Best Afternoon Tea In Manchester

To enjoy your meal with the city skyline in front of you, 20 Stories is second to none. Perched at the top the No.1 Spinningfields building, the iconic restaurant is serving up the best afternoon tea with a view on weekdays - think chicken and leek sausage rolls, homemade scones and spiced apple macarons. Executive Chef Daniel Scott uses only the finest regional ingredients in his menus, so you're in for a high-end occasion here. Prices start from £35 per person, though you can add on a glass of Nyetimber for £12 extra. 

For an elegant afternoon tea that won't break the bank, Browns Brasserie & Bar has to be our top choice. Set in the stylish and suave dining area that's filled with plush velvet booths, this meal is set to be one to remember. Here, you'll tuck into the likes of smoked salmon and cream cheese brioche roll, fruit and plain scones with jam or a chocolate delice for just £25 per person. Plus, you can make it a Champagne afternoon tea in Manchester for an extra tenner.

Make your way to a celebrity chef's smart eatery for a luxury afternoon tea in Manchester to remember. James Martin Restaurant serves the traditional British staple every Saturday, with options to add gin tasters and Champagne. Served from 12:30 to 3pm, with prices for tiers alongside a glass of Laurent Perrier Brut NV starting at £32.95, enjoy James' notorious and original scone recipe, with Redhill Farm pork, Cumbrian beef and their own hot-smoked salmon featuring in sandwiches.

A stunning space within the Free Trade Hall, the Library is a unique space brought to Manchester by luxury French publishers, Assouline. It boasts an elegant high tea, complete with homemade finger sandwiches, delicate pastries and a selection of excellent Champagnes or speciality teas. Now available with 25% off, this modern yet relaxed venue offers a serene setting for catching up with friends, celebrating a special occasion, or simply indulging in a midweek treat.

Available Thursdays and Fridays from 12pm to 4pm, you can savour a seasonal menu of expertly crafted delights, including fresh scones, delicate sandwiches, and winter-inspired patisserie like honey pear and star anise petit gâteau or gianduja mousse with coconut joconde. Choose from 17 premium loose-leaf teas, or elevate the experience with a glass of bubbly.

Celebrating all things exotic (with some seriously grand interiors to boot) Grand Pacific in the city centre will take you on a culinary journey through dainty sandwiches and sweet bites, all topped off with a rose lychee martini, Champagne or rose. Head to the gorgeous Spring Gardens where 'High Tea' is available every day from noon until 5pm. The best part? This afternoon tea is on the affordable range, meaning prices start from as little as £25.95 per person

Though it may be known as a party bar that spans across three spacious floors and serves 63 different types of gin, Impossible also does a fantastic afternoon tea. For £32 per person, you can enjoy finger sandwiches filled with egg mayo or roast beef, alongside macarons, mini Bakewell tarts and more with unlimited tea and coffee throughout. You can also add on a glass of prosecco for £13 each, and they've also got a premium option for £37.

If only a themed version will do, then the Alice In Wonderland-inspired Richmond Tea Rooms is calling. The venue has a selection of different offerings to choose from, including a gentleman's version, which mixes things up with mini fish 'n' chips, a pint, and a Cumberland Scotch egg. Prices start from as little as £15.50 each and go right up to a luxury option with Champagne for £39, so there's something to suit all budgets here. They also do, arguably, the best gluten-free afternoon tea in Manchester, with a vegan option available too. 

Looking for high tea complete with that perfect, delicate air of both tradition and whimsy? Let Sugar Junction in the Northern Quarter be your guide for a delicious yet cheap afternoon tea in Manchester. A powder-puff palace of retro China, homemade sandwiches and 18 different types of loose leaf tea, they're doing authentic spreads right, while offering plenty of vintage cocktails or prosecco to boot.

Served daily between 12pm - 5pm, Mamucium's gentleman's afternoon tea is perfect for anyone who wants a seriously hearty twist on the tiers. A pint of house lager washes down fish 'n' chips, mini toad in the hole and more. Otherwise, you can also pick the traditional tiers, which come with pastrami beef and free-range egg sandwiches alongside red velvet cake and chocolate tart, with unlimited tea or coffee. Both options cost only £24.95 each, making it a great affordable choice too.

From truffled chicken brioche rolls and smoked salmon finger sandwiches through to raspberry choux puffs or apricot jam filled doughnuts, afternoon tea at The Ivy in Spinningfields is a luxury affair. Settle down across their brasserie or rooftop for a scone, or go all out with tiers and bubbles. Prices start from £34.95 per head, with a glass of Champagne for £10 extra. The interiors are just as enticing as the menu here though, with indoor trees and golden chandeliers lining the space.

Italian eatery San Carlo Gran Café has to be up there on our list of the finest Manchester afternoon tea restaurants, thanks to touting delicate cakes, moreish sandwiches and luxurious scones - all the British classics, but with a Mediterranean twist. Venture to their Selfridges venue for a tasty time in photo-worthy surroundings, having been recently awarded Les Routiers Cafe of the Year.

Your hunt for vegan afternoon tea is over, as the Tea Room at The Midland has a glorious spread for you to tuck into. Beetroot hummus and red pepper with 'feta' make up the savoury flavours, while dark chocolate mousse and almond sponge with caramelised pear feature across the sweet treats. There's also a traditional choice too, with maple-glazed ham sandwiches, as well as vegetarian and gluten-free options to cater to everyone. Prices begin at £35 per head, or add on a bottle of Pommery for £20 extra.

A strong contender for the best afternoon tea in Manchester city centre can be found at Cloud 23 - and it's not just the views that will impress. Free-flowing hot chocolate and teas come as standard with this beauty, but you can also add a cocktail or a glass of Champagne for £10 extra on the original £30 price. You can enjoy everything from roast chicken and crushed feta sandwiches to spiced beef sausage rolls and dark chocolate mousse here, all while looking out over the city's skyline.

You'll find all kinds of afternoon tea Manchester offers at The Lowry's River Restaurant. For just £65, you can grab their traditional spread for two alongside a complimentary welcome cocktail each and a further 25% off any extra drinks. A bargain, if you ask us. They've got both classic and vegan menus to choose from, featuring roast beef and horseradish Yorkshire wraps, broccoli and blue cheese mini quiches, coconut mousse and more.

If you're looking for an afternoon tea to suit all dietary requirements, Annies on Old Bank Street is a top choice. This sophisticated spot flaunts swish, traditional interiors and cosy seats to sink into, while you munch your way through tiers of finger sandwiches, fruit scones and sweet treats. They've previously won the People's Choice award for best tea room at the Manchester Tourism Awards, and they offer classic, vegan, vegetarian, pescetarian and gluten-free options, all costing just £25 per person. Even better? You can add on a glass of fizz for £7.

If you're after the best vegan afternoon tea in Manchester, The Allotment is the definitive answer. Sitting beside Manchester Cathedral in the city's Central Retail District, this award-winning plant-based restaurant has made a proper occasion out of an entirely vegan spread, and it's one of the most affordable on this list at £25 per person. The tiered offering includes cauliflower wings, warm scones, lemon tart, red velvet cake, chocolate brownie and a selection of chilled sandwiches: vegan cream cheese and cucumber, vegan egg mayo, and beetroot and avocado salad. A gluten-free alternative is available with substitutions, and you can upgrade to prosecco.

One of the most impressive settings for afternoon tea in Manchester, The Refuge sits within the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel on Oxford Street, a Victorian Gothic landmark with tall ceilings, ornate tiled pillars and original glass chandeliers. Afternoon tea is served in the Winter Garden, a light-filled space where greenery spills in from every angle and the outside world feels very far away. The menu is genuinely different from anywhere else on this list. Savouries include a white crab crumpet with apple and dill, a ham hock sausage roll with piccalilli, and an egg mayonnaise and cress sandwich, followed by sweets of gâteau opera, sticky fig cake and a Tomlinson's Yorkshire rhubarb and custard cheesecake. Classic sultana scones come with clotted cream and strawberry jam, and you'll choose from nine loose-leaf teas including the house Refuge Blend, Silver Needle white tea, and a rather brilliant Rum Arabica.