Mad Hatter’s Tea Party at Six By Nico — A Whimsical Feast

Burnt Toast Delice, Summer Strawberries, Breakfast Tea Ganache, Six by Nico

I won’t lie—these days, most of my inspiration comes from TikTok. That’s exactly how I stumbled upon the Mad Hatter’s Dinner by Six By Nico. I know it’s labelled as a tea party but this was a dinner not a tea party. I saw a TikTok ad (thanks to the ever-so-persistent algorithm), and—clearly through sheer manifestation—just a few days later, my friend messaged me asking if I wanted to join her. The universe really said, “You’re going.”

Now, for some strange reason, I had it in my head that this was going to be a tea party, like the classic Mad Hatter’s Tea at the Sanderson Hotel. But nope—it’s actually a six-course dinner experience. (Not to worry though—the Sanderson’s tea is definitelygoing on my future list.)

The Vegetarian Menu — A Theatrical Feast

Here’s what we had:

Course 1 – We’re All Mad HereBrown Butter Doughnut, Crispy Onion

Course 2 – Caterpillar Secret GardenBarbecue Hispi Cabbage, Smoked Potato Terrine, Crème Fraîche, Garden Herbs

Course 3 – Paint The Roses RedGoats Cheese Parfait, Beetroot, Grilled Red Pepper, Ancho Chilli

Course 4 – Breakfast In Disguise: Sunny Side Upside DownHash Brown, Hen of The Woods, Egg Yolk Jam, Burnt Tomato

Course 5 – Off With His HeadCrisp Celeriac, Fennel, Lovage, Apple & Mustard Mousseline

Course 6 – Jam First, Logic Later: ‘Inverted’ Tea & ToastBurnt Toast Delice, Summer Strawberries, Breakfast Tea Ganache, Jammy Dodger

The Dining Experience — Fine Dining Meets Storybook Fun

This was such a unique dining experience. Fine dining always feels luxurious, but what made this different was how playful and immersive it was. Every course wasn’t just a dish—it was like a scene from Alice in Wonderland coming to life on a plate. From the quirky names to the way each dish was presented, it felt like you were part of a whimsical dinner party where storytelling and food collided.

Course 5 — A Newfound Love for Fennel

Course 5 was hands-down my favourite. Now, call me ignorant, but I’ve only ever seenfennel in seed form. I had no idea it came from an actual plant or that it’s related to the carrot family. The way they incorporated it into this dish completely blew my mind. The textures, the flavours—it was chef’s kiss. Fennel is now officially my new favourite plant, and I can’t wait to experiment with it in my own cooking.

Course 6 — The Underestimated Dessert

And of course, dessert. Course 6 might have looked a little average at first glance, but it turned out to be one of the best desserts I’ve had. The combination of burnt toast delice & strawberry freshness, was unreal. It was like eating a childhood memorybut elevated into fine dining.

Course 4 — A Personal Miss

On the flip side, Course 4 was my least favourite. Now, funny enough, this was my friend’s absolute favourite dish of the night, but for me, it was a bit too heavy and felt like a mix of too many bold flavours. It wasn’t bad by any means—just not my personal taste. But hey, that’s the beauty of tasting menus, right?

Special Mention — “Eat Me, Drink Me”

While it wasn’t part of our main tasting menu, my friend also ordered the “Eat Me, Drink Me” dish: a summer truffle aged cheddar empire biscuit paired with mushroom consommé, pickled mushrooms, and lemon thyme. I have to say—this was probably one of the best mushroom consommés I’ve ever tasted. The depth of flavour was insane, and that hint of lemon thyme just elevated the earthiness of the mushrooms in such a refreshing way. I still think about it.

Behind Six By Nico — More Than Just a Restaurant

One thing that makes Six By Nico stand out is its whole concept of storytelling through food. Founded by Scottish-Italian chef Nico Simeone, the restaurant brings to life themed six-course menus that rotate every six weeks. Each menu is like a mini-experience, inspired by memories, destinations, and playful concepts like this Mad Hatter’s dinner.

Nico’s vision was to make fine dining more accessible and creative, stripping away the stiffness and overpricing you often find in traditional tasting menus. His journeystarted in Glasgow with 111 by Nico, and now Six By Nico has grown into a full-blown sensation with locations across the UK and Ireland, including two in London.

What’s even cooler is that the ideas for each new menu come from a big brainstorming session with his team. They throw out concepts—whether it’s a location, a story, or just a random memory—and together, they build an entire six-course narrative around it.It’s not just about seasonal trends; it’s about sparking curiosity and bringing people into a new world every time. A job that I would say they have accomplished successfully because I really do feel like I was transported into the world of wonderland. 

Final Thoughts — A Wonderland Worth Visiting

If you’re someone who loves dining experiences that are a little bit different, Six By Nico’s Mad Hatter’s Dinner is a must-try. It’s quirky, delicious, and feels like you’ve stepped into a culinary storybook. From discovering new ingredients (hello, fennel) to enjoying some of the best desserts I’ve had in a while, it was such a fun and memorableevening.

And yes, I’ll definitely be booking the Sanderson’s Mad Hatter’s Tea next.

Click here for a preview of my visit here. 

We’re All Mad Here Brown Butter Doughnut, Crispy Onion

Caterpillar Secret Garden Barbecue Hispi Cabbage, Smoked Potato Terrine, Crème Fraîche, Garden Herbs

Paint The Roses Red Goats Cheese Parfait, Beetroot, Grilled Red Pepper, Ancho Chilli

Breakfast In Disguise: Sunny Side Upside Down Hash Brown, Hen of The Woods, Egg Yolk Jam, Burnt Tomato

Off With His Head Crisp Celeriac, Fennel, Lovage, Apple & Mustard Mousseline

Jam First, Logic Later, Jammy Dodger

Eat me, Drink me, Six By Nico