Origin Kensington

This weekend I had the best afternoon tea in Londen at Origin. The Love Letter afternoon tea with Gran Han selection was beautifully presented — especially the pastries — and everything tasted very good. There was a great selection of teas, with unlimited refills — and you can switch between different teas throughout. A special mention to Istvan, who looked after us brilliantly. He was genuinely friendly and made the whole experience feel quintessentially British.

Tonight’s dinner at Origin Kensington, tucked within the elegant confines of Royal Garden Hotel, was nothing short of a gastronomic symphony against the backdrop of Kensington Gardens’ natural splendor. 🌳✨ From the moment we stepped in, we were enveloped in warmth, greeted by the friendly faces of Origin’s staff, whose attentiveness set the tone for an unforgettable evening. 🍽️💫 @royalgardenhotellondon The À La Carte menu, a testament to culinary creativity, boasts a selection that ebbs and flows with the seasons, punctuated by Origin’s signature dishes that promise to tantalize the taste buds. 🍂🍁 Our culinary journey began with the Kentish Free range pork cheek, a sublime fusion of flavors with onion lyonnaise, garlic purée, spinach sauce, and a decadent coffee and bacon crumb. Each bite was a revelation, setting the stage for what was to come. But it was the mains that stole the show, particularly the Ribeye steak, cooked to perfection and exuding tenderness with every slice. 🍖👌 Paired with a robust red from the stellar wine list, it was a match made in culinary heaven. And for those inclined towards mixology, the cocktails served here are nothing short of masterpieces, each sip a delightful exploration of flavor. 🍹✨ Origin Kensington transcends the label of a mere hotel restaurant; it’s a culinary sanctuary, a haven for those seeking an experience that goes beyond the ordinary. 🌟 From the impeccable service to the artistry on the plate, every moment spent here is a celebration of food, hospitality, and the joy of discovery. 🎉✨

+1

We had a fantastic afternoon tea experience. The selection was delightful, the presentation was elegant, and the atmosphere was lovely. A special thank you to Bogdan for the attentive and friendly service.

+1

Our meal at Origin was sensational. Every dish was stunningly presented and delicious - I wanted to try everything on the menu! It was great value for money, service was good and they catered very well for one person in our party who has a few varied food allergies. Star of the dinner was this mushroom custard - absolute heaven! We will be back. Thank you Origin!

We had the most wonderful afternoon tea here. Apart from the amazing food, a big part of that was thanks to Merio. He was incredibly kind and patient, going out of his way to make sure my family felt comfortable and well looked after. His generosity truly made the experience memorable and set it apart from any we’ve had before. I highly recommend visiting not just for the food, but also for the exceptional service that makes you feel so welcome.

A lovely cappuccino hit the spot after shopparound in London. This branch is in the glorious Royal garden hotel. The seating is comfy and quiet as you looking over the Gardens. I remember seeing Princess Diana driving along this road. I digress the menu is good and it's a good spot to get refreshed. I will be back again

+6

Lovely place, offers a really good menu , we really enjoyed the food. Service is spot on, very lovely staff. Would return for sure.

Came here for solo vegan afternoon tea - the staff was so kind and attentive and the view overlooking the park was so lovely. Both the savory and sweet food was absolutely delicious! I learned I loved so many new types of tea. Great experience for a very reasonable price.

I recently dined here with my partner before seeing Ovo the Royal Albert Hall. The service was excellent, as you would expect at a 5* hotel on Hyde Park. Our waiter Bogdan was very nice and very professional, he is a credit to the restaurant. The food was all delicious and well presented. We were on a First Table deal which made dinner an absolute bargain - £90 with service for starters, sides, mains and a delicious bottle of red wine. I see they also have some very good lunch deals - £15 mains at a restaurant of this quality is great value. (One star dropped for atmosphere just because it was a bit dead, which is obviously an issue with a First Table sitting.)

First time In London! And to be honest I look forward every morning to have my breakfast here the spot is lovely with a wonderful view, really loved the hospitality and care the team! Much thanks for the entire team for the lovely experience!

Istvan was a wonderful and really friendly waiter. We really enjoyed the meal there and the food was delicious! Great spot.

1st visit to London, and Afternoon Tea was my #1 thing to do! Did alot of research on the best places (and prices) and chose Origin; it was mid-priced and got great reviews. It did not disappoint! Cost was about 45 GBP per person, with optional champagne, prosecco and other drinks (yes please!). Coming from the US I wanted to make reservations, and emailed back / forth with Sada, a hostess there. Her communication was great. Origin is the restaurant within a hotel and both are just lovely. Our server explained everything, the presentation was impeccable and everything was delicious. There were a few hot things (like mini quiches), then savory sandwiches (I recall a curry, chicken salad, smoked salmon, cream cheese with cucumber), and a gorgeous display of sweets and scones. In-between, they bring an intermezzo (sorbet, chocolate crumbs, edible flowers and more). After, we walked through Kensington Gardens on a beautiful day (the first, after many days of being cold and rainy I guess.. people were sunning themselves on the grassy slopes). All in all a beautiful experience.

+1

Used a travelzoo voucher, but the service and food was no different had I not had one. Impeccable presentation, and the taste and portions were wonderful. The atmosphere is great and staff are so attentive, without being 'in your face'. Will definitely go back again with a voucher. Don't think I can stretch to full price!

Had a wonderful Sunday lunch at this restaurant today. Food was delicious, service was absolutely impeccable. Had booked a two course meal, which was supplemented with a complimentary serving of mushroom soup. There was a selection of starters including fish and vegetarian courses. Mains consisted of various options including beef, lamb and a vegetarian option (butternut squash). There were also a delicious selection of desserts. Food was served in a timely manner, had water at the table which was topped up regularly. Gravy and horseradish sauce were served separately. The staff were an absolute delight and made us feel so welcome. Big shout out to the waitress who took our dessert order and made us smile. Well done to the whole team!

+1

Took my partner for our anniversary and couldn't have been more impressed! We were catered for by friendly and courteous staff from the moment we walked through the door. We explained prior to arriving that it was a special occasion and everyone, from the bar to the kitchen staff, made us feel as though we were the most important people in the venue. The food was impeccable. Every plate that came out had so much flavour and it wasn't hard to tell that the ingredients were of the highest quality. I ordered the Shepherds Pie, which was brilliant, but the Nasi Goreng that my partner ordered was the real star of the show. Something I intend to order on my next visit. Origin highly exceeded my expectations and I currently recommending to everyone. High-quality, luxury food with a very reasonable price tag.

+5

A wonderful afternoon tea with delicious food, a great cocktail and outstanding service from Theara. The best afternoon tea in London! Thank you for making our celebration on 40 years of friendship so memorable.

Rather surprising Michelin star worthy meal in a gorgeous open environment with lovely views. Was a bit quiet today after the breakfast before the afternoon tea rush which we appreciated the attention the staff gave us because of this. Amazing good value two and three course meals which are actually very large portions. Very interesting wine list and definitely check out the discounted end of line wines which are very good. The presentation of each dish was absolutely gorgeous especially dessert which resembled a garden or even a small forest so well done and so tasty. Great attention to detail by the chef and his staff. They care about taste as well as the visual and compromise on neither. Extremely relaxing and pleasant Saturday lunch - this hotel has something different it's the people the attitude and the pace definitely not run of the mill. Looking forward to returning again!

The food was great but the desserts were fantastic

This restaurant is based in a beautiful hotel overlooking Hyde Park. The food took you on a taste explosion journey building with every course. If the chef hasn't already got a mitchelin star they definitely deserve one. They had a vast range of UK based wines, gins and produce, thst was of the highest quality. We had the pleasure of trying a new vegan tasting menu. I never knew vegetables could taste like this. The depth of flavours were intense and I just didn't want the meal to end.

Had afternoon tea set for one person. Really love the victoria sandwich assortment and scones. And the view toward the end of Hyde park is just stunning. Lovely place.

Amazing service and attention to detail and customers. One of the amazing staff (he was Scottish) noticed that my friend wasn't drinking her drink and fixed the issue she had with it. Beautiful views and a nice break from the fast pace of London.

I've rated this restaurant many times. I'm always impressed by the food and visit often.

I went for the plant based afternoon tea with my son. The food presentation was beautiful. Having a child afternoon tea was awesome. Service was amazing. We were very comfortable and had a beautiful experience. The plant based sandwiches could have been a little more interesting is only room for improvement.

Absolutely excellent service. The staff were patient and professional. Ayush provided excellent service even during a very busy breakfast session. He remained attentive, polite, and efficient while managing multiple guests and requests.

Ayush was wonderful, and the rest of the staff truly made our stay memorable. The service throughout our visit was excellent, with the afternoon tea experience being especially outstanding.

Took my parents for an early dinner. Food was good quality and beautifully presented. Wine was lovely too. We had great service from our waiter Istvan. Vegan options on the menu were more creative than is typical from most restaurants.

Had dinner at Origin restaurant. Beautifully prepared, tasty food, by the talented chef. Everything was perfectly cooked, the gravy was silky and addictive. Istvan was very efficient and helpful all evening. My husband had a surprised birthday candle. The decor of the restaurant was simple but relaxing, perhaps more gentle lighting would have been even better.

I had an exceptional experience at this 5 star hotel. From the moment I arrived, the staff demonstrated genuine warmth, professionalism, and attention to detail that truly set the tone for my stay. We had been served by Ayush during lunch at the Royal Garden Hotel, and his service was outstanding, warm, attentive, and professional.

We had a wonderful breakfast experience thanks to our waiter Ayush. He was extremely polite, attentive, and professional throughout our meal. He greeted us warmly, took our order patiently, and made sure everything was served perfectly and on time.

Overall rating I would say 4.5, excellent staff who will go the extra mile to see to their customers. Food was okay, could improve on the veggie presentation!. It was rather deserted for the time of day we visited.

+6

Very clean, well ordered, served restaurant, right in the hotel and next to the park. Staff is professional and polite. Food great and good portions. Nasi goren could be a bit more spicy when asked for spicy 🌶️. Whisky selections not too bad . Price range also good for the area

Food was lovely! We booked through first table app which was a bonus. Highly recommend the wild garlic gnocchi. All dishes are well presented and they have a wide range of vegan and vegetarian options. Service was the only let down to the whole experience (who ordered what was mixed up and we had vegan/vegetarian guests. Also food was taken from the table without asking first). Overall we would visit again.

A very nice afternoon tea, but not much leeway if there are things on the menu that you don't like/want. Slightly disappointed that the tea was only using teabags and not tea leaves, but it was still very nice.

An experience, and a good example of afternoon tea in Kensington. Let down a little in execution. Afternoon Tea is a relatively new offering at Origin, so let that be a caveat to this review. Service is very good; attentive staff, willing to explain each course in detail and cater for requests. Definitely give lots of different teas a try. They are all included, and are all fantastic! Course 1: Warm plates Delicious, and frankly the highlight of the entire meal, with each flavour delicately held in balance. A perfect pairing, and where most may see 'black pudding' and think it is too heavy, it definitely is not. Course 2: Sandwiches Unlimited, and with a choice of three, there should be something for everyone. However, if you want the desserts, you'll not want to avail yourselves of the unlimited sandwiches... Each comes with a different textural experience. The surprise was the coronation chicken, which is shockingly well-executed (I usually find it an overly sweet filling that smacks of the times of rationing). The salmon croissant was a standout. The cucumber sandwiches are delicious, but are missing something, either more chive or just a crack of black pepper. Amuse-bouche: A well-presented 'terrarium' with an intense strawberry flavour. Course 4: Petit Fours and Scones When ordering for two, they bring enlarged versions of the desserts (instead of pairs of each). This looks good, but becomes an awkward affair if you happen to be sharing with a colleague or acquaintance and not your SO. The flavours generally work, but you may be hard-pressed to detect the Earl Grey in the choux. The lemon and noisette flavours in the macaron are well-matched, however. The scones are basic fare, but are well-risen and presentable enough to give the best a run for their money. The preserves are a little odd, however. The rhubarb and strawberry preserve flies in the face of the amuse-bouche, with no flavour strong enough to break through the sweetness of the scone and cream, leaving a sweet but all-too-subtle taste experience to round off the whole affair. TL;DR - Great service, good food, good flavours, odd portions for two, underwhelming preserves.

Beautifully plated, delicious dinner, served with impeccable style. Our attentive and highly skilled waiter, David, poured our tea in a swirling motion, fluffed the napkins for our laps and generally put extra flair into every step. Would have been five stars if we hadn't been lead to expect a view overlooking Kensington Gardens. In fact, the view is of a high brick wall and tree tops above. Technically a garden view I suppose, but not something I would advertise as a draw for clients.

Doesn't have much of a view of the park despite the name as it's not very high, but the interior is quite nice. Complaint over, the service was great and the food was even better. I went on a Sunday so the memu was limited to roast options. My started was a warm pigeon breast salad, with blueberry and beets - a surprisingly good combination. My main course was roast chicken with seasonal greens and cauliflower puree - succulent and tender chicken breast which is hard to do. My pistschio eclair wish raspberry sorbet was also so tasty.

We went here for Sunday lunch and had a pleasant time. The service was good but a little slow and forgetful, not sure if they were overwhelmed. When we were attended to they were all nice. The location is lovely, overlooking the park is a nice touch. The food here is great and definitely worth recommending. The lamb was delicious and we need the recipe for those roast potatoes.

6/10 experience I’ve only experienced afternoon one other time at the Sanders Hotel (mad hatter’s tea) which I absolutely loved. Origin Kensington is still new and I think needing to craft their menu. The items were creative but missed the mark for flavor in my opinion. Too unusual for the savory and sweet pastries/desserts especially. The desserts each had too strong of a particular flavor. The sandwiches and scones were pleasant, and the tea selection was nice. SERVICE: good and the all the staff we encountered were friendly. ATMOSPHERE: quiet and pleasant during our September, Sunday visit around 3pm. OVERALL: I would try a different place for a traditional afternoon tea. This one missed the mark for the savory and dessert items so I won’t be back for the afternoon tea experience.

Not what we expected. We ordered stake , but they did not ask medium or rare. Knifes were not sharp enough to cut stake. I think knifes should be different for this dish.

Decent food and service. Reasonable value but in a lovely location overlooking Kensington Gardens

Very unsatisfactory experience for such an expensive place. The wait staff was constantly confused, starting with thier mistaking taking down orders, delivery of those orders, and logistics & pacing of delivery (placing plates, clearing dishes, presenting). Cocktails were over priced and pedestrian. While the servers were mostly kind they were discombobulated, and at one time became accusatory: server questioned which sauce my invitee did chose for her steak, it was the first example of poor customer service. Additionally, they served the wrong table some apps we ordered and also charged us for sides that we didn't ask for. Lastly, and the kicker was after they served the bill which was paid for with generous compensation (25%), they had the audacity to sprint over to me in the hotel (it's connected to the restaurant) to me and my party as we were about to leave. They forgot to place on the check a 40 extra charge for cake cutting. A cake we brought that I cut and served. While I'm used to this charge, it wasn't mentioned when the special request was asked. They didn't do a thing other than hold on and present the cake. They demeanor in this context was quite offensive and poorly handled. I don't know if it was the server (maybe manager) that caused the small scene in a busy hotel lobby running, but this was completely unprofessional given they're not including the charge was their mistake. The food wasn't great, not for the prices and what was delivered. Portions on smalls side and the selection is scattered.The ambiance for a Tuesday night was extremely quiet, the restaurant was largely empty. Safe to say I would not return and would not recommend. Advertised as elegant, but delivered amaturesish.