A Festive Guide to Philly’s Most Charming Tea Rooms
Philly-area tearooms serving tiny sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, and all the tea you could possibly drink.
Afternoon tea at the Dandelion / Photograph courtesy of Starr Restaurants
It’s getting colder and darker, and your day could use a little brightening. If you want to drink something warm in a place serving tiny sandwiches and scones with clotted cream, here are the tearooms to check out whenever you’re next craving a cuppa.
The Rittenhouse Hotel
When: Thursdays through Sundays, noon-3 p.m.
210 West Rittenhouse Square
Afternoon tea in the hotel’s Mary Cassatt Tea Room is all old-school grandeur — which may just be what you’re looking for in a high tea. The hotel has a dedicated tea room and even a tea manager — AJ Memmo, who tells us he personally sources from South Philly’s Amoni Teas — so you can be sure they take their tea seriously. Teas are thoughtfully listed, along with the optional add-on of tableside matcha service, where you can watch the fine green powder whisked into slightly frothy perfection. With your tea, you’ll get the expected tiers of tea sandwiches, scones, and mini pastries. Sparkling wine is an optional extra. All the while, you’re seated in a light-filled room that just feels like luxury. Prices start at $70 per person. Reserve online.
Holiday Bonus: Starting December 15th, the beloved Teddy Bear Tea for children returns on select days through December 31st. Kids get storytime, an actual Gund teddy bear to take home, treats, and the choice of hot cocoa instead of tea. The pre-paid cost is $85 per person for both adults and children. Reservations are required and can be booked here.
Tea at the Rittenhouse Hotel / Photograph by Laura Swartz
The Dandelion
When: Mondays through Fridays, 3-5 p.m.
124 South 18th Street
For something more casual, try Stephen Starr’s homage to the British pub. Afternoon tea packages are intended for two and will run you $20 for two tiers of pastries and tarts, $30 for the “Down the Rabbit Hole” option of two tiers of sandwiches, or $60 for three tiers of sandwiches and pastries with a pot of tea. You can add on extra teapigs for $4 to $7; and for $8, get a glass of champagne or rosé mimosa. The Dandelion is a good choice if you’re feeling more hungry than fancy, as they also have à la carte snack and meal options during the afternoon, ranging from oysters to a cheese board to fish-and-chips. The bar remains open during this time, so wine and cocktails are also available.
Prince Tea House
When: Daily, noon-10 p.m. (or 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays)
203 North 9th Street
This NYC-based chain came to Chinatown in 2019 with brunch, house-made desserts, and tea. Their afternoon tea service is a bit of a misnomer, as they serve it all day (“as long as we have all the ingredients,” they tell me). So if you’re craving a fancy tea party at 9 p.m., you know just where to go. Tea for two will run you $60 and includes tiers of finger sandwiches, scones, assorted desserts, and unlimited tea refills for two hours. While you’re there, be sure to add on a slice of their signature mille-crêpes cake, offered in flavors like green tea, durian, and ube.
Tea Around Town / Photograph by Laura Swartz
Tea Around Town
When: Various dates, by reservation
Bus departs from and returns to the corner of 6th and Market streets
If just sitting still for high tea doesn’t sound like enough of an outing to you, hop on the ultra-pink Tea Around Town tour bus for an experience unlike any other on this list. You’ll be seated at a table with a window seat for your 75-minute tour around the city and a cupholder for your flowery tumbler (which you get to keep, of course). During your tour, you’ll be offered different teas to fill up your tumbler, along with tiers of sandwiches, sweets, and more. The basic experience starts at $85, and you can upgrade to the Luxe package. (You pay extra for mocktails and more tiers of food.) No, you probably won’t learn anything new about the city (expect tourist attractions like Reading Terminal Market, City Hall, and the Parkway), but from the sing-alongs to the too-cute bathroom, it is an experience.
Holiday Bonus: For the season, Tea Around Town is transformed into “Pink Wonderland,” with holiday decor and a special “winter delight mocktail.”
Elwood
When: Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
1007 Frankford Avenue
This Fishtown spot features Pennsylvania Dutch-inspired specialties, and its weekend afternoon tea service is no different. Teas include a selection grown and packaged by Schwenksville-based Oma Herbal Teas. Alongside traditional macarons and tiny savories, your service will include house-made venison scrapple, shoofly cake, and snickerdoodles. Instead of the expected scones, you’ll get biscuits and datch — a Pennsylvania Dutch quickbread — served with apple butter, jelly, and clotted cream. Afternoon tea is $35 per person.
Pastries at Sofitel’s afternoon tea / Photograph courtesy of Sofitel Philadelphia
Sofitel Philadelphia
When: Fridays through Sundays, 12:30-2 p.m., through December 31st
120 South 17th Street
The Sofitel’s Chez Colette is transforming into a tearoom for holiday weekends, with a menu of scones, tea sandwiches, and pastries, and a selection of teas. In addition to food and drink, expect live music and holiday decor. Festive Afternoon Tea is $48 per adult and $25 per child, and reservations are available via OpenTable.
The Painted Teacup
When: Thursdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
220 South State Road, Upper Darby
This charming Victorian teahouse is worth a short drive for delightful tea service and an aesthetic out of every adorable grandma’s dream — I mean that in the best way. Afternoon tea is $30 per person and includes scones, tea sandwiches, and desserts, along with two selections of loose tea with all the dainty fixings and flower-painted porcelain. Wear a fascinator; no one will question it.
Holiday Bonus: In addition to getting decked out for the holidays, the Painted Teacup also does an annual children’s tea that includes a visit from Mrs. Claus and gingerbread decorating.
Tea sandwiches at A Taste of Britain / Photograph by Laura Swartz
A Taste of Britain
When: Daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
503 West Lancaster Avenue, Wayne
This Main Line spot emphasizes the British aspect of afternoon tea, going so far as to include an adjacent boutique selling tea, tea ware, and hard-to-find British treats. You can order tea and accoutrements à la carte or spring for the full afternoon tea — all served on whimsically mismatched china. For $36 per person, you’ll get eight tea sandwiches, scones, assorted pastries, and a pot of tea. (They also offer a “gluten-friendly” version for $41 per person.)
Holiday Bonus: Their popular Winter Wonderland Tea includes holiday-themed treats, a mimosa or spritzer, and little surprises like Christmas crackers (containing paper crowns, naturally). It’s available Saturdays and Sundays in December, as well as all week from December 26th through January 1st. It’ll run you $58 per person ($40 for kids), and reservations are required.
Boozy Tea at Aqimero
When: Select dates (see website)
10 Avenue of the Arts
The Ritz-Carlton puts a twist on afternoon tea with its Boozy Tea events. Instead of just plain tea, they have a whole menu of tea cocktails — think matcha mojito and sencha sangria. Each serves two to three people and comes in a teapot. Add to that live DJ music and a tasting menu including seafood, toasts, empanadas, a meat and cheese board, and more.
Holiday Bonus: Desert right now? Holiday S’mores. They’ve also got some special tea cocktails for the season, including the Toasted Marshmallow made with Tito’s, orange liqueur, coffee bitters, toasted marshmallow, and dry ice. The next Boozy Tea dates for the holiday season are December 28th and 29th.
