Afternoon Tea at Royal Crescent Hotel in Bath and North East Somerset

We celebrated my partner’s 60th birthday here and what a wonderful evening! We were looked after superbly by the young, very pleasant, eloquent and knowledgeable waiter, a huge credit to him for his attention. The menu was varied and all the dishes sounded delicious, the choices we all made were beautifully presented and exquisite. The atmosphere was simply perfect and we were very pleased to say a wonderful evening was had by all. A huge thank you to all the staff involved with our evening.

The more I think about this, the more furious I am. Had afternoon tea here today with a friend over from America that I’ve not seen for 6 years. I paid the bill and was a bit dismayed to see “discretionary service charge 12.5%” added to the bill. This is not America, this is the UK where minimum wages exist for this reason and believe me I’ve worked some of those minimum wage jobs that aren’t part of this absurd tipping culture. I absolutely despise the addition of “discretionary service charge” being automatically added to the bill, so you the customer has to look an AH in order to have it removed. If I’m going to tip I expect the service to be beyond exceptional. And even then I would tip 10% maximum as is customary in the UK. Now, service was good but nothing exemplary for somewhere charging £45 a head for afternoon tea, more than half that for the children’s menu which was not appropriate for a child! As I paid cash, I left £120, exactly £7.69 short of the total bill which included said “discretionary service charge” - so whilst I still had offered a tip, it was not the full “discretionary” amount. I was pretty gobsmacked to be approached by the waiter as we left, stating that I had only left £120, when the bill is £127.69 - I politely pointed out the DISCRETIONARY service charge, stating I had chosen not to pay this in full - frankly I should have stated that yes, I was awaiting my change. Beyond poor, prior to that we had had a nice time, mostly enjoyed the food but I have definitely had better food in another local Bath cafe many years ago which was sadly closed today. I won’t return now and have a good mind to email for the rest of my change, given the “discretionary” tip was so clearly expected rather than the choice that should have been left with me.

Amazing place. Very cozy and clean. The breakfast is fantastic and the concierge had the best recommendations. They’re also very kid friendly (high chairs, cribs or children beds and toys, small towels, etc.). The location is perfect distance from downtown, we loved our time there.

Wow! Definitely the best hotel I’ve stayed in in the UK. Everything is beautiful, tasteful, comfortable and luxurious. Thanks especially to Saskia for giving us a dreamy room and to Christoph for an incredible massage in the spa. I hope to be back soon.

Always a treat spending time here. It is by far Bath's (and the region's) Grande Dame and fully deserves its 2 Michelin Keys. The suites are beautiful, as are the grounds in general (and what a location!) All staff are excellent, from the porters to the very knowledgeable barmen and waiters. There is a small but properly equipped gym and spa, with a lovely pool, jacuzzi, steam room, and sauna to help wile away the day. Looking forward to our next stay

Pure luxury, especially the service. Every wish is met and the spa is a dream.

Impressive tasting menu and great service. For our anniversary, we decided to treat ourselves to the tasting menu and we were most impressed. The dishes were delicious and the flavour combinations were very complimentary of each other. This was one of the best meals that we have had and is a restaurant, that we would highly recommend! The decor was unusual, however warm and welcoming. Dishes were cooked extremely well. The staff were also friendly and knowledgeable of the food.

We had a fantastic stay at the Royal Crescent during our time in Bath! Truly beautiful hotel, very well appointed rooms, kind and attentive staff was helpful throughout our stay, and delicious breakfast and afternoon teas enjoyed in their restaurant. Great location and surprisingly quiet hotel. Loved meeting Alfie and other neighborhood cats that call the grounds home! Spa was lovely but we did have several issues with our bookings that impacted the rest of our plans and wish I'd had more time to take advantage of the facilities. Still had a great massage, swim and steam! Highly recommend!

We had a great meal here. The cocktails to start were fantastic and the food element was excellent. We opted for the tasting menu. Rarely do we choose tasting menus due to the amount of food you get but this was just right course wise. We knew we were going to eat well by the quality of the canapes. Absolutely delicious beef tartare, a lovely piece of halibut and a piece of local lamb concluded the savoury element. Desserts definitely disappoint nor did the exquisite petit four. All the staff were great. Friendly but not too friendly and very efficient. The wine list is good but it does take some studying to find the bottles that represent good value for money. The decor might not be quite to our taste and the banquette I sat on was just a little low for the height of the table. Other than that I thoroughly recommend dining here. Well done team !

Me and my husband had the most beautiful stay in September for our 1 year wedding anniversary. We had a lovely Junior Suite which was perfect as we brought our dog - easy access to the garden with plenty of room and special treats just for him. We’re still talking about it weeks on, especially the service; the team made us feel at home from the moment we arrived and the little extras throughout made it extra special. We can’t wait to book another stay - thank you!

My stay at The Royal Crescent Hotel was exceptional. The combination of luxurious accommodations, excellent service, and beautiful surroundings made it a memorable visit. I highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a special stay in Bath.

Well worth saving for this place which takes excellent service seriously but in a friendly way. Restaurant and Cream Tea top notch.

The gentile and exquisite setting of The Royal Crescent and Montagu’s Mews is the perfect place to escape the busyness of life for a few hours. Our afternoon tea was sublime. The extensive varieties of tea and the selection of sandwiches and patisserie was impressive. In addition, the precision and flavours were sensational. I particularly loved the gooseberry and créme tartlet and the scones. Service was excellent and we all had a thoroughly enjoyable sunny afternoon drinking tea, eating the sweet delights and quaffing deliciously crisp Chablis. Highly recommend and excellent value for such an outstanding afternoon.

On 30th June, my partner and I booked an afternoon tea for 6 people at 3pm to celebrate my Mum's 90th. The food quality, service and overall experience was poor despite the lovely surroundings of the hotel, and the excellent welcome from the head concierge on the front door. I initially gave a one-star detailed review based on the poor experience and lack of follow up to email complaints.. **BUT** I am revising that as the hotel did contact me based on the review, explaining that the lack of response was due to my own and my partners' emails not being received for various good reasons. They were extremely apologetic and helpful and took on board all feedback with good grace and a genuine desire to make things better. I have been very impressed by this and would be very happy to return to enjoy what should be great quality and service in superb surroundings - as other reviewers have clearly experienced

I was at the Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa on 19th July 2024 for an afternoon spa. This included afternoon tea at 2.45, pool use at 4pm, massage at 5pm. I arrived by 2.30 and went to afternoon tea reception for 2.45pm. I was shown to a table at 3pm. My order not taken until approx 3.10pm. Pot of tea arrived, no food. I asked waiters for my food reminding them I had pool booked for 4pm as part of my package. I was kindly given a complimentary glass of champagne due to my wait. However, I waited, and waited. Had I been anywhere else and not paid for a spa package, I would have left. I felt and was, very overlooked by staff. My food arrived at 3.45 pm. I told the waiter, I had to leave in 5 minutes, I didn't have enough time to eat it unless I cut into my pool time. I didnt want it boxed up as I was travelling by train and it was a very hot day. I ate some and asked for remaining food to be kept fresh and I would return after my treatment in 2 hours. The pool was lovely. The massage was good. However, the therapist kept sniffing and then was sneezing during my treatment. Not nice during a head massage and hope its not covid! I returned for my food. Sandwiches not as fresh. The sandwiches could do with a bit more filling. I was in an area on my own. This was not the relaxing spa treatment I had booked for my birthday. For a 5* hotel, I expected the best service. I sincerely hope management read this review and take note. It's not the people who shout the loudest you need to be aware of but the quieter, solo traveller who notices alot.

Visited for champagne afternoon tea. We were sat outside & gardens were beautiful. Food was average, no better than I’ve had for afternoon teas elsewhere. Service not as expected, when we arrived waited for table, staff were around but no acknowledgement until I went to find someone. We enquired about the champagne flight & also the cost of a bottle of Prosecco and honestly the waiter was snobbish & rude. This is my second visit for afternoon tea, not as enjoyable as the first and not sure I’d recommend.

We had a wonderful meal here. The tasting menu was sublime. The staff very friendly. No problem with us having a registered assistance dog with us despite the restaurant’s no dog policy. It was quite possibly the most delicious meal either of us have had. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming and the setting beautiful.

From the online booking with personal follow ups and confirmation to the final farewell from the maitre de everything was as you would want I described it in the title as fine dining and to be clear everything was very good and the chocolate ganache was exceptional Good wine list, good choice of champagnes Very attentive multi cultural staff Liked this a good deal and will make it a regular stop

I booked the Royal Crescent Signature Treatment and it was *glorious*. Coming from NY and being in law school I’ve had my fair share of massages but this was by far the best one I’ve ever had! Every crick got squished out without my body hurting afterward. It was the most relaxed I’d felt in ages. The facial afterward made my skin feel so soft and smooth without irritation, which is a blessing since my skin is so sensitive. If you come, please ask for Sarah! Honestly this woman deserves a raise and a half for transforming my rickety body the way she did. So nice and so pleasant to talk to about all your body problems. I was in heaven 😍

Went for afternoon very nice and good food

Champagne afternoon tea. Venue over looking rear hotel gardens superb in corner by patio doors. Service impeccable. Bar area and staff was great too.

A great place to have a bite or a drink. The gardens are beautiful as well as the rooms. Afternoon Tea seemed delicious, but we only had a few drinks. Great staff Super recomendado para tomar o comer algo y conocer un lugar unico

AFTERNOON TEA - £42 per person. We visited the royal crescent hotel today for an afternoon tea. We were offered to eat either inside or on the terrace which was good. We chose to sit inside (as the clouds were looming) Our coffee was served...

Very nice afternoon tea but felt the tables were a bit close together. I went with my wife but felt like we were sat with the family next to us.

We went here for multiple meals and had extremely varied service experiences. The first night we went to dinner, and although it took a long time to get our food (2 hours for 2 courses), we had the BEST time! The staff was fun and...

We usually visit annually to celebrate our anniversary. This year was well below par with poor service, poor meal and over pricing. We shall not be going back

The hotel is beautiful and well appointed. Staff friendly, attentive and easy to approach. Service in the restaurant was slow, sat down at 7pm didn’t get a drink till 7.45pm so east to improve on that. Food was delicious though.

Pretty good afternoon tea experience here. We were totally starving so devoured it all. Nice touch with the bath bun which was excellent (better than what you get in the town). Service was really nice, you can tell they have been trained to a high...

Had an afternoon tea here after a spa session at the hotel. Staff was friendly but seemed quite overwhelmed despite most of the tables were empty. Lovely sitting outside overlooking the garden. For the tea, enjoyed the savoury sandwiches, love the scone and especially the...

This is not the sort of meal you experience every weekend, particularly as we the taster menu, it was definitely a treat, but what a treat it was. From the moment we arrived the service was brilliant - polue, respectful and conscientious. The sommelier Liam...

Food - excellent Location - excellent Service - excellent Ambience- excellent Sommelier- Useless !! also quite rude !

Lovely surroundings, just a few minutes walk from town, had afternoon tea for two, Good tea selection, Shame you can only choose one tea each, would be lovely to taste them all, tea was served before the food, so when food arrived the tea was...

We was the last sitting for afternoon tea. The lady waiting on us seemed lovely and was explaining all the food to us. When my mum had rung to book she'd let them know she is coeliac so needed a gluten free version. I told...

had dinner in the restaurant last night, found the male waiting staff very slow and felt they were talking down to us - they often seemed to ignore our requests, it was a real effort to get served, the food was ok when it did...

Our experience dining here was a complete delight from start to finish. Service was impeccable from knowledgeable and attentive staff. The food on the tasting menu was imaginative and truly delicious with each course delivering a pleasant surprise for the eyes and the tastebuds Being...

My family enjoyed this tea service. The desserts and the tea were fantastic. They have a special menu for children.

My husband and I booked the half-spa day with a 2 course lunch at the Dower House. Unfortunately, whilst the service at Dower House was very friendly, it was somewhat chaotic. When we were sat down to our table we were given a food menu...

We had a great time at The Dower House for afternoon tea. The staff were professional and the service was really good. Ewe went for the tea with the flight of Tattinger champagne, which all paired really well with the food. The food was good,...

We came here for afternoon tea to celebrate a family birthday. The food and surroundings were amazing, the tables socially distanced. The staff were friendly and professional throughout. We've had afternoon tea elsewhere in the city many times before - this was one of the...

My partner treated me to a meal at The Dower House for my birthday, and I couldn't have wished for more. From the minute we arrived we felt looked after, the staff literally couldn't do any more for you if they tried. We were initially...

It is always a wonderful treat to visit the Dower House. Superb service and tasting menu, Many thanks to Jean Marc for his excellent wine recommendations and the fabulous front of house lady who gave us such a warm welcome. I only wish I asked...

Had 5 course tasting menu: not something particularly keen on but this was absolutely superb . However we appeared to be shunted into a small room -the garden room? which I had accepted,somewhat reluctantly when assured we would not be dining in splendid isolation. We...

We enjoyed a special treat during the short period of time the temperatures soared to the late 20's so we ate outside in the garden. From the moment we arrived to the time we left, everything felt very special. The gardens were beautiful and a...

Really nice dinner here on Weds 18th Aug 2021. Reduced staff (due to Covid pings) meant no tasting menu on offer sadly. But the food we were offered from the main menu was delicious. The service was 5 stars too. Will definitely be going back.

On returning to The Dower House it was as special as before. The staff are so friendly and the taster menu was amazing. Had a lovely evening, superb food, wine and our anniversary was made extra special by the staff. Can't wait to return.

A wonderful birthday present from my daughter for afternoon tea for 3 adults, 2 children. We could choose a table inside or outside, we chose to sit outside in the sunshine & beautiful gardens, tables well spaced out, waiters wore masks and were attentive without...

I booked an afternoon tea for my partner and I as it was our first trip to Bath and I wanted to visit the Royal Cresent. I knew it would be pricey but I don't mind that if the food is of an exceptional standard....

The garden tables in the grounds are so beautiful. What a lovely setting. Great bar and inside decor very in keeping with traditional English Georgian with modern touches. We had to sit inside because of the usual English summer weather, rain. Our Visit was first...

Stayed at the hotel and enjoyed a few drinks in the bar. It’s expensive but nice for a treat. Waiter service included.

The quality of the food and the service were good. The reason for the three stars is the limited menu. They “streamlined” their menu but don’t really understand why. The choices are very limited indeed. The wine list is extremely limited - we were told...

Staying at the Royal Crescent Hotel we decided to eat in the Dower. If you do not select the Tasting Menu option then choice becomes very limited. For a so called 5 Star restaurant which advertises itself as fine dining my meat choice was Lamb...

This place was booked for us by our Hotel Concierge. Not the most friendly welcome when we arrived, asked to sit down and waited. And waited. And waited, I then decided to go to the Bar and order some Champagne myself. This came quickly, but...

We so enjoyed our afternoon tea. The food was delicious- lovely sandwiches, plate refilled. Scones gorgeous and large, the Bath buns were wonderful. Cakes both pretty and delicious, with a good range of teas. Staff attentive and excellent.

I bought a champagne afternoon tea for my Mums 70th in March, we finally got to go today and it didn’t disappoint! The concierge was friendly and directed us to the Dower House, we were greater by a friendly team and shown to our table....

The Dower house restaurant was a lovely experience. Great food and drinks (especially the cocktails!) The waiter was very attentive and helpful. My now fiancée proposed to me in the restaurant and it was a wonderful evening.

Expectations were high when we managed to secure a 'peak time' reservation at The Royal Crescent's Dower House. Unfortunately, these were consistently diminished throughout our dining experience. Overall, the cuisine appears closer on par with French-style chain bistros than the league of fine dining, with...

Our hotel recommended this restaurant as their Restaurant Dan Moon was still shut due to Covid. The setting is lovely as were the gardens. Restaurant was rather formal but the staff were pleasant. Food was fine but didn’t blow us away. Although the mussels were...

Came with high hopes to the Dower House, which was meant to crown a week of gastronomical exploration across South West England. But what a let down. We had the à la carte menu (for a total of ~100£ plus wine). The 3£ smoked salmon...

We were welcomed to the restaurant by very pleasant and helpful staff. My daughter has food allergies, and these were no problem for the kitchen. Three stands if marvelous goodies arrived, one children’s on for my grand daughter she was very please to see all...

Food was good. The mussels were amazing; we also ordered a medium/well done steak, it came in two pieces (no problem here), but one was rare and the other was well done and both little bit too salty, but good. We didn't know that the...

Fabulous day. First time out in months. Afternoon socially distanced tea in the garden. Glorious day. Beautiful surroundings, well tended gardens. Poems displayed all around the garden. attentive, welcoming staff - really took time to see if we were all ok beautiful food - sandwiches...

We did not stay at the hotel. We asked to use the bar which is at the back of the hotel on the other side of the garden. The gardens are beautiful it would make a lovely place for a party. The bar called Montagues...

This is a really lovely place to relax and enjoy cocktails in luxurious surroundings. Our drinks were made by a barman who was very friendly and immediately made us feel at home.

Took afternoon tea in this delightful place and was wowed by great service and fabulous food. Sonya was a superb and eloquent host that really made the experience a lovely one. Her efforts to make our afternoon a joy were admirably supported by really excellent...

Dine at The Dower House to be reminded that there are still a few - a vanishingly small few - places that have a laser-like focus on their guests, & who build every aspect of what they do around that. I have, over the decades,...

We were feeling indulgent and so tried the taster menu. It was varied and delicious and very well presented. The table service was excellent with a very clear explanation of what we were eating. Our questions were comprehensively answered. It was undoubtedly one of the...

Just returned from Bath after a long weekend. We booked The Dower House for a birthday meal, the food, wine and service were all fantastic - the lamb main was particularly delicious. If you are looking for a great meal in lovely surroundings would highly...

The food was great, but the services were exceptional. The staff was super friendly. I stayed at the Royal Crescent Hotel, so we decided to have dinner there (it was very close). We were not disappointed.

We came here for my wife’s birthday and couldn’t ask for more. The service was impeccable and personable and the food was simply stunning. Everything on the plate had reason to be there and it all worked together perfectly. Worth every single penny and we...

Chose to have fish and chips here on the second night of our stay. Excellent and reasonably priced!!

Excellent dinner on the first night of our stay, and very good breakfasts each morning. Starters, Mains and Desserts were all very special with excellent choices.

Everything you could hope for in a quality afternoon tea - even a box to take home the items you couldn't manage. Unfortunately, although booked in advance for 4pm, the staff seemed not to be expecting us. However, after a slight delay, our table was...

Afternoon tea at the Royal Crescent hotel is a real treat. A wide variety of blends of tea and excellent sandwiches, scones and cakes. There were four of us and two had the sweet (cake) based afternoon tea and two the savoury tea (there was...

We enjoyed a glass of bubbly . There is too limited menu for bar bites so we had to be creative and order a cheese plate. The mixed bar nuts were yummy though but we would have liked to get a few snacks. The choice...

Absolutely scrumptious afternoon tea! We loved the choice of sweet or savoury-based goodies and we weren't disappointed! The service was first-rate ... very attentive and welcoming. The tea delivered on every level. Plenty to eat, totally delicious and in gorgeous surroundings! Great value for money...

Totally unexpectedly, a group of 6 60 somethings passed through a door in the Royal Crescent and found a secret world. We really needed a coffee and ended up with a memory. Almost cost an arm and a leg but soooo worth it! Good coffee...

We were staying at a well known resort but were completely underwhelmed by the service and food on our first night. This was to our advantage as it gave us a chance to try The Dower House! From the moment we walked into the restaurant...

Set in the gardens of the Royal Crescent Hotel this restaurant is delightful even before you've eaten. We had the six course vegetarian menu - every course was well balance and not too filling. It was an anniversary after all. The service was just right...

My sister and I met a very old friend from America in the garden. We were immediately greeted by a lovely waitress who brought us water. It was a very hot afternoon , our waitress was so attentive and kept topping up our water. At...

An afternoon quite reasonable, but where we push you to the consumer even if we pretend to invite you to compensate for the inconvenience encountered during your stay

One of the lovely places to see in Bath close to the city center to see absolutly. A walk to do for sure

Although the menu choice for dinner was not huge, the quality of the food was exceptional. Although it is quite expensive, it was perfect for a special celebration.

This is a first class restaurant. Everything about the place is excellent. The menu was extensive, wine list superb! Service is definitely beyond five star. The food was prepared to perfection and tasted divine. The staff is meticulously in services and their attention to detail...

Rarely eat in such a restaurant but this was a big celebration so, we splashed out. Went for set menu from A la Carte - £50 for 2 courses; £68 for 3. The Pork, Halibut, Lamb and Pigeon were cooked to perfection. Delicious fruit-themed desserts....

We were staying at the hotel for a couple of nights and so ate in here for breakfast both mornings, afternoon tea one day, and dinner on one evening. The breakfasts were superb, both times we sat with a table overlooking the garden. Afternoon tea...

Wanted to give our Japanese daughter in law's parents a special meal whilst they were visiting England for the first time. They had treated us on two separate occasions when we had visited them in Tokyo to magnificant meals - sublime fresh fish and Kobi...

Wonderful service, fantastic food, well balance, great view from the garden styled restaurant. Has also a good vegan menu, I advised prior and they accommodated well.

I booked the Dower house for afternoon tea with my mother as a birthday treat and boy, it did not disappoint. Set in a beautiful garden location, a hidden gem, on a stunning day! The staff were wonderful and very attentive, the restaurant beautiful, and...

We visited for a family celebration and could not have felt more welcome. Lovely ambiance, (helped by the pianist), truly fantastic food and happy staff, particularly Luke and Cat both of whom looked after us so well. We had an evening to remember and cannot...

Our first visit to this hotel despite being Bathonians and it did not disappoint. We visited for traditional afternoon tea in the garden on a Virgin Experience day and were absolutely delighted by the service, the food and the ambience. Altogether a thoroughly recommendable afternoon...

Beautiful setting, very pleasant staff, great choice of teas and food. We had a 'savoury' afternoon tea and an 'authentic' sweet one. Both were beautifully presented and slightly different from other afternoon teas we have had. The savoury one included a sausage roll unlike any...

The staff was amazing -- accommodating our early arrival (due to transportation mishaps) and an allergy issue without blinking, and checking in frequently but discreetly. The atmosphere was just lovely, and the food was top notch. The bath bun (which was served with a scone)...

What a venue . From the moment you arrive this place wraps itself around you and makes you feel welcome . The staff are very polite, attentive and knowledgeable. The service is stunning . My food was amazing . It’s a very special place and...

My sister and I took my mum here to celebrate a special birthday. Wow! What a great choice. Everything was absolutely perfect and the attention to detail made it really special. We sat in the beautiful garden, which made it more relaxed than it probably...

We really enjoyed our anniversary afternoon tea here. Lovely choice of teas, and very tasty traditional afternoon tea. Would recommend it if you fancy something quite posh but not too posh!

We stayed in the hotel and decided to stay in. We had a great table overlooking the beautiful garden. We had great service, and good advice on the wine. Wine and food were delicious.

Booked afternoon tea for my wife’s birthday, my daughter and myself went along and had a really great time. We arrived at 4:30pm and left around 7pm. They didn’t seem to mind that we were stretching out the experience! Endless cups of tea and the...

My husband and I were staying at the Royal Crescent Hotel, which is amazing, and had the afternoon tea. It is definitely worth it if you have the time. They offer a sweet and a savory version. My husband got the savory and I got...

I hired the Library,a private dining room in the historic part of the building for my mothers 90th birthday lunch. Very simple to organise and I liked the attention to detail -placecards,a souvenir menu for all our guests to keep, heavenly fresh flowers on the...

We went there for my birthday dinner. Service and food was beyond expectations. They do everything to make your visit a memorable experience. I had the lamb which was perfectly cooked and presented You pay for it, but is definitely worth it