High tea near the Getty?

[mawf1977]

My mother-in-law is in town, and I'm looking for a place to have tea (with all the scones and sandwiches). We will be going to the Getty, so anywhere in the vicinity. Hopefully not too stuffy and expensive?

[chica]

I agree with going to the Hotel Bel Air. The garden is beautiful. It gets a bad rep for being 'stuffy' only because it's in bel air, but the service is never sweeter, the food delicious, and atmosphere perfect. http://www.hotelbelair.com/tea.html

[luvgrub]

i vote for the bel air hotel. i don't think it's stuffy at all! i've been there many times for tea, and it is sooo nice. not to mention GORGEOUS.

[Jwsel]

I've never had tea at the Bel Air, but that sounds like a great idea. It probably is the closest place in proximity to the Getty, and it's beautiful.

Beverly Hills/Century City also are relatively close. The Peninsula Hotel has very nice high tea. From the Getty, you can take Sunset east to Beverly Glen then down to Santa Monica. It is probably just as easy to reach than Santa Monica or Brentwood. There also used to be a little shop called the Paddington Tea Room on Robertson that did a nice high tea. I don't know if it is still there.

[markethej]

What time are you taking high tea. Mid-late afternoon, correct? The Getty galleries are open late Friday's and Saturday's (until 9 I believe). Having tea in Santa Monica I think is a good idea. Regarding the drive: don't take the freeway! Cut up to Sunset through Brentwood! It won't take an hour. And, by the way, I think the high-tea at Huntington Gardens is horrible. Off geographic topic by-the-way, there is a lovely tea-shop on Third Street, just east of La Cienega called Chado. They serve very unpretencious traditional tea food and have a selection of something like 600 teas.

[notmartha]

I agree with the Huntington Garden tea. The museum/garden is gorgeous, but the tea is subpar. The sandwiches looks and taste like they were made by amateurs.

Haven't tried Bel Air for tea. I like the Chado in Pasadena for tea. More cozy than stuffy.

[Jeters]

If you're looking for the complete opposite of stuffy, and are willing to drive a little farther, Jin Pattisserie in Venice Beach does a WONDERFUL tea with sandwiches, scones, chocolates, etc and very good tea. There is usually a wait especially on the weekends, but you can call ahead or give them your cell phone number and do a bit of shopping while you wait for a table. The area is an outside garden with not a lot of tables, but it's worth it.

[justagthing]

That was an appropriate question to ask as I was thinking the same thing. The Getty Villa also has a restaurant now. Although Jin may be snotty, I have heard so much about it, the chocolates that is, that I can't wait to try some. I hope it lives up to all the hype.

[revets2]

i don't find JIN PATISSERIE snotty or snooty at all. kristy is a down-to-earth and humble gal. jin is very good, but i don't think it always lives up to some expectations because it's different. let's be careful about posting such opinions we have yet to experience ourselves. there is power in the post.

[justagthing]

Uh...I read the post prior to mine incorrectly, I thought they were saying it was stuffy. I don't know, if you read my post, and want to go and try it, so slow down ok. Wow!

[tnilsson]

I would not recommend leaving the Getty once you get there. It takes a fair amount of time to walk (or ride the tram) from the parking structure to the museum proper. And traffic in the surrounding area is usually not good. It would take you a good hour to get to any Santa Monica restaurant from the Getty.

While not high tea, and while not very close to the Getty, I think the most entertaining tea in the LA area is the tea at Huntington Garden. They serve you drinks and you get your own finger sandwiches, cheese, fruit, and desserts from their buffet. The gardens are amazing and they have a number of nice museums on the property. While no reservation is needed to visit the grounds, you need reservations for tea.

[slacker]

which Getty?

[Dave and Stuff]

Hotel Bel Air does high tea. Beautiful setting, and I think less than 3 miles from the Getty...

[revets2]

second this, but stuffy and expensive. somehow, i can't imagine a good tea that's not.

you might be better off having a nice lunch at the Restaurant at the Getty. reserve through opentable.com

[notmartha]

Tudor House is not stuffy, but maybe on the other extreme. If you are looking for elegant high tea with musicians playing instruments, Tudor House isn't. It seems to be a mid-price true British tea shop.

[archer]

If you're going on a weekday and having tea in the late afternoon, the drive fr: Tudor House to the Getty will probably be horrible (endless freeway traffic). It would not be my definition of a relaxed afternoon of art & tea. I second the recommendation of either going to the elegant Hotel Bel Air (very close, easy drive to Getty), or taking advantage of the museum's great views & eating lunch @ the restaurant there.

[Dave and Stuff]

GREAT choice...the Restaurant at the Getty is terrific!

[notmartha]

Hum. Map Quest shows Getty to Tudor House at Santa Monica as 8.66 miles. Close enough (although with traffic it's anybody's guess)?

[mnosyne]

In the afternoon, eastbound traffic in Santa Monica take for-f***ing ever to get even past Bundy! Better to try the Bel Air.

[izzizzi]

The Getty has a nice restaurant with great views. They don't serve "tea" but I know you can order tea and they have a nice cookie plate. I know it's not perfect, but if for some reason you couldn't find anything else...