Pass the Wagyu sliders: London hotel to start gentlemen’s afternoon tea

An afternoon tea without the tea (unless you request it) may become a new tradition at one London hotel.

The Stafford London plans to roll out what it calls a Gentlemen’s Afternoon Tea on April 1 (and no, this is no April Fools’ joke). It’s a bit of an upscale happy hour with a spread that’s better than what passes for a true afternoon tea.

For example, instead of tea from India or Ceylon, you can select a bitter draft beer or sample flights of gin and tonics or whiskeys.

Traditional afternoon teas in Britain include sandwiches, some made of thinly sliced cucumber, as well as cakes, pastries and scones served with clotted cream and preserves, according to Historic UK.

The Stafford’s gentlemen’s tea turns that on its head. This menu serves up mini Wagyu beef burgers on brioche, smoked salmon on brown bread, slow-cooked sirloin on ciabatta and baby spinach quiche.

And sweets have their place too, just not those from the world of scones. You can savor rum brulee, chocolate fondant and red berries cheesecake.

The afternoon tea (of course, women may attend too) costs $55 per person and is served at the hotel’s American Bar.

The Stafford London, which features a main house that dates to the 17th century as well as rooms in the hotel’s mews and carriage house, is at 16-18 St. James’s Place. It’s very near Green Park and the Picadilly tube stop.

Info: The Stafford London