Birmingham's Finest Afternoon Teas
Afternoon tea is a beloved English tradition dating back to the 1840s. No longer just scones, dainty sandwiches and a pot of tea, modern options offer champagne and prosecco alongside an international twist on cuisine. With such tempting variety, we’ve rounded up the best afternoon teas Birmingham has to offer.
Classic Cream Tea includes a fruit or plain scone with jam and clotted cream, a slice of Battenburg and a salted caramel banoffee tart with a choice of speciality tea. For a little extra indulge in the full afternoon tea – as well as the above you can savour a strawberry shake, dark chocolate mousse, lemon meringue cupcake, Mal slider, coronation chicken and turmeric wrap and smoked salmon with cream cheese on rye. Vegan and gluten-free alternatives are available.
Classic Cream Tea is £12, whilst the full afternoon tea is priced at £19.95. You may also enjoy prosecco, champagne and cocktail combinations from £25.
Head here for some luxurious indulgence to tantalise your taste buds with new flavours, including goats’ cheese cheesecake, smoked mackerel with rhubarb, coriander pulled pork, pea hummus, Bramley apple and ginger crumble, chocolate orange macaron, strawberry and elderflower savarin, pink grapefruit panna cotta, plain and orange scones with preserves and clotted cream. All of the desserts are suitable for vegetarians, but only the savarin and panna cotta are vegan-friendly. This also includes unlimited tea or coffee from their speciality selections.
£22, or add champagne and cocktails from £30.
MARCO PIERRE WHITE STEAKHOUSE BAR & GRILL
Appreciate panoramic views of the city from the 25th floor of the iconic Cube building alongside a selection of traditional finger sandwiches, including salmon and cream cheese, Wiltshire ham and mustard, cucumber and cream cheese, and roast beef with horseradish. Indulge in sumptuous mini desserts of macarons, sachertorte, strawberry and clotted cream cheesecake, carrot cake, scones with clotted cream and preserves, served with filter Musetti coffee, speciality teas and herbal infusions.
£19.95, or add prosecco and champagne from £24.95.
Make it a ‘Gin and Tea’ with a gin and lime cupcake, pink gin and raspberry cheesecake, gin and lemon drizzle cake, gin-infused chocolate and raspberry ganache, and preserves with orange and juniper scones. This is served with a Beefeater Pink Gin and tonic for £24.95 per person.
BARDOLINO PIZZERIA BELLINI & ESPRESSO BAR
An Italian twist on the English classic including Parma ham rolls with avocado, Cerignola olives, a selection of bruschetta, beef sliders with Italian cheese, sweet potato fries, tiramisu, dark chocolate brownie and lemon tart with speciality tea.
£18.95, or add prosecco from £22.50.
Artisan sandwiches of cheese and pickle, egg and cress, cucumber and mint, smoked salmon with cream cheese, and coronation chicken are served with a variety of classic and modern desserts. The selection includes Victoria sandwich, coffee and walnut cake, black forest gateaux, carrot cake, chocolate and ice cream profiterole cake pops, and scones with preserves and clotted cream, all served with your choice of tea and coffee.
£22.50, or with champagne for £30.
Sample traditional afternoon tea in the Aria restaurant with a selection of sandwiches, including smoked salmon, chicken with bacon and parmesan, alongside vegetarian options such as cucumber and cream cheese, tomato and bocconcini, egg and cress, plus mushroom and leek quiche. Seasonal delicacies, currently focused on blackberries, include blackberry and loganberry macaron, blackberry and ricotta cheesecake, blackberry and orange cake, frangipani tart, blackberry fool, plus chocolate chip, sultana and plain scones with preserves and clotted cream.
£25, or £34 with champagne.
Their “Homage to Fromage” specialises in cheese offering baked camembert with garlic flatbread, an artisan cheeseboard, croque Portobello mushroom (all suitable for vegetarians) or croque monsieur.
£30 for two with a selection of hot drinks or £35 with wine.
They also have traditional afternoon tea at £25 for two: mousse au chocolat, chocolate cake with raspberry and coconut, red velvet cake, carrot cake and lemon cake, scones with preserves and clotted cream and croque monsieur.
Indulge in a sandwich selection of egg mayonnaise, coronation chicken, cucumber and cream cheese, pulled beef and mustard, smoked salmon and cream cheese, alongside Victoria sponge, summer berry pudding, and scones with preserves and clotted cream, served with loose leaf teas.
£16.50, or add gin and tonic or champagne from £23.50.
BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM & ART GALLERY EDWARDIAN TEAROOMS
In the renovated tearooms, treat yourself to a selection of classic sandwiches, mini muffins, sponge cakes, scones with clotted cream and preserves, plus loose-leaf tea or freshly ground coffee.
Traditional afternoon tea from £17.95, or £23.50 with a glass of champagne (or two – you can use the ‘Press for Champagne’ buzzer in the booths for more).
Enjoy sandwiches of smoked salmon and cream cheese, pulled chicken, tomato and avocado, plus a beetroot and goats cheese tart. Sweet treats include chocolate brownie, lemon posset, Victoria sponge, fruit scones with preserves and clotted cream, alongside plentiful tea.
£18.95, or add cocktails, prosecco or champagne from £23.95.
If you have further suggestions of amazing afternoon teas in Birmingham, leave them in the comments below.
Written by Hannah Bird
Follow Hannah on Instagram: @thehbird