The Orangery Restaurant — Restaurant in London

The baroque Orangery, located next to Kensington Palace in Kensington Gardens, was built in 1704–05 for Queen Anne as an orangery for her citrus trees. The Orangery is enclosed by stunning grounds with views of the palace beyond and features a magnificent south-facing terrace. The Orangery offers an extensive seasonal menu. Today for breakfast I ordered a mushroom omelette, which makes for a delightful and wholesome breakfast option that is both nutritious and satisfying. I really enjoyed this protein-packed, flavorful breakfast.To drink I ordered loose leaf English breakfast tea. It is a classic blend that offers a robust and full-bodied flavor, making it an ideal choice for starting the day. Unlike tea bags, loose leaf tea allows the leaves to expand fully during steeping, which enhances the infusion process and results in a richer, more complex taste. Typically comprising a mixture of Assam, Ceylon, and Kenyan black teas, this blend is known for its malty, brisk, and slightly citrusy notes. It's often enjoyed with milk and sugar, but its bold flavor can also be appreciated on its own. English tea prepared with traditional method, which involves using a tea infuser or a teapot, not only elevates the drinking experience but also pays homage to the timeless art of tea making. Overall it was a satisfying meal with a balance of flavours that worked well together. Trying a traditional British breakfast at the Orangery can be a delightful experience for your taste buds and a fascinating journey into British culinary culture. Additionally, pairing it with a cup of strong British tea can enhance your breakfast experience. Later, after visiting the Kensington Palace and gardens, I went to the Orangery again, this time to enjoy the afternoon tea ceremony. English afternoon tea is a delightful and quintessentially British tradition that dates back to the early 19th century. Typically served between 3:30 and 5 PM, it was introduced by Anna, the Duchess of Bedford. English afternoon tea ceremony usually includes a pot of freshly brewed tea, often served with a selection of delicate sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, and an assortment of pastries and cakes. The sandwiches are often filled with classic combinations like cucumber, egg and cress, smoked salmon, or ham and mustard. I really enjoyed the selection of delicate, savoury sandwiches on the bottom tier. In particular, the open English sandwich with salmon roses was very tasty. The coronation chicken finger roll was also interesting. The middle tier is reserved for scones, which are accompanied by cream and strawberry jam, providing the perfect combination of texture and rich flavours. The upper tier is the crowning glory, decorated with an array of sweet pastries and miniature cakes, including Victoria sponge cake, cream cupcakes, chocolate ganache and choux pastry covered in orange icing to resemble the half-orange fruit from the Queen Anne's Orangery. The ritual of afternoon tea is not just about the food, but also about the experience—it encourages relaxation, conversation, and a moment of indulgence in the middle of the day. Exploring this culinary tradition can give you a deeper appreciation for British culture and its emphasis on hearty, comforting meals to start the day.

I recommend it to anyone who would like to experience a fascinating journey into British culinary culture!

If you would like to watch a video of me having an afternoon tea at the Orangery, please go to my YouTube...

A rather disappointing experience upon which I will not be returning. There are far better “afternoon tea” experiences worth your time in London that are significantly more cost effective. But we tried to keep it positive because of the pretty location, that is all this ”restaurant” has to offer.

Genuinely what seems to be a straightforward dining experience is ultimately confusing, and ordering our tea was far more complex than it should have been. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a high tea where they serve “per head” but yet in the menu states a fixed charge of £55. What an unusual service. They refused to serve us only 1 set of afternoon tea because we went as a party of 5, and instead recommended we ordered 3 - we haggled down to 2 orders instead but the waiters did not seem amused or readily available for our polite requests. The service was overall dismal, slow and the opposite of pleasant, we were met with some unappealing glances.

When the food arrived we were surprised to see only one set of tea, despite us ordering two. A dismal amount of food costing us over £110. Mind you there were apparently TWO portions on this tiered set. 4 tiny scones on the plate, would it just be 2 tiny scones on a normal single serving? What a waste of space and poor charge of money.

The table beside us had 3 massive tiers on their table, we curiously asked our server how come we were only served one despite ordering 2 (disappointing) portions. We were told that “the kitchen didn’t know if you had space or not on the table” - not really valid when the table next to us was pushing 4 on their identically sized table. “The kitchen does not like to use too many dishes” again, ultimately rendered void if i looked to my right.

Poor attitude from servers, generally just an off-energy. Will not be returning, would have just preferred drinks and ONE serving of high tea, but alas we have learned a valuable lesson...

I rarely leave negative reviews, but this was one of the worst experiences I’ve had. We arrived as a group of four on a hot day and were initially told there was no space inside or outside despite plenty of empty tables. Only after pointing it out were we reluctantly seated outside.We were waiting for more friends and asked to extend the table, but staff kept hovering and pressuring us about when they’d arrive. They refused to move a chair or accommodate us, even though the terrace was mostly empty. Staff hovered around us unhelpfully and kept coming over every few minutes to ask when our guests would arrive as if we were causing a problem just by sitting there. What made the experience even worse was the behavior of one of the staff members, who was both rude and condescending. The manager, a blonde woman, was dismissive when we asked to wait for additional guests who were running late, and the whole interaction felt incredibly intimidating. Even though we were clearly speaking Russian, the staff member who clearnif knew russian insisted on speaking English, escalating the situation unnecessarily. It felt almost like they were intentionally making things uncomfortable. To top it off, the restaurant seemed to cater mostly to White customers, and we were made to feel unwelcome simply because of our ethnicity The staff are pretentious, the service is unprofessional, and the entire place seems to prioritize image over hospitality. If you’re not part of their preferred clientele, don’t expect to be treated with basic respect. Avoid this overpriced and...