The Best Posh Brew Places For An Afternoon Tea In Manchester

With there being nothing quite like indulging in an afternoon tea, finding the finger sandwiches and clotted cream and jam scones should be at the top of your agenda. Because of this, we wanted to bring you the best places for you to enjoy an afternoon tea in Manchester. Whether you’re interested in champagne or infused teas, contemporary and traditional stylings, or want something more unique and fun, here’s our list of the best 12 places in Manchester for an afternoon tea. 

12 Great Afternoon Tea Spots in Manchester

Cloud 23

In Cloud 23 Sky Bar, not only are you promised a delicious afternoon tea but panoramic views of the city of Manchester. Able to be booked from Wednesday to Sunday, you can choose from savoury bites such as cucumber & cream cheese sandwich or summer tomato & pesto tart as well as a scone with Dorset clotted cream and strawberry jam, before tucking into a selection of cakes and your choice of limitless coffees, hot chocolates and tea. For something a little extra, you can add free-flowing champagne to your afternoon tea. 

Gotham’s Honey Restaurant 

Residing in the five-star hotel, Gotham is Honey Restaurant, where you can enjoy both an afternoon tea and views of King Street while being surrounded by dark aesthetics, accents and low-lights as you enjoy their specially catered menu. During your Afternoon tea, you can enjoy smoked salmon, cucumber, or duck egg sandwiches with horticulture-themed desserts including lavender and honey macaron, as well as a mango and passion fruit cheesecake. Be on the lookout for limited edition afternoon tea events, as the Honey Restaurant regularly hosts them. 

Annies Manchester

Promising a relaxing and comfortable Afternoon Tea experience is Annies Manchester. Owned by Coronation Star Jennie McAlpine, Annies is a cosy environment with armchairs perfect for enjoying a cup of tea or coffee. They all come with traditional favourites such as finger sandwiches, scones and delicious cakes. Their afternoon tea can be ordered with Prosecco or Champagne and can be made gluten-free, vegan, and even cater to little ones. 

The Midland Hotel 

Having been part of the social scene since 1903, The Midland’s afternoon tea remains a focal point of the city. With a setting dedicated solely for this, unwind and relax in The Tea Room with St Peter’s Square views. Offering traditional afternoon tea, where they can also ensure it’s vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free, with them even offering a special children’s tea. The Midland also has the Royal Afternoon Tea, which comes with a glass of champagne. With all comes a selection of sandwiches, freshly baked scones, home-baked cakes and premium loose leaf tea.

20 Stories

Standing on the 19th floor of No.1 Spinningfields, 20 Stories offers paranormal views of the city of Manchester. Offering both traditional afternoon tea, they also provide Chandon Afternoon Tea or the Miniature Cocktail Afternoon Tea, where they pair a sample selection of their signature cocktails to go alongside the standard sandwiches, sweet treats and scones. 20 Stories afternoon tea is available, Monday to Thursday 2.00 pm-4.30 pm and Friday 12 pm–3 pm.

The Lowry

Located at the 5-star Lowry Hotel is an afternoon tea in their River Restaurant, where you’ll dine in luxury and natural light. Consisting of sandwiches, pastries and fancies, scones with fresh cream and strawberry jam and either bottomless tea or coffee or a glass of champagne. As an added extra, they also offer Afternoon Tea G and Tea, where you can taste their range of gins or mix it out for their cocktails. 

Richmond Tea Rooms

Consider an afternoon tea date at the Richmond Tea Rooms for something a little fun and different. Their traditional afternoon tea comes with a selection of sandwiches, scones, cakes and delights with tea and champagne, but they also offer Tweedles Tea, where you can have beer-battered fish and skin-on chips. For those wishing for a little extra, they also host 18+ afternoon tea events where they promise to take you down the rabbit hole with a Mad Hatter inspired event including entertainment. 

Sugar Junction

Decorated with a vintage aesthetic in mind, Sugar Junction offers a taste of the past. Originally created because of a love of baking, tea and conversation. Sugar Junction’s afternoon tea consists of a selection of sandwiches with fruit scones, clotted cream and jam, as well as a selection of desserts and treats, all being served alongside loose leaf tea and coffee. Your afternoon tea is served on China tea sets and plates, with authentic music to match the environment played throughout, promising to make you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time.

The Library at The Edwardian

Found within the iconic former Free Trade Hall, now The Edwardian Radisson Hotel is The Library. The exquisitely designed place has bespoke art, relaxed furnishings and a book collection to make any book lover swoon. Hosted only on weekends from 12 - 4 pm, their afternoon tea is curated by Assouline, the book publisher. It however still consists of all the usual favourites, including sandwiches, scones and cakes all while being surrounded by fabulous books. 

Menagerie Restaurant 

Found at One New Bailey is the Menagerie Restaurant, which serves a comprehensive menu, drinks and afternoon tea. Mixing modern and luxury aesthetics, the Menagerie Restaurant is stylish, comfortable, and a perfect spot for a photo to commemorate your day. Here, they serve both a traditional afternoon tea or their special Menagerie Style, which has a selection of small savoury plates alongside. Both can be upgraded to include champagne and, on order, can be hired to host an afternoon tea for up to 200 guests. 

Proper Tea

Close to Manchester Cathedral is Proper Tea, a modern tea room with a twist. Decorated with a mix of Victorian decor and contemporary stylings, the history of the place is seen throughout, from their Victorian checkerboard-style floor to the recycled glass jars and vases. Their afternoon tea comes with a range of loose leaf teas to choose from, with sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam and cakes all included in the price. They also offer soups or finger foods that are easily swappable.

King Street Townhouse 

Embodying luxury in the city centre of Manchester is the King Street Townhouse Hotel, and their restaurant is no different. Serving a traditional afternoon tea consisting of savoury sandwiches, fresh plain and fruit scones with clotted cream and jam, and pastries and cakes. There is a range of luxury teas to accompany it, or you can upgrade to a glass of Laurent Perrier Champagne. They also host special events such as Gentleman’s Afternoon Tea (just for the gents) and a Harry Potter Afternoon Tea, where you can enjoy watching the first film accompanied with pick ‘n’ mix alongside your afternoon tea. 

While many of the above bring charm and a unique twist to their afternoon tea, they all have the heart of an afternoon tea at their core. With finger sandwiches, scones and cakes all washed down by fabulous teas, champagne or cocktails, you just need to decide where to head first. Which of these lovely spots for tea tickles your fancy? Let us know on Insta or tweet us @justhooit, and don’t forget to check out how to make an offer on a hotel room with hoo to get the best price for your posh brew outing!