Looking for afternoon tea in Scarborough?
There’s honestly nothing quite like tucking into a proper afternoon tea right by the seaside. Whether you are a local hunting for a weekend treat or you are just wrapping up a sunny day down on the coast, Scarborough has some absolutely cracking spots serving up towers of proper sandwiches, warm scones, and brilliant homemade cakes.
To help you avoid the usual tourist traps, I have rounded up six of the absolute best places for afternoon tea in Scarborough, covering everything from fancy country estates to cosy town centre hidden gems.
Asquith Hall
Address: Lady Edith’s Drive, Scarborough, YO12 5TD
Opening Times: Served Daily 12:00 to 16:00 (Must be booked by 10:00 am the same day)
Prices: Afternoon Tea – £35 pp, Sparkling Afternoon Tea – £38 pp (includes a glass of Prosecco), Champagne Afternoon Tea – £45 pp (includes a glass of Champagne)
Tucked away inside the gorgeous grounds of Asquith Hall Hotel & Spa, right on the edge of the North York Moors National Park, this place is your go-to if you want a proper luxury treat with a bit of a special occasion feel. You can choose to have your tea served in their cosy lounges, the rustic Courtyard Restaurant, or even out under a thatched gazebo if the British weather is behaving itself.
This one is a total classic rather than a quirky alternative. You can look forward to perfectly neat little finger sandwiches with traditional fillings, followed by super fluffy homemade scones piled high with thick clotted cream and jam. The top tier finishes things off with a changing lineup of elegant little desserts. If the sun is out, definitely grab a table on one of their pretty terraces so you can soak up those lovely countryside views.
Palm Court Hotel
Address: St Nicholas Cliff, Scarborough, YO11 2ES
Opening Times: Mon to Sun 12:00 to 17:00
Prices: £25 pp or £32 pp with Champagne
This independent, family-run spot is absolutely perfect if you want a premium lounge setting, but you’re a bit tired of the usual cucumber fillings. Guests can enjoy afternoon tea in Palm Court’s elegant, air-conditioned dining lounge, and there’s more than one menu on offer.
Purists can stick to the Classic afternoon tea, which comes loaded with rare Yorkshire beef, smoked Scottish salmon, and Coronation chicken sandwiches, plus sweet treats like pavlova and carrot cake.
However, if you prefer savoury flavours or you are trying to cut back on the sugar, you definitely need to try their unique savoury selection. It completely swaps out the standard cakes for rich mini prawn cocktails, artisanal sausage rolls, a Glaves award-winning pork pie, a fish cake, and a savoury cheese and chive scone served with cheddar cream and a brilliant bacon jam.
Emma’s Coffee Lounge
Address: 30 Huntriss Row, Scarborough, YO11 2EF
Opening Times: Mon to Sat 09:00 to 16:30, Sun 10:00 to 16:00 (Give them 24 hours’ notice for afternoon tea)
Prices: £17.95 pp or £21.95 with prosecco
If you are looking for an informal, mega cosy spot that focuses entirely on proper home baking, Emma’s Coffee Lounge is a fantastic choice. It is tucked right in the heart of the town centre, just a short walk from the main shops and the South Bay beach lift, so it’s a super handy stop off for families.
Their tiered stands are incredibly generous and offer superb value for money. Along with the usual sandwiches, they load the platters with fresh quiche, mini savoury pastries, fluffy scones, and a brilliant selection of their signature homemade sponge cakes. My absolute favourite detail is that you can actually order one to take away– perfect for a beach picnic on a sunny day!
Daisy Tea Rooms
Address: 513 Scalby Road, Scalby, Scarborough, YO13 0NW
Opening Times: Tue to Sat 10:00 to 16:00, Closed Sun and Mon
Prices: £21.50 pp
Based just on the outskirts of the main town in the lovely little village of Scalby, this buzzing neighbourhood tearoom is always packed with local foodies, which tells you everything you need to know. They love running fun themed menus for holidays and special events throughout the year, but if you are just dropping in for a standard visit, you definitely need to try their famous pancakes alongside their classic tiers.
Their afternoon tea selection offers fantastic value, giving you a brilliant mix of lemon scones, fresh cheesecakes, quiches, and crisp salads. This is also my absolute top recommendation in Scarborough if you are trying to find somewhere that caters to dietary requirements, as their kitchen regularly turns out incredible vegan and gluten-free variations that taste just as indulgent as the standard menu
Chameleon
Address: 19-25 Bar Street, Scarborough, YO11 2HT
Opening Times: Wed to Thu 12:00 to 21:00, Fri to Sat 12:00 to 23:00, Sun 12:00 to 18:00 (Bookings only for afternoon tea)
Hidden away on Bar Street, which is one of Scarborough’s coolest and oldest pedestrian lanes, Chameleon has a wonderfully laid-back, independent vibe. The team here focuses entirely on using great quality local ingredients to put together affordable, flavour-packed food.
An in-house baker makes every single component of this tea fresh on the day. The tiers come stacked with fresh savoury sandwiches, deli-style sausage rolls, homemade quiche slices, and classic scones. If you want to make a proper afternoon of it, I highly suggest opting for their sparkling upgrade to get your own bottle of Prosecco, or going all out with their brilliant 90-minute bottomless package.
Mansion House
Address: 14 Belmont Road, Scarborough, YO11 2BB
Opening Times: Served daily 12:30 to 16:30 (Essential bookings only, maximum 6 guests at a time)
Prices: £45 for 2 people, £55 for 2 people with a glass of Prosecco
For a peaceful, premium experience right on the cliffside overlooking Scarborough’s famous South Bay, Mansion House does a beautiful job. You can delve into your immaculately presented spread inside their lovely, classic period lounge, or, should the Yorkshire sun make an appearance, head out onto the patio for incredible sea views.
Their pre-booked set menu balances sweet and savoury flavours perfectly. It features freshly prepared sandwiches, warm sausage rolls, and an excellent selection of artisan cakes alongside the obligatory golden scones with jam and cream. Because they only take tiny groups at any one time, the service feels incredibly personal and exclusive, like your own private hidden retreat.
Have we missed your favourite afternoon tea in Scarborough from our list? You can email your recommendations to business@theyorkshirepress.co.uk
