Where to go for afternoon tea in Manchester

A popular option for a good-value spa break, The Spa at Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly is known for its relaxation room, thermal suite, and six treatment rooms.

After a multi-million pound refurbishment, Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly is one of the city’s major hotels and certainly looks the part for stylish stays.

Lock 84 is the all-day restaurant and bar inside four-star hotel The Reach, which opened on Ducie Street in summer 2024. With its preference for locally-sourced ingredients and chic, characterful design, it feels more Northern Quarter independent than international hotel chain. In reality it sits somewhere between the two.

On the Hush is a popular Northern Quarter cafe bar, winning awards for its bottomless brunch. Loyal customers and visitors to Manchester love its colourful style, imaginative cocktails and casual all-day food offering.

Located in the Northern Quarter, this friendly neighbourhood bistro and bar is the place to avanti if it’s a taste of traditional Sicily you fancy – from authentic street food snacks through to big plates of pasta to desserts and holiday memory gelato, eat in or take away.

Independent coffee shop and bar The Art of Tea offers more than just good quality loose leaf tea. It’s situated adjacent to a lovingly curated, second-hand bookshop, and it’s easy to lose a few hours there between the pages of a Penguin Classic or hooked up to their wifi.

All dark wood and polished brass, leather seating and stained glass, this former banking hall is cavernous yet intimate all at the same time – and the perfect decadent backdrop to afternoon tea, Champagne and lobster, or one of the freshly carved succulent Sunday roasts.

Cloud 23 is one of Manchester’s highest dining and drinking experiences. Located 23 stories up in the Hilton Manchester Deansgate at Beetham Tower, it offers exceptional views of the whole of the city and beyond. 

Voco Manchester originally opened as Hotel Brooklyn on Manchester’s Portland Street in 2020 as one of the world’s first fully accessible hotels.

Not just somewhere to take the weight off after peering at all the Lowrys and Valettes, The Gallery Cafe at Manchester Art Gallery is a go-to in itself, not least for the homemade sweet treats and the pleasant space outdoors as well as in.

Three-course dining in the middle of the local park – lucky are the residents of Cheadle that they have The Galloping Major and John Lewis on their doorsteps. 

King Street Townhouse is a 4-star luxury hotel in the heart of Manchester City Centre. It’s well known for its spa facilities – including a very special infinity pool with views of the city from the top floor of the building.

If sipping on champagne whilst surrounded by books sounds like your thing, then The Library Champagne Bar at The Edwardian in Manchester will be right up your street. 

Just a few minutes walk from Manchester Piccadilly train station, making it a great base for both business travellers and tourists.

Based in the bijou space next to Pop Boutique, this independent female owned and run café is small in size, but big in personality. You can eat in or take away, or check out the online shop with UK-wide delivery, so you can get handmade cake and afternoon teas wherever you are.

If this isn’t an excuse to pop on your best frock (or bib’n’tucker), we don’t know what is. An award-winning Alice In Wonderland-themed dining experience is just asking for a bit of dress-up, especially when there’s finger food and afternoon tea for the taking.

The River Restaurant at The Lowry Hotel is Manchester’s classic fine dining restaurant. Huge names that have run the kitchen include Marco Pierre White, while diners have included Jose Mourinho and Kylie.

Located on Manchester’s Princess Street, Roomzzz Manchester City is perfect for visitors looking for culture in Manchester. Chinatown is just next door – full of some of the city’s best Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai restaurants.

As the first San Carlo Cicchetti, the Manchester restaurant had a lot to prove on opening in 2011. Over a decade and several awards later, it’s still going strong.

Much like Betty’s in Harrogate, a trip to Slattery in Whitefield can be a day out in its own right. This bakery and cake shop has been in business in North Manchester for over fifty years – and now houses a cafe, cookery school, and wedding cake showroom – as well as the shop itself.