How Burberry’s London Café Serves British Afternoon Tea in Style

Ever walked into a high-end fashion boutique and wished you could stay longer than it takes to make a purchase? At Burberry’s flagship store on London’s Regent Street, the brand has transformed part of its space into a café where you’re invited not just to shop—but to dine, relax, and soak in an elevated British experience. No longer just a place for window-shopping or impulse buys, this space now offers a reason to linger.

Burberry’s new in-store café, named Thomas’s after founder Thomas Burberry, serves a full menu of British classics all day, from breakfast dishes to evening options. You can order everything from fish and eggs to lobster, along with champagne and a proper English afternoon tea—complete with sourcing by London tea experts Lalani & Co.

A Café Worthy of Savile Row

The interior of Thomas’s mirrors the refined aesthetic of the Burberry store itself. Think black lantern-style pendant lights, dark-toned wooden furniture, and a striking black-and-white marble floor—all bathed in natural light from the store’s large windows. The overall effect? A quintessentially British atmosphere, designed to make you feel like you’ve stepped into a refined London drawing room.

More Than Just a Meal: It’s Lifestyle Branding

Luxury brands like Gucci and Armani have long experimented with combining retail with dining. Burberry’s move follows that trend but with a very specific intent—not to compete in the food industry, but to sell a lifestyle. This café is about offering an immersive, elegant experience that extends beyond clothing. As CEO Christopher Bailey put it, the goal is for visitors to “enjoy Burberry’s created leisure atmosphere in a more relaxed and casual social setting.”

The food menu is deliberately British, offering items such as:

• Sutton Hoo chicken salad
• Lobster
• Poached eggs with smoked salmon
• Oysters
• British-style chips
• Marinated salmon scrambled eggs

And then there’s the pièce de résistance: the traditional British afternoon tea, served with Champagne. The tea program is curated by London-based boutique tea specialists Lalani & Co, ensuring an authentic, refined tea service that includes proper etiquette and premium blends.

An In-Store Gift Room with Custom Touches

Alongside the café, Burberry has introduced a luxury gift area where shoppers can browse curated items like stationery, travel goods, and home decor. What sets this apart is the option for bespoke personalization—choose from embroidery or leather embossing to create a unique souvenir or gift. It’s the kind of detail that encourages lingering, returning, and investing emotionally in the brand experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Burberry’s Thomas’s café located?

Burberry’s Thomas’s café is located inside the brand’s flagship store at 121 Regent Street, London. It’s integrated within the retail space, allowing visitors to shop and dine in the same visit.

What kind of food does Thomas’s café serve?

Thomas’s serves a full range of classic British dishes all day, including oysters, Sutton Hoo chicken salad, poached eggs with smoked salmon, lobster, marinated salmon scrambled eggs, and British-style chips. They also offer a traditional afternoon tea with Champagne.

Who curates the tea service at Burberry’s café?

The tea menu is provided by Lalani & Co, a London-based boutique tea specialist known for high-quality, authentic tea curation. They ensure the afternoon tea follows proper British standards.

Is the café part of a larger trend among fashion brands?

Yes. Brands like Gucci, Armani, and Roberto Cavalli have previously launched restaurants or cafés. Burberry follows this trend, but positions the café as a way to promote a refined, luxurious lifestyle rather than as a profit-driven food venture.

Can you personalize items in the Burberry gift area?

Yes. The luxury gift room allows customers to customize items like stationery and leather goods with embroidery or leather embossing, offering a bespoke keepsake or gift option.

What was the goal behind opening Thomas’s café?

According to Burberry CEO Christopher Bailey, the goal is to let visitors enjoy a more relaxed and casual social experience within Burberry’s curated, elegant environment—extending the brand beyond clothing into lifestyle and hospitality.

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