When visiting Bath, you don’t have to go far to find a restaurant or cafe that serves afternoon tea. As someone who loves indulging in this quintessential British pastime, I’ve wanted to visit The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa in Bath for ages – specifically to try out their afternoon tea.
Instead of drooling over their pictures on Instagram, thanks to a rather lovely birthday gift, I finally managed to experience afternoon tea at The Royal Crescent for myself last month. Although afternoon tea lovers have plenty of options in the city, The Royal Crescent Hotel’s afternoon tea offerings frequently tops the list of best places in Bath to enjoy this teatime treat.
Part of the appeal of afternoon tea at the hotel is its location on Royal Crescent. The street comprises of a row of elegant Georgian townhouses, and is quite possibly the best location in Bath. The Royal Crescent Hotel itself is a five-star luxury hotel, encompassing two townhouses, a pretty garden and further buildings to the rear, including the Dower House Restaurant, where we were to have our afternoon tea. Weather permitting, you can also have afternoon tea in the hotel’s pretty garden. Unfortunately, April showers and what not, meant we had to dine inside. But it wasn’t exactly a hardship as the restaurant is lovely.
Royal Crescent, Bath
Afternoon tea at The Royal Crescent Hotel is the ultimate indulgence. We couldn’t wait to feast on delicate finger sandwiches, pretty little cakes and delicious scones. We opted for the Authentic Royal Crescent Afternoon Tea, which is the hotel’s take on a classic traditional afternoon tea. If you have more of a savoury palate, The Royal Crescent Afternoon Tea is an available alternative. There’s also a vegetarian option too.
All of the three different afternoon teas are complimented by a fantastic selection of world teas. Freshly ground coffee and even hot chocolate is available, if you prefer. Or if you fancy pushing the boat out, a flute of champagne is definitely a good way to make the occasion really sparkle.
The first thing that struck me about The Royal Crescent Hotel’s afternoon tea was the presentation. Aesthetically, it is one of the prettiest afternoon teas I’ve had the delight to tuck in to. And fortunately, the food tasted as good as it looked. The pastries and cakes were exquisite – it was hard to choose a favourite. The freshly baked scones (with clotted cream and strawberry preserve) were moist, crumbly and delicious. It was also the first time I had ever tasted a Bath bun – but hopefully not the last.
I have a sweet tooth, so I’m usually drawn to the cakes and pastries. However, the cute little finger sandwiches were just as yummy. The bread was perfect and the fillings tasty and generous. My favourite was probably the corn-fed chicken, basil and lemon hummus, closely followed by the roast beef with horseradish mayonnaise and watercress.
It’s fair to say that I’ve had a lot of afternoon teas, and up until my visit to The Royal Crescent Hotel, nothing compared to the afternoon tea I enjoyed at The Shard in London. However, I’m pleased to say that this one was just as good. So if you’re in Bath and you feel like indulge in this quintessential British pastime, I highly recommend The Royal Crescent Hotel. Admittedly, at £37.50 a head it’s not the cheapest. But it’s beyond scrumptious and in my opinion worth every penny, particularly if you’re celebrating a special occasion.
Head to their website to find out more about afternoon tea at The Royal Crescent Hotel.