Pinkies out! Just like our friends across the pond, Los Angeles locals love a civilized high tea (aka afternoon tea for the Brits and traditionalists), with a variety of crustless savory finger sandwiches and that top tier of sweets and scones. Some of the best local year-round offerings can be found in the city’s top hotels, lobby lounges, and one very special rose garden.
1020 N San Vicente Blvd, West Hollywood, CA
The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills
Best for: a movie-themed tea.
In celebration of The Devil Wears Prada 2 film release, this Anglophile hotel, known for its rotating weekend high tea themes, is launching The Devil Sips Tea. Expect a high-fashion twist with couture sweets worthy of a fashion magazine spread – from The Editor-in-Chief truffled egg slider on brioche to the Groundbreaking lemon curd floral tart topped with a flower.
thelondonwesthollywood.com
Hotel Bel-Air
Best for: a lush grounds escape.
No trip to Los Angeles would be complete without setting foot on the bucolic grounds, past the iconic swan lake, at Hotel Bel-Air. The Afternoon Tea is served in The Living Room lobby lounge (Friday through Sunday) with an elegant spread of freshly baked scones and finger sandwiches, along with caviar service and a glass of bubbly.
dorchestercollection.com
701 Stone Canyon Rd, Bel Air, CA
9882 S Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA | Image credit: James O’Hagan
The Peninsula Beverly Hills
Best for: tea with a harpist.
Afternoon Tea is held every single day in the Living Room from 11am to 1:30pm, with the addition of a later afternoon seating at 4pm Friday through Sunday. Here, the bubbly is Perrier-Jouët, along with one-of-a-kind teas, a few created just for the hotel. And you can’t beat the elegant sounds of a classical harp player while you graze.
peninsula.com
The Langham Huntington, Pasadena
Best for: the miniature pastry selection.
This historic sister property in London was the first hotel to bring the city’s best afternoon teas out of private parlors and into a public dining space in 1865. It's launched an Afternoon Tea book with recipes for true connoisseurs. In Pasadena, enjoy garden views from the lobby lounge and some of the best miniature pastries you’ve ever tasted.
langhamhotels.com
1401 S Oak Knoll Ave, Pasadena, CA
1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA
Rose Garden Tea Room at The Huntington
Best for: a cultural day out.
Out in the San Gabriel Valley, this historic tearoom offers a chance to sip bubbly and savor a mini poached Maine lobster roll with Hawaiian black sea salt – all with a rose garden view. After you devour the tower of goodies, tour the expansive botanical library and art museum on the grounds, and plan to make a day of it.
huntington.org
Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills
Best for: savory tooths.
At this five-star hotel tea is served as a weekend ritual inside the elegant Lobby Lounge. The artful finger sandwich stack includes French savory pound cake with red bell pepper, roasted chicken with smoked gouda, and egg salad with black truffle. Tea leaves blends are abundant, along with Veuve Clicquot or Dom Pérignon – this is Beverly Hills, after all.
waldorfastoriabeverlyhills.com
9850 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA
101 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA
Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows
Best for: tea by the sea.
Head west for a spot of tea with a Santa Monica ocean breeze. The midday pause to refuel includes the hotel’s exclusive Lot 35 loose-leaf tea collection every Saturday and Sunday in the Ocean Terrace room. Helmed by Executive Chef Joseph Cook, expect butternut squash tart and Black Forest gâteau, served on garden-inspired Bernardaud porcelain.
fairmont.com
The Culver Hotel
Best for: visiting an historic property.
This downtown Culver City property has launched a reimagined weekend Afternoon Tea experience with live music throughout the day, and seating in the tree-lined garden patio or vintage Grand Lobby. Savour not only tea sandwiches but crab cakes with peppercorn aioli or burrata and tomato basil bruschetta. Sweets include macerated berries with Romanov cream and French canelés – and don’t skip the bottomless sparkling rosé.
culverhotel.com
