Where to Enjoy The Best Afternoon Tea: Bristol and Nearby 2023

Like to know where to find the best afternoon tea Bristol can offer? Then read on!

Whether you fancy a traditional cream tea with freshly baked scones, an extravagant afternoon tea with dainty cakes and miniature sandwiches, an indulgent champagne afternoon tea or even a gin afternoon tea, you’ll find them all in this guide.

I’ve also found a couple of family-friendly venues which offer children’s afternoon teas so I have, of course, included those too.

Advance booking is required by most venues offering afternoon teas, especially for specific dietary requirements, so I’ve included contact details to make it easier for you to book.

Check out the green feature boxes to see at a glance:-

• Who offers afternoon teas for special diets:
  vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free
• Who offers children’s afternoon teas
• Which venues are dog-friendly
• How to book your afternoon tea and venue contact details

I’ve spent a lot of time researching this article, (although unfortunately none of it involved sampling the delights I’ve written about!), but things change and errors can be made, so please always contact the venue directly for their latest updates before travelling.

AFTERNOON TEA BRISTOL HARBOURSIDE

The Bristol Hotel, Harbourside

The Bristol’s Vintage Afternoon Tea is served in the light-flooded River Lounge & River Grille overlooking the harbourside through its floor to ceiling windows. Sink into an armchair and watch the world go by as you indulge in classics like freshly-baked scones served with jam and Cornish clotted cream, alongside a selection of finger sandwiches and sweet treats.

The classic afternoon tea includes a wide range of herbal teas and barista coffee. If you want to really push the boat out, you can add a glass of champagne or a house cocktail!

• Gluten-free,dairy-free and vegan afternoon tea available as a pre-booked request
• For bookings call The Bristol Hotel on 0117 923 0333

AFTERNOON TEA BRISTOL CENTRE

Ahh Toots, Christmas Steps

Full fat, vegan and glutenless afternoon teas are on offer in the charming little cakery and cafe at the bottom of Bristol’s iconic Christmas Steps. Ahh Toots’ menus are seasonal and will therefore vary.

Peer through the window to see their tempting selection of cakes, sweet treats and savoury lunch items. They make everything in house.

Co-Director, Amy, brings her skills as a pastry chef to produce choux patisseries and French macarons for the afternoon teas.

• Ah Toots offers full fat / vegan / glutenless afternoon teas
• Small cafe with space for only one pushchair at a time and no baby changing facilities.
• Advance booking for afternoon teas is essential.

Bristol Harbour Hotel, Corn Street

Afternoon tea with sandwiches, scones and treats is served in the former banking hall with the option to add a glass of prosecco or you could go all-out-indulgent with a champagne afternoon tea.

• Bristol Harbour Hotel phone number 0117 2034456

John Wesley’s New Room Bristol Artisan Cafe

Enjoy afternoon tea in the indoor courtyard, which is protected from the elements by a glass roof.

The cafe at The New Room honours John Wesley’s legacy with a commitment to using Fairtrade and organic coffee, tea and other items and using local firms and suppliers.

Most food sold in the 50-seater café is produced in-house.

• The New Room Cafe can cater for vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free diets
• Call the Cafe at the New Room for afternoon tea bookings 0117 926 4740

Harvey Nichols, Quakers Friars, Cabot Circus

Enjoy afternoon tea with sandwiches and a selection of homemade sweet treats while admiring the view of Quakers Friars from the floor-to-ceiling windows at the two AA Rosettes Second Floor Restaurant and Bar at Harvey Nichols.

Upgrade to a champagne afternoon tea if you’re feeling extravagant!

• Harvey Nichols Second Floor Restaurant and Bar

AFTERNOON TEA – CLIFTON, BRISTOL

The Ivy, Clifton Brasserie, Clifton Village

At the Ivy in Clifton Village, it seems as though you’re spoiled for choice.

Will you go for a regular or a champagne cream tea?
Will it be a full afternoon tea with savouries, scones and sweet selections?
What about a non-gluten, vegan, pescatarian or a vegetarian afternoon tea?

Give their reservation team 48 hours notice and ask for any of those options!

• Special dietary requirements catered for, including:-
  non-gluten, vegan, pescatarian and vegetarian afternoon teas
• Book a Clifton afternoon tea in advance on the Ivy’s website

No. 4 Clifton Village

There’s plenty of choice at No.4 with a gin & tonic, a vegan, a classic or a prosecco afternoon tea.

If you really want to push the boat out there’s also the premium Clifton High Tea which includes a peach bellini or G & T along with mini sandwiches and a selection of sweet and savoury treats.

Choose whether to sit in the restaurant or outside in their walled garden.

• Vegan afternoon tea available
• Enquire about booking a No. 4 afteroon tea on their website

Browns Bristol, Clifton

As well as the more traditional treat, you can also indulge yourself in a champagne or even a gin afternoon tea at Browns on Queen’s Road.

Enjoy an assortment of savouries, warm scones, seasonal jams, mini cakes and puddings along with Fairtrade teas and a chilled glass of fizz or a boutique G&T.

• Book a Browns Bristol afternoon tea on their website

Ashwell and Co, Clifton

With vintage tearooms set within a vintage boutique, Ashwell and Co might well be the quirkiest place to have afternoon tea in Bristol!

Everything is handmade to create a proper, traditional afternoon tea experience: the bread, the cakes, the scones and even their signature homemade clotted cream are made from scratch.

Afternoon teas at Ashwell & Co cater for a range of dietary requirements including vegan and gluten-free. Their classic afternoon tea is vegetarian, as standard.

I love that this Clifton afternoon tea stop is also family-friendly, with special menus for children and minis!

• Menu is vegetarian, as standard.
• Also offer vegan, gluten-free, children’s and under fives’ afternoon teas
• Enquire about Aswell & Co’s afternoon tea on their website

AFTERNOON TEA IN BRISTOL

Berwick Lodge near Cribbs Causeway

Berwick Lodge offers traditional afternoon teas, served in their wood-panelled lounge or elegant grounds.

For extra treats go for the ‘Berwick’ afternoon tea or you could go the whole hog and upgrade to a champagne afternoon tea.

Afternoon tea options include a selection of savoury items, sandwiches, cakes and freshly baked scones topped with fragrant jam and gooey clotted cream.

I’m pleased to see that Berwick Lodge also serves a children’s afternoon tea (which comes with a milkshake at the time of writing). My children would have loved this when they were younger. In fact, they probably still would!

• Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options
• Children’s afternoon tea available
• Book a Berwick Lodge afternoon tea on their website

Symonds at Redwood, Failand

Symonds offers cream teas and traditional afternoon teas with homemade scones, clotted cream, a selection of finger sandwiches plus sweet cakes and pastries.

Or you might make it even more special with a sparkling afternoon tea with a glass of prosecco or a mocktail.

• Book a Symonds at Redwood afternoon tea on their website

AFTERNOON TEA NEAR BRISTOL

Strawberry Line Vintage Tearooms, Winscombe

The spacious tea rooms and secluded garden are open for table service 6 days a week 10-3 pm (and Sundays – bookings only).

Strawberry Line Tea Rooms welcomes bikers, hikers, walkers and dogs both inside and out.

Takeaway afternoon tea is available too. 

• Dog friendly
• Menu includes vegan, vegetarian & special diet options. (Alternative dietary requirements and sandwich choices required at time of booking your afternoon tea)
• Booking advised. Call Strawberry Line Tea Rooms on 07748 155491

Thornbury Castle

Thornbury Castle’s afternoon tea includes a selection of delicate sandwiches and seasonal cakes.

Full Afternoon Tea and Champagne Afternoon Teas can be taken in either the dining rooms or lounge areas.

Afternoon tea cocktail, sparkling wines and champagne are also available to order.

• Menu includes vegan, vegetarian and champagne afternoon tea options
• Visit Thornbury Castle’s website to book

Old Down Estate, Tockington

You can take Afternoon Tea at Old Down Estate indoors in their rustic barn.

They offer a selection of sandwiches, cakes and patisseries, scones, jam and clotted cream

All produce is locally sourced and made fresh in-house. 

• Old Down Estate caters for a variety of dietary needs including gluten free, vegetarian and vegan.
• Booking is essential

So, have I tempted you?

I hope you find my feature on Where to Enjoy The Best Afternoon Tea – Bristol and Nearby helpful. If so, check out the following related articles.

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