Afternoon Tea at The Plaza in New York. Credit: The Plaza Hotel

The Best Afternoon Teas Across America

10 Minute read

22 Jul 2026

Caitlin White

Journalist

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From historic hotel dining rooms to a Shakespeare library, these seven destinations turn afternoon tea into a memorable occasion.

Afternoon tea is one of those rituals that has transcended the idea of a meal. Americans borrowed the tradition from the British and, in true American fashion, added plenty of their own twists, but its sense of occasion remains part of the draw. In a dining culture that increasingly leans casual, tea offers a rare opportunity to indulge in something whimsical and refined between lunch and happy hour, often with a glass of Champagne alongside.

Once stereotyped as an outing for mothers, daughters, and grandmothers, afternoon tea now appeals to groups of all ages, as well as couples looking for an excuse to dress up. The leisurely service has long had a place in American dining, particularly at luxury hotels and resorts that draw on British tradition. The best have become institutions in their own right. Here are our picks for some of the finest afternoon teas across the country.

Los Angeles

The Living Room at The Peninsula Beverly Hills
Price: $135–$190 per person; endless Champagne available for an additional $60–$145
Setting: The hotel’s ground-floor Living Room, with a classical harpist
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 4 p.m.

Among the 15 afternoon teas sampled for a previous Los Angeles Times roundup, The Peninsula emerged as the clear favorite. Popular with everyone from brides-to-be celebrating their final days of singledom to multigenerational groups who have visited for years, it offers an elegant and delicious take on the tradition. The current menu pairs English cucumber sandwiches with Meyer lemon crème fraîche and sweets such as peach-verbena mille-feuille. Every package includes a glass of Perrier-Jouët, with endless Champagne available as an upgrade, along with an extensive selection of teas.

Chicago

Pavilion at The Langham, Chicago
Price: $130 per adult; $160 with Perrier-Jouët; $70 for children ages 2–12
Setting: A soaring ceiling and city views in the hotel’s second-floor lounge
Hours: Friday through Sunday, noon–4 p.m.

The Langham’s afternoon-tea tradition began at its London hotel in 1865, and the ritual remains central to the brand. At the Chicago property, the $130 service pairs proprietary teas with a seasonal assortment of sweet and savory scones, finger sandwiches, and pastries. Past presentations have included sandwiches filled with Brie, smoked salmon, egg salad, and cucumber, as well as sweets such as hazelnut madeleines. A $160 Perrier-Jouët experience adds Champagne. Available through September 4, 2026, the current A Tale as Old as Tea presentation draws on Beauty and the Beast, carrying fairy-tale references throughout the menu.

Miami

La Gourmandise at The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort

Price: $95–$125 per person
Setting: The resort’s ocean-view French restaurant, across from the Bal Harbour Shops
Hours: Daily, noon–5 p.m.; reservations required at least 24 hours in advance

Set directly on the beach in Bal Harbour, The St. Regis is among Miami’s most elegant settings for afternoon tea. Its ocean-view French restaurant, La Gourmandise, offers the ritual daily, drawing on a St. Regis tradition inspired by Caroline Astor, the mother of hotel founder John Jacob Astor IV and a prominent figure in Gilded Age New York society. Located across from the Bal Harbour Shops, it is also convenient for guests who aren’t staying at the resort. The restaurant offers 30 varieties of tea, including custom blends created for the hotel, while its food menu changes seasonally. The current Mango Riviera presentation includes a smoked salmon tartine with yuzu crème fraîche and pickled mango, warm cardamom scones with passion-fruit curd, and mango-and-lemongrass crème brûlée.

New York City

The Palm Court at The Plaza Hotel

Price: $149 per adult; $115 for the children’s Eloise Tea
Setting: The hotel’s central dining room beneath a soaring stained-glass dome
Hours: Daily, 11 a.m.–4 p.m., with the final seating at 4 p.m.

New York City has no shortage of afternoon teas, but few settings are as iconic as The Plaza beside Central Park. Eloise lore aside, The Palm Court has served afternoon tea for more than 115 years. Architect Thierry Despont renovated the room in 2013, introducing a grand bar, soaring palm trees, and furnishings inspired by Central Park while preserving its old New York character. Overhead, a stained-glass dome evokes the original installed when the hotel opened in 1907. The current menu includes cucumber sandwiches with mint labneh, lobster rolls topped with Osetra caviar, dried-cherry scones, and sweets such as blueberry-pie macarons and apple pie. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free menus are available. Champagne costs extra, but guests can choose from an extensive selection of Palais des Thés teas as part of the service.

Washington, DC

The Founders’ Room at the Folger Shakespeare Library

Price: $110 per adult; $50 for children ages 8–13, including gratuity
Setting: The historic Founders’ Room, surrounded by custom stained-glass windows
Hours: Select Saturdays and Sundays, with three seatings per day

Emily Jordan Folger, who founded the library with her husband, Henry, served tea to guests in the Founders’ Room, making its use for the library’s afternoon-tea program especially fitting. Originally designed as a private reception suite for the couple when they visited the Folger, the room is lined with stained-glass windows depicting famous characters from Shakespeare’s plays. Created by Philadelphia stained-glass designer Nicola D’Ascenzo, the panels make the setting particularly appealing to Shakespeare fans and history buffs.

On select weekends, the library pairs Harney & Sons Fine Tea with tiered platters of finger sandwiches, pastries, and other sweet and savory bites. The historic room may be the principal attraction, but the food and drink receive equally thoughtful treatment. Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens offers seasonal afternoon teas at its Merriweather Café, providing another museum setting for the ritual. When neither institution is serving, Willard InterContinental offers afternoon tea with live harp music Friday through Sunday in Peacock Alley.

Philadelphia

The Dandelion

Price: $60 for the Royal Occasion tower, recommended for two guests; à la carte options available
Setting: A collection of distinct dining rooms spread across two connected brownstones near Rittenhouse Square
Hours: Monday through Friday, 3–5 p.m.

Every weekday afternoon, guests can drop into this cozy pub for à la carte tea items without committing to a prix fixe menu. An homage to the British pub located steps from Rittenhouse Square, The Dandelion occupies a pair of connected brownstones, with distinctively decorated dining rooms spread across two floors. Its menu offers seasonal takes on British classics, ranging from Welsh rarebit and English Waldorf salad to crab croquettes and curried deviled eggs. Heartier options include bangers and mash, lamb shepherd’s pie, and fish and chips. For a more traditional presentation, the $60 Royal Occasion offers three tiers of sandwiches and pastries with a four-cup pot of tea and is recommended for two guests.

San Francisco

The Rotunda at Neiman Marcus

Price: $69 per person; $95 with a glass of Henriot Brut; $39 for children ages 6–12
Setting: The fourth-floor Rotunda beneath a Belle Époque stained-glass dome
Hours: Daily beginning at 1:30 p.m.; reservations required

One of the rare standout American tea services found outside a luxury hotel, The Rotunda occupies a timeless fourth-floor setting overlooking Union Square. Its centerpiece is a stained-glass dome created for the former City of Paris department store, which reopened after the 1906 earthquake and fire in 1909. The dome was preserved when that building was demolished and later incorporated into Neiman Marcus. Gilt sculptures, vintage light fixtures, and carved banister columns add to the sense of occasion. The service is popular with families and includes a $39 children’s menu for ages 6–12. The standard $69 tea pairs finger sandwiches, scones with preserves, and petite sweets with freshly brewed Dammann Frères teas, while the $95 Royale service adds a glass of Henriot Brut.