Staying at Ashford Castle was one of the highlights of our trip to Ireland. Although we did multiple activities during our stay, Afternoon Tea at Ashford Castle ranks pretty high on our favorites list!
In this post, I will cover everything you want or need to know before you book Afternoon Tea at Ashford. Let’s jump in!
What is Ashford Castle?
Ashford Castle is a gorgeous 5-star castle hotel located in County Mayo, Ireland. It is one of The Red Carnation Hotels and is considered one of the best castle hotels in the world!
Of course, Ireland is famous for its stunning castles, and Ashford Castle is no exception.
There are a wide variety of things to enjoy during your stay at Ashford Castle, including falconry, horseback riding, archery, clay pigeon shooting, golfing, and more.
There are also six restaurants in the castle and on the Ashford Estate, including The Connaught Room, where Afternoon Tea is served.
Ashford Castle is one of the best romantic weekend breaks in Ireland and should be on everyone’s Ireland bucket list!
What is on the menu for Afternoon Tea at Ashford Castle?
Perhaps the most important thing of all is what you will be eating and drinking during your afternoon tea. I can promise you the goodies served here will not disappoint!
We appreciated how well they cater to dietary restrictions at Ashford Castle. Additional menus are available, including gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options. If you have any dietary restrictions, mention them to the staff; they are very accommodating!
Here is a look at the menu options available for you to read.
What we ordered from the Ashford Castle Afternoon Tea menu
I ordered the Traditional Lord & Lady Ardilaun Afternoon Tea, and Tucker ordered the Gluten-Free Lord & Lady Ardilaun Afternoon Tea. Both contained 3-courses consisting of sandwiches, sweet treats, and scones. Everything was delicious!!
Course one was sandwiches. There were four options, including egg sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, Irish wagyu beef sandwiches, and smoked salmon sandwiches. Our favorites were the egg and chicken finger sandwiches.
Course two was sweet treats. From lemon curd and chocolate to hazelnut, pistachio, and vanilla, all of the sweets we tried were exceptional! Tucker really enjoyed having so many gluten-free treats to try.
Course three was scones with fresh clotted cream and jams. Yum! Our waiter served us three types of freshly baked scones. Regular scones, fruit (raisin) scones, and cheese scones. The cheese scones were my absolute favorite!
And then, obviously, we tried a variety of hot teas throughout the whole experience. Our favorites were apple crumble tea, chamomile tea, and Irish breakfast tea! Some teas are seasonal and often change, while others are available during any visit.
What is the Ashford Castle Afternoon Tea dress code?
Unlike other restaurants in the castle, The Connaught Room, where Afternoon Tea is served, does not have a dress code. We chose to wear nice tops with denim jeans, while others dressed in completely formal outfits.
It truly is up to you what you’d like to wear in this drawing room. It would depend on what you’d feel most comfortable in and what occasion you may celebrate during your visit.
Anything that would already be on your Ireland packing list should be just fine!
What is it like to experience traditional Afternoon Tea at Ashford Castle?
This experience is truly amazing! You will have an amazing view of the castle gardens right outside while enjoying the luxurious comfort found inside The Connaught Room.
The room features a gorgeous Donegal Crystal chandelier and stunning details throughout the fireplace, paintings, wood paneling, and furnishings.
If you are lucky enough to get a table at the windows overlooking Lough Corrib, you’ll be able to enjoy the peaceful garden view outside while you enjoy your Afternoon Tea experience.
The grounds are beautiful, and I recommend taking a stroll through them after you’ve finished your tea. After all, this is one of the most Instagrammable places in Ireland!
Some guests ate and left quickly, while others (like us) chose to take our time and enjoy the experience fully. Most of the sandwiches could be replenished upon request, and some of the treats could also be.
The food was truly some of the most delicious we had during our trip to Ireland, and we hope to travel back someday.
For Ashford Castle Afternoon Tea booking information, go directly to The Connaught Room booking page on their website. You can book afternoon tea online or in the castle after you arrive. You may want to book in advance as reservations fill up quickly.
Overall, the Afternoon Tea Ashford puts on is truly incredible, and we highly recommend it to anyone looking for a castle tea room experience. We consider this the best Afternoon Tea in Ireland, and you could even gift an Ashford Castle Afternoon Tea voucher to a friend!
We will be writing several other posts about our stay at Ashford Castle, so be sure to check back soon and join our email list below so you don’t miss out on any future content.
Ps…Are you traveling through Ireland? Check out these epic castles in County Galway!
Is The Connaught Afternoon Tea on your bucket list? Comment below and let us know!
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Happy travels!
