Luxury Hotels: Think afternoon tea and England springs to mind. Think cocktails and you automatically think of Sex And The City.
So what happens when you combine the two?
This is the question bosses at the stylish May Fair Hotel found themselves asking. And the answer: Cupcakes And Cocktails.
The revered London establishment has put a modern twist on what is a quintessentially British afternoon fare which usually includes scones, triangle sandwiches and a pot of tea.
So when three girlfriends and I were invited to test this classy modern adaptation, we jumped at the chance.
The luxurious hotel is located in the heart of Mayfair – and is a regular haunt for many A-list celebrities (from Paris Hilton and Peaches Geldof to Matt Damon and Lady Gaga) as well as hosting London Fashion Week.
It’s 3 p.m. on a gorgeously sunny Saturday afternoon, so, thankfully for us, the May Fair Bar is fairly quiet.
As well as being attached to the hotel, the bar is a destination within its own right. Boasting a chicly modern décor as well as an extensive menu with more than 40 signature drinks crafted by its mixologist, a night-time visit is seen as an essential stop on the party circuit.
We’re shown to our table by the helpful and attentive staff, who suggest that we leave ourselves in their hands – so we happily oblige.
My friends Claire, Emma, Jo and I chat away, discussing whether or not we bear any similarities to the Sex And The City girls.
Before we can decide, our cocktails arrive.
There’s the Caramel Espresso Martini, decadently flamed on the top with brown sugar. It’s a must for coffee lovers – a strong, rich taste combined with an almost creamy texture, served in a martini glass with three coffee beans on top.
Next is the Chamomile, Spiced Rum and Pomegranate cocktail which is presented in a stylish glass tea set. It’s served hot and tastes like sweet nectar with a nice kick from the rum.
For those who like more substance to their drinks, there’s the Peppermint Tea Martini. It’s peppermint tea served with lashings of crème de menthe and comes in a martini glass with a mint leaf on top.
The Peach Iced Tea which is delightfully refreshing – it’s sleek and simple and is served in a tall glass.
We ‘um’ and ‘ah’ as we pass the drinks around to try them all – as we do so, our waitress arrives with a selection of the brightest coloured cupcakes I’ve ever seen.
We delve in, trying, between mouthfuls, to decide which of these sugary works of art is our favourites.
I love the tangy lemon curd, but the others each decide they prefer either the divine chocolate, the creamy vanilla or the moreish coconut and strawberry.
Before we realise it, we’ve polished off almost 16 cupcakes which, despite their sweetness, were complemented perfectly by the cocktails.
It’s time to leave – before we order more cakes! It’s been an indulgent afternoon – the type of thing every girl deserves to treat themselves to every now and then.
Although, seeing as we’ve probably doubled our calorie intake for the day, I’m not sure that we’ll be seeing the likes of Carrie Bradshaw there…
To book Cupcakes And Cocktails (prices start from £20pp) at the May Fair Hotel, The May Fair Hotel, Stratton Street, London, W1J 8LT, visit www.themayfairhotel.co.uk.
