Discovering the Top-Notch Afternoon Tea Spots in Bath
Discovering Afternoon Tea in Bath: A Culinary Journey
Bath, a city steeped in history and tradition, is a delightful destination for food lovers. One of the city's most cherished traditions is afternoon tea, a practice that originated in the 19th century and has since become synonymous with British culture.
In Bath, the afternoon tea concept is particularly popular, reflecting the city's connection to Jane Austen. The practice, often associated with dainty finger sandwiches, scones, and petit fours, offers a variety of experiences to suit every taste.
One such experience can be found at the Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa. The hotel's afternoon tea menu includes traditional options like smoked salmon and Wiltshire ham, as well as a vegetarian option with modern flavor combinations. Attentive waiters deliver silver pots of vegan Hoogly Tea, and sugar-studded Bath buns are served with scones, following traditional cooking methods. Tea is enjoyed amid the sunlit lavender of the hotel's one-acre landscaped garden.
For those seeking an Eastern twist on afternoon tea, Robun, a Japanese yakiniku charcoal grill restaurant, offers a unique experience. The cake stand is replaced with a wooden box of treats, including a silky chocolate mousse cake and a pair of squidgy apple gyozas. The price for afternoon tea at Robun is £28 per person, including miso soup, salmon sashimi, futomaki, bao buns, chicken karaage, tea, and dessert cakes.
The Bird, a chic boutique hotel in Bath, offers afternoon tea in its Plate at The Bird restaurant or on its suntrap terrace. The dainty fare arrives in a tiered, open-fronted bird cage. The menu includes smoked salmon and harissa chicken sandwiches, beetroot-filled choux pastry, full-size scones with clotted cream, and imaginative desserts such as Dubai pistachio delice and mousse-textured replica fruit. The price for afternoon tea at The Bird is £40 per person, including sandwiches, scones, petit fours, and tea.
Another option is The Bath Priory, a luxury hotel set in an ivy-clad 19th-century mansion. The hotel's afternoon tea menu includes familiar fillings for sandwiches, an additional savory element in honor of Jane Austen's 250th anniversary, outstanding scones, and a selection of petit fours such as lavender shortbread biscuits with lemon curd. The price for afternoon tea at The Bath Priory is £44.50 per person, including sandwiches, scones, petit fours, and hot drinks.
In Bath, hotels offering afternoon tea include The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa and The Gainsborough Bath Spa, with typical prices ranging from approximately £20 to £35 per person. The Pump Room, featured in two of Jane Austen's novels, offers afternoon tea with a modern flair, including bulging cucumber, mint, and labneh finger sandwiches and crisply baked pea and parmesan croustades.
Refills on sandwiches and bottomless hot drinks are often included in the price at Bath's afternoon tea venues, and some offer the opportunity to add alcoholic beverages. Whether you're seeking a traditional experience or a unique twist, Bath's afternoon tea venues offer a delightful way to experience the city's rich history and culinary offerings.
