This article has links to products and services we love, which we may make commission from.
We are obsessed with afternoon tea in Edinburgh. This unique foodie experience is loved by locals (us), visitors, and royalty alike, who often replace lunch with trays of cakes, scones, and sandwiches! Many of Edinburgh’s hotels offer packages in opulent settings, and a handful of Instagram-worthy cafes also serve afternoon tea platters.
On a budget? We’ll show you where to find the cheapest afternoon teas in the city, which don’t skimp on service or quality.
Hotels With Afternoon Tea In Edinburgh
Palm Court At The Balmoral in the City Centre
No stranger to the top hotel lists in Edinburgh, an afternoon tea at The Balmoral’s Palm Court is a big foodie bucket list.
Palm Court is the room across from the main entrance of The Balmoral, next to the reception desk.
This airy room has its huge glass dome to thank for its ambience and palm trees for its name.
A chandler hangs from the roof, and champagne afternoon tea packages are available.
There is a harp which sits on the balcony.
The menu consists of various teas, including loose-leaf and infusions, and the meal starts with a fresh, cold soup.
Fresh scones, cakes, and classic and contemporary sandwiches are also included.
Can’t finish it all? Guests can take food home via a gift plate.
This is an award-winning Edinburgh afternoon tea experience.
Prices start at £70 per person.
Why not make it an overnight stay in a suite with Edinburgh Castle views and a swim at The Balmoral Spa?
The Balmoral is featured in many of our accommodation guides, including the best hotels with indoor pools, parking, and dog-friendly accommodations.
Read our Balmoral Hotel review. We stayed in room 314, A Deluxe Castle View Room.
The Spence at Gleneagles Townhouse
You don’t have to travel to the countryside to experience the quality hospitality delivered at Gleneagles.
The five-star hotel’s townhouse at St Andrew Square presents a weekday afternoon tea in its exquisite bar.
The menu features loose-leaf tea, savoury bites, buns, tarts, scones, and the optional glass of Veuve Clicquot.
Prices start from £60 per person.
I’ve not done the afternoon tea yet, but I highly recommend their indulgent monthly brunch.
Afternoon Tea At Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh
Did you know that The Waldorf Caledonian is located on what used to be the old Caledonian Railway?
The luxury afternoon tea here is on the right track for an eventful day out.
An indulgent afternoon tea is served daily at Peacock Alley, located within the lobby lounge. It includes pastries such as orange and blackberry domes, rose jelly, and Elderflower and rhubarb tarts!
Afternoon teas at The Waldorf start at £60 per person.
Why not create a staycation at The Waldorf and enjoy Castle Views and Guerlain spa treatment?
The Waldorf is in the West End of Edinburgh, where plenty of bars and restaurants exist.
The historic Dean Village is very close by.
Prestonfield House
Dine on the patio or in the gothic drapes of Prestonfiend House’s Rhubarb Restaurant, which features in the UK’s Married At First Sight.
Three trays of cakes, rock scones, and sandwiches are presented with an extensive tea menu.
The menu also includes melt-in-your-mouth haggis bonbons and tasty sausage rolls.
There is also a vegetarian menu if you don’t eat meat.
Prices start at £60 per person.
Definitely check out the grand loos, painted pink and with an animal-print seat, if you need to sleep off your food coma.
Prestonfield House is surrounded by green space and is home to two free-roaming peacocks and highland cows in a field.
A taxi from Waverley Train Station costs around £10, and the walk is approx 40 minutes.
Prestonfield House features in our most romantic hotels in Edinburgh guide.
Cafes and Restaurants With Afternoon Tea in Edinburgh
Mimi’s Bakehouse
Mimi’s Bakehouse is a popular cafe in Edinburgh. Two of its locations, Leith and Corstorphine, offer afternoon tea menus.
Mimi’s afternoon tea stands serve freshly made sandwiches, sausage rolls, plain and fruit scones, homemade jam, and Cornish clotted cream.
Plus, fresh cakes include carrots, meringue, and tray bakes.
The drinks menu features Edinburgh’s Eteaket Tea.
Staff can accommodate vegan, vegetarian, GF, and picky eaters – it is worth calling to speak to the Leith branch directly to put in requests.
Prices start from £37.50 per person, making Mimi’s one of Edinburgh’s more affordable afternoon teas.
Dare you to try to leave without buying more tray bakes!
Afternoon Tea At Harvey Nichols, St Andrew’s Square
A classic afternoon tea can be enjoyed at the upmarket shopping mall, Harvey Nichols.
Served with Edinburgh’s skyline in view, the session includes sandwiches, quiche, cakes, and scones.
Prices start at £35 per person.
The Forth Floor and Window Room feature in our guide to Edinburgh’s best rooftops.
The Colonnades at the Signet Library, Old Town
Edinburgh’s finest afternoon tea can be devoured at the Signet Library.
Located in the shadows of St Giles’ Cathedral on Parliament Square in the Royal Mile, the Signet afternoon tea is one of the most luxurious in Edinburgh.
The popular wedding venue opens Thursday through Sunday for delectable afternoon teas created by Craig, the resident head chef, and Aung, the sous chef.
The drinks menu includes a range of soft drinks, alcoholic options, and tea, such as the Signet variation.
The first round of food is a small soup served in a cup.
The next is the savoury trays, which consist of dainty pastries, sandwiches, and soufflé presented on three silver trays.
The next is the dessert tray, packed with warm scones, chocolate puddings, fruit cakes, and colourful macaroons.
Finally, a cold fruit sorbet is served to cleanse the palate.
Gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, and fussy eater adaptations are available upon request.
Notify the booking team at least 48 hours before.
A unique thing to do in Edinburgh’s Old Town!
Prices start at £65 per person, and while this is one of the more expensive afternoon teas in Edinburgh, it is worth every penny. Each mouthful is a burst of flavour, and the team is very accommodating.
Fun trivia: The Signet library was used as an Outlander filming location and features the inside of the Governor’s mansion in Jamaica.
Afternoon Tea At Edinburgh Castle
If you plan to visit Edinburgh Castle, you can book an afternoon tea at the Tea Rooms of Crown Square.
Prices start from £54 per person.
You can enjoy afternoon tea at The Café at the Palace of Holyroodhouse (9) and the Royal Deck Tea Room at the Royal Yacht Britannia (10). Read our HMY Britannia review.
You may also like our weekend guide to Edinburgh.
Willows Tea Rooms
Glasgow’s famous and first tea room has settled into its new location on Princes Street in Edinburgh.
Known for its cakes and sandwiches and Charles Rennie Mackintosh architecture, this Scottish landmark boasts floor-to-ceiling castle views.
I’ve yet to try this spot, but based on my review of Glasgow’s Willow Tea Rooms, you should have a promising experience.
Prices start at £19.95, and menus, including those meeting dietary requirements, can be found on the website.
Holy Cow Lounge
Holy Cow Lounge (1 Dundee St) is located in the West End of Edinburgh, 5 5-minute walk from Lothian Road and 10 minutes from Haymarket Train Station.
The bright and airy cafe is located on the first floor of the striking Edinburgh Printmakers; the space is delightful.
There are domes outside in the garden for private dining.
Holy Cow Lounge’s platter is vegan and gluten-free, retaining taste and texture.
The portions are huge and feature scones with jam and yoghurt, ‘normal’- sized sandwiches, wraps, and cakes.
All of these are cooked from scratch using dairy-free and gluten-free ingredients.
You don’t have to be vegan or gluten-free to enjoy this Edinburgh afternoon tea.
However, you need lots of space in your belly to finish it, or you can take a doggy bag home!
Tea is included in the package, but you can add a different beverage, like the photogenic blue latte, if you wish.
Holy Cow Lounge is not to be confused with Holy Cow (34 Elder St), located at the other end of Edinburgh’s City Centre.
They are the same brand at different locations, and the Lounge is the only venue that serves afternoon teas.
Prices start at £35.
Cheap Afternoon Teas in Edinburgh
There are several ways to do this if you are looking for a budget-friendly afternoon tea.
Check out discount websites such as Itison or Groupon for decent afternoon tea deals.
For example, I’ve booked afternoon tea at the Mercure Hotel for £14 for two people instead of £15 per person.
Another option is to sign up for hotel and restaurant newsletters and follow them on social media so you don’t miss an offer.
About Afternoon Teas
So, who started afternoon teas?
Legend has it that Anna Maria Stanhope, 7th Duchess of Bedford, felt a pang of hanger come over between lunch and dinner, which she described as “having that sinking feeling.”
The solution? Tucking into tea and cakes in her dressing room around 4pm.
She invited friends to join her, which caught the attention of Queen Victoria, who adopted the afternoon tea experience quicker than you can say that cake’s scone…
What’s the Difference Between Afternoon Tea and High Tea?
High tea is an afternoon tea with the addition of a main meal such as steak pie.
Less popular in restaurants now, high teas were one of the highlights of my childhood!
Other Foodie Guides on Ev Ed
- Foods you can’t miss when visiting Edinburgh
- The restaurants, by type, we love
- Where to eat brunch in Edinburgh
- Food and drink delivered to your door
- The most romantic restaurants
- Edinburgh beer gardens & map
- Craft beer crawl for beer fans
