It’s All About the Clotted Cream: Afternoon Tea 2024 Edition

Tea for two and two for tea….this weather makes us want to curl up with a cuppa. Whether you and your bestie are spilling the ~proverbial~ tea while on the go, or you're looking for a high tea experience to share with the family, we've got you covered~

NEW: Valentine's Tea at The Fairmont: Fairmont Georgetown is offering Valentine’s afternoon tea on Saturday, February 10 through Wednesday, February 14 in the Loggia overlooking the Courtyard. Tea is served from 1:00 until 4:00 pm with a glass of G.H. Mumm Champagne. Executive Pastry Chef Claus Olsen and the culinary team have collaborated on a delectable menu of savory and sweet delights, including the sweet pea leek tartlet, avocado egg salad on pumpernickel, a pink balsamic macaron, and almond cake with crushed rose leaf and strawberry ganache. Tea also includes both traditional and raisin scones (with Devonshire cream, lemon curd, & strawberry jam, of course), and a variety of Lot 35 teas. Valentine’s afternoon tea is priced at $95 per person, including the glass of Champagne. As space is limited, reservations are suggested via email at [email protected].

Monthly Themed Tea at The Hay-Adams: The Hay-Adams is unveiling an expansion of its winter tea experience to include new themes from January through April, and a new, longer season overall. From January through April, winter tea will become uniquely themed each month: January - wellbeing and rejuvenation; February - love; March - celebrating women; March into April - cherry blossoms. Menu items include the chicken salad and beetroot/ricotta sandwiches, as well as the strawberry shortcake, hazelnut praline choux, and caramel apple eclair, and a variety of black, herbal, and holiday teas. Winter tea is Sundays from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at The Lafayette. $75, or $100 with a glass of Veuve Clicquot; $45 for children’s tea. Reservations are required, and can be made by calling 202.638.6600, or via OpenTable. 

NEW: Winter Afternoon Tea at Opaline: Experience Opaline's winter afternoon tea, where delightful flavors meet seasonal warmth. Indulge in the raspberry beignet, frittata Lorraine, whipped ricotta with prosciutto, and savor the distinctive taste of Metz loose teas. Elevate your experience with unique tea-infused cocktails or an espresso martini. $75 per person, $59 for children 10 and under. Saturdays from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. For more information, visit the website here.

Boozy Tea Service at The Pendry: The Pendry Washington D.C. is hosting Saturday tea service from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Hosted in Bar Pendry, a posh European-style bar located on the first floor of the waterfront hotel, boozy tea service will be offered weekly and is priced at $65 per person exclusive of tax and gratuity. The Pendry’s updated take on the classic tea service includes savory and sweet small bites in addition to a sampler of three tea-centric cocktails: a gin-spiked Matcha Fizz, a warming Dirty Chai, and a butterfly pea flower and cognac cocktail aptly named What’s The Tea. The bar does not entirely forsake tradition when it comes to the food, as the menu features mushroom & truffle vol au vents, avocado bruschetta toasts, and smoked salmon cucumber crackers in addition to a selection of scones, cakes, and tarts from pastry chef Alexandra “AJ” McMillen Cavallo. Current sweet treats on menu include her pumpkin whoopie pies, a strawberry uzu tart, and maple pecan & vanilla scones. The full menu can be found here and reservations can be made via Open Table.

Afternoon Tea at Quadrant: Seven Reasons Group's upscale cocktail bar and lounge restaurant, Quadrant, is ready to welcome holiday tea-goers with their new afternoon tea menu. The offering features herbal, black, green, oolong, and white tea selections, as well as a tea tower of bites from chefs Enrique Limardo and Mile Montezuma with savory options like a mini quiche and mini caprese danish, sweet options like a passion fruit mousse and dulce de leche mini rolls, apple and pumpkin spice scones, and a selection of jams. Quadrant's Afternoon Tea service is available Saturday & Sunday from 1:30 to 3:30 pm for $80. For an additional $25, guests can add on Laurent-Perrior "La Cuvée" champagne. Quadrant is located at The Ritz-Carlton, Washington D.C in West End. dcquadrant.com 

Spot of Tea: Spot of Tea’s menu centers around its playful bubble tea flavors, and will be rounded out with a full coffee program and light bites such as onigiri. Spot of Tea’s mission is to “spread joy with tea.” This ethos is reflected in everything they do, from the vibrant ceramic tiles that adorn the space to the vivid drinks that please the eye with bold contrasting colors. The entire drink menu is designed to be delicious on its own or paired with freshly cooked boba. Every drink is made with all natural ingredients and real fruit, unlike the artificial creamers and flavoring syrups that are still used at most boba shops. By default, all drinks are made with oat milk (when applicable) and only lightly sweetened to highlight the ingredients’ flavors, but both sweetness and milk choices are customizable. drinkspotoftea.com

Autumn Clock Tower Tea at the Waldorf Astoria:  Relish a leisurely afternoon tea experience in Peacock Alley’s atrium beneath the iconic Clock Tower. The fall tea will feature tea sandwiches like shaved Virginia ham and fig jam on brioche, maple and vanilla bean scones, and pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting. Tea selections have also been chosen for the season. The pièce de résistance? Premium Champagne enhancements, where guests can choose from Billecart Salmon Champagne, Piper-Heidsieck Rosé Savage Brut Champagne or Krug Grande Cuvée Brut Champagne. hilton.com
 

Nycci loves an afternoon tea…see her most recent excursion to the St Regis', here.