Halls Cafe in York

We had a lovely afternoon tea in the Imperial room and were well looked after by Karen, she was amazing. We will be back again.

and unlike having waited in the queue to get in, a la original Starbucks (Seattle WA), one can actually sit in to enjoy the fayre...

Not cheap but always a great experience.

Excellent service, quick delivery of food and drink

Looking to visit Harrogate soon. Naturally was planning on visiting Betty's Tearoom, however reading the reviews?. I think I'll probably take a photo of Betty's Tearoom and walk on by. Sadly they seem to profit not on the quality of Tea's, Coffee's, Sandwiches. 🙁☹️. I'll take myself to Costa 🙂

Beautiful iconic place. When you tell people you have been to Harrogate you get asked if you have been here. 4 of us visited and were lucky to get a table straight away. We did find the service a little frosty. Worth a visit if you are in the area

Was in the area and recommended to Bettys so took the opportunity. I had a fabulous vegan scone and lovely cup of tea to wash it down. An absolutely lovely experience, with great service. Would love to go back if ever i am in Harrogate.

Our experience was somewhat disappointing. Upon arrival, we were surprised that our coats were not taken; instead, they were simply hung on the backs of our chairs. The atmosphere in the Imperial Suite was underwhelming—it was too bright and lacked ambience. Additionally, the sound of clanking cutlery from the kitchen/staff room was quite distracting and did not contribute to a relaxing dining experience. The food was largely unremarkable, with nothing particularly memorable apart from the cheese and ham sandwiches. That said, the service was excellent. Patricia and Victoria were exceptionally attentive and went above and beyond to ensure we were well taken care of.

We had faultless service from Louis G and Isla Ellis. We were made to feel very special. Piano music made superb atmosphere. All food was beautiful presentation

Old fashioned quaint experience of the highest quality.

Short wait to be seated as a group of four, but well worth the wait, our fourth time. Great welcome and service by Hannah. Lovely food and drinks as always.

Lovely Bettys, my husband and I treat ourselves every few months and it never disappoints, except today! We always have tea for two to drink with our food, but they only ever bring a tiny jug of milk with two teapots and a jug of hot water. We always have to ask twice for more milk! So today I asked the waitress who took our order if we could please have more milk because we never have enough. Well, all I can say is if looks could kill I’d be six feet under! Not a word was said and needless to say the usual one tiny jug of milk arrived! We had to ask twice for more, but chose different waitresses who were more than happy to oblige. I understand you don’t want waste, but its only a bit of milk, with each pot giving at least 2 cups each it really isn’t adequate.

First visit. Would have liked to have gone inside for afternoon tea but considering how long the queue was outside I knew that wasn't going to happen. My main aim was to purchase one of the world famous rascals which is heard good things about. Thankfully they have a busy takeaway shop just inside for those not wanting to dine in. The staff were very helpful and friendly.I purchased a rascal, a festive Yule rascal, a gooey chocolate rascal,a festive Santa cookie,an Eccles cake and a cheese scone. All we reasonably priced and they were indeed worth every penny. They were all absolutely gorgeous. Would definitely recommend a visit.

Certainly worth a visit for the betty’s experience, traditional tea rooms. My partner ordered what we would Describe a “a large chicken nugget” and I ordered the Betty’s burger , the onion bun was gross. The pink lemonade was very sweet, and the chocolate milkshake was a little overwhelming. The heart cake after the mains meal was delicious!

One of the best afternoon tea experiences I’ve had. The food is excellent but it’s the staff and service that really makes it outstanding

A great way to celebrate my 70th birthday in December. I fancied this preemptive visit to Harrogate instead of a big do. I made a good call because our hotel the Majestic Double Tree by Hilton was amazing. Betty's tea room was everything and more. The young man Ben waited on us so well, and we could have food and drinks at will. This was an excellent afternoon tea, silver service and Victorian. All fresh delicious locally sourced fayre. We were serenaded with piano music . We were transported back to yesteryear being immersed in this period decor. We splashed out a bit, but being it was a special occasion it was justified! We had the Pink Champagne afternoon tea. In preference to the original idea to have prosecco as a celebratory drink. We booked online and benefitted by being shown upstairs to enjoy the deluxe afternoon tea. I'd wholeheartedly recommend this special treat, you won't be disssapointed. Its got to be your priority on a visit to Harrogate!

Very expensive. Long wait to get in but very nice

It's good to see a traditional tea room still surviving these days.

Amazing. I'm vegetarian and have a number of problems with food intolerances. Jessica listened carefully to all my problems and miraculously personalised my afternoon tea and I was able to eat everything. Thank you so much Jessica and the chef for making me feel so cared for! Our server James was also very attentive. A wonderful experience for me and my friends. Thank you so much. Definitely recommend. The ambience with the piano player in the background was also lovely.

A lovely birthday treat. Excellent food, service and atmosphere as always.

Betty's Café is an absolute gem! From the moment you step inside, you’re greeted with a warm and inviting ambiance. The staff are exceptionally friendly, attentive, and always go the extra mile to ensure every guest feels valued. The menu is a delightful blend of classic and creative dishes, all prepared with fresh, high-quality ingredients. Their coffee is hands down the best in town—rich, flavorful, and always served at the perfect temperature. What truly sets Betty's Café apart is the attention to detail. Whether it's the beautifully plated meals, the cozy decor, or the thoughtful recommendations from the staff, everything feels tailored to create an unforgettable experience. I highly recommend Betty’s Café to anyone looking for a perfect spot to relax, enjoy great food, and experience exceptional hospitality. This place is a true treasure!

Always good food it is worth the wait :) advise you to book a table in advance.

Excellent food and fantastic service, very helpful staff

I went to the york tea room and I wanted to have breakfast as I done the tea in the summer. And what can i say it was lush i will definitely go again

Lovely food and staff very efficient

An amazing experience we have been trying to have for a very long time. From the lovely welcome by Anna who was our waitress to the great quality of the selection of both savoury and sweet treats. I would definitely and happily recommend Betty's to anyone who has not experienced this Yorkshire institution. To the amazing Team, thank you so much. I am now stuffed x

Very very impressed! Every bites are heavenly and true delights!! The service is also thorough and flawless! The whole experience is beyond perfection :) I would defi come back for any special occasions or a treat for no reason! Every penny is well spent for this experience

While the tea room itself is very nice Betty’s products have become more expensive and have also reduced in size. For example the mince pies used to be nice and deep now they are very shallow. It seems that they have caut onto the same thing as most companies in that they still charge the same prices for a smaller lesser product. A very big shame indeed.

Very expensive for average food

Lovely place, great food and drinks choice

Lovely atmosphere and service. Opted for the Christmas cake with cheese and decaf tea. The cake was delicious but a wee bit small for the price. There was more cheese than cake. I was alone so had a lovely table in the window.

Sounds expensive, but goods value for my nice place, nice food served by pleasant staff

As expected, with a wait to be seated, worth visiting outside of peak times, food and service great.

Kind staff. Well cared for with regard to allergies and excellent quality of food.

What an experience. Best to book and eat upstairs. The food was superb. Will return

Went there for a breakfast with my partner, lovely location. Food was good and high quality, I got the English Breakfast and he got a Fat Rascal (you definitely have to try), we accompanied the meal with two type of teas, they were both from Betty’s and were exceptional. The shop is greatly organised and has a lot of different options, definitely good for gift ideas! Definitely going back and super recommended!

Betty's cafe Harrogate afternoon tea was delicious Karen our server was great full of information couldn't do enough for us a bit on the pricey side but a lovely experience

Lovely surroundings, nice coffee and a place to relax.

Lovely food fantastic staff really enjoyable

Excellent service in lovely surroundings.

Luxurious place to have tea, great atmosphere and very well dressed staff…fabulous

Well known and regarded cafe with good food and a great tea selection. Would very much recommend the Alpine Macaroni which was very filling and tasted great. The Yu Luo tea was delicious and incredibly mellow. Staff couldn’t have been more attentive and were all extremely kind and considerate. We didn’t book and even for a group of 6 our time in the queue was only around 15-20 minutes during peak lunch time.

Love the atmosphere. Warm and cosy There's always a queue but it does move along. helpful to have menu while waiting in queue. Helped me decide what to order. Did wish for orders to be taken a bit faster so that I can enjoy the tea longer 😊 Rosti was fabulous!

Loved it again!, this time for my 50th birthday with my mam as treat off my mam!, lovely cakes and service

It was well worth queueing for a short time to experience Betty's. Food and service excellent.

Great place, great food and service with a smile. Mid morning queue went down quickly, thank you Sally for looking after us so well. Would recommend.

Lovely atmosphere, food, and the staff were super nice. Well worth the wait to get in!

First came here in the 1980's, last came at the back end of the 1990's. Having visited again earlier this month the dinning experience was absolutely first, it was a little busy, but we new it would be as it's always busy... Amazing how the store has developed and expanded....

We had the pleasure of meeting Karen J who made our experience at Bettty’s so memorable. She explained all the items on the afternoon tea menu in depth and she recommended to us what tea to have. She was so warm and friendly and such a lovely person. The food was fantastic and the atmosphere was amazing. The piano playing in the background combined with the stunning interior, brilliant service and great food was spectacular. I would go back in a heartbeat.

Great experience worth the money

Lovely high tea for Mothers 75th Birthday

Overated, doesn't live up to the hype Tea for two in the imperial suite £40 each.(see photo). Smell of fish on entry. Asked for coffee, got tea in a cafetiere, that needed agoodclean. No top ups, mediocre service.

The staff member who was front of house this morning was so incredibly rude that we walked away. Some much nicer places in Harrogate more deserving of custom.

Fantastic food and service. What a wonderful experience it is to visit Betty's. Our server, Sue, was just lovely.

Excellent food and service as usual.

Called in this morning for my 65th Birthday, lovely scrambled egg & bacon muffin with coffee. Lovely atmosphere, didn't have to que, great table by the window.

In 1984 I remember back packing around China with a Betty's canvas bag from the cake shop.Though it may have been an Elizabeth Botham's of Whitby bag I always wanted to go to Betty's but I thought it was Betty expensive but the cream tea wasn't too bad a price, as I treated myself after having a poor turn out for my 60th birthday party. Just as good as any London establishment Fortnum &Mason, The Wolsey Ritz or Harvey Nichols but a lot cheaper. And the loos are good too.

Lovely food... lovely coffee... lovely service... what more could one want thank you

Mixed feelings this time. Popped into Betty's for a late lunch and treat 14.30-15.00 Had an initial 10 mins wait to be seated but once sat the service was good, the food and one of the drinks arrived quickly followed shortly by the 2nd drink....but we didn't receive any service after this and then trying to get a member of staff over to clear out plates so we could order dessert was non existent, so I had to approach a member of staff to inform them but in the end we chose not have anything extra due to the amount of time that had passed. As per usual the place is wonderful, clean and with generally friendly staff along with delicious food and treats but unfortunately this time the service let it down....let's hope it's different next time I'm in town for a lovely rewarding treat.

I had Christmas tea and cake beautiful.purchase items from the shop also . amazing place

A must visit when in Harrogate. Excellent tea and cakes.

Had morning tea here which was absolutely sublime. I would say even better than afternoon tea the day before at Bettys York. The food was superb and very tasty and hot. The setting is stunning even the bathroom is so beautiful. Was so lovely even popped to shop and brought lunch for journey home and gifts

Dined here on 9 November 2024 for Afternoon Tea with my partner and received excellent service overall. It was lovely all decked out with the Christmas decorations too.

Lovely experience but it isn’t cheap

We stayed in Harrogate overnight on our way from London to Alnwick. We order goods online so thought a visit was in order. In the restaurant, ask to be seated on the upper part and we were in a window for breakfast. It was a cold crisp morning with clear blue sky’s, so we were bathed in sunlight for our breakfast. The food was expensive, but very good. The service was excellent and we visited the shop before we left and brought home some cakes.

Having visited York for over 30 years and never been in the tearoom we decided to take the train to Harrogate for a day trip and we were not disappointed. We were in the queue for about 20 minutes but got picked out as a table for 2 became available. We had 2 glasses of proseco with the sandwiches and cakes and the tea was delicious. Glad we have done it

Well worth the wait. Queue goes on all day you just have to join it. Great service and you can tell straight away why the get all the hype.

Great food, amazing staff. A lovely experience

Always a pleasure to visit this place. Never disappointed. Service was excellent.

Not dog friendly, not worthy of our money, simples!

Such a lovely place. Definitely recommend, but booking is recommended

Lovely afternoon tea in the Imperial Room with family. Having had a few lately some in some very swanky establishments I thought this was very good value for money. Staff were amazing especially with a very senior member of the family. They certainly make the experience. It was busy but they were still very attentive and engaging. I would definitely return.

Stores that always have a queue Betty's tea room in the small town of Harrogate was founded by a Swiss person in 1919. It has become the Michelin star in the dessert industry. Compared with the York store, it is quieter and more upscale. The tea is also carefully selected and served. Didn't disappoint at all.

We had a really delicious breakfast at Betty’s in Harrogate. The rosti and kedgeree were so good, we are already planning when we can go there again! Service was super friendly and very efficient.

The iconic British tea room. It did not fail to deliver. Get set for a wait for a table that is well worth it. We went Friday about 11am through the queue for a luxury team experience. The staff were helpful and made a fuss over our kids, adapting the menu to compensate for dietary issues with Rapid friendly service. We had a sumptuous brunch of the autumnal poached eggs and avocado, eggs florentine, scrambled eggs on muffin and a kids vege rascal breakfast. The hot chocolate was overflowing, juice was fresh, chocolate milkshake delightful and the cream tea at perfection. Our kids had a great time, we enjoyed a lovely brunch and I highly recommend a visit.

It was a lovely experience staff were excellent and food was great would definitely go back again

Went for Breakfast, then back again late afternoon for Tea. The downstairs gallery of marquetry was an added bonus. Also came away with some items from the bakery

Very pleasant hour or so. Nice atmosphere and food just right

We had a lovely breakfast. The cafe was not too busy (we arrived at just after 9am on a Saturday, but we also visited at about 9.40am and 3.45pm on a weekday and had no queue to get in at either time - luck!) so we were seated quickly and the waiter was very attentive. We had a range of drinks and breakfast food which were all delicious and arrived quickly. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming. Nice decoration and good clean WCs too. I've been before but would definitely return!

I loved Betty's. It was everything that I expected. The staff were very friendly and efficient. Food was lovely. We had afternoon tea one day and a cooked breakfast on another. Highly recommended.

Fantastic food and service. Lovely, spacious seating.

Lovely Autumnal afternoon tea. Vegetarian options were ok (coronation chickpea and cheese and chutney sandwich). Not a fan of egg mayonnaise so i think they could consider a better alternative for people who do not eat eggs. The sour cherry scone was very lovely! Their classic tea blend is a hit as always, and the tea selection is great. Its a good one to go to for its history and background, and the service and pianist were great (polite friendly staff and the pianist played loads of modern songs - Bridgerton vibes) but the afternoon tea I would say was average or just above. Nothing ground breaking.

Great place for a special treat. Make sure you book to avoid disappointment.

Bettys tea rooms are, as always, head and shoulders above the rest. Fantastic service, amazing restaurant food and quality produce.

It's ok but not as amazing as everyone makes out . We had to queue for twenty minutes outside. We ordered two afternoon teas. The sandwiches were delicious but a little small. The scones were tasty. The miniature cakes were just ok. The macaron was a little gritty and too sugary. The coffee treat was overwhelming. The meringue , Jam and cream were lovely. There are three floors of seating and they get nicer the further down the stairs you go! The service is very good.

Absolutely gorgeous, we booked for Afternoon Tea in the Imperial Room. It was everything you would expect from Bettys....quality Table Linen, China, Food , service was impeccable, at Harrogate. Unfortunately our first contact was from a member of staff who's name we did not get , she had a suit jacket and skirt on at reception but was unfriendly and told us we would need to wait, very curt, made us feel like an inconvenience. But when we our table was ready we were greeted by the most amazing staff, first was Vicky, welcoming and friendly, we were then introduced to Karen who looked after us during out Tea service, she made our visit really due to her lovely nature, giving us all the information of the diffrent Teas and Food...attentive , we had a couple of lovely chats about the history of Bettys, and Harrogate, a great Ambassador for the company, thank you Karen x

Had to wait half an hour to get inside. Once inside it was an experience of good service that you don't get any more with staff dressed in white aprons and being polite. The loose leaf tea reminded me of when a cup of tea was tasty. The cakes were tiny and very costly. On the whole a good experience but very expensive.

Apparently the best among the chain. A bit of a wait (15-25mins) before I was seated. Had a proper lunch instead of booking the afternoon tea session. Great selection of food. Tried the Betty’s Burger which I have been reading a lot, it was okay, not a big fan tho. The mushroom soup of the day may not look that appealing but it it tasted great! The cheesecake was delectable and was served with fresh berries. Their salted caramel latte is a must try. Portions are decent. Staff service was superb. Overall a great experience!

Lovely food and lovely staff. A really enjoyable first visit

Only waited about 15 minutes, it was worth the wait. Food was delicious, and served by a very friendly and professional waiter, Adam. Would recommend

Beautiful proper British Tea experience. Betty's had options for gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan. Many teas to select from and was able to try any of them. Very lovely!

An enjoyable experience. Loved it.

Well, I believe that this review is a necessary one. Upon queuing up we were provided a menu and assured we would be seated quickly. As such we were very pleased to find that the queue went down fast. Everyone was abuzz with excitement to visit; I suppose that’s why there *was* a queue to begin with. They allow for the perfect amount of time between seating and ordering, just long enough to chat and take in the warm and calming atmosphere. Freya Beth was demure and mindful in the most literal sense, serving us with an obvious passion for the business and thorough knowledge of the offerings (though she would have, as we found out that the staff are fed on the same food as the customers - we are jealous!). Ms Chapman is a credit to Betty’s, and my boyfriend and I highly praise her for all of her charm and skill. That is not to discount the other staff who were attentive, friendly, and never skipped a beat. I overheard an efficient handover between two women who were ostensibly supervisors which demonstrated clear communication and a deep understanding of the staff’s purpose and method. They have a regular menu and a seasonal specials menu, both of which had so much good choice with local produce dotting every part of them both. I chose Yorkshire Sausages with Red Wine Jus, Potato Rösti, Roast Carrot, Kale, and Golden Beetroot (the latter was an unexpected but excellent choice by the chefs). This was a seasonal item. My boyfriend had the Bacon and Raclette Rösti. This was a regular item. Both dishes were delicious, piping hot, and well-presented. Our shared highlight of the autumnal-hibernal menu was the Orange Liqueur Hot Chocolate which was under no exaggeration one of the most moreish yet comforting drinks we’ve had in a while. For dessert, I had the Rascal Scone with butter. It was crumbly, citrusy, and rich, and I easily scoffed it. It paired very well with a cup of milky Earl Grey with honey. My boyfriend had the raspberry grande macaron; these are notoriously difficult. Betty’s did not disappoint, however, and it was enjoyed thoroughly. The uniforms are beautiful, the metal tea sets are charmingly old-timey yet the porcelain is modern - this makes for a juxtaposition which continues throughout the theme of the tea room. All furnishings are looked after to a good standard. After finishing our meal, we took a little time to peruse the shop. I bought a quaint little Christmas tree ornament in the shape of a Rascal Scone which will remind me of our time there, and my boyfriend bought some macarons which we will enjoy this evening. To summarise, you can see the generational care and attentiveness which the tea room has been steeped in as a family business passed down from person to person. The cost is well worth every penny spent. We shall return, perhaps to one of their other locations next time, but we will make sure to visit this one again at some stage. Thank you to all for a definitive five-star experience. We could not fault it. Many thanks - J and J.

Betty's is a must in Harrogate! We go every time we come and it's always incredible. Friendly service and the quality of the food is second to none. Can't recommend the afternoon tea and Grande Breakfast highly enough!

Brilliant atmosphere and service

A wonderful place for afternoon tea. Staff were very friendly and efficient. The vegan food was very good and the tea was excellent. The room is lovely with a great ambience. (The photo is of the standard tea, not the vegan)

A really below par place for afternoon tea. Had a much better experience in smaller brands and definitely not a premium experience. Relies on tourists for its brand reputation as service wasn’t great, food was a below average. We were not offered any other sandwiches, no one stepped us through the platter. I asked for sugar it wasn’t brought until the second request. The gluten free scone was full of sugar crystals and hard. I had advised it was for a birthday celebration and this was totally ignored.

Usual queue and wait but always worth it!

Amazing!! Just go and see for yourself! You will not be disappointed 🥰

Nice to go, but over priced for what you got. But nice experience.