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Once closely tied to formal hotel lounges and a more exclusive social scene, afternoon tea now shows up in a wider range of settings, from landmark properties that feel like living history to newer restaurants and tearooms approaching the format with fresh eyes. Some services still lean formal, while others are more relaxed and food-forward, often with Champagne, caviar, and savory dishes substantial enough to stand in for lunch. Across the country, what separates the standouts from the rest isn’t formality, but how the experience comes together—setting, service, and pacing included. This guide focuses on the afternoon tea destinations that are genuinely worth lingering over.
Yoshoku at Waldorf Astoria New York: NY, NY
After an eight-year hiatus, the Waldorf Astoria New York has reopened, bringing back its storied afternoon tea in a new iteration at Yoshoku, the hotel’s Japanese-inspired restaurant. As you'd expect, the menu offers a modern, Japanese-inspired take on the classic format, starting with savory bites such as miso-cucumber with yuzu mayo, smoked trout with pickled daikon, and wagyu pastrami. Scones include both matcha white chocolate and classic cream with sudachi zest, followed by refined sweets such as matcha yuzu cake and macadamia dulcey cookies. For an additional charge, a caviar service adds an elevated touch, served with accompaniments including potato chawanmushi, crispy potato, ginger-scallion oil, warm nori taiyaki, cultured butter, sake kasu shallot purée, yuzu miso tofu cream, ume shoyu gelée, and pickled myoga. Last but not least, the tea: exclusively Japanese, curated by Brooklyn-based Kettl and sourced directly from growers across Japan.
Chinese Tea House: Newport, RI
The aptly named Chinese Tea House looks as though it’s been lifted straight from China and set along Newport’s rocky coast—unexpected, slightly out of place, and undeniably striking. Perched on the cliffs of the Marble House, the ornate pavilion was built in 1913 by Alva Vanderbilt Belmont and served as both a traditional teahouse and a gathering place for the suffragist movement during the Gilded Age. Today, the Tea House offers two dining options: a casual self-serve café with sandwiches, salads, and light bites, and a more formal prix fixe afternoon tea, offered on weekends in partnership with Stoneacre Brasserie. The latter features classic tea sandwiches and seasonal pastries, all served with sweeping ocean views. Afternoon tea is available exclusively to Marble House tour ticket holders or Preservation Society members.
The St. Regis Washington, D.C.: Washington, D.C.
Ahead of its centennial, The St. Regis Washington, D.C., celebrates its storied heritage with an elevated afternoon tea inspired by one of the brand’s most enduring rituals, popularized by Caroline Astor. The experience features a polished mix of sweet and savory offerings, including smoked salmon with caviar on pumpernickel, Angus beef carpaccio on marbled rye, an egg tart with whipped yolks and pickled quail egg, and seasonal scones served with Devonshire cream and preserves. Sweets like the citrus-bloom tart with blood-orange curd and peach puff pastries round out the menu, all paired with a curated selection of teas and optional cocktail and champagne pairings. For an added indulgence, guests can opt for the hotel’s Champagne & Caviar Cart, offering premium caviar service alongside Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée.
Belden House & Mews: Litchfield, CT
Founded in 1715, Litchfield, Connecticut—just two hours from New York City—is famous for its centuries-old history, Federal-style architecture and the scenic Litchfield Green park. Belden House & Mews occupies a restored three-acre property, positioning the town as a low-key luxury retreat. Afternoon tea is served daily and features single-origin teas from local purveyor In Pursuit of Tea, including Wood Dragon Oolong, Darjeeling, Lapsang Souchong, and White Peony, paired with classic tea sandwiches, such as cucumber, boiled egg and curried chicken, and freshly baked scones with clotted cream and jam.
Afternoon Tea in the Garden at Nobu Hotel Palo Alto: Palo Alto, CA
In downtown Palo Alto, Nobu Hotel Palo Alto serves afternoon tea on weekends from noon to 3:30 p.m. in the Nobu Garden, an open-air extension of therenowned restaurant, set among natural stone, water features, and manicured greenery. The service features an extensive tea selection, including Nobu Shiso Tea and gyokuro, paired with a seasonal menu. Savory offerings include blinis with crème fraîche, lobster toast on shokupan milk bread and egg salad with dry miso and chives, alongside Nobu classics like yellowtail sashimi with jalapeño, crispy rice with spicy tuna and shrimp tempura rolls. Sweets include madeleines, profiteroles, an orange-chocolate cream puff, an apple-sesame tart and a seasonal fruit plate with golden monk fruit spice, among others.
Amal High Tea: Miami, FL
In Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood, Amal reimagines afternoon high tea through a Lebanese lens, served in a sun-drenched space filled with lush greenery that blurs the line between indoors and out. Presented as a tiered tower, the experience replaces traditional finger sandwiches with grape leaf rolls, spinach fatayer (savory stuffed pastries), truffle rakakat (crispy rolled cheese pastries), kibbeh (spiced meat and grain croquettes) and falafel, before indulging in Lebanese sweets like baklava, ashta (clotted cream–style milk custard), maamoul (date- or nut-filled shortbread cookies) and biscuit & raha (soft confections similar to Turkish delight). Guests can pair the spread with traditional Turkish coffee or a curated tea selection, and add a glass of Champagne for a celebratory finish.
Hotel Du Pont: Wilmington, DE
At Hotel Du Pont in Wilmington, Delaware, afternoon tea has been served since 1913. The service takes place in the hotel’s formal public rooms, including the Du Barry Room and the Gold Ballroom, set among carved wood paneling, chandeliers and sculptural medallions depicting historic women. Guests are offered a curated selection of loose-leaf teas alongside classic finger sandwiches and house-made pastries. In addition to its traditional service, the hotel also hosts themed and seasonal teas. There's also an in-room afternoon tea option for two, extending the experience beyond the public spaces.
The Drake Oak Brook: Oak Brook, IL
Situated on 10 acres just outside Chicago, The Drake Oak Brook is a 1960s English-style estate hotel with a long history of hosting notable guests, including King Charles. The property’s opulent aesthetic—dark wood furnishings, gold accents and a library lined with volumes favored by past presidents—sets the tone for its British-style afternoon tea. Served in the Colonial Room, the experience features a selection of premium teas alongside miniature pastries, house-made scones and classic finger sandwiches, each presented on fine china. Vinyl records play softly in the background, reinforcing the hotel’s intentionally old-world atmosphere.
Camellias: Charleston, SC
Camellias, the champagne and caviar bar at Hotel Bennett in Charleston, is one of the city’s few venues offering a recurring, year-round afternoon tea, served Thursday through Sunday. Housed in a space with deep architectural roots, the room incorporates elements from its former life as a public library—most notably the gray-pink marble now used for the bar and tabletops. Inspired by Fabergé jewels, the space features an etched-mirror ceiling and a dramatic crystal chandelier, creating a pink-hued, highly stylized backdrop for tea service. The menu pairs an expansive champagne and sparkling wine selection with classic tea accompaniments and luxe additions such as lobster roll sliders and the bar’s signature caviar fries—crispy waffle fries topped with whipped crème fraîche, salmon roe, paddlefish roe, and chives—making the experience as memorable for its setting as for its indulgent fare.
The Pfister Hotel: Milwaukee, WI
Opened in 1893, The Pfister Hotel is one of the Midwest's most intact Gilded Age landmarks and was recently refreshed following a $20 million renovation. Afternoon tea is served in Blu, the hotel’s 23rd-floor lounge, with panoramic views of downtown Milwaukee and Lake Michigan, set among Victorian design and artwork from the hotel’s extensive collection. The service follows a traditional format—fresh scones, finger sandwiches, and pastries—while offering gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, and children’s menus. A dedicated Tea Butler guides guests through a selection of Rishi Tea blends, discussing origins and flavor profiles and offering tableside blending. The hotel’s signature white tea mélange with white peony, peppermint, lavender, jasmine and rose petals is a standout, with private tea parties available by arrangement.
