Courtesan Au Chocolate: A New Wes Anderson Inspired Afternoon Tea Experience at the Design Museum, London
Following the huge success of the immersive Tim Burton afternoon tea at the Design Museum, Restaurant Associates is elevating their patisserie artistry once again to celebrate the launch of the Wes Anderson: The Archives exhibition.
Served in the museum’s elegantly styled Design Kitchen, the new afternoon tea promises to be a must-visit experience, offering guests a delicious continuation of their cultural journey. Bringing together food, design and cinematic storytelling, the menu offers a unique draw – captivating film fans, food lovers and design-enthusiasts alike.
Wes Anderson: The Archives exhibition is a compilation of the filmmaker’s personal archives, which the filmmaker has carefully built up over three decades. This is the first time most of these objects will be displayed in Britain and the Design Museum has been granted exclusive access.
Steve Groves, Executive Chef across Restaurant Associates Venues: “We were overwhelmed by the response to our Tim Burton-themed afternoon tea. The enthusiasm was beyond anything we could have imagined. Over five months, we sold an incredible 4,000 experiences and even extended the offering due to popular demand. Now we’re thrilled to unveil our latest creation, inspired by the distinctive visual universe of Wes Anderson. Drawing from his quirky storytelling, we’ve crafted a whimsical centrepiece – a playful reinterpretation of the Courtesan au Chocolat. This standout dessert pays tribute to one of the most iconic confections in Anderson’s film The Grand Budapest Hotel. As a special touch, each guest will receive a recipe card to recreate the pastry at home.”
Savoury highlights include:
- Smoked ChalkStream trout and cucumber tartlet
- Beetroot & whipped goat’s cheese brioche (V)
- Coronation chicken sandwich
Plus, a beautiful array of sweet treats to tantalise all the senses:
- Courtesan au chocolat (V) – a showstopper in every sense
- Pistachio financier (V)
- Raspberry and rose shortbread sandwich (V)
- Sultana and lemon buttermilk scones, served with clotted cream and strawberry jam.
The new afternoon tea will be available from 21st November 2025 at the museum’s Design Kitchen, Monday to Thursday by reservation only, and on Friday to Sunday, available all day.
Bookings are now open. To reserve your experience, please email: thedesign.kitchen@designmuseum.org. Spaces are limited and early booking is strongly recommended.
