Afternoon tea, with its quaint tea sandwiches, beautiful teapots and cups, and fancy atmosphere, can be a very special (and expensive) outing with 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, 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 breakable dishes. Before you go, gauge how your child does with fragile dishes. Some restaurants display teapots and cups around their space, so you may need to watch your kids closely if they 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, we took a box (or boxes!) of food home at each location because we couldn’t finish everything.
Afternoon Tea in Seattle
Queen Mary Tea Room
- Location: 2912 Northeast 55th Street, Seattle 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, dipping chocolate, sandwiches, chocolate cake, and cotton candy (a novelty for my daughter). Note that there are many breakables around the Queen Mary, and 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)
Fairmont Olympic Centennial Afternoon Tea
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. Fairmont allows toddlers and infants to join afternoon tea without ordering food. They have high chairs and space for strollers as well. The Fairmont recommends bringing quiet activities to occupy younger children throughout tea service.
- Location: 411 University St, Seattle, WA 98101
- Pricing: Centennial Afternoon Tea (Adult option – $79); Little Kings and Queens Tea (Kids option – $45)
Seattle Japanese Garden Tea Ceremony
- Location: 1075 Lake Washington Blvd E., Seattle 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+) interested in Japanese culture. The experience is not a whole Japanese tea ceremony; it’s an educational opportunity to learn about it, watch a demonstration, and enjoy a cup of green tea with a small Japanese sweet.
l(Photo courtesy Seattle Japanese Garden)
The Crumpet Shop
- Locations: 1503 1st Ave, Seattle 98101; 550 Main Street, Suite 102, Edmonds 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 want a special treat and tea, but not the full afternoon tea experience. They describe their locations as casual, “welcoming neighborhood spots with amazing tea.” If you visit early enough in the day, you can see their bakers making the crumpets! At the Edmonds location, they put out sidewalk chalk and toys on Tuesdays – they call it “Tots Tuesdays.” And at the Pike Place Market location, they note that many customers get their crumpets to go and enjoy the new waterfront park while enjoying their baked goods and tea.
Afternoon Tea on the Eastside
Paisley’s Tea Room
- Location: 317 NW Gilman Blvd, Suite 49, Issaquah 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.) As the tea finished steeping, my kids enjoyed counting down with the small hourglass. Still, otherwise, they 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 the staff bringing complimentary macarons to hold us over as we waited for our tea and food. 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.)
Paisley’s Tea Room (Image: Ellie White)
FogRose Atelier
- Location: 15 Lake Street, Kirkland 98033
- Pricing: $68/adult; $45/child (10 and under)
FogRose Atelier, a Kirkland afternoon tea cafe, features seasonal items with monthly menu changes. The price adjusts as the menu changes, so check the website for updates. Tea is served on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. The kids’ tea option can come with juices or hot chocolate if your child doesn’t like tea. FogRose let us know that customers should tell them if you’re bringing kids to tea service, and whether or not you’d like to order from the kids’ menu. You don’t need to order the kids’ tea for children two and under – you can order individual items from the menu for them, or have them share with you. High chairs are available.
Afternoon Tea South of Seattle
Olive Branch Cafe and Tea Room
- Location: 2501 E D St., Tacoma 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 ate less than half of what was served, and took the rest home in to-go boxes. The Olive Branch is big, making it a good location for tea if you have little ones who need space to roam around or a large group for tea. I thought the decor could be updated, but we had a great experience on our afternoon tea date overall. The lower price and roomy atmosphere may make it a worthwhile drive to Tacoma for 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 98390
- Pricing: $81/adult; $61/child; to-go options: $25-$75
The Secret Garden Tea Room has a unique, membership-based model in a Victorian mansion in Sumner. Non-members can reserve tables about a week and a half in advance – be sure to check the website for all 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 they’re not set up to accommodate younger kids or toddlers.
View this post on Instagram
Afternoon Tea North of Seattle
St. Edward Afternoon Tea
- Location: 14477 Juanita Dr NE, Kenmore 98028
- Pricing: Afternoon Tea ($79/person)
(Photo courtesy the Lodge at St. Edwards)
Some products, services, or experiences mentioned in this article may have been provided at no cost or 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 only features things we genuinely believe will interest our readers.
