant-based patisserie can rival the very best of London’s afternoon tea scene.