The famous original Willow Tea Rooms building can be found in the heart of Glasgow’s city center. As you step through the remarkable entrance, you are met with a variety of beautiful spaces, each with their own character and unique design, including the breathtaking Salon de Luxe. The tea rooms were first opened by Miss Cranston in 1903 and were designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh in collaboration with his wife, Margaret Macdonald.

This commission resulted in one of the most spectacular interiors in the city, with jewel-like designs and a frontage that pay testament to the unique vision of Mackintosh and Macdonald. The early 20t-century patrons of the tea rooms had never seen anything like these designs before. The Willow Tea Rooms quickly became a popular place in which to socialize, particularly for women.

Now known as Mackintosh at the Willow, the brilliant restoration by The Willow Tea Rooms Trust between 2014-2018 gifted back to the nation an exceptional example of architectural heritage. The tea rooms can be enjoyed today once again as they were intended, as a fabulous place to meet and to eat amongst wonderful surroundings. Mackintosh at the Willow was secured and became the property of the Trust in January 2024, with further support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and others, including our members and donors.