I went to a 'Bridgerton'-themed afternoon tea in London, and I thought the whimsical experience was ideal for a superfan like me

Bridgerton Afternoon Tea
Insider's Ayomikun Adekaiyero attended an afternoon tea based on "Bridgerton."Ayomikun Adekaiyero/Insider / Netflix
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  • I recently attended a "Bridgerton"-themed afternoon tea at Lanesborough Hotel in London.

  • The Regency-era hotel hosts the tea in partnership with Netflix until November 2022 for $78 per person.

  • As a "Bridgerton" superfan, I enjoyed finding hidden references to the show in the decor and food.

Editor's note: Insider received a complimentary meal as part of a press tour. Spoilers ahead.

I recently attended a "Bridgerton"-themed afternoon tea at The Lanesborough, a five-star, Regency-era hotel in London known for its luxurious decor and dining experiences and ritzy clientele.

Bridgerton Afternoon Tea at the Lanesborough Hotel in London
Exterior photo of the glitzy Lanesborough Hotel.Anthony Weller / View Pictures / Universal Images Group via Getty Images

According to the hotel, it was also once the home of Viscount Lanesborough, for whom the property is named.

I was excited to step inside the grand hotel and experience an extravagant affair fit for royalty and "Bridgerton" fans alike.

Bridgerton Afternoon tea
The reporter outside Lanesborough Hotel in London, UK.Ayomikun Adekaiyero

Lanesborough Hotel's "Bridgerton" afternoon tea was created in partnership with Netflix and Shondaland. It runs until November 2022 for roughly $78 per person and costs $14 more to include a special Pall Mall Cocktail.

Though there wasn't as much pageantry as I expected, and I thought $78 per person might be too steep for the average tourist ...

Bridgerton
There are multiple lavish events in the "Bridgerton" such as when the noble families present themselves to Queen Charlotte.Liam Daniel / Netflix

... I thought the hidden details in the food and decor were a delight for "Bridgerton" superfans like me and made the experience more worthwhile for tourists looking for something whimsical.

Bridgerton Afternoon Tea
The entrance had so many plants that it felt like we were going outside.Ayomikun Adekaiyero

To me, the design and atmosphere of the room were flawless. Purple flowers and floral arrangements surrounded the room ...

Bridgerton Afternoon Tea
A tin of "Bridgerton" branded afternoon tea tins displayed when you walk into the tearoom.Ayomikun Adekaiyero

... and if you've seen the series, you will know that flowers are a big theme in both seasons and represent love and purity.

Bridgerton Afternoon Tea
White roses, often seen at celebrations like weddings, often symbolize purity.Netflix

Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) is constantly surrounded by white roses in season one to represent her innocence. Whereas in season two, Lilacs, which are also purple flowers, become a reoccurring theme to represent love.

I felt like I was stepping back in time as I entered the elegant Lanesborough Grill restaurant, which featured multiple grand chandeliers and Roman-themed columns.

Bridgerton Afternoon Tea
This chandelier could have been a picture from "Bridgerton" and I wouldn't be able to tell the difference.Ayomikun Adekaiyero

No "Bridgerton" event would be complete without a classical orchestra rendition of pop songs, and we were fittingly serenaded by songs from the show during tea.

bridgerton season two kate and anthony
"Bridgerton" is known for its grand ball scenes and pop song covers.Liam Daniel/Netflix

As I listened to a cover of Harry Styles' "Sign Of The Times," I acquainted myself with the menu, which looked just like one of Lady Whistledown's society papers.

Bridgerton Tea menu, Bridgerton character reading the Whistledown Papers
The menu even copied the layout of Whistledown's papers.Ayomikun Adekaiyero/Liam Daniel/Netflix

The menu also featured a bee logo, which is the Bridgerton family's crest. Bees crop up in multiple scenes in the first two seasons.

Bridgerton Tea menu alongside bees from the show.
The bee appears on Benedict's clothing in seasons one and two and elsewhere throughout the show.Ayomikun Adekaiyero/Insider/Shondaland/Netflix

The guests at my table were first served a Pall Mall, a gin punch cocktail named after the lawn game played in the show. They told me it was flowery with a fruity aftertaste at the end.

Bridgerton afternoon tea
The glass it was in was also elegant enough to have had a place in the world of "Bridgerton."Ayomikun Adekaiyero

I opted for a non-alcoholic drink instead, which I thought had a very strong citrus taste and reminded me of the Featherington family's citrus-themed outfits.

Bridgerton Afternoon Tea
The drink was similar in color to Penelope Featherington's (Nicola Coughlan) dresses.Ayomikun Adekaiyero / Netflix

Each family in the show has a particular set of family colors.

Next, we were served a "Bridgerton-"themed afternoon tea blend, which I thought had a strong, earthy taste with a slightly sweet, fruity finish.

Bridgerton Afternoon tea
Insider's reporter drinking a cup of tea.Ayomikun Adekaiyero/Insider

Tea played more of a role in the series' second season. In episode three, Benedict tries a tea filled with hallucinogens to help his creative mind, but instead, he makes a fool of himself.

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Benedict (Luke Thompson) drinks spiked tea in "Bridgerton" in season two.Netflix

In episode 3, Colin (Luke Newton) gives his brother Benedict (Luke Thompson) hallucinogenic tea to help the worrying artist relax. Fortunately, my tea only contained caffeine when I added sugar.

Next, the food arrived on a gorgeous, three-tiered cake stand with dainty flowers and leaves wrapped around it.

Bridgerton Afternoon Tea
Tea sandwiches and cakes were served on tiered serving platters.Ayomikun Adekaiyero/Insider

Our table was so stacked with food and drinks that it reminded me of the lavish teas and dinners in the show.

Bridgerton Afternoon Tea
"Bridgerton" dinner tables are often filled with numerous food options.Netflix

The bottom tier featured an assortment of classic tea sandwiches like coronation chicken, cucumber, and egg salad.

Bridgerton Afternoon Tea
The finger sandwiches were surprisingly quite filling.Ayomikun Adekaiyero

Though I was a little disappointed that the tea sandwiches didn't have ties to the show as far as I could tell, I thought they were pretty tasty.

Bridgerton Afternoon Tea
Smoked salmon, egg salad, coronation chicken, and cucumber sandwiches.Ayomikun Adekaiyero

Another round of sandwiches appeared when we were halfway through the first, and I was a little apprehensive about trying another. But I soldiered ahead.

Bridgerton Afternoon Tea
A roast beef slider.Ayomikun Adekaiyero

The following two tiers featured a selection of stunning "Bridgerton"-themed cakes: The Queen's Diamond, The Rake, A True Love Match, The Lady Whistledown, and All is Fair in Love & War.

Bridgerton Afternoon Tea
The two trays of comically-named desserts.Ayomikun Adekaiyero

A True Love Match, a classic sponge cake with a white chocolate badge depicting "Bridgerton" Queen Charlotte, was by far my favorite since it didn't have overwhelming flavors.

Bridgerton Afternoon Tea
Close-up of A True Love Match as it is falling apart.Ayomikun Adekaiyero

The Queen's Diamond, a creamy chocolate dome, came in a small, jewelry-like blue box. The dessert was so detailed that one of the guests mistakenly thought the box was edible, too.

Bridgerton Afternoon Tea
The small rocks around the chocolate help it stand out.Ayomikun Adekaiyero

The pink color was a nod to Edwina Sharma, this year's diamond of the season. The diamond is a special title given by Queen Charlotte to the woman she thinks is the biggest catch of the unwed women in London.

Bridgerton afternoon tea
Charithra Chandran as Edwina Sharma in "Bridgerton" season 2.Netflix

Each season, Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) picks one woman out of all the un-wed women in London to be her Diamond of the season, which enhances a person's chances of getting married. In season two, Edwina (Charithra Chandran) was selected despite not attending the official gathering in front of the Queen.

The Rake featured a chocolate collar on the outside as a nod to Anthony Bridgerton's fashion and status.

Bridgerton Afternoon Tea
The chocolate was meant to represent a shirt and jacket collar.Ayomikun Adekaiyero / Netflix

The hard exterior proved difficult to break, which made it a bit of a hassle to eat, in my opinion. But this also felt like a fitting nod to the Viscount's character.

Bridgerton Afternoon Tea
The destroyed "Rake."Ayomikun Adekaiyero

All's Fair in Love & War was a pale blue flower dessert with a bee on it, which I thought was the most obvious nod to the Bridgertons out of all the food.

Bridgerton Afternoon Tea
The bee appears on a pink rose in "Bridgerton" season two.Ayomikun Adekaiyero / Netflix

As previously stated, bees are the family's crest, while blue is the family color for the Bridgertons.

Daphne Bridgerton, played by Phoebe Dynavor, in "Bridgerton."
Daphne (Phoebe Dynavor) and her sister often appear in bright baby blue in "Bridgerton."Liam Daniel/Netflix

After finishing most of the desserts, I began to regret not saving more room for the scones.

Bridgerton Afternoon Tea
My scone after I deconstructed it and poorly put it back together again.Ayomikun Adekaiyero

They were gloriously soft and reasonably sized. Overall, I was surprised by the generous portion sizes, and I left the afternoon tea feeling stuffed.

Bridgerton Afternoon Tea
A shot of cream and jam on a scone.Ayomikun Adekaiyero

I was hoping for more spectacle during the tea, especially since the series is filled with drama and extravagant meals and parties. A live performance or lawn games could make the event more exciting.

bridgerton season 2 wedding mary and edwina
"Bridgerton" is known for its lavish balls and weddings.Netflix

But the food was filling, the drinks were tasty, and the attention to detail was gratifying.

Bridgerton Afternoon Tea
We were given more tea to take with our scones.Ayomikun Adekaiyero

At around the same price as afternoon tea at an equally posh establishment, I thought this tea was ideally suited for "Bridgerton" fans and tourists looking for something Instagram-worthy.

Bridgerton Afternoon Tea
Insider's reporter trying to take a decent photo while drinking the Pall Mall (non-alcoholic) cocktail.Ayomikun Adekaiyero

The "Bridgerton"-themed afternoon tea, which runs until November 2022 at The Lanesborough, costs around $78 per person, while traditional afternoon tea costs about $76 per person at Harrods and $82 per person at The Ritz London.

Read the original article on Insider