Categories > Guides and Tips
Top 5 Afternoon Teas in Manchester
How we picked
1. The Midland Tea Room
Services: Tea room, restaurant, bar
Website: https://www.themidlandhotel.co.uk/
Address: The Midland Hotel, Peter St, Manchester M60 2DS, United Kingdom
Contact Details: +44 161 236 3333
Operating Hours: Open Daily 12 PM – 430 PM
| Trip Advisor Rating | 4 / 5 |
| Google Reviews | 4.2 / 5 |
| Total reviews | 2 / 5 |
| Score consistency | 4.2 / 5 |
| Pricing | 5 / 5 |
| Service Quality | 4 / 5 |
| Facilities | 4.5 / 5 |
| Accessibility | 4 / 5 |
| Ambiance | 5 / 5 |
| Cleanliness | 4 / 5 |
| Menu Offerings | 4.5 / 5 |
| Food Quality | 4 / 5 |
| Menu Variety | 5 / 5 |
Pros
- Beautiful interiors
- Offers various choices for afternoon tea
- Has vegetarian and vegan options
Cons
- Food quality could be more consistent
- Limited seating options
The Midland, Manchester’s oldest hotel in operation since 1903, has long been known for its afternoon tea.
What we initially loved about their Team Room was their more traditional take on afternoon tea culture. With new renditions regularly popping up, we think The Midland’s Team Room excels at providing the traditional experience!
For their menu offerings, they have two primary afternoon tea menus, with vegan, vegetarian, and kid-friendly alternatives. This is a notable factor for us because it accommodates different preferences and tastes.
As for their prices, we think they’re reasonable when compared to their competitors. Standard afternoon tea is £25 per person, while champagne afternoon tea costs £32 per person and includes a glass of Montaudon Cuvee Brut.
In addition, both include a buffet of sandwiches, a few cakes and pastries in vibrant colors, and a variety of scones with a featured scone of the day.
We also love how the staff here is charmingly friendly and well-versed in their offerings! Plus, they’re not stuffy, making the whole dining experience extra enjoyable!
On the other hand, we do have to mention some downsides to them. According to our surveys, their vegan and vegetarian options don’t live up to their regular counterparts.
The way we see it, it can be a deal-breaker for vegetarians since they won’t be able to experience the same food quality.
Despite this, we still recommend them for their overall positive aspects and a highly praised place by their regulars.
2. Richmond Tea Rooms
Services: Tea room, restaurant, bar
Website: https://richmondtearooms.com/
Address: 46 Sackville St, Manchester M1 3WF, United Kingdom
Contact Details: +44 161 697 4474
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday 10 AM–7 PM / Saturday & Sunday 9:30 AM–6 PM
| Trip Advisor Rating | 4 / 5 |
| Google Reviews | 4.4 / 5 |
| Total reviews | 4 / 5 |
| Score consistency | 4.2 / 5 |
| Pricing | 3 / 5 |
| Service Quality | 5 / 5 |
| Facilities | 3.6 / 5 |
| Accessibility | 3 / 5 |
| Ambiance | 4 / 5 |
| Cleanliness | 4 / 5 |
| Menu Offerings | 5 / 5 |
| Food Quality | 5 / 5 |
| Menu Variety | 5 / 5 |
Pros
- Beautiful maximalist interiors
- Friendly staff
- Hosts tea party events every month
Cons
- Long wait times
- More expensive compared to others
Richmond Tea Rooms is an Alice in Wonderland-inspired cafe that offers customers a place to unwind while enjoying delectable cocktails and afternoon tea.
Their maximalist interiors made a positive impression on us! If you love Lewis Caroll’s Alice in Wonderland, you’ll definitely enjoy the vibe.
Furthermore, every month, Richmond Tea Rooms hosts a variety of events. One of their most popular events is the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party!
This is where their delightful afternoon tea experience comes with alcohol, drag queens, live entertainment, the Mad Hatter himself, even Alice, the white rabbit, and other crazy characters.
In our opinion, we love that their afternoon tea isn’t limited to only traditional offerings! The entire occasion is even turned into a lively special event where The Richmond serves up cooked breakfasts, lunches, coffees, and stronger drinks.
In addition, there are four tea alternatives, each with a menu to suit different tastes. We love that their menu includes cakes, sandwiches, scones, tea, and champagne for £23.50.
Another thing we love about them is their wide range of tea offerings, ranging from Keemun to KwaZulu to Imperial Gunpowder. And we’re glad that they’re reasonably priced as well!
On the flip side, we’re a bit iffy about their long wait times. After speaking with some customers, we found that many had to wait quite a while before getting seated and served.
But we think that this can be a minor issue since afternoon tea isn’t a fast-paced dining experience. However, it’s still something to remember when dining with them.
Given this minor setback, we’re still impressed by their overall offers, and we think they’re the perfect choice if you’re looking for a livelier setting for your next afternoon tea.
3. The Ivy Spinningfields Manchester
Services: Tea room, restaurant, bar
Website: https://ivycollection.com/
Address: The Pavilion, Byrom St, Manchester M3 3HG, United Kingdom
Contact Details: +44 161 503 3222
Operating Hours: Sunday to Thursday 8:30 AM–1 AM / Friday & Saturday 8:30 AM–2 AM
| Trip Advisor Rating | 4 / 5 |
| Google Reviews | 4.5 / 5 |
| Total reviews | 5 / 5 |
| Score consistency | 4.3 / 5 |
| Pricing | 3 / 5 |
| Service Quality | 4 / 5 |
| Facilities | 4 / 5 |
| Accessibility | 4 / 5 |
| Ambiance | 4 / 5 |
| Cleanliness | 4 / 5 |
| Menu Offerings | 4 / 5 |
| Food Quality | 4 / 5 |
| Menu Variety | 4 / 5 |
Pros
- Beautiful interiors
- Friendly Staff
- Outdoor seating available
Cons
- Very crowded during peak hours
- Smart dress code is required
The Ivy is known as one of Spinningfields’ signature landmarks. They offer traditional English dishes & cocktails in a sophisticated atmosphere.
Once you enter one of their restaurants, everything about it exudes luxury, from the exteriors to the quirky, nature-inspired interior decor.
We think this makes them an excellent place for a posh afternoon tea setup that’s perfect for catching up with friends and even dates.
From what we’ve seen, the long, roomy sofas are perfect for relaxing as you eat and taking in the romantic ambiance.
After checking their menu offerings, we’re also impressed that there is something on the menu for everyone, whether you prefer an all-meat or vegetarian alternative.
According to their regulars, their wonderful afternoon tea, which includes a variety of savouries, freshly baked fruit scones, and pillow-soft red velvet raspberry cake, is a must-try.
Their afternoon tea set costs £29.95 for their price range, but if you’d like to add sparkling wine to this, it will cost £39.95. That said, we think their prices are slightly higher than others.
A downside we found, however, is that they can be pretty crowded during afternoon tea hours. Because of their popularity, it’s no wonder that many customers make The Ivy their top choice for afternoon tea.
Furthermore, a dress code is required before being accepted into their establishment. We think that this is an understandable rule, though, since their overall vibe is quite luxurious.
4. The Alan Manchester
Services: Tea room, restaurant, bar
Website: https://thealanhotel.com/
Address: 18 Princess St, Manchester M1 4LG, United Kingdom
Contact Details: +44 161 392 7294
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday 7–11 AM, 12–9:45 PM / Saturday & Sunday 7 AM–2 PM, 3–9:45 PM
| Trip Advisor Rating | 4.5 / 5 |
| Google Reviews | 4.7 / 5 |
| Total reviews | 1 / 5 |
| Score consistency | 4.5 / 5 |
| Pricing | 3 / 5 |
| Service Quality | 5 / 5 |
| Facilities | 3.6 / 5 |
| Accessibility | 3 / 5 |
| Ambiance | 4 / 5 |
| Cleanliness | 4 / 5 |
| Menu Offerings | 4.5 / 5 |
| Food Quality | 5 / 5 |
| Menu Variety | 4 / 5 |
Pros
- Top-notch food quality
- Clean and well-kept establishment
Cons
- Limited availability for afternoon tea
- Pre-booking is required
The Alan, with its neutral hues, natural flora, stripped-back walls, and leather booths, is a calm area to enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Their open-plan kitchen really impressed us. They serve all day, from first thing in the morning until late at night, with coffee and cocktails in the bar.
We think that customers should know that their afternoon tea is only available every Friday- Sunday 1pm- 3:30 pm. After finding out their availability, we think their time slot is pretty limited.
Furthermore, pre-booking for at least 48 hours in advance. For us, these minimal time slots will make it hard for customers to secure a booking.
Despite this, the rave reviews about their food quality and excellent customer service keep us optimistic about them.
According to our surveys, although The Alan has a limited menu for their afternoon tea, they’ve perfected it to a tee. Many customers we’ve talked to consistently praised the overall dining experience with The Alan.
From here, we should also mention their prices are a bit higher than average. Their afternoon tea set costs £28, including a pot of Bohea Tea. Customers can also upgrade to Telmont Champagne for an additional £10.
However, we’re still pleased about their pricing, especially with all their positive reviews. We think that they’re still within the reasonable range.
The Alan isn’t a place where you’d go for afternoon tea on a regular basis. However, we think they’re perfect for special occasions where customers can relax and enjoy great quality food and tea.
5. Menagerie
Services: Tea room, restaurant, bar
Website: https://menagerierestaurant.co.uk/
Address: New Bailey, Ground One, New Bailey St, Salford M3 5JL, United Kingdom
Contact Details: +44 161 832 3818
Operating Hours: Sunday to Thursday 12 PM–1 AM / Friday & Saturday 12 PM–2 AM
| Trip Advisor Rating | 3.5 / 5 |
| Google Reviews | 4 / 5 |
| Total reviews | 3 / 5 |
| Score consistency | 3.75 / 5 |
| Pricing | 4 / 5 |
| Service Quality | 4 / 5 |
| Facilities | 4.6 / 5 |
| Accessibility | 4 / 5 |
| Ambiance | 5 / 5 |
| Cleanliness | 5 / 5 |
| Menu Offerings | 3 / 5 |
| Food Quality | 3 / 5 |
| Menu Variety | 3 / 5 |
Pros
- Vegetarian Friendly, Gluten Free Options
- Clean and well-kept establishment
Cons
- Records of poor customer service
- Food quality could be better
Menagerie is one of Manchester’s most Instagrammed locations—and with good reason. Floral installations, neon lights, angel wings strung from the ceiling, and marble tables with gold finishes scream ‘lavish.’
After going through their afternoon tea menu, we found that they have two varieties: traditional and Menagerie, with the latter served with larger portions for sharing rather than the usual finger sandwiches.
Customers can also add a glass of Moet for an additional £10, which we think is perfect for an afternoon tea with a bit of buzz.
As for the nosh that comes with their offerings, the traditional afternoon tea provides a range of classic sandwiches and sweets.
Meanwhile, their Menagerie Afternoon Tea includes more diversified goodies like Bao buns, sliders, Caulipops, and Medianoche Cuban sandwiches.
We’re impressed by the variety in their offerings since not many establishments offer the same options as they do.
Prices for both afternoon tea varieties begin at £23 per person, with alcoholic versions also available.
For us, their pricing is indeed a bit more affordable compared to other options. So, we do have to give it to them in terms of affordability.
As for the available beverages, guests can select from English breakfast tea, mint tea, or various coffees. In our books, it’s not a particularly large tea menu, so it’s something guests should consider when dining with them.
Moreover, we must mention that they have a maximum of 1.5 hours of table time, and a 48-hour pre-booking is required. It’s a bit limited, in our opinion, and guests won’t be able to enjoy it as much with the time slot.
However, overall, we think Menagerie is still a beautiful spot for an excellent afternoon tea with a playful spin.
