Iconic luxury department store Harrods has partnered with Skullpanda, one of Pop Mart's most popular designer-toy characters, to introduce an immersive, three-act afternoon tea at the Harrods Tea Rooms in Shanghai.

Launched on Nov 15, the collaboration weaves contemporary art-toy culture into classic British tea traditions, transforming the tearoom into a dreamlike environment rich with Skullpanda-inspired elements.

About Skullpanda

Skullpanda is known for its delicate yet edgy aesthetic. Each series unfolds with an imaginative narrative universe where the character moves through symbolic settings and emotionally resonant worlds. This narrative-driven approach has become a defining signature and a major reason for its devoted global following.

Drawing on that creative DNA, Harrods and Pop Mart have crafted an afternoon tea that plays out like a miniature theatre. Inspired by Skullpanda's newest series The Feast Begins, the experience takes shape as a three-act tasting journey, with each act translating the series' themes: contrast, harmony, and coexistence into flavor and presentation.

Act I: Chaos

The opening act sets the scene, imagining Skullpanda as tableware brought to life, stepping into a realm of "chaos" where sharpness meets grace and tenderness stands beside strength.

The signature cocktail, Velvet Afternoon, draws inspiration from Skullpanda's dual nature. The tasting arc begins with a gentle, tea-party sweetness, evolves through layered notes, and concludes with a deep, lingering finish. Savories such as the Wagyu Sandwich and Mackerel & Grape Brioche fuse Eastern and Western elements, creating contrasts that feel both surprising and harmonious.

Act II: Collaboration

The second act turns to pairing and harmony. Harrods' classic scones, served with homemade jam and clotted cream, embody the idea of "working together", signaling the story's transition into a phase of balance and cooperation.

Act III: Symbiosis

The finale celebrates coexistence, where individual elements come together to form a unified tableau. The desserts draw directly from designs in The Feast Begins series:

• The Sugar Cube is reimagined as a shell-like confection with a glossy chocolate coating
• The Star appears as a diamond-shaped mousse inspired by The Silver Fork
• The Napkin Girl layers cherry mousse and almond sponge to recreate the gentle silhouette of The Napkin

If you go

Guests may make a reservation by adding the Harrods Tea Rooms customer service account or visiting the venue's Dianping page.

Sources: Official WeChat accounts of Shanghai Jing'an Media Center at "jaxwzx", Pop Mart