This past weekend, Talia, one of my best friends & partner in crime I regularly kidnap for brunch, turned 21! To be able to celebrate with Talia and all our friends we’ve met in London was really a fabulous time. Afternoon teas have been a highlight of our time in London and Bake-a-Boo is probably Talia and I’s favorite. Not only do they provide Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free options, the shop itself is everything girls love: pastel colors, gorgeous tea sets, and endless choices of fairy cupcakes.
Bake-a-Boo’s adorable store front in West Hampstead
Delicious variety of baked goods (their fairy cupcakes are amazing!)
Interior decorated with origami and fairy lights
Bake-a-Boo also sells adorable gifts–perfect as little birthday gifts
Can you blame a girl for loving Bake-a-Boo?
Our semi-private room
Featured in Timeout and many other magazines for their afternoon teas, hen parties, and birthdays
Lovely fresh flowers and candles on the table
Bake-a-Boo’s famous fairy cakes!
Apple Cupcakes
Apple and Date Cake
Samantha and Jessica waiting for the birthday girl to arrive!
THE PRINCESS IS HERE (sorry Talia, I just had to put this picture in!)
Our gorgeous tea set (oh hey meg!)
Assortment of finger sandwiches
Fresh scones: absolutely amazing with clotted cream and jam of course
Vanilla cupcakes with strawberry icing and ice cream cone-shaped white chocolates
Happy Birthday brownies with freshly dipped chocolate covered strawberries
Strawberry vanilla cupcake with a chocolate covered strawberry on top
Enjoying a British tradition the proper way
Our lovely birthday girl with her own gluten and dairy free set!
And my gorgeous partner in crime, Jessica, who has mastered the art of stuffing her scone to the brim with clotted cream and jam!
Having called ahead and booked a semi-private room in Bake-a-Boo, we picked 2 large pots of tea to enjoy: the Summer Blend and Vanilla Black Tea. Both were delicious; especially if you’re a fan of darker teas, the Vanilla Tea was a perfect complement to the cupcakes. And of course, the actual tea set was a gorgeous 4-tier affair! It included finger sandwiches, fresh baked scones with clotted cream and jam, strawberry vanilla cupcakes, brownies, shortbread, and chocolate covered strawberries on every tier. We really had a phenomenal time sharing our tea sets and chatting about all the great memories we’ve had in London thus far (a little shout out to all my girlfriends: i love you guys to the moon and back!!) So thank you Bake-a-boo for the lovely birthday tea!
Next on our birthday list was obviously a celebratory pint for the newly turned-21 year old. Craft Beer Co., which just opened in Covent Garden has been on my to-go-pub list for a while and I’m happy to say, they have a great selection of cider, beer, and pale ales on tap! The pear cider was especially good if you’re looking for a sweet and refreshing drink on a summer night.
Gorgeous girls enjoying some pale ale and cider while chatting right outside of Craft Beer Co. Happy 21st Birthday Talia!
Chatting outside Craft Beer was a great deal of fun and to end the night off, we decided to walk to Somerset House and pop some bottles of prosecco at Fernandez and Wells in celebration of good food, good drinks, and great friends. Sitting in the Somerset Courtyard with proesecco while soaking in the gorgeous view was honestly one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had in London. Whether you’re touring London or just looking for some nibbles, Somerset House is a must-go. Especially if you make it here at night, you’ll definitely be wow-ed by the phenomenal view.
The unbelievable Somerset House courtyard view
In the famous words of Ciara, “The princess is here (She’s here)” TALIA!
Wine with my London lovelies, in the incredible Somerset courtyard!
To wrap it up, Happy Birthday Talia! I hope this is the first of many more birthdays I get to spend with you. I’m so incredibly blessed to have you as one of my best friends, Kappa sister, and partner in crime. Droopy t., stay classy and fabulous. As the year is winding down, I know we’re both getting more sentimental but trust me, this will make reunion in stateside that much sweeter.
P.S.- I’m going to omit the rest of the night, which may or may not have included spontaneous explorations of London’s Chinatown and dim sum parlors, so we can have a classy end to your birthday.
with all the love in the world, eatprayjade x.
Bake-a-Boo
Address // 86 Mill Ln, Greater London NW6 1NL
Telephone // 020 7435 1666
Website // www.bake-a-boo.com
The Craft Beer Co. (Covent Garden)
Address // 168 High Holborn, WC1V 7AA.
Website // www.thecraftbeerco.com/pubs/coventgarden/
Fernandez and Wells (Somerset House)
Address // Strand, WC2R 1LA
Telephone // 0207 420 9408
Website // www.fernandezandwells.com/shop/somerset-house
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