Escape to the Country
Where to Get The British Tea Experience in the USA!
Replicate the English tea experience in your own home or at some of the best high tea locations in the U.S.A!
By: Catie Kovelman, Updated 05/25/2022
Is it tea time yet? With the beautiful summer evenings ahead of us, we think we'd quite enjoy sipping afternoon tea and munching on a delicious scone or some tea cakes while enjoying the great outdoors. As we learned on this episode of "Escape to the Country," no one makes high tea quite like the residents of Devonshire in England. The people of Devon are famous for their afternoon tea recipe, known as cream tea, which includes a scrumptious combination of tea served with scones, clotted cream (emphasis on the cream), jam and sometimes butter. If your mouth isn't already watering, just wait until you watch the video clip below!
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If this video has you jonesing for a high tea experience as much as us, we encourage you to follow the recipe in the above clip to prepare your own afternoon tea menu in your own home! While the cream tea alone is delicious, why not go all out and complete the experience in an authentic, English-style garden? Planting some old-fashioned roses, lavender, foxglove, and hollyhocks will certainly help capture the aesthetic, but you may also want to consider some furniture upgrades.
Isabela Outdoor Cast Aluminum Garden Bench
This outdoor garden bench and loveseat is the perfect place to sit for you to enjoy your beautiful garden and sip your tea with your favorite person. It’s affordable, lightweight, and easy to assemble, but is also durable and resistant to rust and water. It’s adorned with a lovely rose design and white finish that will give your garden an authentic English feeling.
$210 (On Sale!)
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Messer Round 2 Long Aluminum Bistro Set
Simply looking at this table practically invites you and your guest to sit and enjoy your afternoon tea. The two chairs feature cabriole legs and scrollwork details that are echoed on the matching table, which emits authentic English charm. This elegant outdoor dining set from Astoria Grand comes in sand or copper, and includes 2 chairs and a table. It is extremely durable against weather and water, which means you can enjoy many relaxing afternoon teas with this set for years to come.
$334
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Porcelain Rose Chintz Blue Cottage Tea Set
No matter where you enjoy your tea, you have to do it with an authentic English tea set! This adorable set from House of Hampton is made from porcelain and dishwasher safe, and includes 1 teapot, 1 sugar holder, 1 creamer, 4 teacups and 4 saucers. This set features a classic floral design with a muted green finish, and will bring classic elegance to your next afternoon tea, Sunday brunch, or family gathering.
$90
Buy now!However, you don't just have to enjoy a high tea experience at home, nor do you have to travel to the United Kingdom to guarantee authenticity. Many establishments offer high tea experiences that are both delightful and delicious. While it would be impossible for us to make a comprehensive list of every high tea experience in the country, we did want to highlight our 7 favorite spots that you should try if you live nearby or to include on your next vacation!
1.) The Carolina Inn
The Carolina Inn is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Considered by locals to be a hidden gem, a delicious high tea is served every Saturday from 2-5pm in the Piedmont Dining Room. You can choose between a classic tea or a royal tea, with prices starting at $50 per adult. That said, each high tea includes an assortment of savory tea sandwiches, assorted tea sweets, and chocolate confections. Of course, warm scones are served with butter, fresh lemon curd, and English Devonshire cream. Make sure to contact the Carolina inn for reservations at least 48 hours in advance.
2.) The Windsor Court Hotel
You’ll find the Windsor Court Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana. This hotel offers traditional English afternoon tea service on Saturday and Sundays between 11am and 2pm in Le Salon starting at $50 per adult. Each tea service offers a selection of 26 of the finest loose-leaf teas, and includes a light cocktail or sparkling beverage, gourmet tea sandwiches, house-made scones and decadent desserts. For added charm, your high tea will be accompanied by a harpist or pianist. If you’d like to do teatime with a twist, look out for speciality teas offered by the Windsor Court Hotel throughout the year, which feature the themes of princess, Mardi Gras, Prohibition, Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland, and Holiday. Make sure to make a reservation in advance!
3.) The Brown Palace
The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa is located in Denver, Colorado and is famous for the luxurious experience it provides. Locals consider the high tea experience at this spot to be iconic, and no visit to Denver would be complete without attending one of the afternoon tea experiences that are offered Tuesday through Sunday. You will enjoy your tea in an 8-story atrium with natural light streaming in from a stained glass ceiling while listening to the soft, beautiful sounds of a grand piano. Each tea service starts at $40 per adult, and features Devonshire cream shipped directly from England, scones, tea sandwiches, tea pastries, and a properly brewed tea of your choice.
4.) Rose Tree Cottage
The next time you pay a visit to California, make sure you stop at the charming Rose Tree Cottage in Pasadena. The cottage is owned and operated by a British couple who mastered the craft of high tea in English, and who take tea service very seriously. Traditional high tea service is offered in quaint, lovely tea rooms and in a beautiful English garden Tuesday through Sunday for $50 a person. When you are done enjoying your tea, make sure to browse the English Village shop, which boasts a selection of tea goodies to go, imported English treats and candies, tea sets, furniture, and so much more! Make sure to make reservations more more than one week in advance!
5.) The Drake Hotel
The Drake Hotel can be found in the wonderful city of Chicago, Illinois. The tea service here is fit for a Queen, and has actually been enjoyed by the real Queen of England and Princess Diana. Afternoon Tea service is offered Fridays through Sundays in the Drake Hotel’s Palm Court for adults, as well as special tea services for children under 12 known as Prince & Princess Afternoon Tea. Adult pricing is $54 and children pricing is $34. The delicious menu includes 17 unique tea blends served in individual tea pots, which are accompanied by the traditional three tiered tea trays filled with an arrangement of gourmet artisanal finger sandwiches and breads and scones made from scratch. Plus, enjoy house made preserves, lemon curd and English double Devon cream prepared by famous pastry chef Claire Crenshaw.
6.) Tipple & Rose Tea Parlor and Apothecary
Located in Atlanta, Georgia, The Tipple & Rose Tea Parlor and Apothecary opened in 2015 and quickly earned a reputation as a favorite urban escape among the locals. This location offers a variety of delicious tea menus, including traditional high tea, brunch high tea, southern high tea, children’s high tea, and even a Downton Abbey high tea experience. Plus, vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free high tea options are available for purchase for those with dietary restrictions or preferences. Price varies by menu, but each tea includes your choice of tea from 140 options, scones served with authentic clotted cream and jam, and the traditional savories and sweets.
7.) Robinson’s Tea Room
Robinson’s Tea Room is located in Stony Brook, New York, which is less than 2 hours from New York City. Robinson’s Tea Room offers Afternoon Tea Lunch Boxes to go for $44, but we encourage you to enjoy your afternoon tea at Robinson’s Tea Room for the authentic British experience. Afternoon tea service includes unlimited tea, iced tea, and coffee, and you can choose from over 40 loose leaf teas to brew. Your service will start with freshly baked scones served with clotted cream and raspberry jam. Then, you will enjoy eight finger savories and delicious desserts all served on a traditional three tier tower and bone fine china. With 24 hour notice, vegan and gluten free options can be provided. Make sure to make a reservation in advance, and consider Robinson’s Tea House to host or cater your next party if you enjoy the service!
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