Afternoon tea is one of my favourite things to do. With a cake stand filled with yummy sandwiches, a big scone and lots of delicious cakes, what more could you want.
So where does one go for afternoon tea in Edinburgh. Well I’ve created a list of my top 3 favourite places.
1. Hotel Du Vin
The afternoon tea at the Hotel du Vin & Bistro Edinburgh is fantastic. It’s got the added bonus of having a cocktail presented in a dainty tea cup. The cakes and sandwiches are tasty. They offer a wide selection of teas. Afternoon tea is served in the comfort of their Whiskey Room. For £20.50 per person you can enjoy Traditional afternoon tea and a delicious cocktail (without the cocktail it’s priced at £14.95). When we went it was a refreshing apple martini cocktail. Served in china cups and finished with a slice of apple. It was very refreshing and exactly what we needed after a day of shopping. The cakes on offer change depending on what has been made fresh that day. We’ve been twice and each time there was finger sandwiches, a huge scone, a mixture of pastry and cake type treats on the top layer.
Tucked away in the West End, I don’t think I would have been here for afternoon tea if it wasn’t for an offer on Itison. The Edinburgh Residence Ltd can be found in a beautiful row of townhouses. The room in which afternoon tea is served boasts of lovely views of Dean Village. The sandwiches on offer are traditional flavours such as smoked salmon, egg and ham with mustard. There is a selection of scones with jam and clotted cream. The best bit about this afternoon tea is the Cranachan. I’d never had it before and it really was tasty. The usual price for afternoon tea here is £25.95 and this includes a glass of champagne. If you prefer it without the bubbles then the usual price is £16.95.
3. The Caledonian
Third on our list is Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian. Everyone who has been to Edinburgh will no doubt have a photo of this hotel. Afternoon tea is served in Peacock Alley. There’s something nice about having the door opened for you and being directed into some luxurious surroundings. This was a proper treat for us as it’s priced at £25 per person. Be careful to remember there is a weekend supplement which caught us out (£3 per person). For this price it was a choice of tea, a selection of sandwiches, scones and lovely cakes on the top layer. For me the best bit about our visit was the surroundings and having a harpist playing in the background. The selection of cakes, didn’t leave me feeling I’d had my moneys worth. But for the overall experience of having afternoon tea and it being a treat, that’s why it’s featured on our top 3.
This list is a work in progress and hopefully over the next wee while, we’ll have a chance to make our way through some more cakes and tea.
If you love afternoon tea too, we’d love to read your comments on where we should go next or what makes the perfect afternoon tea.
Her x
Have to say that, even though I don’t have a particularly sweet tooth, those cakes and scones look fantastic. I do love a nice cup of tea though, so your tips are much appreciated.
There’s definitely something to suit everyone. If you’re not the biggest cake fan I’d say the hotel du vin is your cup of tea (excuse the pun). So many more places to try out.