What’s classy, delicious and feels like stepping into a storybook? Afternoon tea in Pasadena, of course. Also known as low tea (high tea is a common misnomer which actually refers to dinner!), afternoon tea is a classic British tradition that stems back to the 17th century when British aristocrats decided to break up the day with tea and snacks in the late afternoon.
And we’re glad they did because low tea is the perfect excuse to put on something fancy-ish and swap out your typical Macbook-cluttered coffee shop for delightful ambiance, tasty tidbits and a heavenly assortment of carefully crafted teas steeped in adorable teapots. Partake in three courses (typically served on a tiered platter) complete with “full tea”: savories, sweets, scones, finger sandwiches, and of course, tea!
So pin on your feathered hat and check out these magical spots to sip, snack and relax:
Rose Tree Cottage
$39.50 pp
A true classic, Rose Tree Cottage has been serving up afternoon tea for 38 years. They specialize in homemade scones and serve their own special-tea blend of Ceylon and Kenya black tea. Reservations are required and dressing to impress is a must! No blue jeans allowed and men are required to wear a jacket and tie.
Rose Tree Cottage says: It’s an occasion, a special occasion, most people like to dress up and make it something special.
Images courtesy of Rose Tree Cottage
Chado Tea Room
$18 - $25 pp
A more casual option, Chado Tea Room has four locations across the city and first opened in Pasadena in 2004. Their most popular tea is the Mauritius blend, a vanilla infused, full-bodied black tea from the island of Mauritius off the coast of Madagascar. Walk-ins are fine, but reservations are recommended over the weekends.
Chado Tea Room says: We have over 400 teas from all over the world and possibly the best tea list in the entire United States.
Images courtesy of Chado Tea Room
Madeline Garden
$25 - $46 pp
Madeline Garden Bistro & Venue is known for its beautiful setting and champagne brunch, but the true star is their homemade berry scone. Madeline offers a wide variety of traditional tea including green, black herbal and milk. Don’t worry about dress code or even reservations; Madeline is lax, but still great for a celebration.
Madeline Garden Kiss Cafe says: It’s a great place for a unique event, we get a lot of bridal parties.
Images courtesy of Madeline Garden
Tea Rose Garden
$20 - $30 pp
Tea Rose Garden in Old Town has been in business since 1994 and boasts over 50 varieties of black tea. They are famous for their vanilla almond tea and their signature house blends. In addition to custom made edible flowers, Tea Rose also has an on location florist, so each arrangement is crafted perfectly for the space. Reservations are highly recommended on the weekends.
Tea Rose Garden says: What people love the most is it’s just a little bit of special in a regular setting.
Images courtesy of Tea Rose Garden
Langham Hotel
$42 - $59 pp
The Langham has been serving afternoon tea since the original Langham Hotel opened up in 1865, so yes—they’re experts. The price of afternoon tea varies at The Langham depending on which day of the week you make reservations— which are very highly recommended since they fill up quickly! Aside from the must-try Langham blend garnished with pink tea roses from Wedgwood, don’t miss out on the chocolate-themed afternoon tea complete with a chocolate fondue fountain (only available on Sundays). Although there is no dress code, people prefer to dress up and often wear high-tea hats!
The Langham says- It’s all about the atmosphere, tea is served in the lobby lounge which has a great view of the gardens.
Images courtesy of The Langham
The Huntington Rose Garden Tea Room
$31 pp
The recently revamped Rose Garden Tea Room’s menu got a serious face lift, and still offers tasty finger sandwiches, scones and the like. The true attraction here is being in the midst of the beautiful gardens, which is a special experience unto itself and worth every penny. It is recommended that you make reservations two weeks in advance!
Images courtesy of Rose Garden Tea Room
Four Seasons Tea Room
$22 pp
Technically located in Sierra Madre, The Four Seasons Tea Room is a bit off the beaten path, but well worth the trip. Their special-tea is a house blend of Darjeeling and Assam but they are also known for their French Creme Brulee tea, Victorian Rose, Pear Pomegranate and over 30 others. What makes this place such a unique destination is their scones, which are prepared only after an order is placed so they are fresh-baked each and every time. If you’re looking for something a little more romantic, check out the patio, which has live classical music and a dinner buffet in the evening, plus BYO wine. Dress code not required, but reservations are advised, especially on Saturdays.
Four Seasons Tea Room says: Tea sets are served on classic English bone china. We specialize in special occasions in our Victorian style tea room.
Image courtesy of Four Seasons Tea Room
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Alethea Cho AKA Lady Lovesblood is a part time tea enthusiast who can be found soaking scones when not soaking up all the creepy places LA has to offer. Follow her wanderings on twitter or instagram @horrorexplorers or @ladylovesblood.
Featured image courtesy of The Langham
