Afternoon Tea with Sweeping Views at art’otel London Battersea Power Station

Simon Wittenberg enjoys afternoon tea at art’otel London Battersea Power Station, accompanied by stunning views of the former power station’s iconic chimneys.

The luxurious 164-bedroom and modern art’otel London Battersea Power Station opened its doors around a year and a half ago in February 2023 and sits on Electric Boulevard, a short walk away from the Battersea Power Station tube stop on the extension of the Northern Line, unveiled two years prior.

As the name suggests, art’otel offers guests an experience that combines a fusion of art, design, and hospitality, and this establishment’s first foray into the afternoon tea arena certainly follows this mantra.

Available every Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 to 16:00 in the sophisticated setting of the JOIA Bar, which lies on the 15th floor of this glass-fronted property, guests are greeted with a pastel-coloured décor conceived by London’s talented Russel Sage Studio.

Furthermore, floor-to-ceiling windows grant views out onto meticulously restored sections of the Grade II coal-fired power plant (lead image), which on a clear day extends to the River Thames below and as far as the arch of Wembley Stadium and the iconic BT Tower.

The afternoon tea experience at the aparthotel in Battersea has two pricing tiers: £55 per head for the ‘standard’ version and £65 per person when accompanied by a glass of Telmont Brut Réserve champagne, which we had the opportunity to try.

Dietary requirements can be catered for on request as long as there is some advance notice for the kitchen prior to arriving.

The bottom layer of the cake stand was furnished with a delicious array of traditional triangular-shaped sandwiches, spanning pesto and tomato morsels on light and airy tomato bread (as an alternative to the salt-beef filling), smoked salmon and cream cheese on dark rye, and egg and Dijon mustard mayonnaise on wholesome brown bread.

The good news is, is that this element of the tea can be replenished a total of three times, to satisfy those with a decent appetite.

Complimenting all delicacies on the cake stand is an extensive line-up of 12 different teas, ranging from Earl Grey to Iron Buddha Oolong. I settled on the English Breakfast variety with a splash of milk, and top-ups of the matt black teapot are available on request.

Those with a sweet tooth are equally satisfied, thanks to the delicious trio of freshly baked scones with a glazed outer crust. These scones come with a generous helping of thick clotted cream and flavoursome strawberry jam to spread on the soft and warm centre.

This is, of course, in addition to the delightfully presented treats that line the dessert plate. These take the form of elegantly presented and irresistible cakes, which include a cinnamon custard tart with fresh raspberries and a pear and almond choux bun with passion fruit crémeux, which deliver an abundance of flavours on the palate.

However, a firm favourite was undoubtedly the cylindrical chocolate and banana mousse, which had an oozing caramel centre and a top layer of invitingly smooth White Port and lime cream.

Ahead of this year’s ‘Afternoon Tea Week’, which will take place between 12th and 18th August, the JOIA Bar has introduced a new limited edition cocktail named ‘Gin & Tea O’Clock’. It is concocted from a dash of Plymouth Gin, pink grapefruit, peppercorn, and Earl Grey tea, topped with Prosecco.

Alongside the afternoon tea, JOIA Bar also serves Sunday lunch, which my wife had the opportunity to try. It is themed around cuisine showcasing Portuguese and Iberian influences thanks to Henrique Sá Pessoa’s culinary heritage.

In fact, it’s a great value three-course set menu priced at £55 per head and opens with tapas-style dishes, taking in the likes of ‘pan con tomate’ (similar to bruschetta), Padrón peppers with sea salt, potato croquettes with ham, and a particularly tasty concoction of a roasted aubergine halve filled with black olive tapenade and crushed walnuts.

For the mains, you can choose from one of three different options, and my other half headed for the rack of lamb with a rich Madeira sauce, plus some ‘patatas bravas’ (cubes of deep-fried potato with aioli and a homemade ketchup), and a small bowl of salad leaves and finely cut pieces of apple, finished with a subtle and tangy muscatel dressing.

For dessert, it was the delightful spiced pineapple with rum syrup, plus some vegan coconut ice cream, which saw my dining partner end her meal on a cool note.

In summary…
Drawing conclusions, and painting a picture of our experience, the JOIA Bar at art’otel London Battersea Power Station offers the benefit of dining in great company, both on a personal level and from the point of view of the magnificent vista, especially on a bright sunny day that we were fortunate to experience.

With beautifully crafted gastronomic treats and swift and friendly service, coupled with the special added touch of surroundings steeped in history, this all makes for a memorable visit that will leave you craving to return.

art’otel London Battersea Power Station – Where and How?

art’otel London Battersea Power Station is located at 1 Electric Boulevard, Nine Elms, London SW11 8BJ, United Kingdom.

For more information or to make a reservation, visit https://artotellondonbattersea.com/.

See highlights from our visit in our Instagram reel.

Photo credits: Matt Russell / Rebecca Hope.