Where to Find High Tea in DC

[Ellen]

Looking for a Christmas present for Mom. I know the Four Seasons has a nice tea. Is it the best in town? Are there other comparable options? Thanks.

[caphill2320]

The Jefferson Hotel on 16th also has a tea with sandwiches and pastries. They also give you warm scones which are really good.

[MMRuth]

Have they reopened? I'll be heading through DC in early January .... Thanks.

[caphill2320]

Uh oh, I don't know...we always go in January for a friend's birthday and haven't been since the last celebration. If you call, let me know!

[alkapal]

jefferson website says it is still closed, till fall 2008:
http://www.thejeffersonwashingtondc.c...

[MMRuth]

Thanks!

[alkapal]

You are most welcome, MMRuth! Happy holidays to everyone!

[CuriousGrrl]

The Mayflower Hotel downtown near the Farragut North red line metro stop also does a nice afternoon tea.

[choconut]

The Park Hyatt has a great tea! (I think this might be the same as the one at Blue Duck Tavern previously mentioned).

[hungryhumboldt]

Last year I took my mom to high tea at the Ritz Carlton at Pentagon Row last year - not quite DC, but 100% accessible my metro and stones-throw from DC> It was lovely. And we are both vegetarian - we told them this in advance and the prepared the sandwiches and other app's in this manner. A lot of older people go, not many younger. But really a nice experience over all.

[geg5150]

The Willard does a lovely tea.

[midtownfoodie]

The Four Seasons in Georgetown was always my go-to for afternoon tea in DC. The menu changes seasonally, there's a nice selection of teas, and the service is really nice. Admittedly, the atmosphere is "hotel-y," but that never stopped me... enjoy!

[gyozagirl]

I second the Four Seasons in Georgetown- took my mom there on a visit this past summer, and it was a fun experience. Make sure you don't eat too much beforehand or plan on a big dinner afterwards though- all those small bites get daunting after awhile! :0)

[chowser]

I haven't been in DC but I've been to tea at the Ritz Carlton at Tyson's and Pentagon City. The food is okay but the service is impeccable. I'd assume the service would be similar at the Ritz Carlton in DC--I haven't been to one (from Boston to San Francisco) that wasn't. I love the first cup of tea, always perfectly made, but subsequent cups are usually bitter because they add all the water in the beginning and by the time you get to the next cups, it's steeped too long.

[alkapal]

you would think the r-c would get it right!

[alkapal]

Not to be picky, but if you are searching for finger sandwiches and scones with clotted cream, etc., i think that is called afternoon tea. i'll check if the ritz-carlton at pentagon city still does one. pretty good, except these places cannot get the TEA hot enough! PET PEEVE!

edit: yes, r-c has afternoon tea:
http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Propert...

[Skittle]

The Mandarin Oriental used to do an afternoon tea, but not sure if it's been discontinued. I also remember seeing an article about Blue Duck Tavern has an in-house tea master, so maybe they do a tea as well?