Hilton Cardiff, Afternoon tea review

The Hilton Cardiff is a lovely place to while a way an hour or two over afternoon tea.

A panoramic view of Cardiff Castle and a weekend harpist all add to the refined atmosphere.

We ordered the Welsh afternoon tea (£15) - coffee or tea, sandwiches, scones and cakes are all included in the price.

Tea, English breakfast from Twinings, and a cappuccino both did the job.

An impressive wooden stand loaded with goodies arrived.

Triple layered sandwiches were first up. The standouts were Severn and Wye salmon and cucumber containing a delicious mix of poached and smoked fish, and Welsh cheddar packed with mature cheese and juicy tomato. Ham & grain mustard and egg mayonnaise were both good but the mixed seed bread was a touch dry around the edges.

Onto the sweet stuff and the clear standout was a superb warm buttermilk and sultana scone. Golden, crisp and soft on the inside, it was brilliant slathered with clotted cream and strawberry jam.

Other winners included a cracking chocolate macaron, a dinky pot of smooth white chocolate mousse, a chocolate dipped strawberry and a moist banana and walnut cake.

A slice of generic coconut-topped carrot cake was fine whilst the day's duds were Welsh cakes which were slightly underdone on the inside and a mini chocolate brownie which was dense and dry.

Overall, afternoon tea at the Hilton was good. A few tweaks and it could be excellent.

Disclosure - I was invited to Hilton Cardiff, all food and drink was complimentary.

Address - Hilton Cardiff, Kingsway, Cardiff CF10 3HH
Telephone - 02920 646300
Web - http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/united-kingdom/hilton-cardiff-CWLHITW/dining/index.html