The Best Spots to Celebrate the Royal Wedding

Who's thirsty for the When Harry Met Meghan?

PUB Royal Wedding Cocktails 04/14/18. Photo Credit: Nicholas Karlin www.karlinvillondo.com

PUB Royal Wedding Cocktails 04/14/18. Photo Credit: Nicholas Karlin www.karlinvillondo.com

Photo by: Karlin Villondo Photography

Karlin Villondo Photography

All eyes will be focused across the pond on May 19th when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle say their royal vows. Festivities kick off in the wee hours, but that’s not deterring a few wedding-loving stateside spots from getting into the spirit with tea, British fare and a few creative ways to toast the newest royal couple.

Washington, D.C.: Royal Wedding PUB

Drink Company is known for its elaborate pop-ups — themed for Game of Thrones, the annual cherry blossom festival and Christmas, to name a few — and they are pulling out all of the stops for this one. The Royal Wedding PUB is open through May 20th, decked out with all of the royal touches: The interior is a replica of St. George’s Chapel complete with faux stained glass windows and copies of the heraldic flags. The bar mixes 11 appropriately themed cocktails like the When Harry Met Meghan (pictured above), an ode to the prince with Scotch, banana and ginger, and the God Save the Queen, a classic martini served with a souvenir crown. Arrive early on the 19th to watch it all go down, and you could win a replica of the wedding cake created by the chef at the British Embassy in D.C. All proceeds go to the Invictus Games Foundation, which the prince actively supports. Don’t forget to send your well wishes via a special mailbox that will deliver to Kensington Palace, or to pose with cut-outs of the royals.

New York City: The Palm Court

Those who followed Meghan Markle before she became the duchess-to-be know that her Suits character, Rachel Zane, always dreamed of getting married at the Plaza. So it’s only natural that the storied hotel would host an extravaganza in honor of Markle (and Zane) for the royal wedding. On May 19th, the Plaza’s restaurant will stream the wedding during an over-the-top Royal brunch ($150 per person) featuring Krug champagne, mimosas, bellinis and British-inspired dishes, including black pudding, rashers, lemon and ginger tea cakes and earl grey tea butter biscuits. There will be music, surprise guests and a toast to the bridge and groom. Those who arrive later in the day can enjoy an equally decadent Royal Tea. Fascinators and wedding-worthy attire are encouraged.

Kensington, Maryland: The Dish and Dram

It’s no surprise that a British-inspired restaurant in a town called Kensington is pulling out of all of the stops for this wedding. They’ll roll out a red carpet at 7 a.m. while they live stream the wedding over a brunch of bangers and mash and scones. The day will continue with plenty of booze – pints of Lowest Lord ESB and a high tea with the restaurant’s Kensington Grey tea with elderflower, orange bitters and dry gin. If you want to get fancy (American-style) there is a pairing of Court Garden sparkling rosé with two hot dogs topped with champagne mustard and crispy onions that will run you $85. Little princes and princesses can get in on the action with a parade just for them following the wedding – best dressed gets a gift certificate for a free kids’ meal.

San Francisco: Crown & Crumpet

This Bay area tea salon is taking its show on the road to the Sir Francis Drake ballroom. There they will show the wedding on a delay (it’s on live at 3 a.m.) complete with three seatings for a full afternoon tea – think crumpets, scones, clotted cream and tea sandwiches like coronation chicken on ciabatta and egg salad on white bread wrapped like a gift with a chive. There will be a special champagne cocktail, the Markle Sparkle, with champagne, Saint Germain, strawberry puree and edible glitter. They’ll also have a tea called Sparkle, Markle, a black tea with apple, rosehip, hibiscus, strawberry and blue cornflowers, as well as red and blue macarons and white chocolate-dipped strawberries with red and blue swirls in tribute to her American roots. A raffle, photo booth, swag bags and special games round out the morning and afternoon.

Photo by: Danielle DelRe

Danielle DelRe

Philadelphia: The Dandelion

If you want a proper British supper with your cake, head on over to the Dandelion, Stephen Starr’s homage to a British pub. They’ll be offering a special prix-fixe menu on the evening of the wedding, Saturday May 19th, at 5 p.m. The family-style meal begins with deviled eggs or a pint of prawns, followed by roast sirloin served with Yorkshire pudding, and finished with a slice of elderflower-lemon cake, similar to the one the prince and his bride will savor.

Rochester, Michigan: Royal Park Hotel

This hotel owns up to its name in honor of the royal wedding. Airing the event from 6 to 9 a.m. Eastern, the team will serve freshly baked scones with lemon curd and clotted cream, tiny tea sandwiches and Kir Royales. Guests are encouraged to dress in fascinators and royal garb. At the end of the wedding there will be a raffle to win a Harrods gift basket of tea or afternoon tea service for four at the hotel. The pastry chef will also take a stab at recreating the already famed lemon elderflower cake.

Indianapolis: Smash Social

Roll out of bed or come dressed to the nines at this downtown Indianapolis coffee shop and ping pong bar. Watch the wedding on the big screen while sipping on lemon-elderflower lattes (an ode to the royal wedding cake) and eating on English muffins with jam. After the ceremony, snap a few pics in the royal wedding booth.

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