Quirky Manchester tearooms named amongst world’s ‘most Instagrammable’
A quirky Alice in Wonderland-inspired tearoom in Manchester has been named amongst the ‘most Instagrammable’ cafes in the world.
Richmond Tearooms in Manchester’s Gay Village offers a trip down the rabbit hole with Mad Hatter tea parties hosted by local drag queens, regular burlesque shows and all-out inspired interiors that nod to Lewis Carroll’s iconic tale of a girl, a rabbit and his pocket watch.
From an enchanted forest area where you can dine under the twinkling lights in a woodland-themed room, to the orangery which is the most warming garden even on the rainiest of Manchester days, the tearooms have long been a fixture in Manchester city centre.
Initially housed on Richmond Street (hence the name), the tearooms relocated to its current home opposite Sackville Gardens in 2019 – allowing it to double in size and expand on its kitsch interiors with a flower arch at its entrance, melting clocks, a sashed canopy, black and red velvet furnishing and portraits of the King and Queen of hearts.
On the menu you’ll find classic English breakfasts alongside pancakes and avocado toast served until 12pm alongside a selection of Alice in Wonderland-themed afternoon teas starting from just £10.75 for two tea-infused sultana scones, clotted cream, Tiptree preserve, and a pot of loose leaf tea.
Inspired by characters in Lewis Carroll’s novel, choices include Alice, Hatters, Tweedles and Queens-themed afternoon teas, with the most indulgent being the Wonderland champagne afternoon tea – combining crustless sandwiches and mini quiche with an assortment of homemade cakes, scones and loose leaf tea, plus a glass of luxury fizz for £38.90.
Elsewhere, find light bites like cheese and onion pie and Alice’s rarebit plus a selection of sandwiches and a two-page menu of different premium tea blends.
There are also children’s afternoon teas on offer from £9.95, as well as a dedicated kids menu featuring the likes of fish and chips, omlette, sausage and beans and a selection of sandwiches.
Add to that a counter bursting with staple cakes like coffee and walnut, Boston cream, carrot, chocolate fudge and ‘lemon dream’, plus a solid cocktail menu, and it’s easy to see why Richmond Tearooms has been a fixture in Manchester city centre for so long now.
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Praised for its ‘retro setting’ and ‘vintage China teacups’, according to global travel site Big 7 Travel it doesbn’t get more ‘quintessentially British’ than this.
Ranking at number 43 in the site’s annual list of the 50 Most Instagrammable Cafes in the World for 2023, the tearooms features alongside a rainforest garden of waterfalls in Chiang Mai and the famous hot air balloons of Cappadocia.
Feature image – Richmond Tearooms