I’ve been back from Ireland for three weeks, and it’s finally time to start sharing my adventures! My old college roommate and I had an absolute blast touring Dublin and Northern Ireland, and we got to do some pretty fun stuff, including trying traditional Irish tea with Vintage Tea Trips!
Now, I had no idea that afternoon tea was even a thing in Ireland until I started researching for this trip. I’d always heard of it in a British context. But apparently, it used to be a pretty big deal on the Emerald Isle. Nowadays, it’s mainly for celebrations–but I think my first trip to Ireland was definitely a reason to celebrate!
We looked at several different tea options, ranging from fancy-schmancy afternoon teas at some of the city’s finer hotels to an all-pink option at Pink Restaurant. But Vintage Tea Trips is the one that really caught my eye because it combined traditional Irish tea with a bus tour of Dublin’s highlights. What a combo!
Today, I want to tell you about this fun local tour and what you can expect if you book a vintage tea experience for yourself!
Get to Know Vintage Tea Trips
Vintage Tea Trips is an Ireland-based company that serves afternoon tea on a remodeled Routemaster bus! Each bus is fully fitted with a small kitchen and booth seating on two levels.
Guests can comfortably enjoy all sorts of traditional Irish tea goodies while a bus driver escorts them around town and a staff member provides occasional commentary. Additionally, a small wait staff is on hand to keep your drinks filled and provide you with hot scones fresh from the oven.
Where is Vintage Tea Trips located?
The company currently has two tour locations, including Dublin and Cork. The Dublin location I’m focusing on today departs from the Temple Bar area at 4 Essex Street East.
How much does the tour cost?
Tickets for this traditional tea experience start at €49.50 for adults and €27 for kids. This gets you a seat on either the top or bottom level of the bus, with a first-booked, first-seated policy. Or, you can get the upper-deck VIP experience (maximum of 2 guests per booking) with guaranteed front-facing seats for €54.
In comparison, most afternoon teas in Dublin range from €30 to €60, with the cheapest being only €15. However, that one is not from a traditional Irish restaurant. For the traditional experience + a tour, I felt like this was a steal.
How long is the Vintage Tea Trips tour?
Each tour lasts around 80 minutes while you cruise past some of Dublin’s greatest highlights, like Phoenix Park, Trinity College, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and O’Connell Street.
The Vintage Tea Trips Experience
Each tour includes a tasty selection of traditional Irish treats, unlimited drinks, a tour around Dublin, and a souvenir travel mug!
What’s on the menu?
Each party shares a delightful selection of sandwiches, cakes, and pastries! The current menu includes:
- Coronation chicken sandwich
- Traditional egg mayo sandwich
- Ploughman’s pickle brioche bun
- Scones with clotted cream and jam
- red velvet cake with vanilla frosting
- Lemon and raspberry tart
- Passion fruit and mango mousse
- Raspberry and vanilla choux
- Chocolate praline pillow
- White chocolate raspberry cremeaux
I’m unsure whether they provide more for a larger group, but we each got a sandwich wedge/bun and then shared the desserts by splitting them in half. I’ll admit when I first got on the bus, I thought I’d want more food. But wow, did I fill up fast! We didn’t even finish our scones or all of the desserts!
In addition to the set food menu, we also received unlimited drinks during the tour. They had a great selection of teas, coffees, Cadbury hot chocolate, juices, and water. I highly recommend the hot chocolate, and the Early Grey tea was also delicious.
What’s the bus like?
I’m so glad you asked because the bus is absolutely adorable in all its vintage glory!
The company has refurbished a small convoy of Routemaster buses while keeping true to their vintage origins. Each double-decker bus’s exterior is bright blue and yellow and features forest animals dressed in vintage apparel.
Inside, they’ve replaced the standard bus seats with a small kitchenette and a series of booths and tables. It’s got a great diner vibe with vintage woodland animal wallpaper, plaid upholstery, lighted garlands around the ceiling, and retro tables. It’s all very cozy!
The seats were comfy, and the tables were snug but still had room for two people to easily enjoy their tea (and also had built-in cup holders!).
I lucked out with the perfect front corner spot to enjoy my tea while getting an unhindered view of Dublin while we drove along! But keep in mind that seats are chosen on a first-booked, first-served policy. So you could end up on the top level or in a different lower-level booth.
Watch Our Adventure on YouTube
Closing Thoughts on Our Vintage Tea Trips Experience
I thought this was such a fantastic way to tour Dublin, get a tasty meal, and try something traditional all at the same time! We had such a great time, and it was also a good opportunity to get off our feet for a while because we did so much walking.
Additionally, the staff was fantastic! They were all so quick to help, and the commentary was fun and engaging without overwhelming our conversation. All in all, I’d give it a 10/10!
I hope you enjoyed this first post in my Ireland mini-series! If so, be sure to give it a like, drop a comment below, and share it with your friends.
The Emerald Isle Mini-Series
- From Dublin to Belfast: Full Review of Our One-Day Tour
- Trinity College Library: A Visit To One Of The World’s Most Beautiful Libraries
For those new to Carried Away Travels, I’m so excited you decided to come by today! Be sure to sign up for the weekly newsletter before you go, and download your freebies!
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Stay tuned for more exciting adventures in the weeks ahead! Until then, happy travels!
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