Raffles London at The OWO is home to many divine experiences, such as dining at one of its nine on-site restaurants (including one with a Michelin star) or getting pampered in Guerlain Spa.

My personal favorite was afternoon tea, hosted in The Drawing Room, where elegance meets class and offers breathtaking views of historic Whitehall. Starting at approximately $112, you have your choice of tea alongside a vast finger-food selection, as well as the opportunity to upgrade to include Champagne at a higher price.

Raffles at The OWO ties in its historic roots with a Secrets & Spies theme, including pastries and cakes highlighting the work of undercover spies during Operation Mincemeat, a successful British mission during World War II. Many of the operation’s planning and coordinating happened within the walls of the hotel, which inspired the theme of the tea experience.

We each chose one loose-leaf tea out of 25 selections. I chose the hotel’s signature blend, The Drawing Room, named after the venue we enjoyed our experience. Beautiful and vibrant in color, this black tea included rose petals and jasmine flowers, offering a rich flavor. I even purchased some to take home.

© Raffles London at The OWO

The first course consisted of finger sandwiches and an amuse-bouche-style appetizer. Our server visited the table with a second round of sandwiches, allowing us to choose more of our favorites. My go-to was the cucumber, yogurt and mint.

The next course included a three-tiered pastry and dessert selection. The bottom tier housed warm scones accompanied by Cornish clotted cream, strawberry jam and homemade fruit preserves. The desserts were decorated to highlight vital moments from Operation Mincemeat. My favorite was the smoky, whisky-noted, dark chocolate shortbread shaped like a classic rotary desk telephone, which held major significance to the 1943 operation’s success.

© Raffles London at The OWO

Other desserts disguised as key components included the submarine that carried someone dressed as a British officer with counterfeit invasion plans, persuading the opposition the Allies were striking Greece rather than Sicily. Chefs accompanied these desserts with a pastry named The Unspoken Hero, in honor of the unnamed figure who took on this daring excursion and was set adrift at sea. The flavors were inspired by the Sicilian coast.

The final layer was a chocolate-covered cake shaped into a briefcase, home to all the important and secret documents from Operation Mincemeat. Hints of coffee and barley malt flavors shined through, emphasizing the cultural significance it holds in English history.

The tea is perfectly timed to coincide with the Operation Mincemeat musical, currently showing in London’s West End. Visitors can book an afternoon tea experience at Raffles London at The OWO here.