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High tea or afternoon tea is a cultural tradition that originated in the early 1840s. It was first created to help fill the between-lunch-and-dinner gap. Small sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, cute cakes, and other sweets accompanied cups of Irish tea, filling the gap with joy! You can enjoy high tea throughout Ireland and the United Kingdom, with Vintage Tea Trips in Dublin being a unique way to experience this tradition.

High Tea with Vintage Tea Trips

Upon searching for a place to enjoy high tea in Dublin, my friend and I came across Vintage Tea Trips, a tour company that combines afternoon tea with a scenic trip around the city. This seemed like a fun twist on high tea, something unique I hadn’t heard of before.

Read more about Vintage Tea Trips [here].

We easily booked our timeslots ahead of time online, where we paid via card. On the day of our tour, we dressed for the occasion and met at the designated spot along the cobblestone streets of Temple Bar 15 minutes prior to our departure time. We were happily greeted by our bus driver. Then, seated inside the colorful, vintage-decorated afternoon tea bus. What’s neat is that the buses Vintage Tea Trips use are fully-restored Routemaster buses, which are front-engine double-decker buses that were designed by and for London Transport!

Tip: Pay the extra fee for VIP Seating! We opted for this and were seated on the top of the bus at the very front, which gave us a wonderful view as we enjoyed high tea.

Vintage High Tea, Dublin Style

The tour itself was approximately an hour to an hour and a half in length. During that time, we enjoyed afternoon tea delicacies: delicious scones with clotted cream and jam, tasty finger sandwiches with various fillings, sweet little cakes, and tiny tarts. Everything was phenomenal! (It was also nice because they give the option of traditional, gluten-free, vegetarian, or vegan afternoon tea.) Alongside the food spread, we received as much tea or coffee as we cared for in complimentary reusable cups. Although teacups are standard for high tea, being on a double-decker bus poses a challenge with liquids. Thus, cups with lids are provided for a safe and less-messy journey through Dublin.

1950s jazz music played in the background while we were driven through downtown Dublin and our hostess pointed out the sights, giving detailed historical explanation when necessary. We passed sights such as: St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Christ Church, Trinity College, St. Stephen’s Green, Wood Quay, O’Connell Street, Phoenix Park, and the buildings of Georgian Dublin. It was refreshing to see the city from an elevated perspective while learning a fair bit about Dublin in the process.

If you’re visiting Dublin and are looking for something different to do, definitely book a time slot with Vintage Tea Trips! This is a fun way to enjoy high tea and the sights of Dublin from afar in a non-traditional way while in Ireland.

For more fun activities, places to eat, and cafes to chill in, check out my Dublin Travel Guide!

Peace, love, & tea,

Tay