Sally Lunn's is a must-stop while exploring the city of Bath. Visit for the famous buns, or have a full meal in this quaint 15th-century house.
Planning a visit to Bath? In amongst all the Georgian architecture, Roman history, and Jane Austen connections, you will definitely run across mention of another attraction — a restaurant called Sally Lunn's.
In spite of being a popular tourist stop, this house has a feeling of being slightly tucked away. It's intimate and quaint inside, with small, slightly crooked rooms that speak to its age (circa 1482, as you'll see written above the entrance).
Who was Sally Lunn? Legend has it that she was a French refugee who brought her bun recipe to Bath in the 17th century. The bun is now the basis for most of the menu.
Getting There
Sally Lunn's is only a two-minute walk from the Roman Baths and Bath Abbey. It's in North Parade Passage, a picturesque lane that's accessible only to pedestrians.
There are a number of sweet shops and other fun places to browse nearby.
We had no trouble getting seated on a Friday (late afternoon) in September, but you can make reservations if you're dining after 6 p.m. or you have a large group.
Dining Options
There are so many variations to choose from here, including:
- Limited breakfast menu
- Two- or three-course luncheon
- Afternoon tea setting
- Two-course set dinner menu (full dinner menu also available)
- A Sally Lunn bun with your choice of sweet or savory topping
Honestly, it can be a bit overwhelming to decide. At first we intended to only stop in for a bun and a cup of tea, but once we were seated and enjoying the homey atmosphere it just made more sense to order something for dinner.
I tried the Welsh rarebit special, which was cheese sauce, mushrooms, and bacon toasted and served on a half bun with chutney on the side.
We also ordered a creamy brie toasted sandwich made with cranberry sauce and served on slices of a Sally Lunn bun.
Both were delicious!
What Does a Sally Lunn Bun Taste Like?
So, I'm going to keep this simple. It tastes like a bun.
In my imagination, a Sally Lunn bun sounded like it should be just a little bit sweet or flavored in some way, but it's not. I think it's more the texture that is special.
The bun is huge, which is why many menu items are only served on a half bun. But it's very light and fluffy, and is a great vehicle for lots of other foods without being too dense or heavy.
Can You Go Gluten-Free at Sally Lunn's?
The famous bun only comes in a gluten version, but there are gluten-free scones and cakes on the menu.
That said, while we were in the UK we were curious about what we had heard anecdotally: that people with gluten sensitivities from the US report fewer issues while traveling abroad.
My mom is one who struggles with some gluten sensitivity at home in the US (although please note that she is not celiac, and she limits gluten, rather than eliminating it entirely). So she was interested to see whether the breads in the UK would be easier on her digestion, and it turned out that they were.
There's not a scientific consensus on this topic yet, so please be careful if gluten is a major problem for you. We were impressed that at every single restaurant we visited, the first question we were asked was, "Are there any allergies at the table?"
Buying a Bun From Sally Lunn's
Individual boxed buns can be bought in the gift shop/museum in the basement.
You'll head down a slightly eerie flight of stone steps and find yourself in a diminutive little shop. Besides a bun in a cute box, I also bought some sample sizes of Tiptree lemon curd (now my favorite!), blackcurrant jam, and orange marmalade.
It's highly recommended to toast the bun, so we waited to eat it until a day or so later when we had access to an oven.
It's plenty big enough to share, and is a nice snack when paired with a sweet topping and a cup of tea.
Earlier in the day, we'd had a great pub lunch at The Lamb & Lion, which is also easy to get to.
Our home base for this part of our trip was Oxford, about an hour and a half from Bath by car or train. If you also happen to be visiting Oxford, I recommend The Vaults & Garden Café, as well as Turf Tavern!
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