Brown's Hotel

I’ve only been to Browns Hotel a handful of times for lunch and then a few more times in the afternoon in a mad dash to get out of typical English down pour while shopping in the area.

On the whole I’ve been impressed though there was an undercooked fish dish incident once while dining with my Godmother – please note it was all taken in very good humour and very quickly and efficiently rectified plus offer of more drinks on the house (which we declined) and I have never felt in the slightest way disappointment by the other occasion.

The main dining room is really lovely. It feels open and grand without any fussiness of clutter. Service is quick and efficient with all waiting staff able to explain or advice on menu choices confidently. Even when the room has been busy we have felt in no rush to leave and they obviously allow for leisurely lunches in their booking times.  I do usually book but have also just walked in and been seated with friends immediately (this may have just been luck). The menu has good options for light eaters as well as hearty, filling choices.

I have often ended up in the bar after an afternoon in the West End, it seems no matter what cocktail I choose my friends always choose one I want more – or maybe that just says something about the “what you can’t have you want argument”! I think my favourite to date has been a Black Pearl (I’m pretty certain it was called that – a delicious berry mixture of dark syrupy alcohol!)Be warned they are very generous with the bar nibbles and you can come away eating a weeks’ worth of calories in assorted nuts and delicious savoury bites without even noticing until it’s time for dinner and you realise you have no appetite!

The bar has a cool, calm feel to it without feeling cold and the bar staff never let your glass remain empty … or the snacks dry up!

Between my friend and I we now have several umbrellas from the hotel as when finding out we did not need shelter from a storm to the  nearest cab  but rather to walk home they gave us them –  it’s a very nice, old fashioned touch and much appreciated.

Ive never seen the rooms so can’t comment but assume from the rest of the hotel they are very good.

If you are wheat or dairy intolerant note that I think I heard them say they can provide a cream tea without either which many places still don’t do.

Bit pricey for every day but definately worth it occassionally

Brown’s is truly an exquisite hotel.Elegant, classy, well presented rooms , and service that is second to none.

Best place in London for afternoon tea. Yes, I think that I can safely say that as my friend and I started with afternoon tea and stayed on for more than 7 hours it was a very, very good place.

The sandwiches, scones, cakes, tea and champagne were all superb but it was the service that was unsurpassed. Only the most intensive training can inculcate such service.

Other more well-known afternoon tea establishments could learn a thing or two.

Fabulous location for afternoon tea! The afternoon tea offered here is one of the less well-known ones, but that just makes it easier to get a table.

Comfy sofas in a beautifully decorated room, the murmu of conversation and a beautifully laid out afternoon tea - mmm…

The regulation sandwiches (ask for the veggie selection if you don’t want salmon) are delicious and impeccably made; the scones are warm, crunchy on the outside, soft and cloudy on the inside; and the vast selection of cakes is to die for! The problem comes in choosing which to go for, and in which order, oh decisions, decisions.

Make sure you don’t eat lunch before you come here, and you probably won’t want dinner until very late either! Perfect special occasion tea, with minimal tourists unlike the Ritz, Dorchester or Claridge’s which seem to have become tourist meccas recently :o(

This is a 5 star hotel and feels like one too. The service is excellent, the staff are all very polite, well spoken and efficient. The place is spotless with nice little touches like brand new soaps in the bar bathrooms etc.
There are also nice little perks for kids- the staff leave out presents on the beds if they know children are staying.
It is in central London so if you can afford to stay here, the location is ideal.