57089 Mon Nov 24 22:05:12 -0800 2003 12 2 Los Angeles Area 0 297930 My mother loves afternoon tea (sandwiches, scones, the whole works) and I would love to take her out. We've done Huntington Library and I'd like to try something new. Nothing too expensive (I've done both the Ritz Carlton and Peninsula on someone else's tab and don't think they are worthy of $75 a person)... She lives in Los Feliz, and I'm in Beverly Hills Adj. so I would do westside or more east or valley... Thanks! Mon Nov 24 22:05:12 -0800 2003 0 putti 1 297931 The absolute best bargain in town for high tea is at Hotel Bel-Air. It's under $20 a person and you get those incredible grounds and a cozy dining room with fireplace. You get pots of tea, petit fours, scones with clotted cream and jam, finger sandwiches. Any booze is extra but it's great without. Once you get to the Bel-Air, you never want to leave. Try it! Mon Nov 24 22:07:34 -0800 2003 297930 0 ChefLisa56 2 297933 Afternoon tea at the Hotel Bel Air is closer to $28 a person, as are the teas at the Ritz in Huntington and other assorted fancy teas. Not sure were the $75 figure comes from. We had tea at the Bel Air two weeks ago and it was excellent. Tea for three with one glass of champagne was under $100. Mon Nov 24 22:19:47 -0800 2003 297931 0 JudiAU 3 297943 If you'd care to take a Sunday drive, the McCharles House in Tustin is worth a visit. It's in a Victorian house in the old-town neighborhood. I haven't been for years but it was great! Link: http://www.mccharleshouse.com/ Tue Nov 25 02:03:44 -0800 2003 297933 0 Dorothy 2 298649 The Hotel Bel Air is devine. Although the rate for tea is $29 per person, rather than $20 as previously posted. This was checked early Dec 2003. Wed Dec 03 20:16:59 -0800 2003 297931 0 Tania 1 297937 I love Chado, on 3rd Street east of La Cienega. It's not fancy and they have great sandwiches, soups and salads in addition to their high tea selection. I don't remember how much the full tea treatment cost, but it's not expensive. You can also choose things a la carte; their scones are very good. The place is run by South Asians so the sandwiches have interesting twists: tea-smoked egg salad, for example. I love the chicken (or turkey?) sandwich with some sort of berry (lingon-?) preserve. Oh, and the tea menu is huge... a book, really. Chado Tea Room 8422 1/2 W Third St Los Angeles, CA 90048-4112 Phone: (323) 655-2056 Mon Nov 24 23:35:54 -0800 2003 297930 0 Cicely 1 297948 I've done Peninsula (I don't think it's quite $75 per person) and Hotel Bel Air (lovely). The Biltmore downtown is terrible. My personal favorite is at the Lobby Lounge at the Regent Beverly Wilshire. I think it's no more than $28 a person, perhaps closer to $21. Tue Nov 25 08:20:55 -0800 2003 297930 0 SpongeBobSquarePegs 1 297955 Thanks guys! The Bel Air sounds perfect (especially b/c that's where my parents were married)... Side note, the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel was $75 per person at a bridal shower I recently went to. Not sure if that was because we were a large party or what.... Tue Nov 25 11:59:34 -0800 2003 297930 0 putti 2 298697 Someone charged you to attend a shower!!!!? Thu Dec 04 12:06:32 -0800 2003 297955 0 JudiAU 1 297977 I love Rose Tree Cottage in Pasadena (tea is $22.50/pp) - very British; Tudor House in Santa Monica is pretty basic but nice (you can stock up on British food that they have for sale in the store connected to the tea room); Kings Head Pub in Santa Monica has a great tea on Saturday afternoons (their pastries are to die for) which is in a separate room from the restaurant; Chado on 3rd is amazing (yes, the chicken and lingonberry is wonderful and the scones and cream are perfect)- Earl Grey Imperial is my favorite tea there; there use to be a place called Lisa's Tea and Treasures in the Glendale Galleria but I haven't been there in years - it was a pretty good tea considering it was in a shopping mall - the place was very pink and flowery, perfect for mothers, aunts, etc. My favorite hotel tea is the Bel Air but also like the Four Seasons and the Peninsula. The Beverly Hills Hotel is nice but there tends to always be bridal showers or parties that you get sandwiched in between (as do most hotels). Tue Nov 25 15:21:43 -0800 2003 297930 0 Kathy S. 2 297986 Hmmm... now I'm very tempted by the Chado idea... Tue Nov 25 16:23:48 -0800 2003 297977 0 putti 3 297989 I second the Rose Tree Cottage suggestion in Pasadena. The atmosphere is very British; the sandwiches, scones and cakes are absolutely delicious. This is my top choice when it comes to afternoon tea. The Hotel Bel Air afternoon tea is also a wonderful experience -- the setting is very peaceful and relaxing. Although Chado has great teas (they also sell loose teas; great selection), I have found their sandwiches, cakes and scones to be only OK, not great. Tue Nov 25 16:43:05 -0800 2003 297986 0 AndieCat 1 298046 I recently hosted a birthday tea for a friend at the Beverly Hills Hotel and it was perfection--and not too expensive (~$35 ea w/out champagne). We did this on a Friday and there was no one else in the Sunset Lounge (adjacent to the front doors) so we got extremely attentive service. All the food was yummy and special notice must be made of the scones which were freshly baked and served piping hot! Plus the people watching was fun and the hotel itself is fabu. They say weekday afternoons are slower and reservations aren't such a big deal; if you want to go on Saturday or Sunday, reserve in advance. 9641 Sunset Boulevard Beverly Hills, California 90210. Tel: 310.276.2251 Wed Nov 26 15:03:22 -0800 2003 297930 0 Kimberly