Janae smiles across a floral tablecloth set for afternoon tea, with elegant china, sparkling water glasses, and raspberry sorbet served in fine porcelain teacups.

What It’s Like to Have Afternoon Tea at Ashford Castle Hotel in Ireland

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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 group 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!

A rugged stone entrance to Ashford Castle featuring Gothic architecture, black ornate lamp posts, and statues of hounds. A green Land Rover Defender is parked out front, adding a classic, upscale touch.

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 Ashford Castle 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 that was served during our visit.

A tea menu from Ashford Castle listing a wide variety of options, such as “Apple Crumble,” “Rooibos Chocolate Truffle,” “Mint Nana,” “Irish Afternoon Gold,” and “Irish Whiskey-Cream.” The menu is placed by a window overlooking lush castle grounds.

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 three courses consisting of sandwiches, sweet treats, and scones. Everything was delicious!!

Course one was sandwiches.

Close-up of assorted tea sandwiches at Ashford Castle, all arranged on elegant white china.

There were four options, including egg sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, Irish wagyu beef sandwiches, and smoked salmon sandwiches.

Our favorites were the chicken and egg finger sandwiches.

Course two was sweet treats.

Top-down view of five refined sweets: a pistachio-topped tart, citrus panna cotta with a caramel tuile, lemon tart with a strawberry slice, cream puff, and a chocolate mousse topped with gold leaf.

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!

Tiered tea tray featuring scones and finger sandwiches, with a foreground of clotted cream, lemon curd, and raspberry preserves served in delicate floral china.

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.

A pastel floral tea cup filled with a warm pink tea sits atop a matching saucer with a silver spoon. In the background, more tea service trays and fine china suggest an ongoing elegant tea 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.

Janae smiles across a floral tablecloth set for afternoon tea, with elegant china, sparkling water glasses, and raspberry sorbet served in fine porcelain teacups.

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.

View from a window seat at Ashford Castle showing lush green gardens, a circular fountain, and a distant lake under a partly cloudy sky. The foreground shows a blue leather-bound “Afternoon Tea” menu resting on a marble windowsill.

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.

Wide-angle view of Ashford Castle’s majestic exterior, surrounded by meticulously trimmed hedges, a round fountain, and sweeping lawns under an overcast sky.

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.

A richly decorated sitting room with ornate wooden paneling, grand paintings, antique furniture, and an afternoon tea tray in focus. The setting blends old-world charm with luxurious detail.

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!

Tucker, dressed in a camouflage jacket, enjoys raspberry sorbet during afternoon tea, surrounded by colorful floral dishware in an ornately decorated room.

What is the cost of Ashford Castle’s Afternoon Tea?

At the time of updating this post, the current cost for Afternoon Tea here at Ashford is €78 per person for adults, and €30 for children.

Be sure to check the official website for the most current pricing.

Although this is a big splurge, it’s honestly a bucket-list-worthy experience, and we highly recommend going if it fits in your budget!

Our Verdict on Afternoon Tea at Ashford Castle

⭐️ Overall Rating – 4.8/5 Stars

✅ Pros

  • Breathtaking garden views
  • Gluten-free and vegetarian menus
  • Attentive, friendly staff
  • Elegant historic setting
  • Delicious cakes and sandwiches

❌ Cons

  • High price (€78 per person)
  • Can book up quickly

Is The Connaught Afternoon Tea on your bucket list? Tag us in your pictures if you visit!

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A young woman named Janae, wearing a white knit hat and pink jacket, smiles in front of the black church of Búðir in Iceland, with its distinct white trim and steeple, set against a cloudy sky. To the right of the image, the handwritten text says, "much love, Janae xoxo."