Tiers of crustless sandwiches, dainty desserts and home-cooked scones await – it’s time to get your afternoon tea on!
It’s quintessentially British, an in-between meal that’s all indulgence, but where can you get the best afternoon tea in Leeds? We’ve eaten our way around the city, trying everything from traditional high tea to Italian twists, all to help you choose where to go. So without further ado, here are our top picks – which will you try first?
Nesso
Credit: Nesso
Nesso doesn’t serve traditional afternoon tea, switching out the finger sandwiches for Italian-inspired brunch and dessert-style dishes. Served with you choice of tea or coffee, it’s a unique spot that definitely deserves a place on our list.
Kick things off with a glass of bubbly or a fresh juice, before choosing one dish from their brunch, pizza or sandwich menu – a step up from the usual light bites and a move that makes this feel like proper value at just £44.50 for two guests. After that, it leans more into type with a sweet-heavy spread – giant baked scones with clotted cream and jam, cupcakes and Sicilian cannoli filled with pistachio and hazelnut. Bellisimo.
Where? 42 Merrion Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 8JG & 87 Queen Street, Morley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS27 8DX.
When? 10am to 4:30pm, Sunday to Thursday.
How much? £44.50 for two. You can upgrade to share a bottle of prosecco for an extra £10 or champagne for £20.
Book it: nessocafe.co.uk
Livin’ Italy
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Ciao! Did you know that Livin’ Italy does one of the best afternoon teas in Leeds? It’s not traditional – at least, not in a quintessentially British way – but it’s very, very tasty. As you’d expect, they’ve given it an Italian twist, and it’s served up in their lively restaurant, so we heard plenty of ‘salutis’ as we demolished this tiered delight.
The first thing you need to know is that a glass of prosecco comes as standard. Food comes in the form of seven delectable treats. Savouries are covered by miniature margarita pizzas and short rib of beef sliders, paired with crispy arancini and polenta & friarielli. But, it’s all leading up to the dessert – and what a dessert it was. The chocolate cube cake was delicious, it came topped with a candied orange, and the black cherry slice was a lovely addition – sweet, yet tart. But it was the tiramisu we couldn’t get enough of – creamy, velvety and gone too soon.
Where? Granary Wharf, Wharf Approach, Leeds, LS1 4BR.
When? 12pm to 4pm from Monday to Friday.
How much? £25 per person with a glass of prosecco or £33 with two Aperol Spritz cocktails instead of prosecco.
Book it: livinitaly.com
Cha Lounge
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Afternoon tea doesn’t have to be all glitz and glam. It can be cosy and casual, perfect for catching up over freshly baked scones. That’s what it’s like at Cha Lounge. This little indie cafe is all mismatched sofas, exposed brick and down-to-earth vibes. We love that they’re sustainably run too – those dainty finger sandwiches are all the more satisfying when they’re zero waste.
They certainly know how to put on a spread. Thick slabs of brie meet tangy chutneys and vegetable crudités are perfectly paired with olive tapenade and hummus (the homemade kind). And that’s before you start in earnest, with a choice of two sandwiches – try the halloumi, it comes with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes – and a medley of cakes. The scones are the star of the show, as they should be. Ours were plump and still warm, smothered in clotted cream and jam, but with the addition of fresh strawberries. The table next to us was a family and the kids had a mini afternoon tea of their own!
Where? 24-26 Dock Street, Leeds, LS10 1JF.
When? 12pm to 3pm daily.
How much? £30 with a glass of prosecco or £44 with bottomless prosecco and lager.
Book it: chalounge.com
Gray’s of Rothwell
Credit: Gray’s
If it’s a laidback afternoon tea experience in a charming setting you’re after, we recommend you make your way over to Rothwell and drop into Gray’s. This welcoming cafe is super popular, with its unfussy interiors, friendly staff and drool-worthy displays of tempting sweet treats. While their hot drinks, baked goods and hearty lunches are always a hit, it’s their afternoon tea that has got us swooning.
There’s a selection to pick from – including gluten-free, vegan and a fully savoury option. So, if you want to skip the cake and stack up on more sarnies, they have you covered. The cheese scone with cream cheese and chutney is delicious. But for those with more of a sweet tooth, their classic afternoon tea comes served on three tiers. The bottom and middle tiers are stacked with sandwiches, quiche, sausage rolls and even homemade soup, while the top tier is a feast of cake bites and that must-have scone loaded up with clotted cream and jam. Don’t forget the bottomless tea and coffee!
Where? 37-41 Commercial Street, Rothwell, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS26 0AP.
When? Served from 1pm to 3pm on Monday to Friday.
How much? £22 per person or £23 per person for the fully savoury afternoon tea.
Book it: graysofrothwell.co.uk
Harewood House
Credit: Tom Arber
Harewood House is one of the most impressive stately homes in Leeds and it has an afternoon tea to match. You’ll settle into their small terrace cafe, which really does offer spectacular views over 1,000-acre estate, and tuck into a quintessentially high tea. The grounds were designed by Capability Brown and they’re just as stunning as his reputation would suggest.
Dainty finger sandwiches set the scene – the oak smoked salmon with dill créme fraîche were just perfect – before you grab your spoon and dive into a mouthwatering selection of desserts. We had a matcha cake with white chocolate mousse and black pepper shortbread with macerated strawberries. The salted honey custard was the perfect finale, infused with lemon and thyme, then topped with brown sugar. The menu is subject to change, but you’re always guaranteed a moreish scone loaded with clotted cream and jam, with a steaming hot cup of tea to wash it all down.
Where? Harewood, Leeds, LS17 9LG.
When? Served from 1pm on Friday to Sunday from Friday 21st February to Sunday 19th October 2025.
How much? £40 per person for members or £45 per person for non-members.
Book it: harewood.org
The Ivy
A British institution, it’s a given that The Ivy knows how to do a delectable afternoon tea – it’s a fashionable, sociable and relaxing affair. The restaurant itself has an art deco flare, with gold leaf ceilings, a twenties-style bar and florally embossed chairs, and it’s here where you can enjoy one of the most indulgent cream teas in Leeds.
They’re currently running their Spring afternoon tea menu. The cured smoked salmon and cream cheese choux bun is quintessentially British, while the chicken and truffle mayonnaise roll offers a refined twist on a classic. But it’s sweet treats you came for and it’s sweet treats you shall receive. How does an Ivy chocolate bombe with milk chocolate truffles, a classic creme brulee and vanilla & strawberry jam muffin sound? It comes accompanied by a fluffy and buttery scone – will it be cream or jam first?
Where? Vicar Lane, Leeds, LS1 6BA.
When? 3pm to 5pm daily.
How much? £33.75 per person or £43.75 with a glass of Champagne.
Book it: ivycollection.com
Sky Lounge
Credit: Matthew Dunkley
As well as being Leeds’ highest rooftop bar, Sky Lounge also does a great afternoon tea. At the very top of the DoubleTree by Hilton, their floor-to-ceiling windows offer a great view, perfect for gazing over the city centre skyline as you savour your scones and sandwiches. Dietary requirements are no problem here, with vegan, veggie and gluten-free options available.
Start with the savoury before making your way over to the sweet. As afternoon tea should be, the sandwiches are mightily impressive – roasted beef & creamed horseradish sit shoulder-to-shoulder with pickled cucumber & shallot cream cheese. And you have to try the beetroot falafel wrap – it comes with a tangy spiced yoghurt. The sweets are small but perfectly formed, with stars like an indulgent mini fudge cake and a tangy clementine tartlet that make it feel special. If you want to make an afternoon of it, why not add bottomless prosecco?
Where? Granary Wharf, Leeds, LS1 4BR.
When? 2pm to 5pm on Thursdays and Fridays, and 12pm to 5pm on Sundays.
How much? £24.50 per person for afternoon tea, £29.95 with a cocktail and £49.45 with bottomless prosecco.
Book it: leedsskylounge.co.uk
Just Grand!
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The vintage tearoom of your dreams, Just Grand! serve up a perfectly quaint afternoon tea. With the gramophone spinning, retro posters covering the wall and antiques lining the shelves (they even have a teapot from the 1870s), you’ll feel as though you’re enjoying afternoon tea in bygone times. It’s traditional in the most awesome way.
They have 25 types of tea, and we eventually settled on the lavender Earl Grey – top tip, take it black! With seven varieties of afternoon tea, it can be hard to choose, but it was the deluxe traditional that caught our eye. Served up on a tiered stand, crustless sandwiches act as the base, with a stop for coconut madeleines, Victoria sponge and chocolate cake on the way up. For us, the star of the show was right on top – the scones. Dusted with edible glitter and filled with juicy sultanas, we slathered them with thick clotted cream and raspberry jam before polishing them off.
Where? 8-9 Grand Arcade, New Briggate, Leeds, LS1 6PG.
When? 10am to 4pm on Mondays and from Wednesday to Saturday, then from 11am to 4pm on Sundays.
How much? £23.95 to £27.95 depending on which afternoon tea you choose, plus £3 for the Go Deluxe upgrade and £5 for a glass of prosecco.
Book it: just-grand.co.uk
Malmaison
Credit: Malmaison
Malmaison is perhaps not the most obvious choice for afternoon tea. Their bar & grill is sumptuous in its styling – the exposed brick and mood lighting feels less high tea and more intimate seduction – but don’t write it off just yet. After all, the combination of impeccable service and contemporary twists on teatime favourites makes it almost too good to miss.
And the food? Crispy buttermilk fried chicken is joined by beef brisket bites, tuna tacos and mini burgers, making this less quintessentially English and more culinary fusion. Sweets lean more towards the classics, with a vanilla creme brulee, decadent carrot opera cake and chocolate chip cookie dough sundae – with a retro-inspired nod to the ‘Fab Lolly’ adding a pop of colour to proceedings. The scone gets a tasty twist, with sweet toffee sauce ensuring this is not the usual afternoon tea fare.
Where? 1 Swinegate, Leeds, LS1 4AG.
When? 12pm to 4pm from Monday to Friday or 12:30pm to 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
How much? £29.50 per person for afternoon tea, £36.50 with a glass of prosecco or £39.50 with a cocktail.
Book it: malmaison.com
Browns
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Want your afternoon tea in a venue that’s as traditional as the food? Head to Brown’s. What was once a former banking hall has now been transformed into a beautifully converted brasserie, with fretted Georgian windows, dark mahogany finishings and a bar that snakes around the side of the restaurant. It’s sophisticated, with a classy cream tea to match.
You’ll be presented with finger sandwiches on sesame bread – the cured salt beef with horseradish is delicious, but our favourite is the cheddar, which comes with a sweet and tangy accompaniment of pickle and sliced apple. Sweets will see you digging your spoon into mini cakes, including a blackcurrant Victoria sandwich, carrot & orange cake, lemon meringue tart and black forest chocolate pot. But make sure you leave room for the scones. They are, quite possibly, the best we’ve tasted in Leeds, and while they’re only small, they’re perfectly moist and fluffy – and the best bit, served warm!
Where? The Light, 70-72 The Headrow, Leeds, LS1 8EQ.
When? 3pm to 5pm daily.
How much? £25 per person or £35 per person for a champagne afternoon tea.
Book it: browns-restaurants.co.uk
Dakota
Credit: Dakota Hotels
If you want a super-swish high tea in Leeds, you need only head to Dakota. It’s served in the bar, where pictures of Hollywood icons line the walls, or even better out on the terrace surrounded by greenery. The latter is one of the best people-watching spots in Leeds, so you can enjoy a delicious spread as you watch the world go by.
Their sandwich selection is in fine fettle, with egg & cress, ham & mustard mayo or cucumber & cream cheese, all served crustless. But that’s just the beginning. Pork pies come with a moreish layer of pastry, while mini quiches add a savoury flair with stilton and onion. For the sweets, you ask? How about an exquisite carrot cake & walnut buttercream or tempting rocky road? There’s also a caramel muffin and dark chocolate profiteroles with raspberry. And although you get a choice of tea, we couldn’t resist adding a glass of champagne, which really topped off the whole affair.
Where? The Light, 70-72 The Headrow, Leeds, LS1 8EQ.
When? 12pm to 5pm daily.
How much? £30 per person.
Book it: dakotahotels.co.uk
Fleur
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Want an Instagrammable afternoon tea in Leeds that’ll make your followers jealous? Of course you do – enter Fleur. Neon signs, eye-catching florals and pretty pastels sit alongside a kitchen commanded by Masterchef star Bobby Geetha, who’s whipped up an afternoon tea that takes culinary inspiration from every corner of the world.
It’s not served up on a traditional tiered stand, but instead, comes on your own personal wooden tray. Rather than receiving every item on the menu, you choose two savouries and a sweet to curate a high tea that’s suited to your taste. Pick from a crispy chicken or salmon avocado bao, crunchy duck spring rolls or the mac & cheese croquettes (our personal favourites). You get a choice of two desserts, but they’re both fully sized – will it be cheesecake or tiramisu? We went for the latter, and boy were we glad we did – it was creamy, rich and chocolatey in all the right places.
Where? The Light, 70-72 The Headrow, Leeds, LS1 8EQ
When? 3pm to 5pm from Sunday to Friday.
How much? £19.95 per person.
Book it: fleurrestaurants.com
Oulton Hall
Oulton Hall is certainly one of the best places to rest your head in the city, but did you know they also serve one the best afternoon teas in Leeds? You’ll be seated in the drawing room, which conjures images of Downton Abbey and Bridgerton, but don’t worry, it’s surprisingly laid back. And the best bit? You can look out over stunning views of the grounds while you eat.
There are four afternoon teas to choose from, but whichever you go for, your food selection will remain the same. In line with a classic high tea, you’ll enjoy a selection of finger sandwiches, from the oh-so-traditional cream cheese & cucumber to the smoked ham, pesto & sun-dried tomato. The next tier promises scones and pastries – we had a classic red velvet cake, which was simply divine, and tangy-yet-sweet lime tart topped with passion fruit bavarois. And for tea? Well dear reader, you can’t wrong with Darjeeling, grown in the hills of the Himalayas.
Where? Rothwell Lanwe, Oulton, Leeds, LS26 8HN
When? 12pm to 4pm daily.
How much? £35 per person for afternoon tea or £40 per person with a glass of prosecco.
Book it: oultonhallhotel.co.uk
Convive at Weetwood Hall
Weetwood Hall is a 17th-century Jacobean manor house adorned with grand chandeliers and rich mahoganies, so it sets the scene for a traditional afternoon tea, but actually, Convive is all contemporary chic. Expect subtle backlighting, wooden beams and windows that fill the room with natural light. And you’ll find that same modern-meets-traditional twists in the menu.
You can choose either a vegan or traditional afternoon tea. The latter sees classic finger sandwiches (the mature cheddar with celery and apple stole the show) paired with savoury treats like grass-fed Yorkshire lamb shepherd’s pie bon bon served with mint sauce. To sate your sweet tooth, dig your spoon into four equally scrumptious desserts – homemade Yorkshire parkin, chocolate mousse, a mini raspberry trifle and churros with a rich chocolate sauce. Of course, it wouldn’t be an afternoon tea without a homemade scone, and naturally, it comes with a generous dollop of clotted cream and strawberry jam.
Where? Otley Road, Weetwood, Leeds, LS16 5PS.
When? 12pm to 4pm daily.
How much? £32.50 per person.
Book it: weetwood.co.uk
Lost & Found
There’s something just wonderfully bohemian about Lost & Found. Eclectic Victorian furnishings – think grand chandeliers, antique bric-a-brac and a spiral staircase – gives it sense of macédoine chic. And it’s in this traditional-yet-not-so setting that they serve one of our favourite afternoon teas in Leeds. It’s a crowd-pleasing classic that’s easy on the purse strings.
The menu has three options – vegan, vegetarian and indulgent. We went for the latter, and while it wasn’t as big as a typical afternoon tea, it certainly didn’t lack when it came to flavour. Finger sandwiches filled with smoked salmon, cucumber & lemon cream cheese are paired perfectly with a coronation chicken sausage roll. Simple, yet filling, with plenty of space for the sweets. Fluffy scones are topped with raspberry jam and clotted cream, tiramisu is infused with Espresso Martini and chocolate tarts are finished with praline and raspberry. Yes, we’d go again.
Where? 3 Albion Place, Leeds, LS1 6JL.
When? 11:30 to 5pm from Sunday to Friday, must be booked three days in advance.
How much? £19.95 per person for afternoon tea or £25.95 with a cocktail.
Book it: the-lostandfound.co.uk
