The Parlour

Obviously they serve good tea here. If you just want a place to take a break mid-​shop, this is the place to do it.
The top floor is only for the full afternoon tea set. This is a casual café where you can have a cuppa.

Visited this place for many years but it looks like fast tourist serving has taken over tradition. The eye catching silverware, tea pots and nice ice cream glass bowls had been replaced by standard, odd looking kitchenware. Tradition killed, completely overpriced now as you pay 6,75 for a small pice of cake vs. 2,95 for a feast at café concerto on the other side of the street. Bye parlour, never again.

I really wanted to take my wife here but I didn’t realize that the entire store closes at 6pm on Sundays! It seemed like most of the shops in the area closed at 6pm on Sunday, so just keep track of time. The Parlour looked really fancy and decadent and I’m sure the sundaes would have been really tasty. The menu looked a little expensive but it’s probably worth it for the experience of getting ice cream here.

I had already had a bite to eat at the small café located in Waterstones up the street, but once I saw this place, I just had to order the afternoon tea special. It came with a pot of tea, two scones, small quiche, and a mini ice cream sundae. Decadent.
Service was fantastic. I really appreciated that I didn’t feel rushed and was allowed to take my time to enjoy my tea and treats. The quiche was especially tasty (I believe it was spinach — it’s been a few days since I was in!)
If you find yourself in the area and in need of a break, give this place a shot. It does get very busy, though. Be prepared to wait, or time your visit between peak hours (aka afternoon tea).

I could spend a decent portion of time walking around Fortnum and Mason, looking at the luxury goods and seeing what surprises there are around the corner. Among the beautifully packaged foods are restaurants on most floors where you can take the weight off your feet and relax with an afternoon tea. The Parlour is one of these restaurants. You can find it on the first floor, just past the silver tea accessories, overlooking Piccadilly.
It was a crisp day and we could feel the chill in our bones. We wanted to rest our feet and refuel and we were attracted to The Parlour. My wife had a pot of earl grey tea. She had originally ordered a pot of the decaf earl grey tea, but the hostess came over a few minutes later to apologise that they didn’t have any of it left in the whole building. This is hard to believe for Fortnum and Mason, which is a multiple story building of specialty foods, but that was what we were told.
I was tempted by the luxury dark hot chocolate. It was very rich and was just like the description promised. I liked how it came out in a coppery colored mug. I had it with a pecan pie with clotted cream. The size of my sweet tooth was bigger in my mind than reality. While I managed to finish the pie, my stomach wasn’t up to the sugar overload and I had to leave the hot chocolate unfinished. Luckily for me, I was permitted to have a few gulps of tea to balance out the sugar.
Fortnum and Mason is a London institution and it’s great to come here and taste a bit of this. The menu is a bit pricey, but I enjoyed the small luxuries and the overall feeling of comfort. I would recommend dropping in for a visit if you are in the store.

Went there for a friends birthday lunch this Saturday gone. The place itself is lovely, well laid out, bright and with lots of windows with views onto Piccadilly. The staff were very friendly and helpful but the main issue was the food. Two of us had the Welsh rarebit, extremely disappointing, one slice looking lonely on a large plate with half a small tomato for £9.50. The turkey sandwich came with no top, no mention of it being an open sandwich on the menu and this, again was grossly overpriced for the quality it offered. Saving grace were the ice creams, again hugely overpriced for what was offered. Real let down.

Items experienced:
Orange Marmalade Sample
Warm Scones, Clotted cream, Preserves
The Original Dusty Road — Coffee and Chocolate Ice Creams, Butterscotch Sauce, Whipped Cream, Chocolate Flakes, Chocolate Macaron
Sated but not stuffed after lunch in Bray it was to shopping that I turned to pass the time before dinner and again wandering into Fortnum & Mason to peruse men’s furnishings it suddenly occurred to me I’d read something about an ice cream shop within the store’s confines, a quick consultation of the wall-​mounted map leading me to The Parlour Large in size and open in design with stools set to a center island flanked by flowered laminate tables it was by friendly smiles from a team of three that I was greeted and opting for booth over barstool I was no sooner seated than a sample arrived, the bitter-​sweet tang of icy orange marmalade topping a tiny cone. Obviously here for the frozen things but unable to resist a list of Fortnum’s other fanciful foods it was with the assurance that scones would be baked to order that my midday snack continued and undoubtedly the best of the trip with pockets of sugar amidst pools of butter things only improved with the addition of thick, sweetened cream and a smear of strawberry. Admittedly torn on the list of sundaes it was eventually to my server that I turned and with suggestions of Knickerbocker Glory versus The Original Dusty Road I selected the later — the icecream itself a bit less rich than much of the artisan options in America but the sauces and accoutrements beyond reproach… the whipped cream particularly something I’d have gladly eaten from similar sized bowl.

We always make a point to come here once for tea time, scones during a visit to London. Haven’t tried the desserts but we keep coming back.

I really love Ice Cream, so I was really excited about coming here to try some out. The Parlour itself is a bit, well, old-​fashioned. Maybe that’s the point. I always think of old-​time ice cream parlors in the US, but this was not that style of old-​fashioned. I was just expecting something a bit more glamorous at Fortnum and Mason.
We got a table. It took ages to get service. We both opted for the ice cream flight of three ice cream cones. We also splurged and split a bottle of bubbly (and they only seemed to sell Fortnum and Mason brand bubbly at The Parlour).
It took ages for them to get our drinks to us as well. They brought it all out together too, which was a bit of a disappointment, so we got our drinks and ice cream at the same time. And the ice cream? It was fine. It just wasn’t special. Most of the gelato places in London seem to do a better job with the ice cream.
And unfortunately the service was just kind of slow and lacking. I realize it’s busy, but I was just expecting more.
I’m glad I went, and I had a great time. It was a great experience, but I’m probably not going back for average ice cream and mediocre service.

we got high tea here! did not fancy the particular tea i chose, or the biscuits. but you know what was AMAZING… THE TINY ICE CREAM SANDWICHES! i could eat a million of them. i also got a slice of cake that was atrocious :(…
anyway, if you’re in london you HAVE to go to fortnum & mason in general!

The Parlour is a gem, with its bright and cheery atmosphere, fine selection of Fortnum and Mason teas, and super-​duper delicious ice cream.
I had my first taste of the Jubilee tea here, Fortnum and Mason’s tribute blend to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebration. I enjoyed it so much, I bought a tin of it downstairs to take home.
But the show stopper here is the ice cream sundaes, and what a selection! Though pricey at £12, it is well worth the indulgence. It was tough to choose, but I went with the Rota Plaustri (chocolate and strawberry ice creams, marshmallows, shortbread, and melted chocolate). My husband opted for the Banana Boat (banana split with banana and toffee ice creams, whipped cream, roasted almonds, and strawberries marinated in 12-​year old balsamic vinegar). Both were excellent — in presentation as well as taste. Really high quality ice creams, rich but not overly heavy, savory with the right amount of sweet. I enjoyed mine so much that I was sad when it was all gone. Full, oh yes, but sad.
They have quite a good menu beyond the sundaes, including cocktail ice creams, Austrian desserts, wine and champagne, and a small selection of entrees.
Both the service and overall ambiance was pleasant. Even the lights circling the counter looked like hot fudge sundaes! It was nice to just relax and take our time, away from the hustle and bustle of London just beyond the walls.

FOOD/​DRINK:
1.) Tea — came with the whole pot, and side of milk of course. yum…
2.) Cappacino — came with a side of a mini-​mini chocolate ice cream on a cone! so cute!
3.) Caesar thing — it was like melted cheese on something but it was good. mm… i love cheese…
SERVICE:
Good
ATMOSPHERE:
The atmosphere is super cute! I love it, it’s a nice cute lil ice cream parlour with I dunno contemporary girly décor. And then it’s in this department store Fortnum & Mason, which is pretty cute to browse around n shop ;P 14

Best Ice-​cream in london. Must try! but booking in advance is highly recommended (esp online booking) because this place is very popular. It’ll make your experience is much better.

Oh Parlour you made my visit to London so much sweeter!
Who wouldn’t be giddy upon entering a place ensconced in pastel pink tiled splendour. It makes me feel like I’m having a grown-​up version of a tea party — sans dolls at a 1950’s soda joint.
Hubby and I came here to indulge our sweet-tooth’s, and found I was torn to choose from the menu as there are MANY lovely temptations to be had. How classy too that there’s champagne & liquor on the menu? However I decided not to corrupt myself and add alcohol to an already dangerously potent cocktail of Lactose & Sugar, but hubby got a beer… Doh! How typically Canadian innit!
I ordered an Earl Grey to start and the tea came along with the most adorable miniature ice cream cone with a tiny scoop of Ice cream on top. Well I started to have a seizure over the mini-​cone cuteness and the server was mildly amused by this so he kept bringing me more mini cones which earns him an A for excellence of service.
The Piece de Resistance came in the form of the «Beekeeper» Sundae.
At 12 quid it’s steep, but it’s 2 – 3 good scoops of Vanilla Praline ice cream with Fortnum’s own rooftop bee’s honey drizzled with delicious honeycomb chunks (!orgasmic!) graciously served in vintage amber glassware. I had to play spoon hockey to get as much as I could before hubby would Bogart it all!
Dairy Queen, Baskin Robbins and Coldstone can all go suck it.

This is a little corner of extra heaven in the glorious Fortnum and Mason store!
An amazing menu of ice cream and sorbet flavours, sundae concoctions, milkshake and a concise selection of sandwiches and savouries. It’s a great place to take someone for a treat, especially kids (and big kids!) It is on the pricey side, but it’s worth the experience and the service is excellent. Also the ice cream portions are quite large so you can easily share between 2 – 3 people if you want the experience without blowing the bank.
Well worth a visit!

If you like cakes, ice cream, coffee and have a special place for old school American Diners in your heart — The Parlour might give you a heart attack.
Sure, it’s posh. Suuuure the mix of American and British culture might send you over the edge. But I promise you that it is worth taking the risk. You jump, I jump, remember?
I’ve had a delicious vanilla milkshake, scones, and their Royal Blend tea (not all at once, mind) and I have to say, The Parlour’s treats are amazing.
Plus, at least when on my last visit, their staff was made up of strapping young lads — so, if that’s your sort of thing, get your butt over to The Parlour. You shan’t regret it.

It is definitely worth mentioning The Parlour in Fortnum & Mason as many people don’t realise that this food hall houses one of the best ice cream parlours in the city. It isn’t cheap, but then neither is Fortnum & Mason.
If you don’t visit ice cream parlours very often and this is an indulgence for you, may I suggest you go the whole hog and order yourself a Knickerbocker glory or one of the cocktail sundaes. If you aren’t into ice cream, then try one of their Austrian strudels. I gorged myself on a Boozie Fruits: raspberry ripple with raspberry liqueur and bellini sorbet. It was devastating.