Maison Bertaux

Location: London, UK

Today I visited a scone shop near the British Museum for lunch and afternoon tea. Since I have a restaurant reservation for dinner, I didn’t want to eat too much and thought I’d just enjoy a delightful afternoon tea. I was super worried about having to wait in line, but luckily when I arrived, they said there was a table, so I rushed up to the second floor.

🌟 Signature Scone
They offered two kinds of spreads: one was clotted cream, and the other was strawberry jam. The scones themselves had a wonderful texture, and they paired perfectly with both spreads. I can totally understand why they’re their signature item.

🌟 Ham and Cheese Croissant
This was the only savory item out of the four dishes we ordered. Compared to other croissant places I’ve been to, it wasn’t as hot. However, it was still very soft and delicious. It's perfect for anyone who doesn’t want something sweet and prefers savory dishes.

🌟 Classic Cheesecake
This was much larger than I imagined—super, super, super big! It tasted different from the cheesecakes I usually have in Taiwan. Besides the size, the first bite had a rich cheesy flavor, and the finish had a hint of lemon acidity, which balanced out the richness of the giant cheesecake.

🌟 Apple Pie
Out of the four desserts we ordered, this was my least favorite. It didn’t have my least favorite ingredient, cinnamon, which was good, but overall the texture was rather dense, which is not what I like.

🌟 English Breakfast Tea
This was my favorite tea during my days in England. It was unsweetened and had no astringency. It paired perfectly with milk and was enjoyable no matter how you combined it.

🌟 Hot Chocolate
This was hot chocolate ordered by my family. I personally think it tasted a bit similar to what we have in Taiwan. It’s not the type made with milk, and it’s on the sweeter side. I think it complements savory foods quite well, but it’s less suitable for pairing with sweet afternoon tea.

Overall, it’s an afternoon tea place that makes you want to come back. Besides the good food, the service staff is extremely friendly, making me wonder if all Brits are as kind and willing to chat with foreigners. Moreover, when I miscalculated the cash while paying, one of the staff members said it was fine and that I didn’t need to make up the difference. Although it wasn’t a lot of money, it truly made us very happy. They’re really so friendly 💕💕💕 I highly recommend including this place in your must-dos when you visit England for afternoon tea!