Afternoon Tea Near Cambridge | Thai-Inspired at Bamboo Sky, Bourn

Afternoon Tea, Reimagined

Afternoon tea is one of Britain’s loveliest traditions — an excuse to slow down, gather people you care about, and spend an unhurried hour or two with good food, good tea, and good conversation. But let’s be honest: at many places, the format has become a bit predictable. The same finger sandwiches. The same scones. The same generic pastries on the same tiered stand.

At Bamboo Sky, we’ve kept everything that makes afternoon tea special — the elegance, the indulgence, the ritual of it — and reimagined it with the bold, aromatic flavours of Thailand. The result is our Sky High Afternoon Tea: a genuine fusion of Thai-inspired savouries and classic English sweet treats, served in one of the most beautiful settings in Cambridgeshire.

It’s afternoon tea with personality. And it’s unlike anything else you’ll find near Cambridge.

Our afternoon tea is built on the contrast between Thai and British culinary traditions — and the delightful discovery that they complement each other beautifully.

The Savouries

This is where things get interesting. Instead of the usual cucumber sandwiches and quiche, our savoury tier features Thai-inspired creations that bring the same bold flavours you’ll find on our main menu, reimagined in delicate, afternoon-tea-sized portions.

Think fragrant bites with lemongrass, chilli, and coconut. Crispy parcels with aromatic dipping sauces. Miniature dishes that capture the sweet-sour-salty-spicy balance Thai cuisine is celebrated for. Each piece is crafted to surprise and delight — familiar enough to feel accessible, distinctive enough to be genuinely exciting.

The Sweet Treats

The sweet tier stays closer to English tradition — but with the quality and care that elevates them above the ordinary. Delicate pastries, rich chocolate treats, fruit tarts, and perfectly baked scones with clotted cream and jam.

This is where the fusion really works: after the bright, aromatic punch of the savouries, the classic sweetness feels like the perfect counterpoint. The two halves of the experience balance and complete each other.

The Teas

A great afternoon tea lives or dies by its tea, and ours doesn’t disappoint. We serve a selection of botanical and flowering teas — hand-tied tea blossoms that unfurl in hot water to reveal beautiful flower blooms, served in glass teapots so you can watch the transformation happen.

It’s a moment of theatre that adds something genuinely special to the experience. The teas themselves are subtle, fragrant, and wonderfully refreshing — a world away from a standard pot of English Breakfast.

For those who’d prefer something different, we also offer coffee, soft drinks, and — because this is Bamboo Sky — our botanical cocktails and boba teas are available to add a little extra sparkle to your afternoon.

The Setting Makes It Special

Great food on its own is one thing. Great food in a beautiful setting is something else entirely.

Our afternoon tea is served in and around our fairy-lit garden, beneath the iconic willow tree that The Sunday Times featured as one of the UK’s most beautiful dining gardens. On warm days, you’ll be outside on the terrace or in the dappled shade of the trees. In cooler months, the restaurant provides a warm, inviting indoor option — and our heated domes offer the most intimate and atmospheric way to enjoy afternoon tea in any weather.

Whatever the season, the setting at Bamboo Sky turns afternoon tea from something you eat into something you experience. It’s the kind of place where you linger without meaning to, where an hour becomes two, and where your phone stays in your pocket because the real world is more interesting than the screen.

Who It’s For

One of the lovely things about our afternoon tea is how many different occasions it suits:

Catching Up with Friends

Afternoon tea is one of the best formats for a proper catch-up — unhurried, indulgent, and with enough variety on the table to keep the conversation flowing. A group of friends around a spread of Thai savouries and English sweets, botanical teas blooming in glass pots, the countryside stretching out around you — it’s the kind of afternoon that stays with you.

Celebrating Someone Special

Looking for a birthday, hen party, or Mother’s Day outing that feels a bit more special than the usual options? Our afternoon tea is a brilliant choice. It’s celebratory without being overwhelming, special without being stuffy, and the setting provides a ready-made atmosphere.

A Midweek Treat

Sometimes you just need to give yourself permission to have a beautiful afternoon in the middle of the week. Our afternoon tea is available on select days, making it the perfect excuse to take a long lunch, gather a friend or two, and enjoy something genuinely indulgent.

Couples

Afternoon tea for two in a private dome is quietly one of the most romantic things you can do near Cambridge. The intimacy of the dome, the fairy lights, the unhurried pace — it’s a date that doesn’t feel like every other date.

Family Gatherings

We offer a children’s afternoon tea menu, making this a wonderful option for multi-generational family get-togethers. Grandparents, parents, and little ones can all enjoy the experience together, each with a menu suited to their tastes.

Dietary Requirements

We want everyone at the table to enjoy the experience, which is why we offer a dedicated gluten-free afternoon tea menu alongside our standard and children’s options. If you have other dietary requirements, let us know when you book and our kitchen will accommodate wherever possible.

Our full allergen information is available for reference, and our team is always happy to talk through the menu with you.

Practical Details

A few things to know before you book:

Location — Bamboo Sky is in Bourn, Cambridgeshire, just ten minutes west of Cambridge city centre. There’s free parking on site.
Availability — afternoon tea is available on select days. Check our afternoon tea page for current availability and booking.
Menus — we offer standard, children’s, and gluten-free afternoon tea menus. You can view them all on our afternoon tea page.
Group bookings — for larger parties, get in touch and we’ll help plan the perfect afternoon.
Gift vouchers — our afternoon tea makes a wonderful gift. You can purchase gift vouchers online for any occasion.

Worth the Drive

If you’ve been searching for an afternoon tea near Cambridge that goes beyond the ordinary — one that’s genuinely creative, beautifully presented, and served in a setting that makes the experience feel truly special — Bamboo Sky is worth every minute of the short drive from the city.

This isn’t afternoon tea as you know it. It’s afternoon tea as it could be.

Book your afternoon tea and taste the difference.