Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost for you!
Are you looking for the best afternoon teas in Manchester? We are here to help! Whether you are visiting Manchester or a local, you’ve got to sample one of these amazing afternoon teas.
Manchester is perhaps better known for its nightlife and entertainment, but head to these restaurants in the early afternoon and you’ll be delighted to see tiny cakes, finger sandwiches, and mini quiches.
For the best afternoon tea in Manchester, you can head to places with a luxurious feel like The Lowry Hotel and Cloud 23.
Or for a rather quirky afternoon tea in Manchester, head to Richmond Tea Rooms or hop on an Afternoon Tea Taxi Tour.
Whichever place you choose to dine, you will leave feeling entertained and fulfilled.
20 Stories
Are you searching for afternoon tea in Manchester? Well, with this establishment you’ll have to look up into the clouds.
20 Stories is a rooftop restaurant set in the heart of Spinningfields with stunning 360-degree views of Manchester.
20 Stories embodies fine dining, sophistication, and elegance, and they also serve up beautifully presented afternoon tea.
20 Stories launched their afternoon tea series a couple of years ago and it’s been an immediate success. Dainty cakes and scones are served on miniature glass stairs sandwiched (pun very much intended) between books.
They have a variety of tantalisingly delicious sweet and savoury food options. These include crayfish and marie-rose rolls, mushroom quiche, even smoked salmon and caviar blinis.
For something sweet, there’s the maple and pecan choux, apricot macaron, and black forest roulade. Of course, there’s no forgetting their scones which are served with clotted cream, strawberry jam, and marmalade.
- Address: No 1 Spinningfields, 1 Hardman Square, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3EB
- Price: Traditional Afternoon Tea £35pp, Prosecco £42.50pp, Nyetimber £47.50, Minatare Cocktail £55
Richmond Tea Rooms
If you are searching for interesting afternoon tea in Manchester, then the Richmond Tea Rooms are the perfect spot.
Inspired by otherworldly Alice in Wonderland this afternoon tea experience tantalises your tastebuds and enthrals your senses.
Set in Manchester’s Gay Village, this isn’t your average afternoon tea joint. There’s live entertainment, a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and drag queen performances.
You can choose from five different bespoke afternoon teas, all with additional boozy add-ons. There are scrumptious finger sandwiches, quiches and, of course, scones with clotted cream and jam.
Richmond Tea Rooms are always busy and you may well have to wait for a table.
However, as you wait, you’ll be able to observe all the wonderful and wacky things going on inside, you might even see the White Rabbit.
This is the best themed Alice in Wonderland afternoon tea in Manchester.
- Address: 46 Sackville Street, Manchester, M1 3WF
- Price: Alice Afternoon Tea (£10.75), Hatters Afternoon Tea (£15), Tweedles Afternoon Tea (£28.50), Queens Afternoon Tea (£26.50), Wonderland Champagne Afternoon Tea (£28.95)
The Midland Hotel
The historic Midland Hotel is one of Manchester’s longest-running afternoon tea spots, serving locals since 1903.
They serve over 600 scones and 800 pots of tea each week so that’s just how popular this iconic Manchester afternoon tea is!
Having perfected the art of teeny sandwiches, cute quiches, and clotted cream scones the Midland Hotel now has a space dedicated to tea rooms on Peter Street.
Overlooking St Peter’s Square, their tea rooms scream sophistication.
What is more, the team at Midland Hotel are knowledgeable about all things afternoon tea, from its history to the delicious treats you’ll be sampling.
For those sweet tooth enthusiasts, there’s the lemongrass panna cotta, dark chocolate mousse, baked treacle tart and more.
All the cakes are made by the patisserie team so except nothing else but the best!
For savoury dishes, their Royal Afternoon Tea includes the classic cucumber and mint as well as honey roasted gammon sandwiches.
- Address: 16 Peter Street, Manchester, M60 2DS
- Price: Traditional Afternoon Tea £30pp, Royal Afternoon Tea £40pp, Vegetarian Afternoon Tea from £30pp, Vegan Afternoon Tea from £30pp, Gluten Free Afternoon Tea from £30pp, Children’s Afternoon Tea £13.50pp
Fress
Fress’ afternoon tea will have you salivating just reading the menu.
Tier one of their tea service features buttermilk chicken and sweet chilli waffles, smoked salmon and poached egg waffles, and even mac ‘n’ cheese balls.
There is a vegetarian option which features all the same delights as the regular menu but with some slight alterations.
Tuck into tier two for dark chocolate biscoff cheesecake, salted caramel pancakes, and two milkshakes, one strawberry and white chocolate and one Hershey’s cookies and cream.
You can even upgrade your milkshake for an alcoholic version for an extra £5.
Fress’ interior is an inviting place to enjoy afternoon tea – it’s not that typical regal high tea in Manchester but rather a chic and pastel pink-infused dining experience.
- Address: 62 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 1LE
- Price: 2 people // £20pp, alcoholic milkshake upgrade + £5pp
Grand Pacific
The Grand Pacific is another excellent place for high tea in Manchester. Reasonable prices, attentive staff and great food will leave you having experienced an idyllic afternoon tea.
Step inside the building and you can surely see why it’s called the “Grand” Pacific. Tall ceilings and elaborate chandeliers give this place a decedent feel.
Grand Pacific’s afternoon tea is served on an art deco style stand with an assortment of unique offerings to taste.
You can enjoy the Asian inspired duck and hoisin sausage rolls, prawn cocktail vol au vent, salmon and tuna tarte and an array of other savoury snacks.
Their sweet selection includes lemon tart, passion fruit Brûlée, fruit scones, sherry trifle and chocolate truffle.
There is also a delicious array of loose-leaf teas to choose from, including Moroccan Mint, Red Berry & Rose, Chai Spiced and Passion Fruit Guava & Mango.
- Address: 50 Spring Gardens, Manchester, M2 1EN
- Price: High Tea £25.95, cocktail and champagne high tea at an additional cost
Cocoa Cabana
Searching for bottomless afternoon tea in Manchester? Cocoa Cabana provides one of the best value afternoon teas in the city.
What is more, Cocoa Cabana is an award-winning independent chocolatier. Rest assured the sweet section of your afternoon tea will be a thing of perfection.
Think brownies, cakes, handmade truffles and chocolates – drooling yet?
Calling all chocolate lovers! Cocoa Cabana’s serves Chocolate Afternoon Tea.
Their signature scones have a chocolate ganache, there’s a chocolate cherry pot, chocolate truffle and because not everything can be chocolate, there’s macarons, apple crumble tart and spiced pear brownies.
Don’t worry, savoury enthusiasts will be looked after as well though.
There are chicken and tarragon mayonnaise sandwiches, salmon and cream cheese tarts, and moreish garlic, roasted pepper and spinach wraps.
Please also note that they offer their afternoon tea for team buildings and corporate events as well.
- Address: West Didsbury: 168 Burton Road, West Didsbury, Ancoats: 7 Murray Street, Ancoats, Manchester, M4 6HS
- Price: Starting at £25 (alternative drinks options available), Children’s Afternoon Tea £15
The Lowry Hotel
The pièce de resistance, the crème de la crème, the perfectly piped meringue on top of a rectangular slice of chocolate gateau… The Lowry Hotel offers a five-star luxury dining experience.
This sophisticated afternoon tea in Manchester can be found in The River Restaurant at The Lowry Hotel. It is an iconic Manchester establishment with scenic views of the river.
Choose the traditional afternoon tea or upgrade for a glass of champagne or gin.
Favourites include the tomato cheese pastry, the Marie Rose prawn wrap and coronation chicken.
There are, of course, traditional scones served with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry jam.
Sweet delights include an apple and caramel mousse, white chocolate gateau, choux craquelin and a milk chocolate tart.
You can also choose from more than 80 varieties of teas!
- Address: 50 Dearmans Place, Chapel Wharf, Salford, Manchester, M3 5LH
- Price: £59 for two people
Menagerie
Both a restaurant and a bar, Menagerie now serves afternoon tea.
It’s not just any afternoon tea, you’ll be served up an assortment of sweet treats and savoury delights on a characterful miniature Ferris wheel.
Menagerie’s interior is classy with the occasional splash of neon colour. It is definitely a trendy place to have a quirky afternoon tea in Manchester.
Another afternoon tea served on a Ferris wheel stand (this time a glimmery gold one), it’s definitely a good place for foodie pictures.
Their sandwiches include ham and mustard, egg, beef and horseradish, cucumber and cream cheese, and salmon and lemon butter.
Their fruit scones are dusted with icing sugar and served with strawberry jam and clotted cream. Desserts include marshmallow-stuffed donuts, Victoria sponge and chocolate cake.
For drinks, there’s the classic English breakfast tea and mint tea as well as an assortment of coffees. For something boozy you can also upgrade to include sparkling wine.
- Address: Ground Floor, One New Bailey, Salford, Manchester, M3 5JL
- Price: Traditional Afternoon Tea £23pp, Menagerie Afternoon Tea £23pp, Sparkling Afternoon Tea £33pp, Menagerie Sparkling Afternoon Tea £33pp
Sunset By Australasia
Head to Sunset By Australasia for some of the best afternoon tea in Manchester with an Asian twist.
Before getting to the food, Sunset By Australasia provides visitors with an elegant, crisp and unapologetically girly dining space.
Sunset is best known for their bento boxes which are filled with perfectly presented Asian inspired treats.
This is certainly a quirky afternoon tea in Manchester and features sushi, salmon and tuna sashimi and Peking duck.
Be sure to pair your afternoon tea with one of Sunset’s prosecco sorbet blends or a sparkling spritzer.
If you share a love of Asian food, particularly Japanese classics, you’ll love this afternoon tea at Sunset. It is the perfect restaurant location for a date, girls’ lunch or birthday celebration.
- Address: 1 The Avenue, Manchester, M3 3AP
- Price: Starting at £22.50 per person
Sugar Junction
This Northern Quarter establishment is the spot for quirky afternoon tea in Manchester.
Sugar Junction’s interior is enjoyably unusual. Its interior is meticulously decorated with antique furniture leaving guests with something to constantly discover.
It has a bit of a New York vibe to it.
Sugar Junction’s afternoon tea is their top attraction. 25 flavours of tea are served in kitsch owl teapots alongside scrumptious fruit scones and mini house baked cakes.
Sugar Junction went a bit maverick with their sandwiches, choosing muffin-style sandwiches rather than the classic finger!
This Northern Quarter afternoon tea spot is also the go to spot in town for exquisite celebration cakes.
- Address: 60 Tib Street, Manchester, M4 1LG
The Afternoon Tea Taxi Tour
The Afternoon Tea Taxi Tour is a quirky afternoon tea in Manchester you’ve got to try. If you want to combine an iconic British pastime with a sightseeing tour of Manchester, then look no further.
Hop aboard driver John’s black cab and enjoy tea, scones and pastries as you nosey out of the window.
Taxi driver turned tour guide John is an enthusiastic delight with a wealth of local Manchester knowledge.
John can even tailor your tour to your specific requirements. As well as historical tours of Manchester and top attraction tours, he has been known to provide personalised family history cab rides too.
With John’s thorough research of the area, attention to detail and a good cuppa, what more could you want from an unusual afternoon tea in Manchester?
- Address: Pick up at a location convenient for you.
- Price: £220 per tour (for up to six people)
- Book here
Malmaison
Malmaison’s afternoon tea is nothing more than delicious.
It’s not one of these half-hearted afternoon teas that looks like it might not fill you up.
They’ve got all the delicate pastries coupled with hearty burgers and sausage rolls.
Located inside a transformed 19th century warehouse, Malmaison Manchester is a super stylish hotel, right across from Manchester Piccadilly station.
Not satisfied with just a normal afternoon tea, well you are in the best place for a boozy version of the classic British favourite.
Their Cocktail Afternoon Tea allows you to choose from four of their signature cocktails.
You can expect some yummy hints of Asia on Malmaison’s menu with the Crunchy Thai sticky beef and sesame wrap.
Their sweet treats are delightful, especially the Raspberry ripple and white chocolate sundae.
- Address: 1-3 Piccadilly, Manchester, M1 3AQ, Deansgate: 23 Princess Street, Manchester, M2 4ER
- Price: Classic Cream Tea £15, Mal Afternoon Tea £27, Cocktail Afternoon Tea £34, Prosecco Afternoon Tea £32, Champagne Afternoon Tea £34
Cloud 23
Cloud 23 is located in Manchester’s tallest building, Beetham Tower.
Cloud 23 is on top of the Hilton hotel, but there are some super fancy apartments above this restaurant on the highest floors.
As is Cloud 23’s reputation it is always best to book a table in advance to avoid disappointment. Even their afternoon tea service has become so popular its best to book.
A number of classic afternoon tea dishes and some leftfield ones are served on an elegant spherical stand.
Expect cucumber and cream cheese and smoked salmon sandwiches but also pesto chicken.
Sweet items include their strawberry and cream cup, red berry and matcha Battenburg, macaroons and citrus tarts.
Cloud 23 is also another place for bottomless afternoon tea in Manchester, well at least the champagne keeps flowing for 1 ½ hours.
- Address: Beetham Tower, 303 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 4LQ
- Price: Cloud 2 Afternoon Tea £30, Cocktail Afternoon Tea £40, Free-Flowing Champagne Afternoon Tea £55
Annie’s
Annie’s was voted the best tearoom at Manchester Tourism Awards, so there seems like no better place to try a spot of afternoon tea.
If you are searching for a regal high tea then turn right around and head to one of the other fancier establishments on this list.
Annie’s is unashamedly cosy and aims to provide that “going round to grandmas for tea” feel not high end dining luxury.
Annie’s traditional afternoon tea includes all the classic favourites.
There are finger sandwiches, homemade Victoria sponge, summer fruit tarts, vanilla slices and obviously their signature fruit scones and clotted cream.
What’s great about Annie’s is that everyone can feel welcome.
There’s a gluten-free and vegan afternoon tea as well as a children’s menu.
The little ones can enjoy the sophistication of a high tea just with smaller portions and hot chocolate or fruit juice.
Just like at grandma’s house, everyone is welcome at Annie’s.
- Address: 5 Old Bank Street, The Royal Exchange, Manchester, M2 7PE
- Price: Traditional Afternoon Tea £20.95pp, Gluten Free Afternoon Tea £22.95pp, Vegan Afternoon Tea £22.95pp, Prosecco Traditional Afternoon Tea £26.95pp, Children’s Afternoon Tea £10.95pp
King Street Townhouse
If you are dining with a foreign guest, King Street Townhouse is the sort of place you would want to take them for the ultimate British afternoon tea experience.
This famous Manchester hotel offers an entire Afternoon Tea Lounge dedicated to this cultural pastime.
This space is furnished in carefully chosen fabrics and the walls are lined with art.
There’s both an oldie erudite vibe as well as a contemporary feel.
King Street Townhouse is a great place for high tea in Manchester.
If you don’t fancy all the sweet offerings of the classic afternoon tea, this is an excellent option.
They serve up lamb kofta sausage rolls, truffle mac ‘n’ cheese and mouth-watering duck and hoisin spring rolls.
If you’re ordering High Tea King Street Townhouse suggest you can be expecting cheese and chutney rather than scones and cream.
- Address: 10 Booth Street, Manchester, M24AW
- Price: Afternoon Tea £28pp, Champagne Afternoon Tea £38pp
Hotel Gotham
For another of the best afternoon teas in Manchester, head to the five-star Hotel Gotham.
Right in the heart of Manchester their afternoon tea is served in the stunning Honey Restaurant on the 6th floor.
If you want an afternoon tea with a view this is certainly an excellent spot. What is more, tea is served every day from 12:30pm to 5pm.
One of the most seductive aspects of this dining space is the romantic half-moon window that perfectly frames the restaurant.
Hotel Gotham’s afternoon tea menu features almond Swiss roll, matcha and rose macarons, lemon tarts, dark chocolate delice, and sultana scones.
- Address: 100 King Street, Manchester, M2 4WU
- Price: Afternoon Tea £30, with a glass of Prosecco (£39) or Taittinger (£46.50)
The Library, The Edwardian Manchester
This afternoon tea is certainly one that is steeped in history.
The Library is housed in the former Free Trade Hall which happens to be a Grade II listed building.
The Library has now introduced their take on the classic afternoon tea.
As well as the classics like smoked salmon and cream cheese they also serve sour cherry bread, a delightful pistachio and strawberry choux, opera cake and black forest gateau.
They’ve got traditional buttermilk scones as well as apricot flavoured ones.
As well as the traditional tea service there is a prosecco and champagne option too.
- Address: Free Trade Hall, Peter Street, Manchester, M2 5GP
- Price: The Impossible Edition Afternoon Tea £28, with Prosecco £35
The Ivy Manchester
Set in the heart of Manchester, The Ivy is an upmarket joint and perfect for a romantic afternoon tea experience or for enjoying with friends or family.
Their afternoon tea is not overly fancy but certainly filling, and delicately presented.
Savouries include the classic salmon and cream cheese finger sandwiches, grilled chicken and truffle mayonnaise in a brioche roll and the pickled cucumber and courgette double decker sandwich.
Their sweet offerings include the chocolate and blueberry pot, red velvet raspberry cake and madeleine with winter berry and redcurrant compote.
For drinks you can select one of their choices of teas as well as infusions and coffees too.
You can also upgrade to enjoy a glass of champagne as well.
- Address: The Pavilion, Byrom Street, Manchester, M3 3HG
- Price: Cream Tea £8.95, Champagne Cream Tea £17.95, Winter Afternoon Tea £26.95, Champagne Afternoon Tea £35.95
Browns
Browns offer that quintessentially British afternoon tea. All of the elements of Brown’s afternoon tea are meticulously presented and flavourful.
There are mini cakes and puddings as well as a variety of savoury finger food.
Browns is situated in a red stone building constructed in 1901, right on York Street.
This striking Edwardian baroque-style building is conducive with a high-end afternoon tea service.
Browns provides customers with a relaxed atmosphere as well as a welcoming and attentive service.
Their mini desserts include the salted caramel profiteroles, macaroons, chocolate brownies and chocolate slices.
- Address: 1 York Street, Manchester, M2 2AW
- Price: Afternoon Tea £22pp
James Martin Manchester
An afternoon tea devised by famous TV chef James Martin. Yes, please!
James Martin Manchester is inside Manchester235 and they offer a Saturday only afternoon tea, which isn’t to be missed.
Be sure to book in advance to avoid disappointment as this place is pretty popular among the weekend Manchester explorers.
James Martin Manchester strives for smart casual at the foothills of fine dining. So don’t be rocking up to afternoon tea in your tracksuit bottoms or football shirts as you won’t be allowed in.
Something which is guaranteed at James Martin’s restaurant is the original flavours and fresh ingredients.
Ingredients are sourced locally as well as from Lincolnshire’s Redhill Farm.
The savoury delights on offer include honey roast ham, sauerkraut, treacle and fennel bread, cucumber, cream cheese and watercress sandwiches and smoked chicken with truffle mayonnaise in a sage and onion roll.
Their sweet pastries and tarts are delicately perfect.
There’s sticky toffee choux buns, white chocolate, lemon and raspberry bars and an irresistible chocolate and orange pot.
- Address: 2 Watson Street, Manchester, M3 4LP
- Price: Traditional Afternoon Tea £23.95, Champagne Afternoon Tea £32.95, Bottomless Prosecco Afternoon Tea £38.95.
You may also be interested in:
