“Cada taza de té da un poco de amor”
If you know me, you know I love a hot, relaxing drink. I love a good coffee. I love a good tea. But, finding a good tea in Spain can sometimes feel more like a mission. So when I found out about the afternoon tea at Hotel Don Pancho I had to jump at the chance to give it a try.
Living in Spain, whilst my family live in England can be difficult. Especially, on big days like Mother’s Day. It can be hard being so far away and even more difficult finding a perfect gift across the miles. So, it was wonderful that I was able to invite my Mum along to try the afternoon tea at Don Pancho and give her a belated Mothers Day gift and an Easter treat. A perfect mother and daughter afternoon.
There is no set dress code so, after careful planning, I decided to keep it casual with a timeless denim skirt from New Look, a Mickey peep blouse from H&M and my favourite comfy black boots from Bershka. I topped this outfit off with my everyday Mickey backpack and a leather-look jacket from Primark.
It’s bizarre that I live a short ten minutes drive from the Don Pancho, yet I had never even seen the grounds. But, the Don Pancho didn’t disappoint. First impressions of the hotel were fantastic. The grounds were filled with the gentle sounds of the waterfall and the inviting smells of the beautiful shrubbery and flowers. I felt like I had been transported into a mini oasis in the heart of Benidorm.
We were greeted warmly at reception and were shown to the pool bar on the R floor. We chose to be seated in the sun outside with views of the pool. I definitely wanted to take a dip.
We were introduced to our friendly waiter. He took care of us throughout the entire visit and ensured that we were happy. The waiter brought us a menu each which showed scones, biscuits, sandwiches and a few nibbles of strawberries and chocolate. It isn’t an extensive list, but it’s enough to fill a gap mid-afternoon.
I opted for an Assam tea and Mum a coffee to compliment our food. The drinks arrived almost instantly. It was all ran like clockwork. The tea was gorgeous and rich in flavour. I had no trouble finishing the entire pot to myself. The milk was fresh and creamy.
The afternoon tea also includes a glass of cava each. This can be upgraded to an extra glass of cava each if you desire.
The food was brought to our table almost straight after our drinks. There were three sandwiches each, biscuits, a scone with fresh jam and cream, strawberries and truffles.
The afternoon tea was very fresh. One thing to note is the biscuits are made like Spanish biscuits, for very obvious reasons. The food was very fresh and flavoursome.
The waiter checked in on us regularly and ensured that we were happy. He was very attentive and could not do enough for us.
We both enjoyed our food and took our time. A definite highlight was enjoying our traditional afternoon tea whilst overlooking the pool and taking in the Easter sun rays. Although it was a windy day, it was a complete sun trap and sheltered from the blustering winds. What a perfect way to spend the Easter weekend.
It was wonderful to enjoy a light-bite whilst enjoying a great view. The warmed pool is so inviting and the sound of splashing water is definitely welcomed. The atmosphere is so relaxing and completely different to any afternoon tea experience I have tried before.
We decided to finish off our afternoon by having a cocktail. This was not included in the afternoon tea price but I thought they were incredibly reasonable at only €6.50 a cocktail. I opted for a strawberry daiquiri which was one of the best ones I have tried in Benidorm. There was definitely no scaping on measures here.
The downside? When it was time to leave! The afternoon was fantastic and definitely recommended. I would love to go back to the Don Pancho and spend more time there. The rooms looked spacious and I could tell that the balconies would have great views of Benidorm. The general cleanliness was outstanding, and the staff were all incredibly welcoming. I would definitely go back, even just for a drink in the bar.
The afternoon tea at Don Pancho is a very reasonable price of €8 per person, with a minimum of 2 persons. Groups of 6 and above should book in advance at the Don Pancho to avoid disappointment. You can contact the Don Pancho on +34 96 585 29 50 or by e-mail [email protected]. Please mention Diary of a Spanglish Girl when booking.
The afternoon tea is available from 15:00-17:00 every day in the pool bar and from 17:00-18:00 in the lobby bar. The Don Pancho is situated on Avenida del Mediterráneo, 200 metres from Levante beach in Benidorm.
