Afternoon tea, anyone? Devotees of this lovely British tradition should make a beeline for the landmark Royal Lancaster London, majestically positioned on Hyde Park, as I did during my most recent trip to the city. Designed by architect Richard Seifert, the landmark luxury property originally opened in 1967 and is currently in the midst of a £80 million renovation (about $112 million) honoring a Mid-Century architectural past, rooted in its former life as the offices of the Rank Organisation entertainment conglomerate.

I’m shown to the elegant lobby bar, and left to peruse the extensive menu of teas by Novus, including delicious-sounding options such as Sapphire Earl Grey infused with blue malva and bergamot, Wild Encounter with fruits and berries, Organic Darjeeling sourced from one of India’s oldest tea plantations, and China’s famed silver-tipped Pai Mu Tan tea. Since I’m a traditionalist (at least when it comes to hot beverages), I choose the English Breakfast. It’s served piping hot with a small glass hourglass to help me track the brewing time; arriving just before the first course of the tea service. Savory choices included a warm tartlet of goat’s cheese and red onion confit, a choux bun stuffed with Coronation Chicken and a selection of delicate sandwiches with unexpected features, such as the cranberry bread used in the honey roast ham sandwich and the beetroot bread that wrapped the cucumber and chick pea puree choice.

The genius of head pastry chef Steve Penny further reveals itself when the strawberry jam, Cornish clotted cream and warm, fresh-from-the-oven scones arrive (timed carefully by the attentive, polite waitstaff, who never let my cup run dry), and is in full display by the final sweet course. Besides the hazelnut lollipop, there’s black cherry cheesecake, cranberry and orange macaroons and rhubarb and custard tart. Atop a tiny cake, the property’s rose insignia and founding date are commemorated in chocolate. In addition to an oh-so-elegant daily afternoon tea service, the hotel offers a variety of themed indulgences to choose from, from ARTeas, Halloween and Valentine’s teas to festive holiday seasonal indulgences.