AFTERNOON TEA AT THE SIGNET LIBRARY

Earlier this summer I was invited along to one of Edinburgh's fanciest venues, The Signet Library, to try out afternoon tea at their brand new tea salon, the Colonnades.

The Signet Library is a beautiful old building - tucked just off the Royal Mile, it's a secret treat, with beautiful Corithian columns and floor-to-ceiling rainbow bookshelves lining the room. The library has recently been restored, and they've spared no expense. It's afternoon tea at it's fanciest.

Colonnades takes afternoon tea very, very seriously - the venue has its own Tea Sommelier (imagine if that was your job!), Champagne experts and mixologists, and an on-site pastry chef to ensure everything is cooked completely from scratch and served in style.

We started with a savoury selection of the nicest miniature dishes - mini Aberdeen Angus burgers on brioche toast, smoked applewood cheese and celery tartlets (so good!), Scottish Shetland salmon infused with Edinburgh Gin, goat's cheese mousse in tiny cucumber cups, and fancy sandwiches topped with quails eggs and Avruga caviar. I felt like I was in Downton Abbey.

The puddings came next, and oh my god. Rhubard fools, blood orange jelly cubes, chocolate and sea salted caramel tarts (I could exist only on this), teeny lemon meringue tarts, passion fruit and mango eclairs topped with tiny flowers, scones with clotted cream and strawberry and champagne jam, and mille feuille - the softest pastry filled with cream and berries and sugar.

This was all served with champagne and lashings of tea (from the Wee Tea Company), and it was possibly the most delightful combination of things I have ever eaten. We ate EVERYTHING in sight (they do let you take food away, but we were committed to finishing our plates!), and it was just wonderful. Can you tell I loved it? I loved it.

I'm also particularly impressed that the afternoon tea menu changes seasonly too, to let them use the best Scottish produce available. AND they do a gluten-free version too!

Afternoon tea usually costs £30 per person, but they are doing an offer right now, where you can get tea for 2 for just £50 if you book online or over the phone (all details here). I know it seems like a lot for tiny cakes, but it's so worth it - treat yo' self!