Afternoon tea (Edinburgh preferably, but could do Glasgow)

[UltraVires]

Hello

Looking for a bit of a steer on the best place for a (family friendly) afternoon tea in Edinburgh (but could go to Glasgow if it was worth it).

I have a kid turning 6 in a couple of months. She doesn't want a party with friends, she has requested 'family time'.
She loves "going to the café" (not something we do very often) and wearing a pretty dress, so I reckon a lovely afternoon tea would be right up her street.

I was all set to reserve a table at The Dome, but got cold feet as the recent TripAdvisor reviews aren't the best.

Any advice/tips/hidden gems that would guarantee her a great birthday treat (needs to have a dairy free/vegan option available due to allergies).

Thanks ☺️

We had afternoon tea at the Dome before Christmas and it was lovely.
The Balmoral is amazing.
The Ivy are good with children too.
Less fancy but delicious award definitely goes to Mimis bake house.

However all that said the two best in the business for Children are Turnberrys little darlings and Cameron house where the children get a lovely Teddy with their afternoon tea.

Mackintosh at the Willow in Glasgow is brilliant, but I'm not sure it's that much better than what you'd get in Edinburgh to be worth travelling. Also at 6 she wouldn't be allowed in the grand salon which is awesome but I think you have to be 8.

We've been for afternoon tea at the Dome a few times with my daughter and it's been absolutely lovely each time!
Rhubarb at The Prestonfield was amazing!
The decor is beautiful (my daughter loves the bathroom! 😂) and the staff were so friendly and gave her an extra treat that she particularly liked!

Or there's a boat near Ocean Terminal, it's called Fingals I think? They do a lovely afternoon tea too, went a few weeks ago.
I've not been but there's a place in the city centre that's set up like the Orient Express that do afternoon tea.
Or Red bus bistro does it on a double decker that tours the city as you eat, might be fun?!

Amazing!!! Some awesome sounding options there. Thanks all 😀

Dobbies does a children's afternoon tea too. It's very nice but maybe not quite what you're looking for?

There's also a wizard themed afternoon tea in Edinburgh if she's into Harry potter.

Prestonfield Hotel do an amazing afternoon tea. Extra points for the peacocks in the grounds

Signet library is delicious but I'm not sure about kids. (I wouldn't take mine there but mine are feral)
Mimis for a relaxed, delicious and child friendly experience.

The Queen Charlotte rooms in Edinburgh might be fun for a child www.queencharlotterooms.com/afternoontea.html

@marriedthegambler

Signet library is delicious but I'm not sure about kids. (I wouldn't take mine there but mine are feral) Mimis for a relaxed, delicious and child friendly experience.

I agree. It was lovely but very quiet.

Mimis

I'd say Mimi's or Bon in Corstorphine.

For a six year old I'd go to Mimis at the shore

Another recommendation for Prestonfield. Beautiful place.

We had afternoon tea at the Dome 2 weeks ago. It wasn’t great at all. The sandwiches were fine but the rest was really poor. The Balmoral, in my years of doing afternoon tea, cannot be beaten.

The Caledonian Edinburgh afternoon tea is amazing. They also catered beautifully for a nut allergy a few years back.

@spangleswereace that'll be us off to the Orient Express afternoon tea, never heard of it until you mentioned it here. I reckon the in-laws would love it next time they're up.

Got to be Mimis for a 6 year old

Haven’t been for a while but I had a nice afternoon tea at the Sheraton once and the atmosphere was very relaxed. Am not big on the Dome myself, I’d go for the building but not for the food. Took mine to Prestonfield last summer (they are older) which was nice but very quiet and if mine were younger, I think I’d have been more stressed about them spilling something or grinding cake into soft furnishings. Overall, I also think Mimi’s would be my preference for six year old.

Balmoral is nice. My niece had afternoon tea at Hopetoun last year and it was good too.