For my recent birthday I booked in for a screening of Wuthering Heights at The Scotsman Picturehouse and the afternoon tea at Grand Café inside The Scotsman Hotel in Edinburgh. Located right above the Waverley train station by the old town in the city centre, the Grand Café features marble details and chandeliers in an early 1900’s style of an European café. Step inside for a lovely lunch or book an afternoon tea experience with loose leaf teas from local tea makers Eteaket. A dreamy venue to escape to for a couple of hours in good company.
The Scotsman Hotel Afternoon Tea: A European Grand Café Experience in Edinburgh
The Scotsman Hotel offer an Afternoon Tea experience any day of the week. However the afternoon tea I booked was as part of a package where you book it in combination with cinema ticket. For the specific viewing I was attending, they were showing Wuthering Heights so the menu had been put together for this particular event, but was not themed.
Additional details
- Price: The classic afternoon tea is £37.50 per person but you can also do the Gin & Tonic afternoon tea for £42.95 or Moet & Chandon afternoon tea for £47.95.
- Address: The Scotsman Hotel, 20 North Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1TR
♥ Read our full guide to the best afternoon teas in Edinburgh here!
Afternoon Tea Menu
The menu for the Wuthering Heights consisted of a combination of classic afternoon tea sandwiches with a mix of sweet cakes as well as a mini charcuterie plate for more savouries. The sandwiches felt really fresh and were a highlight for me as well as the dark chocolate and hazelnut brownie which had a great consistency and flavour.
Mini Charcuterie
Smoked Cheddar & Pickle Quiche, Scottish Oatcakes, Cured Meats & Scottish Mushroom Butter
Sandwiches
Cucucmber & Cream Cheese
Egg Mayonnaise & Mustard Cress
Smoked Scottish Salmon, Caviar Creme Fraiche
Scones
Plain & Fruit Scones
Clotted Cream & Blackberry Jam
Cakes
Ginger Parkin, Black Treacle Buttercream
Dark Chocolate & Hazelnut Brownie
Gooseberry & Vanilla Choux
Rhubarb & Custard Crumble
My thoughts on the afternoon tea experience
Overall my experience felt a little lacking. Since I had booked my cinema ticket with a birthday voucher, I was kind of left feeling happy that I didn’t spend more money on this. There are lovely elements like the stunning venue and the nice selection of teas. And I do think the afternoon tea experience at The Scotsman Hotel has the potential to be really lovely, but little details like the service negatively affect the overall impression.
If you are looking for an afternoon tea in Edinburgh in this price range, I would actually recommend The Dome instead. With that said, I would be more than happy to come back and try the afternoon tea again as perhaps I was visiting on a bad day. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and will update this review if I have the opportunity to revisit the afternoon tea at The Scotsman Hotel in Edinburgh.
What was good
- The Grand Café is a beautiful venue with lots of natural light. I always love stepping inside and admiring all the details.
- The sandwiches were really nice and felt fresh. They were the classic flavours for afternoon tea which I don’t mind at all when they’re done well!
- I love the selection of Eteaket teas. And particularly enjoy the Sea Buckthorn Blend and the Bollywood Dreams Chai.
- The cute botanical porcelain was a lovely detail to the experience.
What could be improved
- Although the sandwiches were really lovely and fresh the scones were a little on the dry side for my taste.
- The service was a little slow. I got the cake stand before I got the tea whereas I would prefer to be served drinks first. I don’t mind waiting if I have something to sip on but it feels strange eating without having something to drink alongside the food. The people on the tables either side of me also had to take multiple times for the charcuterie plate and for tea.
- The presentation just felt a little uninspired however I can’t put my finger on exactly what it was about it that made me feel that way. I’m not expecting the elegance and luxury you usually get with an afternoon tea which is double the price, but it just didn’t feel very refined.
♥ Looking for more things to do and see in Edinburgh? Read my extensive guide here!
Afternoon Tea and cinema experience
Since I had booked my cinema & afternoon tea together I headed down to the old world styled cinema in the depths of the hotel for a screening of Wuthering Heights after my experience upstairs. I love this cinema as it’s so visually aesthetic and it’s a great place to watch old movies in particular. I actually watched Breakfast at Tiffanys for the first time ever in here. That will always be such a fond memory for me. You can also order drinks and snacks to bring inside to enjoy whilst watching the film. If afternoon tea isn’t for you, they also have ticket combinations where you can book a cinema ticket and brunch upstairs in the Grand Café instead.
♥ Read more about the charming old world style cinema The Scotsman Picturehouse hidden inside The Scotsman Hotel building here!
FAQ – Afternoon Tea at The Scotsman Hotel
The Scotsman Hotel can cater for vegetarian, vegan and gluten free menus however it is recommended to contact the venue at least 24 hours in advance to make sure they can accommodate.
There is not dress code for the Grand Café inside The Scotsman Hotel, however I would not recommend wearing sports wear.
I would recommend booking the afternoon tea in advance to ensure availability for your preferred date and time because it can be busy. Especially on weekend.
There is a live pianist playing every Saturday between 13.00-15.30 which makes for a particularly atmospheric experience.
For children under 12 you can order the kids afternoon tea menu for £9.95 per child which is an adjusted menu to suit the younger ones.
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Meet Moa, our multi-talented writer from Sweden who now calls Edinburgh, Scotland home. With over a decade exploring Europe’s hidden corners—from Nordic landscapes to alpine villages—Moa brings a unique perspective shaped by her years as a travel guide in the Swiss and Austrian Alps. As a whisky book author and freelance drinks writer, she has an eye for exceptional food and beverage experiences, while her background as a photographer ensures she never misses a scenic moment. Whether she’s discovering old European cities or chasing golden hour in mountain villages, Moa’s stories blend cultural insight with a dash of adventure and plenty of authenticity.
