Barbara

I have read a lot of posts about having tea in London, but wondered if there are places in Edinburgh or Glasgow that are recommended for this afternoon pleasure? And would the foods served at teas in Scotland be similar to that in London? Thanks for any and all info.

meg

Edinburgh It's got to be Jenners on Princes Street- it's a big department store with a famous tea shop inside. A full afternoon tea should include sandwiches, a selection of cakes (in Scotland, I'd expect to see shortbread biscuits) and, of course tea!<BR>Glasgow- the famous Willow Tea Room designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh (early 20th century)in Sauchiehall Street. It's accessed through a shop selling crockery, jewellry etc. Well worth a visit as everything from the purple and silver chairs to the cutlery was designed by Macintosh

Jenny

In Edinburgh, I wouldn't expect to get the full service in Jenners - it's now a bit more self-service. If you want the real luxury stuff - all the trimmings - then go to the Balmoral on Prices St. You can have afternoon tea in the Palm Court, with a harpist playing, for about &pound;11 (at last memory). I think this is probably more the sort of afternoon tea experience!<BR><BR>Jenny

Rhonda

I agree with Jenny about Jenners. I took my folks there and it wasn't in any way enjoyable. There was another thread about this recently that I also responded to and suggested the Balmoral and was corrected by someone who had been and said she found Palm Court to be more like a bar (which after phoning the Balmoral in disbelief I understand it is a lounge bar of sorts)and the rate is now &pound;18 per person for afternoon tea. The woman who had been said it was way overpriced and found the Caledonian to be more to her liking. I'll search and see if I can top that thread for you Barbara.<BR><BR>Rhonda

Rhonda

Barbara..have topped that thread for you. See London/Scotland hopefully still in the top 50 (sorry can't remember the rest of the title) or do a search on this forum yourself for "Plaisir du Chocolat" which is the name of a cafe in Edinburgh who specialise in Tea of all kinds that I mentioned in this thread. Lovely treats there but french as the name suggests. Still if it is tea "the drink" you're interested in they have tea from all over the world and are very particular about their teas.<BR>Hope this helps.

Barbara

Thank you for your replies and extra efforts to update the info. I like having a couple different options as some days I'm not up for fancy, and some days that's exactly what I want. And the place in Glasgow sounds perfect. Thanks again.

mari

re the willow street tearoom in glasgow, sorry to report that it's no longer worth a stop. it was in 1994, when i first went there. i had just discovered charles rennie mackintosh and was in awe at the window treatments, stained glass, artwork, furniture and cutlery. i was thrilled to be able to go back this past june to show it to my mom.<BR><BR>unfortunately, the tearoom had been moved away from the sauchiehall street windows, to the back half of the second floor. no original interior treatments were left. instead the nondescript tables and chairs were crammed around a railing overlooking the retail space on the first floor. no original furniture or cutlery designs, and the quality of the tea, sandwiches and pastries was third-rate.<BR><BR>i wouldn't go there again for either a tea or a mackintosh experience.