THE CITY // Cup, Aberdeen

Cup cafe Aberdeen

In search of somewhere dry to shelter from the rain after a busy afternoon's charity shopping the other week, my friend and I found ourselves paying our first wee visit to Cup tea salon and cafe in Aberdeen.

Nestled down Little Belmont Street near the city centre, Cup opened in the middle of March this year to nothing but positive reviews. It only seemed right that we check it out for ourselves!

Alice in Wonderland decor - Cup cafe Aberdeen

The first thing that strikes you about Cup is the decor. All pale, pastel colours and vintage-inspired crockery,  it's an incredibly pretty, dainty little feast for the eyes to take in. The map of the world painted across a feature wall was a particular highlight for me, but even the bathrooms are a sight to behold. All Alice-in-Wonderland-themed paintings and trinkets, with a wall full of quotes on the stairs, it's worth a cheeky visit whether you really need one or not!

The second (and arguably more important) thing that strikes you is their extensive and scrummy-sounding menu..

Tea and scones at Cup Aberdeen

Scones at Cup AberdeenMacarons at Cup Aberdeen

They call themselves the "Purveyor of Tea" and with around 30 types of tea to choose from they're certainly not wrong. I chose a 'Vienna Cinnamon' loose tea, which was deliciously sweet and spicy, and my friend drank a pot of 'Organic Earl Gray' which was equally good. Having watched other people's drinks being brought out, however, I would definitely order an iced tea in the future - if only for the fact that the experience looks like fun - and the 'White Ginger Pear' has particularly caught my eye!

They also offer a range of coffees and chilled drinks ..but with so much tea to choose from, why would you bother?
Ceylon gold iced tea - Cup Aberdeen
Ceylon Gold Iced Tea:: Picture from Cup's Facebook Page
Food-wise, they have an extensive breakfast and lunch menu. Breakfast ranges from full-on fry-ups to pancakes, waffles or pastries, while lunch includes a large and varied selection of sandwiches and soups. We didn't eat a meal on this occasion, but I was pleased to note that vegetarians are well catered for with their own cooked breakfast and a choice of sandwiches that stray from the normal cheese-and-tomato route!

What we did eat, though, were a couple of scones the size of our faces (mine cranberry and white chocolate; my friend's apple and cinnamon), covered in jam and cream, and some dainty little macarons supplied by local patisserie Almondine. They were all suitably scrummy, but with the huge range of cakes and traybakes on offer you'll be hard pressed to find anything that isn't.

Also on their menu - which I will make a point of returning for - are a choice of afternoon teas. The first and tasty sounding choice is a traditional one, including "mini rolls & sandwiches; chocolate dipped strawberries; mini scones with jam & cream; a macaroon; and a selection of tray bakes" served with your choice of tea or coffee. That sounds delightful enough.. but what really caught my eye was the second option of a chocolate afternoon tea. This novel alternative includes "Nutella toasties; chocolate dipped strawberries; cranberry & white chocolate scone; chocolate macaroon; chocolate truffles; a selection of chocolate tray bakes" and your choice of hot chocolate, tea, or a cocoa chocolate tea. In all honesty I fear my tooth might not be sweet enough for such a feast, but I'd give it a fair go because it sounds like a plateful of pure glee!

Cup Aberdeen

I'll certainly be paying a return visit, with afternoon tea and tea-on-ice firmly at the top of my list.

A refreshing change from the coffee monotony on the high street, Cup is a welcome alternative to the Aberdeen scene - a safe haven that I'd highly recommending when the bustle of the city centre gets too much!

You'll find their website and menu here, their Facebook page here, and their tearoom at 9 Little Belmont Street, Aberdeen.


Have you ever visited Cup? What did you think?
Are there any alternatives I should be trying in or around Aberdeen?


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2 Comments

  1. Wow, that looks like a great place! (Just around the corner from the Victoria Restaurant!) I will have to go there at some point. Isn't it good when independent places go to such lengths to create a truly unique shop? Such a refreshing change from same-i-ness.

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  2. eh chocolate afternoon tea? It's a date!
    x

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