Anytime is Tea Time
(Even for People Who Don’t Like Tea!)
Boston Four Seasons Afternoon Tea (check out that charming teapot!)
So - #TrueConfession …. I Don’t Like Tea.
At home, you’ll rarely see me preparing a cup of tea - although I do have a super cute teapot on my stove! A cup of drip-brew coffee in the morning and a glass of wine at night - that’s more my style.
Eating out? Rarely do I get a glass of tea (hot or iced) - Diet Coke with lime, club soda with lime, or a beer (hold the lime), and of course drip coffee with milk goes with dessert.
I have many friends who are quite the tea connoisseurs, I’m always amazed by their enthusiasm for a cup of tea. For me, I couldn’t even say I’m a tea hobbyist!
However - this all changes if you put “Afternoon” in front of tea!
If I hear there is an afternoon tea that consists of three plates, some cucumber sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, and a macaroon, that is a completely different situation!
So to honor my love of Afternoon Tea and the many kindred spirits who have made the experience all the more exquisite - I thought I would highlight a handful of my favorite places. And here’s hoping this list will only grow through the years.
Glasgow, Scotland
My first memory of Afternoon tea was during a visit to Glasgow, Scotland when I was in college. We were meandering the streets and a guy in our group, who did not grow up in the US, had the brilliant idea to get afternoon tea. This was a whole new experience for me and it was love at first sight. I had no idea what I was doing and no idea what the protocol was. I sure wasn’t dressed appropriately then and I still remember the first taste of clotted cream on my scone - #LifeChanging
Prince Edward Island, Canada
Delvay By the Sea Hotel
For my 30th birthday, some friends and I made the trip to Prince Edward Island - to pay homage to Anne (obviously!). We decided to rent bikes one day which is a great way to experience the shore.
Our bike ride took us to the beautiful Delvay By the Sea Hotel - aka the White Sands Hotel for fans of the Anne of Green Gables “original” movie. (To read more about this beautiful hotel check out @asuitcasefullofbooks blog… she got to actually stay in the same room where The Will and Kate stayed on their visit!).
We noticed there was afternoon tea and after a morning of adventure, we were hungry. Despite our biking attire, the staff welcomed us and we had the most enjoyable time. We imagined being Anne Shirley and Diana Berry and fortunately did not have any mishaps with Raspberry Cordial.
New York City, New York
Several years ago when my niece was three years old, her mom, my mom (her grandmother), and I planned a Christmas in New York City trip (stay tuned for a future blog post with more details). Among discovering the wonder of the Rockefeller Tree, Meeting the Macy’s Santa, FAO Schwartz, and a carriage ride through central park - we of course thought this would be the perfect time for her to experience afternoon tea for the first AND second time in her life.
American Girl Store
American Girl Store, New York City
Our first afternoon tea was at the New York City American Girl Store. We of course got reservations and my niece had yet to get her first American Girl doll so she got to pick from quite a collection. In case you are unaware - the American Girl brand does everything perfectly. No sweet was withheld from my niece or her doll. Adorable pink daisies decorated the room and each girl was made to feel special. Exactly what Afternoon tea is supposed to allow someone to feel
Plaza Hotel Palm Court, New York City
Palm Court, The Plaza Hotel
The next day we upped our afternoon tea game and made our way to the Plaza Hotel’s Palm Court. As we walked into the lobby she asked if we were entering a castle #MissionAcoomplished in creating a memory for my niece to feel like a princess.
The Palm Court was childhood dreamy perfection right down to lemonade with a straw, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and jello (as you would expect from the Plaza Hotel. After soaking in the beautiful Palm Court and amazing treats, we paid homage to Eloise and left knowing we just made a lifelong memory.
Boston, Massachusetts
As one would expect the history between Boston and tea is the stuff of legend and the places to enjoy Afternoon tea are numerous. The Four Seasons at One Dalton is fantastic. Newly opened Beacon Hill Books & Cafe and Silver Dove have wonderful afternoon teas as well. The Boston Tea Party Museum also has a charming afternoon tea - although it’s not my favorite. However, there is one place that sets the standard for Afternoon tea in my adopted city and that is…
Courtyard Tea Room, Boston Public Library
Nestled inside one of the rooms adjacent to the iconic courtyard in the historic section of the Main Branch of the Boston Public Library is an oasis of Afternoon Tea perfection which I’ve been experiencing for several years now. After my son was born, I discovered it to be a perfect place to take him when people visited as he could nap in his stroller while we enjoyed bites of perfection.
Since then it has become a regular place for me to go with dear friends when we want to catch up on our favorite things in life. Of course, the bookish decor is beautifully executed and simply top-notch. I can not recommend this Afternoon tea experience enough and if you happen to come to Boston and we get together - most likely I will suggest we enjoy Afternoon Tea at the library!
Edinburgh, Scotland
To bring this “Anytime is Teatime” excursus full circle - my most recent favorite Afternoon Tea experience was during my recent trip to Edinburgh Scotland. I met up with 3 other friends from far and wide: London, another Bostonian, myself, and a friend who calls Edinburgh her hope for a beautiful afternoon full of Afternoon Tea thrills.
The Balmoral Hotel
Nestled under green teas decorated with fairy lights with live harp music descending from a balcony- the four of us enjoyed next-level Afternoon Tea in the Balmoral’s Palm Court. The Balmoral puts on quite a show complete with impressive tea pours. The treats were in such abundance that we didn’t even realize they serve the sweet treats separate from the sandwiches and scones.
It was in Scotland that I first discovered the wonder of tea and a few decades later - the wonder continues!
London Afternoon Tea Bucket List
So, thanks to social media, many fellow Read Far & Widers have suggested some great places for Afternoon Tea and I thought I would create an Afternoon Tea Bucket List which I will continue to update. Hopefully, my afternoon tea experiences will become even more numerous and enough to create a Google map similar to that of my bookstore Google map! #LifeGoals!
Some kindred spirits and I have resolved to at some point in our lives to make a trip to London for a long weekend celebrating all things Afternoon Tea. Here are a few places on our list:
The Atheneum Hotel
Fortnum & Mason Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon
The Orangery in Kensington Gardens
Ampersand Hotel Science Afternoon Tea
London Ritz Carlton
Paddington Bear Afternoon Tea Double Decker Bus
The Landmark Hotel High Palms High Tea
The Milestone Hotel Afternoon Tea
Afternoon Tea at Harrod’s Tea Rooms
So what did I miss? Anyone want to join in on the fun when this trip is finally scheduled? In the meantime, I’ll try to figure out a way to fit all of these teas into a long weekend without getting sick of scones, cucumber sandwiches, and tea!
