Sally Lunn's is an iconic stop in Bath Spa. Located in the middle of the city, it's one of the oldest houses in Bath and home of the original Bath Bunn. It is a quintessential stop in Bath, The Sally Lunn Bun is a must-try in Bath.
The Oldest House in Bath + The Iconic Bunns
The structure itself dates back to 1482 while Sally Lunn lived in the home from 1680. Originally Solange Luyon, Sally was a French refugee who came to the UK to escape prosecution. Her name changed to Sally Lunn because her colleagues couldn't pronounce her French name. Sally baked a "part-bun, part-bread, part-cake...A large and generous but very very light bun; a little like brioche/French festival bread."
It is said that even iconic author Jane Austen loved Sally's Bunns. Charles Dickens also mentions Sally in The Chimes (1845). TL;DR, Sally's Bunns were the equivalent of today's crounut. The recipe was initially lost in the 1800s and was discovered in the1930s in a secret cupboard in the home. Currently, the recipe for Sally's Bunns is passed on with the deed of the house.
So... Are Sally Lunn's Bunns Any Good?
We were lucky to walk-in the restaurant without a reservation as there's usually a queue to dine. We went twice in one day, in the morning and evening (because almost all restaurants close in Bath at around 4:30-5PM when we went!).
Breakfast
You can get a Sally Lunn bun with tea/coffee for around 8-10 pounds. The bun is very versatile for both savoury and sweet pairings. It works well, trust me, we tried both. For breakfast we ordered the Cafetier & Cinnamon Butter Lunn (GBP 8.95, comes with coffee), World Famous Sally Lunn Cream Tea (GBP9.50, comes with a pot of tea), and Light Breakfast (GBP8.90, comes with tea or coffee). One can live out their Jane Austen/Bridgerton fantasies while dining here, the ambiance and the food are on point.
The bunns remind me of the recently-trending Japanese fluffy pancakes, they're tall, oversized pancakes. They are a filling meal, much needed if you'll be spending the rest of the day walking around Bath.
Dinner
I would recommend going in for breakfast as the dinner menu is a bit more pricey, but you can request for the breakfast menu for dinner (which is what my mom did). We ordered savoury pairings this time, I had the Braised Beef and Mushroom (GBP17.00, came with a mini-garlic bunn with side salad, and a drink) while I believe my dad had the Trencher (roughly same price, same inclusions as the Braised Beef). The savory picks reminded me a lot of Filipino dinner stews and instead of being served with rice, they were served on a bunn. It was still scrumptious though!
The Verdict
I'll keep this short, the buns are delicious, the experience was impeccable, the staff were so friendly and hospitable, and I wouldn't mind coming back again... but I couldn't help but think that a lot of the enjoyment came from the hype and history surrounding the Sally Lunn brand. Without the history behind the bunns, one can easily label this as a tourist trap. However, with a good understanding of its cultural relevance, a trip to Sally Lunn's is well worth it. Knowing that you're eating the same bunns historic authors and monarchs ate in the 1600s is an irreplaceable experience. I know we enjoyed our trip and would come back if we find ourselves in Bath again.
They do add a 7.5% discretionary tip on your bill and you can have it removed but the service is top-notch, I would recommend leaving it on.
After eating your meal, make sure to make your way down the to mini museum (FREE ENTRY!) at the bottom of the home! It also has a gift shop where you can buy souvenirs and bunns to-go.
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