Afternoon Tea at Rockhill House

What to Expect

Rockhill House is a 17th-century country house set in 130 acres of woodland outside Letterkenny, and its afternoon tea leans on that setting and on local produce rather than a generic hotel spread. Alongside the expected handmade scones, clotted cream and savoury bites, the menu includes poached Irish salmon and house-cooked smoked ham on Kinnegar porter bread - a nod to the Donegal brewery a short drive away in Letterkenny - plus handcrafted pastries and a wide selection of fine teas. Dietary versions, including gluten-free and vegan, are made fresh to order rather than substituted from a standard tray.

Two add-ons are worth knowing about if you want to make more of the visit. A Sparkling Afternoon Tea adds a glass of chilled Prosecco or Champagne, and an Afternoon Tea & Spa package pairs the meal with 90 minutes in the estate’s Thermotherapy Ritual Suite beforehand - a proper half-day out rather than a quick stop. As with the rest of the estate’s dining, capacity is limited and built around pre-booked sittings.

Rockhill House operates as a wider hospitality estate rather than a standalone tearoom, with 27 individually designed bedrooms and event spaces used for weddings and corporate stays, so the afternoon tea is one part of a larger country house operation rather than the estate’s sole focus. That scale is worth knowing if you are booking around a busy weekend, since the public rooms are shared with other guests and events on site.

Good to Know

• Served 1pm to 4pm; 24 hours notice required and subject to availability
• Dietary options (gluten-free, vegan and others) made fresh to order with the same notice period
• Add-ons available: Sparkling Afternoon Tea (Prosecco or Champagne), or Afternoon Tea & Spa with the Thermotherapy Ritual Suite
• Book via the reservation form on rockhillhouse.ie, by phone on +353 (0)74 9113650, or by email at events@rockhillhouse.ie

Getting There

Rockhill House is set on its own estate just outside Letterkenny, the largest town in County Donegal and well served by Bus Eireann from Dublin, Sligo and Derry. The estate has its own grounds and parking for guests arriving by car.