It’s Tea Time In The South Bay At These Spots By Writer and Contributor Emily McGinn
Piping pots of tea, desserts, scones, clotted cream, finger sandwiches — all hallmarks of the perfect afternoon tea. Though we might be far from England, the thriving home of afternoon tea, there are plenty of spots around the area that offer a tea service for those looking to sip some tea and enjoy some delicious treats.
For those in search of an afternoon tea spot, take a look at some of these locations you might want to check out this summer. Keep in mind that reservations are often recommended for tea service!
For those familiar with Old Torrance, you might already be acquainted with Chado Tea Room, located at 1303 El Prado Avenue. Chado offers a couple of options for their afternoon tea, depending on how much you want to spend: their Celebration Afternoon Tea Service and their Chado Afternoon Tea Service.
The Celebration Afternoon Tea Service, priced at $36.95 includes a wine-inspired tea, tea-infused chocolates, a choice of soup or salad, and a three-tiered rack with four half sandwiches (with options like smoked salmon and Souchong chicken), a scone with cream and jam, a macaron and butter cookies. The slightly cheaper option, the Chado Afternoon Tea Service, costs $28.95. It includes a pot of tea and a three-tiered rack featuring the same options as in the Celebration Afternoon Tea Service.
Chado has been around for a while, and also has locations in Pasadena, Los Angeles and Hollywood. If you do not want the full tea service, it serves most things a la carte, as well.
This Orange County spot in Old Town Seal Beach at 237 Main Street offers a traditional approach to English tea in a quaint tea room. You will need to make a reservation for a 90-minute slot (between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday and Wednesday through Saturday, or between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday).
“From the moment you step into our cozy and elegant space, you will feel transported to the heart of London,” the website states. “You'll be greeted by the soothing aroma of freshly brewed tea, the smell of freshly baked scones and the gentle sounds of steeping leaves.”
There are different pricing levels offered on the menu, ranging from the Little Duchess — which includes a pot of tea, two homemade scones and preserves — for $20 up to The Empress, which costs $75 and includes a pot of tea; a choice of champagne, mimosa or sparkling cider; a soup and salad; five assorted tea sandwiches; a homemade scone and preserves; a slice of quiche; and a three-piece dessert. There are plenty of options between these two as well with different offerings, which gives you a lot of flexibility that is not always available at other tea spots.
This upscale tea room in Los Angeles at 301 S. Western Ave #202 features a regal pink room and white tablecloths. Reservations are open for Saturday and Sunday from 12-2 p.m., 3-5 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. Keep in mind that you will likely have to reserve several weeks in advance to the limited availability.
There are a couple afternoon tea options. The Violette Tea Set, priced at $50 per person, includes four sandwiches (egg salad, cucumber and dill, smoked salmon, and ham and mustard) and six desserts including macarons, scones with Devonshire cream, cookies and cupcakes. The Rose Tea Set, priced at $38, includes three sandwiches and four desserts. There is less flexibility on this menu in terms of choosing what type of sandwiches and desserts you get, so make sure to take a look at the menu ahead of time.
This small tea room in Huntington Beach at 7561 Center Ave #19. This place serves classic tea, homemade scones and made-to-order tea sandwiches. The owner has been active on the tea scene since the 1990s.
There are several options for tea service. The High Cream Tea, which costs $36 per person, includes a fresh pot of English tea, a soup, side salad, tea sandwiches and scones with jam and cream. The Afternoon Cream Tea includes all of that except the soup, priced at $31. Lower priced options include Pamela’s Cream Tea ($14.50) — a fresh pot of tea and two fresh cones — and the Quickie ($10) — a pot of tea with two toasted crumpets and lemon curd.
If you are interested in vegan and vegetarian options for a tea service, this tea house in Pasadena at 1359 North Altadena Drive might be right for you. Callisto Tea House offers afternoon tea between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. for a relatively affordable price.
Their classic Afternoon Tea Service ($29.50) offers three savory mini-toasts, a scone with cream and jam, either a cupcake or a blondie, and a pot of tea. There is also the possibility of adding on the traditional Chinese tea service they offer, where tea is brewed in a small clay pot at the table and then brewed again. The addition of that service brings the price up to $69 for two people.
There are also other menu options, featuring their Gong-Fu style tea, that deviate from the traditional afternoon tea service. You can check out the full selection on their website.
For a high-end, elegant tea experience, check out the afternoon tea at The London in West Hollywood at 1020 N San Vicente Blvd. Priced at $84 per person, the afternoon tea is offered every Saturday and Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The afternoon tea includes a selection of fine teas, finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with cream and jam, and pastries.
This British tea room at 801 S Pasadena Avenue in Pasadena offers afternoon tea on the weekends with reservations available between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Expect items including tea, fresh fruit, hot savories (such as beef wellington), finger sandwiches, scones and desserts. (The price is not listed on the website.)
If you are looking for a very high-end option for afternoon tea, reserve for a tea service in the Lobby Lounge at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills. They offer afternoon tea on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., with prices ranging from $135-180.
The details of the menu are not listed in depth on the website, but you can expect both savory and sweet treats, fine teas and champagne. It has been featured in Eater LA’s “The 18 Best Afternoon Teas in Los Angeles.”
Located in downtown Fullerton at 501 N Harbor Blvd, the Spring Tea Garden offers an elegant tea service from Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. They offer 90-minute slots and encourage reservations for weekends.
The menu features options like the Royal Tea for $45, including a scone, cream and jam, five tea sandwiches, two dessert bites, fresh fruit salad, a petite garden salad, a pot of tea with refills and a glass of champagne. The cheaper option, the Garden Tea, is $20 and includes fresh fruit, a petite salad and a pot of tea with refills.
This tea house in Orange County features various options for high tea at its location in San Juan Capistrano at 31731 Los Rios Street. Unlike a lot of places that offer tea services, the hours of operation for this tea house are relatively expansive (Monday-Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
The Royal Tea, which is $74 per guest, offers a glass of Veuve Clicquot champagne, a freshly baked scone with preserves and cream, a mixed green salad, six assorted tea sandwiches, fresh fruit with brown sugar and cream, desserts and a selection of loose-leaf teas. There are lower-cost options as well such as The Garden Tea, featuring a fresh scone with preserves and cream, five assorted tea sandwiches, fresh fruit, a couple desserts and a selection of loose-leaf teas.
Bio:
Emily McGinn is a journalist based in the Los Angeles area. She enjoys reporting on and writing about a variety of topics from lifestyle to news, especially in her areas of specialty, environmental science and political science.