Manchester is known for many things - from its buzzing nightlife scene and strong sports pedigree, to its enviable food and drink options. The latter is often dominated by new and exciting concepts, but for something a little more timeless it's worth taking a look at the city's impressive array of afternoon tea concepts.
Fortunately, when it comes to tucking into dainty finger sandwiches, scones with lashings of clotted cream and pots of tea, Manchester has plenty of places where you can satisfy that hunger-inducing gap between lunch and your evening meal - whether its a special occasion like Mother's Day, a birthday celebration, or just a weekend treat.
The quintessentially British pastime is said to have originated in the mid-19th century when the seventh Duchess of Bedford and her upper class posse of friends got a bit peckish mid-afternoon. Lucky for us, the tradition endured, and today Manchester is teaming with tea rooms, delis, cafes, and plush hotels serving up everything from cream teas with a pot of strong tea, to platters filled to the brim with fanciful cakes, pastries and even more sweet treats.
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Below you'll find a few of our favourite options, from the Alice in Wonderland-inspired Richmond Tea Rooms to high tea with a view at Cloud 23, catering to every appetite, budget and dietary requirement. Let us know if there is anywhere else we should try in the comments.
The Refuge
The beautiful Winter Garden at The Kimpton Clocktower Hotel - also home of The Refuge by Volta - not long ago launched its afternoon tea offer with a ‘contemporary twist’, served between 1pm and 4 every Tuesday through Thursday. Start off with a pot of The Brew Tea Company tea or a Heart & Graft Cafe, before tucking into savoury treats like the cheddar cheese custard with flatbread and baby carrots or the oak-smoked salmon with beetroot chutney and labneh.
On the sweet side of things there’s a fig Battenberg, passion fruit and white chocolate opera cake, plus yoghurt, honey and tahini choux bun. An afternoon tea wouldn't be complete though without scones, and the Refuge’s are of the date and sour cherry variety, served with clotted cream and strawberry preserve.
Price: £29.50 per person with hot drinks included.
Kimpton Clock Tower Hotel, Oxford St, M60 7HA | therefugemcr.co.uk
Richmond Tea Rooms
This award-winning ‘Alice in Wonderland’ themed dining experience is one not to be missed. Serving up a feast fit for a Mad Hatter’s tea party, here you can dine in an enchanted forest under twinkling lights all while sampling some of the most exotic and rare teas.
From the Alice Tea (two tea-infused sultana scones with clotted cream and Tiptree preserve)) to the Richmond (with finger sandwiches, sweet treats and a glass of bubbly), there is something to suit every appetite and budget, plus there are vegan and gluten-free variations available.
Price: Alice Tea: £10.50, Hatter’s Tea £14.50, Queen’s Tea £25.95, Tweedles Tea £32.95, and Richmond Tea £32.95
46 Sackville St, The Village, Manchester, M1 3WF | richmondtearooms.com
Cloud 23
Halfway up Manchester’s tallest building, you’ll find Cloud 23 - the glitzy cocktail bar with unbeatable views over the metropolis. Available Wednesday through Sunday, and with the addition of free-flowing Champagne via upgrade, menus here change with the seasons.
Currently, you can tuck into savoury bites like the harissa egg mayo sandwich, green olive tapenade or the Moroccan lamb sausage roll, alongside sweets such as the pistachio Bakewell tart and blueberry gateaux. There’s also a vast selection of teas on offer in a number of varieties from black teas to green and white.
Price: £30 for Traditional Afternoon Tea, £40 for cocktail Afternoon Tea
Beetham Tower, 303 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4LQ | Cloud23bar.com
Sugar Junction
This charmingly retro tea room on Tib Street is a firm fixture of Manchester’s afternoon tea circuit with its tempting treats, China tea sets and authentic music. Served on the traditional tiered stands, afternoon tea here encompasses homemade sandwiches, cakes and scones in a vintage atmosphere.
You can choose from a simple cream tea and cake platter or go all out and have the traditional afternoon tea complete with a glass of prosecco or a cocktail. And each serving comes with a pot of tea or coffee.
Price: Afternoon Tea £29.95, cream tea with jam and cream and a pot of tea £7
60 Tib Street, Manchester, M4 1LG | sugarjunction.co.uk
The Midland
First opened in 1903, The Midland is not only Manchester’s oldest hotel, but it has a long and storied history of serving up some of the best afternoon tea in the city. Over a hundred years later, the tradition is still going strong, and since 2021 it’s taken place in revamped quarters.
Served in opulent surroundings overlooking St Peter’s Square, The Tea Room has its own specialist team on hand to guide you through this quintessentially British pastime. The current menu features sandwiches such as poached salmon and dill crème fraiche, and Goosnargh chicken with mushroom and tarragon, while sweet treats include dark chocolate and blood orange “jaffa cake”, and lemon and raspberry choux bun.
Price: £30 per person for traditional afternoon tea, £40 for the addition of a glass of Champagne, and £13.50 for children.
16 Peter St, Manchester M60 2DS | themidlandhotel.co.uk
Grand Pacific
Manchester has plenty of beautiful buildings to walk around and gaze at in wonder, including the former Reform Club, where statesmen like Churchill and Lloyd George would speak to crowds from the balcony. Now, it homes high-end restaurant and bar, Grand Pacific, where inspiration from Raffles Hotel in Singapore extends to its high tea selection. Tuck into savoury bites such as prawn cocktail vol-au vents and salmon and tuna tartare washed back with a glass of Kaiken Sparkling, or take a bit of some sweet afternoon treats in the form of lemon tarts, a house special sherry trifle or chocolate truffle.
Price: £25.95 per person for High Tea with savoury and sweet choices, £32 for the addition of a special cocktail, £32.50 for Sparkling High Tea, or £34.95 for High Tea with Champagne.
Grand Pacific, 50 Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 1EN | grandpacific.com
The Lowry Hotel
This five-star hotel’s teas are some of the very best around with seasonally changing twists on classic desserts and pastries. Awarded an Excellence Award by the British Tea Guild in the past, The Lowry’s classic afternoon tea is served in The River Restaurant and its spread includes scones with fresh cream and a good dollop of jam, pastries and dainty fancies, and a glass of Champagne or a signature Afternoon Tea G & Tea if you so wish.
It’s worth noting they also have over 80 teas available for you to choose from. And if you enjoy your tea so much you want some to take home, their supplier tea from the Manor offers a Personalised Blend option, so you can create your own tea blend which can be delivered to your home.
Price: £27.50 per person, Champagne or Gin Afternoon Tea £37.50 per person
50 Dearmans Place, Salford M3 5LH | Thelowryhotel.com
Annie’s
Having previously picked up the People’s Choice Award for best tea room at the Manchester Tourism Awards, you’re most definitely in safe hands if you decide to stop by here for a spot of tea. Opened by Corrie star Jennie McAlpine (aka Fizz), this homely space serves some very elegant tea as well as finger sandwiches, homemade Victoria sponge, summer fruits tart, plus a delicious vanilla slice accompanied by a fruit scone with the customary jam and cream.
Price: £20.95 per person or £26.95 with prosecco and £29.95 with Champagne.
5 Old Bank Street, Manchester, M2 7PE | anniesmanchester.co.uk
Cocoa Cabana
If chocolate is your thing, then you’ll definitely want to get your fix here. With two sites - one in West Didsbury and another in Ancoats, this chocolate heaven also serves up a very good afternoon tea. Here the sweet treats really are the star of the show, with homemade scones slathered with cream and caramel for an extra dose of indulgence, plus chocolate tart and chocolate truffles,
Fresh sandwiches and wraps also feature, and to make it extra special you can upgrade to a champagne afternoon tea or unlimited cocktails and prosecco.
Price: £25 with unlimited hot drinks, £37 with champagne, or £44 with bottomless cocktails and prosecco
Burton Road, West Didsbury, M20 1JQ; 7 Murray Street, Ancoats, M4 6HS | cocoa-cabana.co.uk
Menagerie
Decadent New Bailey restaurant and bar Menagerie serves open finger sandwiches and an assortment of cakes on a miniature Ferris wheel - so what's not to love? They also have a more contemporary twist on the afternoon tea, with sharing plates of beef sliders, duck croquettes, 'caulipops' and lobster toast in place of sandwiches.
Price: Menagerie or traditional afternoon tea, £23 per person, or £33 with a glass of champagne.
New Bailey Street, Salford, M3 5JL | menagerierestaurant.co.uk
Sunset - Australasia
Offering a Asian-fusion spin on afternoon tea with it's exotic afternoon teas, Australasia provides a slightly different riff on the pastime. In a setting that transports you to faraway shores you can select from one of four sunset options including 'Sunset Exotic' with a savoury bento box followed by a sweet selection, or 'Sunset Pornstar Martini', which encompasses a frozen cocktail followed by the usual bento box setup. There's also a non-alcoholic option for those who would like the option.
Price: Sunset Exotic £22.50 per person, Sunset Free Spirit £27.50, Sunset Rose £27.50, and Sunset Pornstar Martini £27.50
1, The Avenue, Manchester, M3 3AP | sunset.uk.com
Hotel Gotham
Afternoon tea at this rather plush hotel is taken in the Honey Restaurant on the top floor with views of King Street, and like all good pre-dinner setups it boasts all the details needed for the traditional British custom. Coronation chicken makes an appearance on this menu, as does egg mayonnaise and oaked smoked salmon.
Cakes include lemon sherbet, white chocolate and raspberry tart, passion fruit and guava macaron, and marbled chocolate brownie. They also have an extensive selection of teas from herbal infusions to specially selected Gotham teas in flavours spanning rose, oolong and chai, to name just a few.
Price: £25 per person, Prosecco Afternoon Tea £34, and Tattinger £41.50
100 King St, Manchester M2 4WU
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