Review: Monkey Puzzle Afternoon Tea

Afternoon tea in the garden on a sunny day? Count me in!

Afternoon tea has such a special place in my heart, which all started during my placement year at The Savoy Hotel, and honestly, if someone were to ask me for a recommendation for afternoon tea in Oxford, I would take a bit of time to come up with a good recommendation. However, I might now have found the spot.

Located on Thame High Street, Monkey Puzzle is an independent coffee shop with a stunning, vast selection of delicious cakes, pastries, and other homemade treats.

Let’s talk about the afternoon tea

Here is a rundown of everything we had, bear in mind that the offering of the selection of sandwiches, freshly baked fruit scones, and seasonal bakes changes depending on availability and the season.

Sandwiches: Egg mayo, smoked salmon with cream cheese, chicken salad, and ham & cheese
Seasonal bakes: Almond bakewell tart, salted caramel brownie, and lemon meringue blondie
Drinks: Breakfast tea, iced latte, and two glasses of prosecco
Scones: Raisin scones

Oh, those scones were lush!

The selection of sandwiches was good. I would say that the bread was a tad bit dry, but nothing a sip of tea couldn’t solve.

The scones were stunning. Not only were they huge, but they were perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. These were not dense and were actually some of the best scones I have had in a long time.

You can tell instantly how fresh all of the sweet treats are just by looking at them. They were all tasty, but the salted caramel brownie stood out. The caramel was perfectly balanced within the brownie, and the sea salt flakes added the perfect layer of flavour to cut through the sweetness.

Every time I go for afternoon tea, I completely underestimate how much food it all is until I am defeated. Such a treat.

Overall, the scones stole the show, along with the salted caramel brownie.

The garden is perfect for a sunny day.

I was lucky enough to visit when the sun was shining. I completely underestimated how big the garden is – there is so much space and tons of seating.

All the surrounding greenery really gives the setting its own charm.

Ps: They are also a dog-friendly spot!

This was such a lovely visit. The staff were so friendly and welcoming, it made the visit even more special. The garden is such a hidden gem, and I will definitely be going back soon, even if it is just for a coffee and a sweet treat. I will not stop talking about the scones, you can count on that.

Their afternoon tea is £38 per person without prosecco and £45 per person with prosecco – I feel this is a little steep, but given that almost everything is homemade, it does balance out.

Monkey Puzzle serves their afternoon tea on set dates, which can be found on their website.