Bettys Cafe Tea Rooms

Reviews

• nuevo d.

  star star star star star 8 June 2026

  Just based on the short service I got from ordering a take out scone and macarons. We didn't have time to sit in and dine but heard a lot about this place so we just stopped by.
  The only scones left were orange fruit and chocolate. I'm picky about my scones and I really do not like them dry and crumbly.
  These were great! Melt in your mouth and moist and dense. Not overly sweet, not dry and not overly doughy. I didn't even eat them with clotted cream, butter, or jam and it was still delicious! Macarons were flavourful and chewy inside, maybe could have a bit more crisp on the shell but they were good.
  The prices I would have expected to be much more considering how fancy this place is and the taste but it was reasonable ! In fact probably much cheaper priced than any $2.50 macaron in Toronto Canada which usually aren't as good. Staff was friendly and patient. I wish I bought more scones but I've tried so many terrible scones and the disappointment made me cautious. This place is wonderful I wish they had this in Canada.

• Beth C.

  star star star star star_border 29 May 2026

  Betty's is a must-visit in York--especially if you're on a pastry hunt across the isle as I am! I didn't eat in, as the place was packed, but was fine with getting my Fat Rascal, custard tart, and fondant fancy to go. The service was quite helpful (I had hoped to get a pikelet but was told it should be toasted, which I couldn't do in my room, so chose something else). The Fat Rascal lived up to expectations--such a grand scone, with a soft, tender crumb! The custard tart was perfect to share. The crust was sturdy, the custard firm yet creamy and delicious on the tongue. The fondant fancy, something I have seen on Great British Bake Off, was worthy of Paul and Mary's praise. It was everything a person could want in a tiny tower of cake. Plus, they packed it to-go in a protective box, which made it feel even fancier.

• Chloe C.

  star star star star star_border 21 May 2026

  Betty's is just one of those Yorkshire places that needs to be visited. I've been living in York for nearly 3 years and visited this just last week. We have a champagne afternoon tea and it was amazing. Great selection of food and the tea was on point. They also have a booklet on the table telling you all about the lovely history of the Bettys founder and how it all came to be  it was fascinating! I would recommend the fondant fancies in the store.. soft cake, buttercream, jam and fondant

• Allison H.

  star star star star star 20 May 2026

  What a wonderful experience!
  
  We came here for a late afternoon tea and only had a short queue to get in. The wait was well worth it. The food and tea were delicious, and the atmosphere was perfect. They were very accommodating to our party (which included two young children) and we all loved the live piano music.
  
  The tea was lovely and the scone, while a bit dry, was a perfect vehicle for the fantastic jam and clotted cream. The sandwiches were good, though a little boring, but the desserts were a highlight. My favorites were the fruit tart and lemon macaron (the lemon curd was so good). Although pricey at £20, it is such a nice experience that I do think it's worth doing at least once.

• Peggy C.

  star star star star star_border 16 May 2026

  Came here for tea recently as I was told that this was THE place for tea in York. I did stop by the Stonegate location first, having heard that it was a nicer (and quieter) location, but ultimately opted for the Helens Square location. Unless you've made a reservation for the fancier Lady Betty Afternoon tea, you will have to stand in line for a table. The line when I got there was not bad, (this was a Wednesday midday) and moved along pretty quickly. I did take note to specify that I wanted to stay at the ground level dining area, which has the huge, stained glass windows and much better atmosphere. If you do not specify this, there is a chance that you will get routed to the downstairs overflow room, which definitely does not have the same atmosphere or people watching.
  
  Our wait was fairly quick (10-15 min max), and you can take the time to peruse the menu. We ultimately decided to not do afternoon tea, and instead pick and choose as we liked from the menu, which ultimately afforded us a lot more in the way of selection rather than the tired selection you get at any high tea (it looked about the same too, and the tea selection that goes along with it is very lacking, so to me it wasn't special). We tried:
  
  Bacon & Raclette Rösti (bacon bacon bacon)
  Club sandwich (VERY tasty - and I did not expect anything from a club sandwich but damn that bacon was good. I have to call out Betty's amazing bacon. It is crazy flavorful)
  Yorkshire Fat Rascal scone (dry, and overbaked imho, so not worth the extra ££)
  Fruit meringue
  Lemon curd tart
  Pimms w/ sparkling lemonade, Hot chocolate & peppermint tea
  
  Everything was tasty, and I'm glad we did not get the afternoon tea as we got to try much more interesting items. The service was friendly and fairly attentive, although I think a bit stretched thin, as at times (like when we wanted to pay), it got hard to track down our server and had to instead catch the attention of other servers instead. This location is very pretty and good for people watching and has a lovely atmosphere.