Afternoon Tea at Prestonfield House is served within the hotel’s richly decorated historic reception rooms and Rhubarb Restaurant. Although the estate feels secluded among gardens and parkland, it is only a short journey from Edinburgh’s Old Town. In colder weather the open fires create an intimate setting, while summer service can make use of garden views and outdoor spaces.
The experience follows the familiar afternoon tea progression of delicate finger sandwiches, savouries, freshly baked scones and home-baked cakes. Seasonal menus change the flavours and colours while retaining that traditional structure. Each course is presented for a leisurely sitting, making the meal suitable for celebrations, gifts or an unhurried afternoon with friends.
Speciality teas and coffees are an important part of the offering, with blends chosen to accompany both savoury and sweet items. Guests can also select a version served with Champagne for a more celebratory occasion. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and dairy free menus are available, allowing groups with different dietary needs to share the same overall experience.
Service is designed around relaxation rather than a hurried turnover, and advance booking is advisable for popular sittings. The grand rooms, garden outlook and carefully paced food distinguish Prestonfield’s tea from a routine café visit. It is an occasion built as much around the setting and hospitality as the sandwiches, scones and patisserie themselves.
Address: Prestonfield House, Priestfield Road, Edinburgh EH16 5UT, United Kingdom
Afternoon Tea at Prestonfield Menu
Afternoon Tea
£70 per person
Gazpacho
Toasted brioche with balsamic-pickled Perthshire strawberry, pink peppercorn ricotta and Thai basil
Sundried tomato crumpet with romesco sauce, heritage tomato and fennel
Watermelon with barrel-aged feta, chorizo picante and Prestonfield heather honey
Hickory-smoked Oban sea-reared trout, bound with horseradish crème fraîche
Ayrshire ham with Arran mustard mayonnaise and pineapple pickle
Smeaton Farm free-range egg with summer truffle and watercress
Cucumber with cream cheese, mint and dill
Plain and fruit scones with clotted cream and homemade raspberry jam
Strawberry, lemon and basil gâteau
Chocolate and bergamot choux
Peach and mint tart
Raspberry and rose macaron
Afternoon Tea
Delicate finger sandwiches, savouries, scones and home-baked delicious cakes, with a selection of specialty teas and coffees.
Champagne Afternoon Tea
Your choice of Afternoon Tea accompanied by a glass of chilled Billecart-Salmon Champagne.
Gusbourne Afternoon Tea
Afternoon tea accompanied by a glass of Gusbourne sparkling wine.
Afternoon Tea Upgrades
Gusbourne Afternoon Tea
Served with a glass of chilled Gusbourne Limited Release 2020. England’s finest expression of elegance in a glass.
Champagne Afternoon Tea
Served with a chilled glass of Prestonfield Champagne.
Dairy-Free Afternoon Tea
£70 per person
Gazpacho
Toasted crouton with balsamic-pickled Perthshire strawberry, pink peppercorn cream cheese and Thai basil
Multiseed cracker with red pepper, heritage tomato and fennel
Watermelon with marinated feta, 'nduja and Prestonfield heather honey
Smoked Oban sea-reared trout, vegan horseradish mayonnaise
Ayrshire ham with Arran mustard mayonnaise and pineapple pickle
Smeaton Farm free-range egg with summer truffle and watercress
Cucumber with cream cheese, mint and dill
Plain and fruit scones with homemade raspberry jam
Dark chocolate and passion fruit delice
Lemon drizzle cake
Dark chocolate coconut bar
Strawberry and lemon gâteau
Dairy-Free Afternoon Tea
Afternoon tea prepared without dairy.
Gluten-Free Afternoon Tea
£70 per person
Gazpacho
Toasted crouton with balsamic-pickled Perthshire strawberry, pink peppercorn cream cheese and Thai basil
Multiseed cracker with red pepper, heritage tomato and fennel
Watermelon with barrel-aged feta, chorizo picante and Prestonfield heather honey
Hickory-smoked Oban sea-reared trout, bound with horseradish crème fraîche
Ayrshire ham with Arran mustard mayonnaise and pineapple pickle
Smeaton Farm free-range egg with summer truffle and watercress
Cucumber with cream cheese, mint and dill
Plain and fruit scones with clotted cream and homemade raspberry jam
Strawberry, lemon and basil gâteau
Peach and mint tart
Raspberry and rose macaron
Lemon drizzle cake
Gluten Free Afternoon Tea
Our exquisite afternoon tea, carefully prepared without gluten.
Vegetarian Afternoon Tea
A delightful vegetarian selection of finger sandwiches, savouries, scones, and home-baked cakes.
Vegetarian Afternoon Tea
A delightful vegetarian selection of finger sandwiches, savouries, scones, and home-baked cakes.
Vegan Afternoon Tea
A fully plant-based selection of delicate sandwiches, savouries, scones, and cakes.
Vegan Afternoon Tea
A fully plant-based selection of delicate sandwiches, savouries, scones, and cakes.
Cocktails
Paloma
Tequila Tapatio, pink grapefruit juice, fresh lime juice, Three Cent pink grapefruit soda.
Basil and Cucumber Smash
The Witchery gin, shaken with house-made basil and cucumber cordial.
Limoncello Spritz
Luxardo Limoncello Liqueur topped up with Prosecco and soda water.
Margarita Picante
Tequila Tapatio, house-made Picante cordial, fresh lime juice.
The Ginger Coo
Our take on the classic Moscow Mule with 10-year-old Laphroaig whisky, lime juice, homemade Rosemary syrup, Angostura bitters and ginger beer. Dedicated to one of our pet highland cows – Toffee – who enjoyed a peaceful life on our estate with her daughter Treacle. She was often seen greeting guests on their drive in, or overseeing games on the putting green.
Prestonfield Up
Prestonfield Single Malt, Lillet Blanc, King’s ginger liqueur, ltalicus.
Elderflower Spritz
St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, fresh mint topped up with Prosecco and soda water.
Pimm’s Cup
Scottish strawberries, cucumber, Prestonfield’s mint, Sicilian lemon, lemonade, ginger beer.
Barrel-Aged Old Fashioned
Classic Old-Fashioned ingredients aged in our bespoke 10L oak barrel for 5 months.
Jimmy Carter Oak Martini
House infused Lapsang gin, Maraschino and Lillet Blanc all strengthened with our house gin – The Witchery gin. The late Jimmy Carter planted an American Oak tree on the Prestonfield estate when visiting the house during his Presidency. This same tree can be seen when arriving at the hotel, still standing strong having weathered recent storms!
The Rhubarb Patch
Our signature cocktail combines our homemade rhubarb syrup with a local gin shaken over ice with Martini Rubino vermouth, lemon juice and aquafaba. Sir Alexander Dick took a particular interest in horticultural propagation in the 1700s and was accorded a gold medal from the Royal Society for introducing Rhubarb to Scotland. The rhubarb patch remains today and is used to make our rhubarb syrup.
Mocktails
Teatotal
Rhubarb rooibos tea, lime juice, simple syrup topped with ginger beer.
Prestonfield Mint Spritz
House made mint cordial, fresh lime juice, soda water.
Teas
Scottish Breakfast
A strong malty breakfast tea blended in Edinburgh by our local Edinburgh tea merchants in Rosevear Tea. Malty large leaved tea from India and China, with a hint of sweet orchid flowers and softly smoking cinders, combine to give a reassuringly strong brew.
Queens Breakfast
This blend of Ceylon and Darjeeling black teas is made especially in honour of Queen Elizabeth II. It combines the floral aromas of Darjeeling with the richness and strength of Ceylon.
Earl Grey Blue Flower
A full-bodied black tea with aromatic bergamot and blue cornflower petals. A superb Earl Grey.
First Flush Darjeeling
Tea from Darjeeling is known as the ‘Champagne of teas’ and the most sought-after Darjeeling teas are plucked in the first harvest (known as the first flush). Aromatic with vegetal, mossy and citrus notes.
Lapsang Souchong
The scent of a wood-burning fire and the taste reminiscent of a smoky single-malt whisky. This is an earthy, smoky, aromatic and truly delicious tea. ‘Lapsang Souchong’ was a favourite tea of Sir Winston Churchill and is one of the most recognisable of all Chinese teas.
Jasmine Blossom
This organic Jasmine Blossom green tea has been naturally scented with jasmine by layering fresh jasmine flowers onto the tea and then removing them four times.
Rose Petal
The fragrance of roses in a cup. Freshly dried rose petals blended with an aromatic Chinese congou black tea and essence of Rose.
Black Fig Sencha
A combination of fig and whole forest fruits. The honey sweetness of fig is twinned with the succulence of whole forest fruits. A beautiful tea with leaves that can be reinfused for a second brew.
Green Dragon
A full flavoured green tea from Yunnan, the birthplace of tea in China with a fresh, clear and relatively strong infusion when infused for several minutes, but it is also a tea that can be enjoyed lightly infused for a delicious subtle grassy note.
Evening Chai
A beautiful warming and spicy herbal blend on a base of cocoa and carob pieces, with the delightful addition of exotic spices that include cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, liquorice and cloves, with an added sweet vanilla note.