Hi everyone!
If you have been on Instagram and have seen a trendy, plush, baby pink dining room, chances are you have seen a picture of Sketch London. This past weekend I finally had the chance to visit Sketch with a girlfriend of mine who was visiting from Los Angeles! After seeing the photos of this pink wonderland Sketch seemed like the perfect place to have a girls afternoon. Now let's get to the good stuff, the details!
FOOD
Our first item we were presented with was caviar and a boiled quail egg accompanied by "soldiers" (small slices of toast you dip into the soft boiled egg). Personally I don't like caviar, but the plating was really cute and the egg was delicious. My friend who is a vegetarian was given cauliflower "caviar".
Next up came a tray of assorted finger sandwiches and desserts! The sandwiches themselves are a bit of a twist on a traditional afternoon tea selection. The chicken and the duck egg and mayonnaise sandwiches were by far my favorites out of the four flavors. The other two sandwiches I left behind (which for those of you who know me, is shocking)! All of the mini desserts were very good, the only thing I did not try was the bubblegum flavored marshmallow twists. I personally think the only thing that should be bubblegum flavored is gum!
Now the scones. Oh my gosh, they were scrumptious. My friend and I were plotting how to smuggle some home because they were so good. Both the plain and raisin scone were warm and fluffy, almost biscuit like. They were to die for!
Lastly, we were served a slice of Victoria sponge cake and pistachio cherry cake. To be honest both tasted a bit dry and after a bite we abandoned ship.
The tea itself was delicious. My friend who has worked in a very well known New York tea house said that it was steeped to perfection. She enjoyed the Chai tea while I had the Moroccan Mint which was so good!
SERVICE
Call or go online to book in advance. The staff member who helped me book our table over the phone was very nice and helpful when I mentioned I would be dining with a vegetarian. Every member of staff we encountered was exceptionally friendly and informative. The only downside was that no one checked on us after the food was brought to our table. We were told at the beginning of tea that we could change our tea flavor or order more items whenever we wanted to, but we had to flag someone down to get more tea and the extra sandwiches I asked for were never brought to the table.
There is an in house "Tea Master" who is happy to answer any of your questions and to suggest something special if you want to try something new. I would take advantage of this and be adventurous with your tea selection!
ATMOSPHERE
I would challenge you to find a more whimsical, gorgeous, and funky space than Sketch. We had tea in the Gallery but made a point to visit the Parlour and Glade rooms, each of which was impeccably decorated and had a great vibe. A classical trio played music starting around 12:30 in the Gallery which really added to the experience. All of the amazing artwork and ceramic tableware in the Gallery is by artist David Shrigley. I wanted to bring it all home with me! (PS it is all for sale both at Sketch and on their website.)
Bathrooms. Oh yes, the famous egg pods bathrooms. Honestly, these reminded me of an airplane toilet or being in a portable loo! It does make for a great picture, but if you have time and need to go there are some magical restrooms following the paint splattered stairs. This is the most interesting bathroom I have ever been in. Black light and crystals adorn the walls, even the toilet paper is suspended by crystal chains. These restrooms are definitely worth a visit!
COST
Afternoon tea for two was £131. Definitely more on the pricey side for tea, but you're also paying to having the experience of Sketch. Join everyone else and take advantage of the photo-friendly atmosphere and stock up on bathroom pod/tea drinking selfies.
I would definitely visit again and try brunch or have a drink in the Glade. If you have an upcoming girls day, an out of town visitor, or even a date Sketch would be a unique place to go!
For more information visit:
K xo
