Hidden Gems: Soho's Secret Tea Room, London

By: Emma Werner

From the outside, Soho’s Secret Tea Room is non-existent. Walking through the cool, unique streets of Soho you will stumble upon yet another pub: a staple in most cities in Europe. Walking up to The Coach & Horses, there is no indication that a magical tea room exists just upstairs. Once we found this particular pub, we walked inside and headed straight for the bar. My friends and I were incredibly confused, and no one wanted to be “the one” to ask “is this where the secret tea room is?” since it seemed super unlikely. But, when we got the nerve to ask, the older man at the bar simply pointed to a stairwell behind him. So, with a little hesitation, we climbed the stairs and were immediately greeted by the cutest older couple at the top.

They were warm and excited to get us settled. We decided to do the “sweet” afternoon tea which consisted of a teapot (one for each) and lots of scones and baked goods! It all came with traditional clotted cream and jam… to die for. The decorations are eclectic yet traditional; not all “matchy matchy” with different chairs, colors and dishes. The best part was the price! Afternoon teas can be upwards of 50 pounds per person and this was significantly less. I felt like I had such a special afternoon tea experience which is a must will staying in London, but without the commercialization of this traditional activity. Don’t be afraid to do some research to find places like this instead of just settling for the advertised tea rooms you see all around! Soho’s Secret Tea Room is definitely a hidden gem worth searching for.

23