Despite Manchester’s reputation for beer and late-night eats, the city happens to boast an impressive array of afternoon teas. Local venues are turning tradition on its head, serving up lavish and inventive tiers packed with tasty sweet and savoury bites to make you feel like royalty. We’ve rounded up the best afternoon tea spots Manchester has to offer.
tender at Stock Exchange Hotel
The afternoon tea at Stock Exchange Hotel’s elegant restaurant, tender, serves a savoury selection featuring Isle of Wight tomato tarts with basil, pork and pistachio sausage rolls, and sandwiches filled with pastrami, pickle, and American mustard. We recommend sampling the freshly baked lavender and vanilla scones, which offer the perfect balance of sweet and fragrant flavours, and are served alongside blueberry jam made in-house and clotted cream. The pastry tier highlights desserts like strawberry and lime mini trifles, matcha and raspberry macarons, walnut and coffee financiers, and passion fruit and dark chocolate coins. You can take you pick from a variety of loose-leaf teas (and even sniff them before picking your favourite) —including the hotel’s custom “1906” blend. Or you can upgrade to signature cocktails like the vodka-based Berries ‘n’ Cream or the zero-proof Beekeeper.
San Carlo Champagne Bar
San Carlo Champagne Bar now serves a daily afternoon tea service inside Selfridges at the Trafford Centre – the perfect relaxation after a shopping haul. Diners can opt for the traditional menu or upgrade to the Champagne Tea, which adds a glass of Veuve Clicquot. Both options feature a tier of savoury bites, a classic fruit scone with jam and clotted cream, handcrafted pastries, and tea. The bar operates on a walk-in basis serving Italian-influenced afternoon tea items such as sandwiches filled with Parma ham and truffle, avocado and prawn with sundried tomato on focaccia bread and tomato and mozzarella brioche buns.
King Street Townhouse
King Street Townhouse serves an afternoon tea menu for two leaning heavily into seasonal fruit and botanicals – and in the summer months you can enjoy it on their stunning South Terrace. The traditional tier arrives with delicate finger sandwiches followed by a lineup of fresh pâtisserie, featuring a strawberry and Earl Grey mille-feuille, a blueberry and lime mojito tart, and a blackcurrant and vanilla yoghurt sponge. If you lean savoury, the kitchen runs a parallel high tea swapping the sweets for a chicken and tarragon vol-au-vent, a shepherd’s pie tartlet, smoked haddock and leek pâté, and a ham hock terrine with piccalilli, followed by a selection of British cheeses. Both options are built for two and can be upgraded with sharing cocktail teapots or a Laurent-Perrier Champagne tasting board.
Step through the looking glass into an eccentric, Alice in Wonderland-inspired fantasy. Under draped fairy lights, painted roses and playful “Eat Me” and “Drink Me” signs set the scene for a Mad Hatter’s tea party. The classic British afternoon tea gets a bold overhaul here. Dig into multi-tiered displays of finger sandwiches, scones loaded with clotted cream and jam, and sweet treats, paired with steaming pots of tea or glasses of fizz. Beyond the food, the tea room switches gears by night to host live entertainment, with a schedule frequently featuring drag and burlesque shows.
Indulge in a 120-year Manchester tradition at The Tea Room at The Midland—the city’s only venue devoted strictly to afternoon tea. The Manchester hotel leans into tradition, pairing the grandeur of the Grade II listed setting with a classic, seasonal afternoon tea spread. Guests can enjoy views over St Peter’s Square while expert hosts curate their experience. Packages start at £38 per person and include loose-leaf teas, sandwiches, scones, and pastries, alongside dedicated vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free menus. A Pommery champagne upgrade is available for £10 per person.
The Rex
The Rex Hotel swaps classic cakes for a fully savoury afternoon tea served inside Reign Restaurant. The experience starts with a selection of cold bites, featuring a charcuterie board of sliced chorizo, Parma ham, and salami served alongside crackers, onion chutney, mature cheddar, goat’s cheese, and brie. A lineup of hot savoury dishes follows, including classic sausage rolls, roasted baby chorizo topped with molho rojo sauce and crispy onions, beef croquettes with dijonaise, and lamb koftas paired with mint yoghurt and khobez. Each tea comes with a choice of teas or coffees, though traditionalists can still opt for the hotel’s classic sweet afternoon tea.
The Lowry Hotel
The River Restaurant at The Lowry Hotel serves its afternoon tea alongside views overlooking the River Irwell and Trinity Bridge. The service features unlimited loose-leaf teas supplied by Tea from the Manor, paired with a selection of finger sandwiches made with seasonal ingredients. Tiered stands arrive with freshly baked scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam, followed by a rotation of handcrafted pastries and sweet fancies. You can also upgrade the standard menu to include a glass of Champagne, an Afternoon Tea G&T, or a signature cocktail.
The Refuge
Set in the striking, glass-domed Winter Garden, this afternoon tea pairs a dramatic backdrop with an elevated menu. The savoury tier moves past standard sandwiches with white crab crumpets with apple and dill, and ham hock sausage rolls with piccalilli, alongside classic egg mayonnaise and cress. Sweet additions include a Gâteau Opéra, sticky fig cake, and a Yorkshire rhubarb and custard cheesecake, followed by classic sultana scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam. Diners can pair the spread with an extensive menu of loose-leaf teas from Tea from the Manor, featuring blends like a spiced rum and cocoa ‘Rum Arabica’ and the house Refuge blend, or upgrade the experience with Champagne.
Lucky Cat
Set inside a former bank on King Street, the Manchester restaurant swaps traditional finger sandwiches for an Asian-inspired afternoon tea menu. The spread pairs fresh nigiri with sweet additions like yuzu meringue tartlets and matcha-strawberry sandos. Diners can stick to the standard tea service or upgrade to include a selection of drinks, including Perrier-Jouët Champagne, sparkling sake, or non-alcoholic sparkling wine.
20 Stories
Manchester’s highest restaurant pairs skyline views with an extensive afternoon tea menu. You can stick to the traditional service with a choice of loose-leaf tea or coffee, or upgrade to add a glass of Champagne or a miniature cocktail pairing. The savoury spread steps away from standard fare with chicken and leek sausage rolls, spiced lamb croquettes with chermoula, and confit chicken and Caesar dressing sandwiches. Next comes a tier of homemade plain and fruit scones loaded with clotted cream and strawberry jam. To finish, work your way through a lineup of sweet treats, including a spiced chocolate tart, carrot cake with kalamansi lime ganache, passionfruit mousse, raspberry macarons, and a matcha cheesecake.
