Afternoon Tea at TOKii at The Malt & Lounge Bar
The Prince Akatoki (formerly The Arch London) is the first 5-star Akatoki hotel. It is also the only 5-star Japanese hotel in London. The Malt Lounge & Bar is their in-house restaurant for guests and diners. The hotel is a short distance from popular attractions such as Mayfair, and Oxford Street and its closest tube station is Marble Arch station.
This venue is perfect for those who are looking for something new in London and is after that ‘minutes getaway’ from the hustling and bustling streets. It was the perfect venue to meet my best friends after a long delay of two years.
Interior:
The minimalist interior gives a feeling of peace; its use of warm, atmospheric lighting was carefully paired with neutral colours – making it easier for diners to focus on the food. There is a use of dark timber with dark cladding, natural wood and minimalists seating.
There is also a unique scent that is composed of woods and soft smells of petitgrain and bergamot around the lobby and waiting area.
Afternoon Tea Menu
We went for the afternoon tea menu, which happened to be a Wimbledon themed and very current. Here’s what’s was on the menu:
• Brioche of seared tuna with avocado and wasabi dressing
• Japanese egg rolled omelette
• Chicken teriyaki bun
• Salmon nigiri
• Egg sandwich with Japanese mustard and shiso cress
• Miso glazed sweet potato and sake cake
• Genmaicha jelly, strawberry compote, mini meringues
• Matcha macaroon
• Lemon yuzu, blueberry and ginger tart
• Scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream
Kicking off with the Japanese egg rolled omelette, it is a miniature sized egg omelette that can be found in several Japanese venues, this omelette was less sweet than the ones I’ve been used to but its miniature size was welcoming and a start to a delicious meal.
Next came the small brioche roll with seared tuna and avocado and wasabi dressing. The tuna and avocado was covering the brioche which made it slightly difficult to see where the brioche was, but it was tasty. The wasabi dressing wasn’t overwhelming and allowed me to taste the sweetness of the brioche.
The Chicken Teriyaki Bun was tasty and had a nice taste to it. It was interesting to see a teriyaki style dish on an afternoon tea menu.
The salmon nigiri was a nice treat, as I was craving a bit of rice after the chicken teriyaki bun. It didn’t come with soy sauce (in case you wondered)
I can never say “no” to an egg sandwich, although this piece didn’t contain any truffles (like the Afternoon tea at Stratford), it was still delicious and had a bit of tradition to taste.
I had to say my least favourite was the Miso glazed sweet potato and sake cake. My guests also felt the same as it seemed to have contained something with a nutty texture. We are both tolerant to nuts so it wasn’t a problem but the overall texture didn’t work for me. But it was a filling piece and I feel that it would be great for a quick “bite” that fills you up quick.
Genmaicha jelly, strawberry compote, mini meringues – I liked this dessert, although I am not starting to think I should have eaten the scones before this dessert. My favourite part of the dessert would be the genmaicha jelly, it had a subtle taste that neutralised the taste of the strawberry compote.
Matcha macaroon – The matcha macaron was a favourite, because IT’s MATCHA! It had its delicate crunch and the matcha filling wasn’t too sweet, which is perfect for a dessert treat.
Lemon yuzu, blueberry and ginger tart – Carefully decorated into the shape of a tennis ball, the lemon yuzu gave a very strong zesty taste, the blueberry and ginger tart was delicious. You could taste the ginger when you bite into the tart.
Scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream – The scones were plain and sultanas, which was something usual when it came to afternoon tea. As we left the scones till the end, it was difficult to finish them.
Towards the end of the afternoon tea, my best friend ordered a ceremonial matcha for the first time. I have to admit, it was the first time I had seen this being ordered and served. The ceremonial bowl (also known as a Chawan) is rumoured to have been used since the 13th century, their bowls are usually larger and are often smooth to touch and pick up, so it makes it easier for sipping.
On my next visit, I’ll be looking for the dinner menu as there has been a lot of reviews about it and I cannot wait to try for myself.
Have you stayed at The Prince Akatoki before? Or even, dined at the Tokii restaurant before? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Find:
TOKii at The Malt & Lounge Bar
50 Marble Arch, Great Cumberland Pl, London W1H 7FD
