Hotel Café Royal has introduced a new Afternoon Tea inspired by the life and legacy of David Bowie, marking ten years since his passing and celebrating the hotel’s long-standing connection to one of Britain’s most influential cultural figures. Launched in January at Café Royal Grill, the experience is designed as a thoughtful tribute rooted in place, history and the lasting impact of Bowie’s work.

Rather than staging a one-off event, the hotel has chosen a format that encourages time, conversation and reflection. For Café Royal, where Bowie’s story intersects directly with its own, the experience is as much about setting as it is about symbolism.

A Defining Moment in Music History

On 3 July 1973, after his final performance as Ziggy Stardust at the Hammersmith Odeon, Bowie returned to Café Royal to host what later became known as the “Last Supper”. The gathering marked the official retirement of Ziggy, closing a chapter that had already transformed his career and shifted the direction of popular music.

The room filled with figures who defined the era. Mick Jagger, Lou Reed, Lulu and Ringo Starr were among those present, and photographs from the night capture Bowie standing at the centre of a scene that felt larger than a single farewell. The party signalled a turning point, setting the stage for the constant reinvention that would become one of his trademarks.

Today, Bowie’s name sits on Café Royal’s Music Roll of Honour, which recognises the musicians who once “strolled and strutted through the marble entrance hall”. The Afternoon Tea brings that history into the present, unfolding within the same walls where one of his most significant transitions took place.

A Menu Shaped by Bowie’s Creative Eras

The Afternoon Tea menu draws from Bowie’s many creative phases, with each dish picking up on a different moment, persona or influence from his career.

The savoury selection sets the tone. Finger sandwiches include the Thin White Duke, a simple but classic pairing of cucumber, cream cheese and poppy seeds that nods to one of his most polished eras. The Stardust Caesar combines egg mayonnaise with anchovy, while A Study of Spice brings together coronation chicken, almonds and coriander. Rounding things off is The Berlin Years, layered with beef pastrami, gherkin and sweet mustard, a quiet reference to one of Bowie’s most important periods of reinvention.

The sweet course adds colour and drama. Velvet Goldmine arrives as a red velvet cake filled with berries and vanilla Chantilly. The Green Suit, built around pistachio sponge, praline and whipped ganache, recalls the outfit Bowie wore during the Tin Machine concert at The Pier in 1991. Lemon Static takes the form of a madeleine topped with lemon mousse and finished with his signature lightning bolt, while Midnight Orange pairs chocolate éclair with chocolate orange caramel, inspired by the Kansai Yamamoto jumpsuit worn during the Aladdin Sane tour in 1973.

No Afternoon Tea would be complete without scones. Bowie-branded plain and raisin scones are served warm, with traditional jams and preserves alongside.

Tea, Cocktails and Personal Touches

The drinks follow the same attention to detail. Bowie famously preferred Japanese green tea, and a well-sourced selection sits alongside Oolongs and Darjeelings. French champagne is also on hand for anyone in the mood to mark the occasion.

The cocktail list includes its own Bowie reference. The Bowie Gin & Olive takes its cue from his fondness for a classic gin martini. Mixed with Café Royal Gin and finished with two green olives, it’s a small detail that feels very much in character.

A Limited-Edition Tribute

The Afternoon Tea places Bowie at the centre through atmosphere, setting and detail. Small references to his career run throughout, linking his work back to Café Royal and to the moment in 1973 that unfolded there. His influence across music, fashion and performance appears in thoughtful touches that keep attention close to the place where part of his story happened.

Positioned between Mayfair and Soho, Hotel Café Royal has been part of London’s cultural life since 1865. Artists, musicians and writers have long used it as a meeting point, and Bowie’s connection sits naturally within that wider history of creative figures tied to the building.

The David Bowie Afternoon Tea runs for one month, unfolding in the same surroundings that hosted his Ziggy Stardust farewell.