6 Spots For Afternoon Tea And Scones — And Those Cute Little Finger Sandwiches

If Hollywood is any indication, L.A. is a coffee-drinking town — every lead actor, it seems, walks around holding an empty coffee cup for the cameras.

But there's another side to our caffeinated ways: We love channeling our inner royal and enjoying the British tradition of a full afternoon tea service. That includes, but is not limited too, warm-from-the oven scones served with jam, lemon curd and clotted cream and those cute little finger sandwiches and pretty petit fours.

How else to explain that I couldn't find any traditional tea room reservations — none! — for Mother's Day this Sunday for a time and place that worked for us. (So, mom, just a head's up, you're getting a handmade IOU coupon for tea with me later this month...) A few places on this list, however, did indeed have reservations available, and we noted them accordingly.

It seems that we like an excuse to ditch the flip flop for something a little more presentable as we poke out our pinkies and oooh and ahhh over towering tray stands adorned with dainty, crustless sandwiches and pastries served on flowered plates and alongside delicate teacups.

At some point you might even find yourself wondering about the difference in such terms as high tea, afternoon tea, and cream tea service. Many use these terms interchangeably. But those in the know — such as Lady Baker's Tea — consider high tea to be more akin to supper, with heartier fare, and afternoon tea to be the more traditional tea and scones and finger foods. A cream tea is pared back even more, typically served with tea and scones and clotted cream, like the nicest, poshest 15-minute work break you could ever imagine.

Here are six places where we can pretend we're just like Duchess Meghan Markle and Prince Harry up in Montecito, and prep for Season 3 of Bridgerton, coming May 16. But, no doubt, this list is missing a few of your favorite spots. Let us know and we might add it to this list, because we can all use an excuse to turn the phones off (so uncouth at the table!), unplug and unwind with a cuppa.

The Rose Garden Tea Room at The Huntington

Tea at The Huntington is served with breathtaking garden views and a delicate assortment of finger foods.

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Courtesy The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens

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The Rose Garden Tea Room at the Huntington serves a variety of sweet and savory options, some that might surprise you, such as a poached Maine lobster roll. There are six crustless sandwiches on the menu, including salmon with dill cream cheese and caviar, curried carrot and golden raisin and a sweet onion. There are also seasonal house made scones, an assortment of teas and desserts such as chocolate brown butter almond cake and seasonal fruit tarts, plus vegan and gluten free menus as well. There are wines and cocktails, too, such as the Noble Bee, $14, made with gin, fresh citrus and a local honey.

The setting, though, is priceless, looking out onto the lush grounds of the Huntington. A few things to know before you go: Visiting the Rose Garden Tea Room requires purchasing admission to The Huntington, so plan your day to give yourself time to enjoy the grounds. Also, give yourself plenty of time to get across those grounds and to the tea room early: These reservations are in high demand, and you only get a 10 minute grace period. After that, and your reservation will be released to the waiting walk-ins (and yes, there are likely to be waiting walk-ins). And parties larger than six must reserve space directly through the Tea Room.

Cost: $62-$75 per adult, $28 per child.

The Culver Hotel in Culver City

The afternoon tea at The Culver Hotel.

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Dylan and Jeni for The Culver Hotel

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Fresh macerated berries, scones and strawberry jam and chantilly cream start off the high tea at Lillie’s at The Culver Hotel. That’s followed by tea sandwiches and savory bites such as crab cakes with peppercorn aioli, chicken salad, cucumber and watercress sandwiches and French baguettes with radishes. There’s also assorted petit fours. As for tea, there’s English breakfast, an Earl Grey, green and berry herbal teas, and many more. Want something with a bit more punch? Kir Royals, Bellinis and Mimosas are $16. Reservations are recommended. Note the caution that “Proper attire and good manners required.”

Cost: $65 a person

The Tea House On Los Rios In San Juan Capistrano

The exterior of the Tea House on Los Rios.

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Courtesy The Tea House on Los Rios

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Courtesy The Tea House on Los Rios

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You know what would be a lovely way to spend an afternoon? Taking a leisurely drive down to San Juan Capistrano, strolling the historic downtown, and then dropping into the beloved Tea House On Los Rios for tea, freshly-baked buttermilk scones, raspberry preserves and their specialty Early California Cream and much more. Tea experiences also include soups, garden salads, fresh fruit sprinkled with brown sugar and cream, and assorted tea sandwiches. There is also a wide selection of premium loose leaf teas. And if you want heartier fare, there are other entree options, including grilled salmon, roasted chicken, shepherd’s pie and English Pastis (slow braised beef served in a handmade puff pastry crust). Reservations are recommended. At last check, reservations were still available for this Mother's Day.

Cost: $39 to $72 per adult ($29 to $45 for children 10 and under), depending upon tea experience chosen. 

Chado, with locations in DTLA, Hollywood, Pasadena and Torrance

If you're trying to score a Mother's Day rezzie, you could be in luck at Chado. As of this typing, there were reservations available at the DTLA and Torrance locations. The weekly afternoon tea menu at Chado leans more toward a meal, including choice of a cream of tomato soup or salad, and four half sandwiches — smoked salmon, souchong chicken, egg salad, cucumbers and cream cheese — along with tea-infused chocolates, a scone with cream and jam, and butter cookies. There are also plenty of add ons — salads, paninis and chicken tikka masala — all in the $15-20 range.

Cost: $36.95, more for add ons. Note that there is a special Mother's Day tea menu, $65.

Ye Olde King’s Head in Santa Monica

Afternoon tea at Ye Olde King's Head, one of the most recognizable British pubs in SoCal, includes a selection of finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones served with Devonshire cream and preserves, and a selection of pastries. Hard to beat the price. There is a modest selection of teas, including English Breakfast, Earl Grey and Lady Grey. If you plan ahead, you can also make it for the psychic tea, which is exactly what it sounds like. A psychic will be on hand to provide Tarot card readings and the like. Reservations are recommended: (310) 451-1402

Cost: Starts at $35, and can include add ons like a glass of champagne. If you want to keep it simple and light, there’s a $9.95 freshly baked scone with jam, and Devonshire cream, and fresh strawberries. Bubbly adult beverages are $12.

The Langham Huntington in Pasadena

No surprise, this place takes the typical afternoon tea fare, and levels up the luxury. The afternoon tea at the Langham in Pasadena includes finger sandwiches includes pesto, prosciutto and whipped burrata on sourdough with balsamic, and an egg salad made with kimchi aioli and desserts including a guava cream cheese empanada and pineapple upside-down cheesecake and French macarons as well as favorites such as freshly baked scones (vanilla, lemon poppy) served with lemon curd, Devonshire cream and fruit jam. Gluten free and vegan menus are also available. Reservations are recommended.

Cost: Starting at $79 per adult, $40 for children under 12. There cocktail and bubbly beverege for add on prices. Parking is $15 with validation. A 20% gratuity is included on billing.