High tea in Gouda: what you get and where you sit

High tea originally comes from England, but in the Netherlands it has become something of its own: a leisurely afternoon at the table where sweet and savoury alternate, served at a gentle pace, with tea alongside. No rush, no menu to choose from. You sit down and it comes to you.

That is exactly why it works so well for an occasion where the conversation matters more than the food: a birthday, a baby shower, an afternoon with friends, or a group that has spent the morning exploring the city.

What do you get with a high tea?

A good high tea is built up in courses. With us, that means a varied assortment of sweet and savoury bites: scones, small desserts, savoury specials and homemade sweets, freshly prepared by our own kitchen. Everything is served step by step, so the afternoon unfolds calmly instead of one overloaded tiered stand landing on the table.

We put the selection together per group. Dietary requirements, allergies or a theme: let us know and we will adapt it. There is no fixed menu you have to accept.

Where to sit in Gouda?

Gouda has a compact centre, so location is mostly a matter of atmosphere. We are at Markt 40, directly opposite St John's Church (Sint-Janskerk) and right next to the town hall, in the middle of the largest market square in the Netherlands. Inside we have four zones, terrace, brasserie, restaurant and wine bar, plus the mezzanine, so we can choose the space that suits your group. A party of six sits differently from a group of thirty.

If you have visited the stained-glass windows of St John's, we are literally around the corner. It is a natural way to round off a morning in the city.

Which occasions suit a high tea?

• Birthday, celebrating at the table, with sweet, savoury and all the time in the world
• Baby shower, an atmospheric afternoon for the mother-to-be and her party
• Friends' day out, catching up in a beautiful space, without anyone watching the clock
• Family gathering, a central location where young and old can join the table
• Visiting groups, experiencing a Dutch tradition in the heart of a historic city

It also works for business groups looking for something more informal than a meeting room. Have a look at our business options as well.

Prefer wine? Then make it a high wine

Not everyone is in the mood for tea. The high wine has the same structure, the same pace and the same bites, but with wine instead of tea. What makes it different with us: with every wine, our staff explain its origin, the grape variety and the flavour profile. You do not just taste, you learn something too.

That is why the high wine is popular with groups of friends, hen and stag parties and business drinks. Read more about wine at Gouds Glas in the article about the wine bar in Gouda.

How many people, and what does it cost?

A high tea with us works for a small party as well as a large group. Because we tailor everything, space, number of courses, dietary requirements, any extras, we do not work with a fixed rate we can quote here. You receive a proposal based on your situation.

Want more than just the high tea, for example a tasting or a dinner afterwards? Then take a look at our group experiences: from Cheese & Wine Tasting to a group dinner from the Mibrasa charcoal oven, for ten to two hundred guests.

Combining high tea with a day in Gouda

The strongest itinerary we see: St John's and a stroll around the old town in the morning, sitting down for high tea around midday, and then a quick detour into the Lange Groenendaal for a fresh stroopwafel. A complete day, without having to walk far.

More ideas are in our complete guide to a day trip to Gouda.