🫖 Boulevard Brasserie

wanderingazuki
13 minutes ago
6 min read

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Badge: Worth a Wander 🌿

Boulevard Brasserie offers a charming and affordable afternoon tea right in the heart of Covent Garden. With thoughtful service and a cosy upstairs seating area, it’s a convenient choice for casual meetups or birthday treats. While the ambiance and food presentation may not rival the city’s more iconic spots, the experience is solid for its price point—and the scones are definitely worth mentioning!

📌 The Details

✏️ Category: Afternoon Tea 🍰

📍 Location: Covent Garden, London.

🗺️ Address: 40 Wellington St, London, WC2E 7BD

Perfectly located near Covent Garden station, Boulevard Brasserie is a super central pick—ideal if you’re looking for a teatime break during a day out in London.

🕓 Opening Hours:

Monday – Thursday: 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Friday – Saturday: 12:00 pm – 11:30 pm
Sunday: 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm

🌐 Website: https://www.boulevardbrasserie.co.uk/

📱 Instagram: @boulevardbrasseriewc2

📲Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boulevardbrasserie

📍 Getting There: Location, Location...

🚇 By Tube

Covent Garden Station (Piccadilly line) is the closest—just a couple of minutes’ walk via James Street

Note📝: There’s no step-free access—platforms are only reachable by lifts, followed by a short staircase

🚏 By Bus

Bus routes 9, 13, 15, 23, 139, 153 stop nearby at Aldwych or Trafalgar Square—then a 5-10 minutes walk
Alternatively, the No. 24 stops near Leicester Square - then a 5-10 minutes walk

🚲 By Bike

Santander bike docks are available around Covent Garden, including nearby on Russell Street & Wellington Street

🚗 By Car / Parking

Street parking is very limited—you’ll find metered bays only on surrounding streets like Wellington Street, Tavistock Street, and Bow Street

Note📝: The area is inside the London Congestion Charge zone.

🚶 On Foot

Boulevard Brasserie is nestled right in the heart of Covent Garden’s theatre district, making it super walkable from several key tube stations:

Station	Line(s)	Approx. Walk Time
Covent Garden	Piccadilly	2 mins – Easiest and closest; a straight walk via James Street.
Leicester Square	Piccadilly, Northern	4 mins – Exit towards Cranbourn Street, walk along Long Acre and turn onto Wellington Street.
Holborn	Central, Piccadilly	9 mins – Follow Kingsway down and turn right onto Wellington Street.
Charing Cross	Bakerloo, Northern (and National Rail)	7–8 mins – Walk via Strand and Southampton Street into the Covent Garden Piazza.
Tottenham Court Road (step-free)	Elizabeth, Central, Northern	12–13 mins – Head down Charing Cross Road and cut across via Cranbourn Street or Long Acre.

📝 Note: While Covent Garden station is closest, it has no escalators—just lifts and a spiral staircase. If you’re carrying bags or prefer step-free access, Tottenham Court Road or Green Park (step-free to street + interchange) may be better.

🍽️ Food

The food was enjoyable, though fairly standard for an afternoon tea experience. The sandwiches arrived fresh and well-made, but I found them a bit smaller than expected—just right for a nibble, though I would have appreciated slightly more generous portions. One thing I noticed was the overall balance between savoury and sweet items. The selection leaned more heavily towards sweets, which, while delicious, slightly tipped the scales and left me wishing for a few more savoury options to even things out. Having said that, this tends to be the norm in many afternoon tea offerings.

Now, the scones were undoubtedly the highlight of the spread. They were large, soft, and perfectly baked—just the kind of comforting, fluffy scone you dream of. Served with proper clotted cream and jam, they hit all the right notes and made the whole experience feel a bit more indulgent.

The dessert selection, which included macarons and a mousse, was pleasant enough but didn’t quite leave a lasting impression. They were tasty but didn’t bring anything particularly exciting or unique to the table.

Overall, the food did the job and satisfied my afternoon tea cravings, but it didn’t quite excite or surprise me.

🫖 Tea & Presentation

I loved the porcelain teacups—they added a lovely touch of elegance and ceremony to the table that immediately set the mood for afternoon tea. Delicate with a vintage feel, they felt thoughtfully chosen and were one of the more visually charming elements of the whole experience.

That said, the metal teapots felt a little out of place. They were certainly practical—they kept the tea warm for a long time, which I appreciated, especially since we had regular refills. But visually, they didn’t quite match the rest of the setting. The contrast between the dainty teacups and the bulky, utilitarian teapots felt a bit jarring, and it disrupted the flow of what could have been a more cohesive presentation.

It’s a small detail, but one that stood out—especially when you’re sitting down for something as ritualistic and aesthetic-driven as afternoon tea. A matching porcelain or floral teapot might’ve elevated the overall experience and tied everything together a little more nicely.

Tip✨ : The team was happy to offer hot water top-ups—just ask!

🙋‍♀️ Service

Service was definitely one of the highlights of our afternoon. From the moment we stepped in, the staff greeted us with warm smiles and a professional yet relaxed attitude that immediately made us feel at ease. Despite the buzz of the weekend crowd, the team handled everything with calm efficiency. With our reservation, we were promptly shown to our upstairs table, which had a lovely street-facing view—perfect for people-watching while we waited for our tea stand to arrive.

What stood out most was the attentiveness without intrusion. The staff checked in at just the right intervals, making sure our teapots were always full and that everything was to our liking—without ever hovering. We didn’t need to wave anyone down or feel like we were being forgotten, which made the whole experience feel smooth and well-paced.

📝 Note: They even surprised me with a birthday card, which made the visit feel extra special. A lovely and unexpected touch! Thank you to my lovely friend who arranged this for me!

🛋️ Ambiance

Our table was set upstairs, which offered a welcome sense of calm compared to the bustling energy of street level. The space had a cosy and slightly tucked-away feel—ideal for a slower-paced afternoon tea without too much foot traffic around. The window-side seating gave us a charming glimpse of Covent Garden below, adding a bit of atmosphere to the overall setting.

However, one thing that stood out—and not in the best way—was a lingering, unpleasant smell that we noticed almost immediately upon entering. It was faint but consistent, both at the entrance and later when I went downstairs to use the toilets. It wasn’t overpowering, but it was hard to ignore and definitely took away from the otherwise relaxed vibe.

In terms of style, the decor leaned more towards pub-chic with a cosy brasserie feel, tapping into that familiar British pub atmosphere. It wasn’t the typical hotel-style setting I’ve had for afternoon tea in the past, but it had its own charm. With wooden tables, dim lighting, and a more casual setup, it felt more like the kind of place you'd stop in for a pint or a hearty meal—very much in line with the traditional British pub vibe.

For somewhere in Covent Garden, it makes a lot of sense. With so many tourists and theatre-goers around, this kind of relaxed, approachable setting fits right in. It’s not trying to be fancy—it’s trying to be welcoming, and in that sense, it delivers.

💰 Cost Summary

Expect to spend around £25–£30 per person, which is a great deal for a central London tea, especially with the quality of service included.

🌸 Final Thoughts

Boulevard Brasserie offers an affordable and centrally located afternoon tea with warm, attentive service. While the setting and food didn’t quite wow me, I really enjoyed the experience—especially as it was a lovely way to celebrate my birthday. It’s a pleasant spot that works well for casual meetups or a relaxed celebration right in the heart of London.

This afternoon tea offering is ‘worth a wander’

⭐ Rating: 3 out of 5

Please also check out my Tripadvisor review and GoogleMaps review

🧳Your Turn to Wander In🧋

Have you tried Boulevard Brasserie or another hidden afternoon tea spot in London?
What do you value more in your afternoon tea—ambiance, food, or service?

Let me know below or tag me @wanderingazuki on socials!