Fancy a bit of an escape from the city buzz? Then you should check out afternoon tea at The Refuge Garden Room. It’s tucked away in that grand old building, the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, and it’s a real find. The Garden Room is the star of the show, with its glass roof that lets loads of light in, making it feel really warm and welcoming. With the blues, greens, and golds in the décor, it’s got a smart but chilled-out vibe.
Imagine settling into a comfy chair at a nicely set table. There’s a gentle buzz of chat around you and some soft piano music in the background – perfect for afternoon tea. And even though you’re indoors, the glass roof gives you that feeling of being outside in a garden, but without the Manchester weather letting you down!
The Refuge Garden Room is a bit of a sanctuary, a place to step away from the everyday rush. Time just seems to slow down when you’re there, enjoying good tea, tasty food, and company. It’s a proper place for making memories, a peaceful spot right in the city centre.
I went along to try their afternoon tea, just on its first weekend. Service is definitely a key thing at The Refuge. You get looked after properly, with your own server – ours was excellent. And while it’s afternoon tea in the traditional sense, the food has a nice little Northern touch.
The Garden Room itself is really lovely, opulent décor but in a modern style. It’s got a relaxed atmosphere and feels spacious, even though it’s in the middle of the hotel’s bar and restaurant area. It feels nicely separate, like a little world of its own.
Let’s talk tea. They’ve clearly put thought into the tea menu, with a selection chosen just for The Kimpton. They’ve got first-of-the-season teas and interesting blends from different tea regions. And if you want to celebrate, there’s champagne too – Moët, in fact.
Presentation is spot on. They use classic tiered stands for the food, and the tea is served in stylish, slightly retro teapots and cups. It all looks very smart.
The food was all fresh and looked great – you could tell they’d put real effort in. And let me tell you about the savoury bits…
For the savoury course, we had a lovely selection. There was a truffled egg mayonnaise finger sandwich – always a classic, and this one was spot on. Then, smoked salmon on brioche with bread and butter pickled cucumber and herb crème fraiche, which was a bit fancier and really tasty. But the one that was a bit different, in a good way, was a doughnut filled with braised ox cheek and burnt onion. Sounds unusual for afternoon tea, doesn’t it? But it really worked, that Northern touch I was talking about!
Then, the sweets arrived! The cheese scone… well, actually it was a date & sour cherry scone, and it was delicious, a real highlight. They came with proper clotted cream and strawberry preserve, just as they should. And the other sweet treats? We had a glazed lemon meringue pie, all sharp and sweet, a spiced carrot cake with cardamom that was lovely and moist, and a Gâteau Opéra, which was rich and chocolatey. The sweetness level was definitely leaning towards sweet, which is perfect for an afternoon treat. And it was all presented on the same elegant tiered plates, keeping a consistent style.
The service really stood out. From arrival to departure, we were so well looked after, especially by Noemi, our server, who was excellent. They were all knowledgeable, efficient, and really friendly, and nothing was too much trouble.
Overall experience
For the overall experience, the champagne on arrival was a nice touch, and the service was genuinely excellent. The lounge chairs are really comfortable too – you could easily relax there for ages. If there was one minor point, it’s that allergy options weren’t clearly marked on the menu, which is a bit of a miss these days.
Value-wise, it’s comparable to other high-standard afternoon teas in Manchester. It’s brilliant for dates on Fridays and Saturdays, and would also be ideal for Mother’s Day, or for groups of up to four people wanting to catch up and relax. Just keep in mind it’s only available on Fridays and Saturdays.
To sum up, afternoon tea at The Refuge is a genuinely enjoyable experience. From the lovely Garden Room to the attentive service and tasty food, it’s a great way to spend an afternoon.
Would I recommend it?
Yes, definitely. If you’re looking for a relaxing and stylish afternoon tea in Manchester, The Refuge is worth checking out. It’s perfect if you want to escape the city for a bit and treat yourself, especially if you’re planning something for a Friday or Saturday.
By James
For Canal Street Manchester