Events Features Restaurant TEA Tea And Coffee Tea Time Afternoon Tea Guide Homepage Highlight 20+ Places For Afternoon Tea in Connecticut: Pinkies Up! April Guilbault February 17, 2024 Tea for two and two for tea, a scone for you, petit fours for me. What a charming way to spend an afternoon, isn’t it? Simply slow down and sip; a flavorful cup of tea asks only this of us, to take time and relish all it has to offer. Around our state, there are tea rooms of every shape and size-with gardens and sunrooms, quirky themes, historic leanings-yet all encourage you to stop, steep, and slow down. Make sure to scroll the entire listing, as we first list those establishments that regularly offer afternoon teas, then follow it with a listing of interesting places around the state that hold special event and holiday teas. This is a great year to explore the world in a cup… Gruel Britannia-Fairfield www.gruelbritannia.comGruel Britannia is a quirky, charming, homey-yet-modern British-style restaurant that offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And even better, they offer Afternoon tea, offered from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m., by reservation. They serve a memorable formal British tea service with classic sandwiches such as Coronation Chicken, cucumber and butter with Maldon Sea Salt, smoked salmon and more delicious savory bites. On the sweeter end of the service, there are scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam (take note: British English pronounces them “skons”), mini banoffe pies, lemon curd tarts, and Victoria sponge to name a few. They offer a full bar, with a Pimm’s Cup being a signature cocktail and gluten-free and vegetarian options are available. Whether it’s tea for two or a British tea shower, birthday party, or special occasion, Gruel Britannia will make your afternoon delightful. Queen Elizabeth and King Charles lll, looking on from the corner of the room, will make sure of it. Cady’s Tea Room-Greenwichwww.stantonhouseinn.comSaturday afternoons from 1 – 2 p.m., enjoy their afternoon tea consisting of tea sandwiches, small savories, scones with jam and clotted cream and an assortment of small pastries. Reservations and walk-ins welcome. (p.s.-The Inn is named after suffragette Elizabeth Cady Stanton, as a cool bit of info) The Charles-Wethersfieldwww.thecharlesct.comExperience the elegance of afternoon tea at The Charles. Indulge in a curated selection of Harney & Sons tea and savor the delightful assortment of both classic and innovative tea sandwiches, scones, and sweet treats at The Charles charming restaurant located in historic Old Wethersfield. Hosted monthly. Reserve your seat now at TheCharlesCT.com/events. Delamar-Greenwich, Southport, West Hartfordwww.artisanwesthartford.comExperience the ultimate blend of relaxation and sophistication with afternoon tea at Artisan Southport, Artisan West Hartford, or l’escale in Greenwich. Following your revitalizing spa treatment, indulge in an exquisite selection of freshly made finger sandwiches, delicate pastries, artisanal jams, and curated teas. Available from 2 to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, for a minimum booking of two guests. To book please call Delamar Southport spa at 203-3074299, Delamar West Hartford spa at 860-937-2466, and Delamar Greenwich Harbor Spa at 203-413-3520. Elm-New Canaanwww.elmrestaurant.comChef Luke Venner's afternoon tea experience begins with a selection of exotic brews from Tea Forté, and perhaps, a glass of champagne before a tiered tray of mignardises arrives. The menu includes scallion-cheddar and cranberry scones with clotted cream and yuzu preserves, a wasabi lobster roll, ham and black truffle croque monsieur, cucumber and caviar tartine, as well as a macaron, pistachio cannoli, and mini carrot cake with candied orange. Fridays only from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. Grace Farms-New Canaanwww.gracefarms.orgGather with friends and neighbors for afternoon tea at Grace Farms! Enjoy company and conversation over a delicious pot of ethically and sustainably sourced tea from Grace Farms Foods, a public benefit LLC and a Certified B Corp. To accompany, partake in their seasonal lite fare menu of tasty English and Japanese-inspired bites. Third Friday of every month from 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. My Hearty Leaf & Wine Boutique - West Havenwww.myheartyleaf.comMy Hearty Leaf Tea & Wine Boutique offers three different afternoon tea parties : the Royal Tea Party includes champagne, the Sparkling Tea Party includes Hotel Collections cava, prosecco or sparkling wine, and the traditional non-alcoholic tea party features a variety of teas! All three afternoon tea parties are paired with macaroons and scones of the day by Sugar All Around Bakery. Norwich Inn and Spa-Norwichwww.thespaatnorwichinn.comEnjoy an afternoon tea in their light and airy Palm Court space, with tea sandwiches, fresh-baked scones with Devonshire Cream (of course) and jam, petit fours, and other sweet treats. Teas are served in Staffordshire China for that added touch of authenticity. Old Lyme Inn-Old Lymewww.oldlymeinn.com Galentine’s Day teas on Saturdays in February and Lucky Teas in March. Pinkies up, friends! Between 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., you can nibble on tea sandwiches such as beet goat cheese balsamic and roast beef horseradish pinwheels, petite sweets like cute mini pots de creme and red velvet cheesecake bars, scones and Harney & Sons teas. Menus for your little tea-sippers too. Reserve online. Old Mill English Tea Room-Somerswww.theoldmillenglishtearoom.comLocated in an historic Greek Revival style home that is on the National Register of Historic Places, enjoy an enchanting afternoon of tea! From soups and bisques to Queen Tea sandwiches and treats, Queen Elizabeth will watch on as you enjoy your decadent stay. Open Door Tea-Stratfordwww.opendoortea.comNestled in a cozy and charming setting, Open Door Tea offers an exquisite selection of fine teas, delectable sandwiches, freshly baked scones, and sumptuous desserts for a memorable afternoon of indulgence. Advance reservations are required for High Tea, seating is during regular business hours. Contact hightea@opendoortea.com to get started. Passiflora Tea Room, Cafe and Herbal Shoppe-Torringtonwww.passiflorateas.netA Traditional tea room serving organic foods that are meant to nurture your body and spirit and over 160 tea selections to happily sip including their own blends. 99% of the food they serve is homemade from scratch and the vibe is of healthy, wellness and treating your body, mind and soul right. Starting with a cup of tea… Savvy Tea Gourmet-Madisonwww.drinkgreatteamarketplace.comDifferent from other tea cafes, Savvy Tea aims to submerge you into the world of tea by teaching you about it; with their in-person tea tastings, private tea tastings for groups and even virtual tea tastings! Learn about how tea can improve your health and life and what a great experience to share with friends, family or just do for yourself. Take Tea-Avonwww.taketeainct.comNot just Afternoon Tea, this is a 2-hour British tea service done in the style of Britain and Ireland; tea sandwiches (such as jam pennies, Irish butter with cucumber, smoked salmon and dill cream cheese), scones, tea breads, small desserts such as biscuits, cakes, puddings, possets, fools, and plenty of tea. Check website for current menu. Reservations required. Tea with Tracy-Oxford, Seymourwww.twtsteak.comEnter this confectionary-colored tea room, with its lace curtains and walls of teas and China and enjoy a respite from the world for a while. For their tea service, you get your choice of scone from their scones of the day selection (paired with Devonshire cream or lemon curd), a tea sandwich, a very generously-sized dessert, along with a pot of tea of your choice from their huge menu of options. All served on towering tiered serving trays and charmingly mismatched vintage China. Westbrook Inn Bed & Breakfast-Westbrookwww.westbrookinn.comThe first Tuesday of each month is Tea on Tuesday, complete with champagne cocktails, tea, and towers brimming with adorable and tasty tea sandwiches, scones with lemon curd and creme fraiche, French macarons and more delectables. Subscribe to their newsletter to stay informed about special holiday teas that they offer throughout the year as well. Pinkies UP! Spots around the state that hold Special Event Teas that you might not want to missA Spoonful of Britain-SimsburyFB @A Spoonful of BritainFebruary dates for Afternoon Teas have been announced: 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th. 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. sittings (90 mins), $35pp non-refundable. Call 860-217-9944 to book. They have holiday teas in December, too. The Barnes Museum-Southingtonwww.thebarnesmuseum.orgVictorian Valentine’s Tea coming up on February 17th, promising historical enchantment (yes, please), pleasing teas and a splash of romance. Reserve online. Florence Griswold Museum-Old Lymewww.florencegriswoldmuseum.orgMake Miss Florence’s Holiday Teas a new tradition this year! These events, generally held from late November through December sell out quickly, so make your reservations early in the season. See website for details, as other teas may be scheduled as well. The Glebe House Museum & Gertrude Jekyll Garden-Woodburywww.glebehousemuseum.orgThis year they held their first holiday tea, so be sure to watch for more, as they are planning their summer and fall activities. They are hoping to include a summer tea this year. Check calendar on their website. The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum-Norwalkwww.lockwoodmathewsmansion.comAlthough the mansion will be closed until Fall of 2024 for repairs, they are collaborating with the Fairfield Museum and History Center to present The Mansions’ Gilded Age Tea. This event will feature tea service, a silent auction, a hat contest and an exhibit titled “Money Talks: The Gilded Age in Fairfield”. For tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-mansions-gilded-age-tea-tickets-814146362687?aff=oddtdtcreator Roseland Cottage-Woodstockwww.roselandcottage.org(only open June-Oct)The beautiful and striking salmon-colored Gothic Revival mansion that is the cottage is open June-October but special holiday teas are held in December. Check Facebook for upcoming dates, times, registration. Tiffany Juliet House-Glastonburywww.tiffanyjuliethouse.comDating to 1865, this confection of an historic home offers a memorable space for Bridal showers, private parties, weddings and more. An Afternoon Tea Shower in the Pink Door Tea Room is a traditional and elegant tea service, with soup, tea sandwiches, fruit, fresh baked croissants and scones with jam, lemon curd, and Devonshire cream, mini sweets and tea and coffee served in vintage tea sets. Wadsworth Mansion-Middletownwww.wadsworthmansion.comFriends of Long Hill Tea will be hosting their annual tea at the Mansion on March 24, 2024, featuring a three-course tea menu by Kim’s Cottage Confections and estate tea from Tea Roses Tea Blend. Vendor sale also held that day for the event. Reserve tickets online.
