Tea, Tiaras, and Top Secret Sips

Tucked inside Raffles London at The OWO, The Drawing Room delivers a quietly glamorous take on classic British hospitality, where afternoon tea, refined cocktails, and cinematic surroundings converge in one of Whitehall’s most elegant hideaways. From its playful “Secrets & Spies” tea ritual to its piano-accented lounge atmosphere and carefully crafted drinks program, the space feels less like a hotel bar and more like London’s private living room—an indulgent pause that rewards those who know exactly where to look.

New Yorkers have a particular radar for “worth the taxi” rooms: the kind of place where you can arrive a little rumpled from the day, sink into a chair, and instantly feel the city sharpen into focus. In London, The Drawing Room at Raffles London at The OWO is exactly that kind of destination, a polished pause button set right on Whitehall, with views toward the ceremonial swirl where the mounted Household Cavalry keep watch near Horse Guards and the approach to Buckingham Palace.

Step inside and the mood lands somewhere between clubby and cinematic: a stately British drawing room reimagined, with original wood paneling, a working fireplace, and a grand piano that signals the space is built for lingering, not rushing. Come for an anchoring moment in a London itinerary packed with museums and theatre; stay because it feels like you have slipped into the city’s private living room, where history is present but never heavy-handed.

The headline ritual here is afternoon tea, served daily, and it’s not treated as a novelty. The hotel leans into its Old War Office legacy with a “Secrets & Spies” narrative: this is the building tied to Britain’s intelligence history, and the tea program nods to that world with playful precision. On the stand, expect the classics done with polish; sandwiches, scones, and pastries, then a sequence of sweets that behave like little plot points.

One signature is a spy-themed sharing chocolate cake designed like a pocket watch, and another pastry, “Odette,” tips a hat to wartime agent Odette Sansom with elderflower notes.  Tea service is backed by a serious selection, including expertly blended options created with Camellia’s Tea House, with Champagne or alcohol-free pairings offered for those who like their afternoon with a little sparkle. 

If you are timing it like a New Yorker, the late-day move is to treat The Drawing Room as your pre-dinner landing strip. The drinks program reads like a greatest-hits set, tuned to the room: a house “Drawing Room” cocktail built on No. 3 Gin with a wink of afternoon-tea flavors and Champagne; a London Sling with Sipsmith Raffles 1915 Gin; and a properly composed Singapore Sling, plus clean classics like a Martini or Negroni. And in 2026, jazz evenings are set to add another layer of reason to make the beeline. For more information, please visit: www.raffles.com/london