The best afternoon tea spots in Leeds are worth every sip and cent!
Sometimes, I wonder if Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, knew that her posh tea habits would turn into a national obsession.
Ah, it doesn’t matter. All I know is, I’d fight for the last finger sandwich and scone on a three-tier stand any day, especially if it’s the city’s finest serving the divine treats.
What do I mean by ‘city’s finest,’ you ask? Why, the splurge-worthy cafes, restos, and pubs for afternoon tea, of course. I’m sharing some with you here.
Just Grand!
– From justgrandvt
Address: 8-9, Grand Arcade, New Briggate
Contact Details: 0113 243 1306
Operating Hours:
- Wed to Sat – 10 am to 7:30 pm
- Sun – 11 am to 5:30 pm
Price (Per Person): £25.95 – £29.95
Just Grand! just took us back to 1940s–50s Britain. Decor here leans vintage, so we sipped and dined on floral tablecloths and other retro bits, all while some oldies played in the background.
The offerings are proper traditional as well. They have 25-plus varieties of loose-leaf teas on the menu, poured alongside themed selections like vegetarian, Caribbean, and seafood.
We went old-school, unsurprisingly. It’s the cheapest pick but still loaded with homemade scones, finger sandwiches with carved ham, authentic Cornish clotted cream, cheeses, fruits, and cakes.
| Tip: There was a 10% service charge when we swung by. Budget smartly. |
Fleur
– From fleurrestaurants
Address: The Light, Inside
Contact Details: 0113 245 6752
Operating Hours:
- Tue to Fri – 12 pm to 9:30 pm
- Sat – 11 am to 10 pm
- Sun – 11 am to 6 pm
Price (Per Person): £22.95
Bobby Geetha, a MasterChef finalist, is behind the pink-toned and internationally-flavoured Fleur. That means we indulged in a chef-prepared mini afternoon tea, which had some oddballs like duck spring rolls and beef bao buns.
What’s cooler is the ‘customise your experience’ setup. We ended up downing Prosecco, croquettes, sandwiches, and the unique picks mentioned above (halal sets are offered too!).
| Tip: Join their loyalty club to score points you can convert into discounts. |
Harewood House
– From visitleeds
Address: Harewood
Contact Details: 0113 218 1010
Price (Per Person): £30 to £49
Grand since the 18th century, Harewood House’s afternoon tea comes with history and views. I mean, do you know any tea room with artisanal sips, J.M.W. Turner’s landscape paintings, and Yorkshire’s world-renowned gardens?
That aside, the homemade lemon tarts and pistachio eclairs are worth the price. The sweeter part is, you can swap or pair those with filling options, such as pork pies and sausage rolls.
| Tip: Don’t leave your kids at home. They’ll love the playground here. |
The Mansion at Roundhay Park
– From themansionleeds
Address: Mansion Ln
Contact Details: 0345 450 4545
Operating Hours: Daily – 9 am to 4 pm
Price (Per Person): £38 to £46
What’s better than The Mansion’s 1820s charm and 700-acre panoramas? Probably enjoying Yorkshire teas in the Regency building’s terrace, which overlooks the Upper Lake.
Oh, and the bites are just as ace, featuring savouries (like peppery roast beef) and sweets galore. Our vote goes to the buttery scones, often dished out clotted and fluffy and bursting with fruity bits.
| Tip: Give their events calendar a gander to see what’s currently on. You might just catch Michael Bublé or a mystery game! |
Cha Lounge
– From leedschalounge
Address: 24-26 Dock St
Contact Details: 0113 242 4532
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Fri – 8 am to 3 pm
- Sat to Sun – 9 am to 4 pm
Price (Per Person): £28 to £38
Homelike is the vibe at Cha Lounge, the ideal atmosphere for an afternoon of free-flowing Prosecco or beer.
Their fusion menu spices things up, literally. Out of all the choices here, this is the sole spot where hot, chewy kathi rolls are matched with English sandwiches and loose-leaf teas.
Better yet, everything is ethically sourced, vegetarian, and helps charities, so each sip or bite does some good.
| Tip: You can score a £2 hot bev by bringing your own cup between 8 am and 10 am. |
The Ivy Victoria Quarter Leeds
– From rmdawley
Address: 55 Vicar Ln
Contact Details: 0113 531 7990
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 8:30 am to 12 am
- Fri to Sat – 8:30 am to 1 am
- Sun – 8:30 am to 11 pm
Price (Per Person): £34.25 to £44.25
Naturally lit and boldly patterned, The Ivy is one fancy spot for afternoon tea.
For savouries, you can nab faves like the Ivy 1917 cured salmon. I found that the fish’s silkiness connected well with the air cream cheese bun.
As for sweets, the warm fruited scones get most of the glory. That doesn’t mean the salted caramel chocolate truffles and crème brûlée are shabby desserts (heck, they deserve to be on this list).
| Tip: Graduates are often given free desserts here! |
Gray’s
– From graysofrothwell
Address: 37-41 Commercial St, Rothwell
Contact Details: 0113 318 9297
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Fri – 8:30 am to 3 pm
- Sat – 9 am to 3 pm
- Sun – 9 am to 12:30 pm
Price (Per Person): £24
The award-winning Gray’s is mint for kicking back and having a natter with mates. Setting-wise, it’s intimate and vintage-ish, with the bottomless teas and coffee as the cherry on top.
In terms of the bite selection, expect the usual ensemble of scones and sandwiches. Quiches, hummus, crudites, and sausage rolls are also on the board.
What to try first? Blue Monday. This is a Lonton Coffee blend that’s chocolatey and buttery with lingering fruity notes (when we update our coffee spot guide, it’ll crack a spot).
| Tip: Take your pups with you! They’re dog-friendly inside and outside. |
The Queens Hotel
– From queenshotelleeds
Address: New Station Street City Square
Contact Details: 0113 243 1323
Price (Per Person): £18
Straight from the brill mind of Chef Vivik Singh, The Queens Hotel’s afternoon tea is bold and trailblazing. See, the menu is Indian-inspired, offering chaats dipped in spiced yoghurt, finger sandwiches packed with fiery fish masala, and tamarind-glazed cheesecakes.
Indian influences also infuse the teas, with the house-brewed Indian masala chai as the standout. If you’re into cinnamon-y and gingery blends, this could be your new obsession!
| Tip: Keep the drinks flowing by staying until happy hour, which runs from Mondays to Thursdays, 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. |
Oulton Hall
– From oulton.hall
Address: 2 Rothwell Ln, Oulton
Contact Details: 0113 282 1000
Price (Per Person): £35 to £45
Oulton Hall is for folks chasing a relaxing afternoon. Located on the city’s sleepier end, you can savour scratch-made rhubarb scones and duck chive finger sandwiches here without dealing with honks.
The spot ticks the indulgence box, too. If you opt for the premium range, you can swap traditional tea with Hendrick’s gin, icy-cold Prosecco, or chilled Moët.
| Tip: Why not lengthen your visit with a discounted stay? |
Sky Lounge
– From skylounge__leeds
Address: DoubleTree by Hilton Leeds City Centre, Granary Wharf
Contact Details: 0113 241 1043
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Wed – 2 pm to 12:30 am
- Thu – 2 pm to 2 am
- Sat – 11 am to 2 am
- Sun – 11 pm to 12:30 am
Price (Per Person): £24 to £119
Sky Lounge elevates the classic afternoon tea experience. It’s modern here, with the city-gazing bar coupling fudge cakes and Clementine tartlets with champagne.
The 90-minute bottomless Prosecco deal makes things more decadent. If you don’t have cash to burn for bubbles, the traditional menu, which pours tea or coffee (or both), might do.
| Tip: Best to avoid Saturdays if you want to wind down. They’re typically packed on that day. |
Lazy Lounge
– From lazy_nos
Address: Unit B2, West Point, Wellington St
Contact Details: 0113 244 6055
Operating Hours:
- Tue to Thu – 3 pm to 11 pm
- Fri to Sat – 12 pm to 12 am
Price (For Two): £30
The quirky Lazy Lounge opened as a wine bar before evolving into a vintage-looking bistro for lazy days and libations. That’s quite evident in their afternoon tea menu.
You’re getting a teapot here full of Hendrick’s Gin punch, paired with mini cakes and sandwiches. The drink’s profile is generally bright and botanical, owing largely to the addition of elderflower, Sauvignon Blanc, cucumber, and strawberries.
| Tip: If you’re only free on Sundays, call them to book a private experience. |
Malmaison Leeds
– From malmaisonhotels
Address: 1 Swinegate
Contact Details: 0113 426 0047
Price (Per Person): £29.50
Malmaison’s afternoon tea is anything but dull and predictable. Unlike most joints that stick to staples or fixed options, this one dishes out seasonal and themed menus.
In other words, they swap the usuals for reinvented bites. Think Ayrshire bacon sliders, crab tacos with guac, and Thai tofu in sesame wraps.
| Tip: Looking to stay? Rates change daily (Sundays are the cheapest), so check out their price calendar. |
Livin’ Italy
– From livinitaly
Address: Granary Wharf, Wharf Approach
Contact Details: 0113 243 0090
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 12 pm to 11 pm
- Fri – 12 pm to 12 am
- Sat – 10 am to 12 am
- Sun – 10 am to 11 pm
Price (Per Person): £27 to £36
While Livin’ Italy opened in 2012, the family running it kicked off the business in Milan way back in the ‘80s. That’s plenty of time to perfect their Italian-inspired flavours.
Yep, their afternoon tea is a taste of the Bel Paese, so you’ll get a stand of margherita pizza, risotto balls hiding a cheesy carbonara filling, bite-sized tiramisu, and more slices of Italy.
To wash them off, you can either keep the Prosecco as is or upgrade to their signature Aperol spritz cocktail. It’s your shot.
| Tip: You can just rock up, but we suggest calling to book. They tend to get busy. |