Afternoon tea, with its quaint tea sandwiches, beautiful teapots and tea cups, and an atmosphere of fancy, can be a special outing with your kids. Check out the following tips and information as you plan your afternoon tea experience in the Seattle area!
Tea Tips:
- Before going to afternoon tea, be sure to visit the restaurant’s website for details. Some places have lots of information for patrons before they arrive for tea, such as how to make a reservation, which tea options come on the multi-tiered plate option, if a credit card is needed to reserve a table, the cancellation policy, etc.
- Afternoon tea is served on lots of breakable dishes. Before you go, gauge how your child does with fragile dishes. Some restaurants display teapots and cups around their space, which means you may need to watch your kids closely if they tend to get up and wander around while dining at a restaurant.
- Afternoon Tea is generally quite pricey. Shop around to see which tea room best fits your budget.
- Prepare to take food home. While the amount of food served varied slightly, at each location we took a box (or boxes!) of food home because we couldn’t finish everything.
Queen Mary Tea Room
- Location: 2912 Northeast 55th Street, Seattle, WA 98105
- Pricing: Adult $61/weekdays, $72/weekends, Children $28
“It’s so fancy!” I can’t say how many times my six-year-old daughter remarked on the fanciness of having afternoon tea at the Queen Mary Tea Room. Lush, ornate, and filled with details, the Queen Mary is a cozy spot for an afternoon tea experience. Kids get a variety of tea and non-tea beverage options; my daughter opted for mint tea (and drank nearly the whole pot!). The children’s tea comes on its own set of tiered plates, with fruit with dipping chocolate, sandwiches, chocolate cake, and cotton candy (a novelty for my daughter). Note that there are lots of breakables around the Queen Mary, and really no space for kids who might need to get wiggles out to roam about the tea room. Overall, it’s a great option for tea if you want to stay in Seattle.
“It’s so fancy!” (Image: Ellie White)
Paisley’s Tea Room
- Location: 317 NW Gilman Blvd, Suite 49, Issaquah, WA 98027
- Pricing: $62/adult; $28/child
Bright and airy, surrounded by a variety of teacups, indoor plants, and hanging dried flowers, I felt like I was sitting in a Jane Austen-era inspired dining room as my kids and I enjoyed afternoon tea at Paisley’s Tea Room on a beautiful spring afternoon. (Perhaps this feeling was evoked when a song from the “Pride and Prejudice” soundtrack came over the speakers). My kids enjoyed counting down with the small hourglass as the tea finished steeping, but otherwise had a hard time waiting for the food to come out – perhaps because I hadn’t given them an afternoon snack in preparation for our tea experience. I appreciated when the staff brought out some complimentary macarons to hold us over as we waited for our tea and food to arrive. And when it did, it was delicious: heart-shaped scones, fruit, a variety of sandwiches, cupcakes, and more macarons. (Note that the food arrived on a shared set of tiered plates – my kids didn’t each get their own set of plates.) It was a beautiful tea on a beautiful afternoon!
Paisley’s Tea Room (Image: Ellie White)
Olive Branch Cafe and Tea Room
- Location: 2501 E D St, Tacoma, WA 98402
- Pricing: $30/adult, $26/child
Friendly staff, delicious (and generously-portioned) food, and live piano music await you at this Downtown Tacoma cafe. My six-year-old son and I enjoyed afternoon tea at the Olive Branch Cafe and Tea Room on a beautiful Saturday. I selected the Seasonal Tea, while he enjoyed the Prince Tea (the children’s option) – both were served on plates rather than in tiers. My favorite items? The salmon chowder, scones, lemon bar, brownie, and chocolate covered strawberries. We also liked the plastic dinosaur that his plate came with – a fun touch for kids. We both ate less than half of what was served, and took the rest home in to-go boxes. The Olive Branch is big, which makes it a good location for tea if you have little ones who need some space to roam around, or you have a large group for tea. I thought the decor could use a little updating, but overall, we had a great experience on our afternoon tea date. The lower price and roomy atmosphere may make it a worthwhile drive down to Tacoma for you on your tea adventure.
The Prince Tea is the children’s option at Olive Branch. (Image: Ellie White)
The Secret Garden Tea Room
- Location: 1711 Elm Street East, Sumner, WA 98390
- Pricing: $81/adult; $61/child; to-go options: $25-$75
Located in a Victorian mansion in Sumner, The Secret Garden Tea Room has a unique, membership-based model. Non-members are able to reserve tables about a week and a half in advance – be sure to check the website for all of the details. In addition to in-person afternoon tea, The Secret Garden offers a to-go afternoon tea option. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, you can order and pick up afternoon tea in a to-go box from the Secret Garden’s back porch. *Note: Their website indicates that their tea experience is suitable for ages 5-11, and that they’re not set up to accommodate younger kids or toddlers.
FogRose Atelier
- Location: 15 Lake Street, Kirkland, WA 98033
- Pricing: $68/adult; $45/child (10 and under)
FogRose Atelier, a Kirkland afternoon tea cafe, features seasonal items, with menu changes each month. The price adjusts as the menu changes, so be sure to check the website for updates. Tea is served on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Attic Secrets Cafe and Tea
- Location: 4229 76th Street NE, 101 Marysville, WA 98270
- Pricing: $24+/adults, $16/kids
More affordable than most other afternoon tea options around the Puget Sound, Attic Secrets Cafe and Tea in Marysville offers a variety of different afternoon tea options. In addition, you can just order off of the menu.
Fairmont Olympic Centennial Afternoon Tea
- Location: 411 University St, Seattle, WA 98101
- Pricing: $79/adult), $45/kids
The afternoon tea at the Fairmont Olympic in Downtown Seattle includes a special menu for little ones featuring kid-friendly options like chocolate chip scones, turkey sandwiches, cookies, and cupcakes.
St. Edward Afternoon Tea
- Location: 14477 Juanita Dr NE, Kenmore, WA 98028
- Pricing: Afternoon Tea ($79/person)
Seattle Japanese Garden Tea Ceremony
- Location: 1075 Lake Washington Blvd E., Seattle, WA 98112
- Pricing: $15/ticket (Note: You must also pay admission into the garden, which is $10 for ages 18-64; free for ages 0-5; and $6 for all other ages)
The Tea Ceremony at the Seattle Japanese Garden is an excellent option for older kids (I’d say 13+) who are interested in Japanese culture. The experience is not a full Japanese tea ceremony; rather, it’s an educational opportunity to learn about the tea ceremony, watch a demonstration, and enjoy a cup of green tea with a small Japanese sweet.
The Crumpet Shop
- Locations: 1503 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101; 550 Main Street, Suite 102, Edmonds, WA 98020
- Pricing: Varies. Crumpets $4.75+; Tea (with unlimited refills) $4.25+
With locations just outside of Pike Place Market and in Edmonds, The Crumpet Shop serves, you guessed it, crumpets. The Crumpet Shop may be a good option for you and your little ones if you’re looking for a special treat and tea, but not the full afternoon tea experience.
Some of the products, services, or experiences mentioned in this article may have been provided at no cost or at a discount. However, all opinions expressed are solely those of the author and/or the Seattle’s Child editorial team. Our coverage remains independent, and we only feature things we genuinely believe will be of interest to our readers.
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