Everything was delicious, beautiful and exactly what you want in a tea shop! The staff is amazing! We went to celebrate my daughter's birthday! There were 2 children and two adults. It was the perfect day! I can't recommend more highly! We can't wait to go back soon! read more

This charming tea house offers an excellent respite from the crazy world. The ambiance is calming, the service impeccable, and the food delightful! It was the perfect start to a fantastic weekend at Half Moon Bay. If you are in the area, treat yourself to all this business has to offer. I definitely will return. read more

By the Teashore is, in my opinion, the platonic ideal of a perfect tea house. It does everything right and it made me want to return immediately to enjoy its hospitality as soon as I had left. I went with a group of friends that, unexpectedly, increased by one at the last minute and they handled the addition with grace and kindness, relieving my anxiety about the inconvenience. It ended up being the best tea house experience I'd had in quite a while. Almost all of the items on their menu are made in-house, including the finger sandwiches, which are made fresh each morning so they don't get soggy. The menu is thoughtful and interesting, containing all the items you expect for an afternoon tea, without being boring or trite. This included a house-made, crescent-shaped, lavender-infused cookie that was a lovely shade of purple. I don't normally enjoy lavender-flavored things, but this one had just the right balance and texture and I loved it. I also enjoyed the "I Hate Kale" salad, which was both cheeky and delicious. I was prepared to not enjoy it, but I finished it all. I can imagine it's not to everyone's taste, but it was unique and tasty. The scones were spot-on. I had the Earl Grey & Lemon and had the chance to taste another person's strawberry and white chocolate one, both were delicious and had great texture. The accompanying jam and clotted cream were fantastic. Everyone chose a different tea from a wide selection and they were all great. No one was unhappy with their choice and most shared theirs with others to try! I liked all of the sandwiches, even the ones I didn't expect to like, such as the chicken curry. Among us we tried all the varieties and all were a hit. As a group, we ended up ordering several of the Tea for two selections, which the hostess/owner helpfully pointed out was more economical than each person choosing the individual Half Moon Tea. A few people ended up also ordering additional scones, a la carte, to take home. The owner was there and talked to us a good bit about the shop, answering the many questions with ease, enthusiasm and patience, Our server was the same, taking requests in stride, even from the more difficult among us. We never had to go searching for him and he was on top of everything. The location itself is like another character in the shop's story, being adorably painted on the outside and incredibly decorated on the inside, with a story behind much of the decor. I don't often tell people that they can't miss going to the restroom at a dining spot, but you simply must here because it's fabulous! I loved our experience here and look forward to returning soon, bringing more tea-loving friends to enjoy its charms! read more

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What a charming little tea shop in Half Moon Bay! I brought my 4-year-old daughter here to celebrate a birthday, and it turned into such a special experience. The interior is beautifully decorated with a genuine antique feel--it really adds to the magic. The menu offered so many tempting choices, but we went with the tea for two and also ordered the kids' version for the girls. Everything was delicious. I especially loved the ham and cheese, cucumber, and roast beef sandwiches. The scones were wonderful, and the fruit and quiche were just as lovely to look at as they were to eat. We had such a memorable time and I can't wait to come back again with my daughter! read more

By the Teashore - Tables - Tea Rooms Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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3.5, it's hard to rate this place because the things that were good were good and the things that weren't just brought the rating down. Let's get to it: Highs: The curried chicken sandwich, tea, and scone, and the great service. Now for the misses/lows: 1.Crowded--guests were bumping into our chair and it was loud. 2. Disliked the egg salad sandwich, it was wet and soupy 3. The dessert which was basically like dollar store cookies was a huge miss. 4. The scone came with cheaper store bought jam and lemon curd and no special Devonshire cream. 5. Pricey for 2 sandwiches and what you get, like the cheap cookies horrible kale salad with weird cheese chunks, half a strawberry, 2 grapes, and one slice of orange for $51. In this day and age I want to support local businesses, but I also want quality and good flavor. 6. Kale salad tastes like some weird health kick ration on a wellness retreat. Horrible. So for what you get, it's hard to say this was fantastic given I didn't like the kale salad, one of the sandwiches, none of the cookies/dessert, or the jams etc for the scone. Given the high price (over $100 for two people who left hungry and felt underwhelmed) and very crowded and noisy tables I can't say that I would recommend it to anyone or return. Hence the 3 stars. read more

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Adorable new arrival for afternoon tea enthusiasts on the main strip in half moon bay! It mainly serves afternoon tea along with some comfort food like delicious soup!! We shared the half moon tea between 2 people (note there is a small fee to share) but I'd recommend getting your own if you're hungry as it is sized for one, unlike some hotel teas where there is too much food. We ordered additional scones and soups, which helped satiate our hunger. Speaking of scones, they were absolutely delicious (hence we ordered more in different flavors!) but note they are different than the usual scones, they were softer, which we enjoyed. And we enjoyed the potato soup so much, we ordered it twice! The interior is all about comfortable afternoon tea vibes with adorable embellishments that make you look twice. I enjoyed looking at all the decorations piece by piece as I got the sense many had stories behind them. There was space for outside tables and they had patio furniture but it wasn't set up during our January visit so I suggest calling ahead if you need to be outside (ie. for pups!) The service is friendly - chill and not rushed. I admit I was a little uncomfortable waiting at the check in desk for awhile without acknowledgement from the busy servers so I'd gently suggest they just briefly look up and quickly acknowledge waiting customers or invite them to take a seat on the couch while waiting. It's a small gesture but would be much welcomed, as I was very appreciative when the owner walked by acknowledged she would help me shortly. The space is fairly small so I just felt awkward standing there. I noticed the owner personally greets every table to share her story and about items she loves to make like the fresh made from scratch scones and clotted cream. It was a really nice touch to meet the owner and support her business. Highly recommend reservations in advance as it's pretty small and it books out more than a month during busy periods like the holidays. There is free street parking. read more

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We loved loved loved this place! First, we booked via OpenTable with a reservation but called to add one more and they were able to accommodate. Then once we got there, we met the owner Angela and she was too cute! She walked us through some of the history of our dining set which was beyond nice. We had a group of 7 and everyone loved the food. The handmade scones were to die for! And on top of that, the clouded creme was soooo so good. Will definitely be back. read more

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I love an afternoon tea, and my friend recommended we try this place, and I am so glad we did. We weren't exactly sure what time we were going to be able to meet so we weren't able to make a reservation early, but I got there about 20 mins before we were supposed to meet to see if they had availability and they did! The tea room is so cute. I love all the decorations and the vibe. We ordered the tea for two and it was such a great amount of food. Everything was delicious, fresh, and it was a great sampling. The owner was there and we chatted with her a bit. She was friendly and you can tell she put her whole heart into this place. I can't wait to go back. Definitely a great place to meet friends, bring your daughter, etc. read more

I made a reservation two months in advance on their online system and was reminded by email a day before. Parking was easy on the weekend - just go slow and you'll find a spot. The bank closes early if you still can't find a spot nearby. Our server was polite and affable. He introduced himself by name and was able to separate our checks by order. The owner was also very friendly and warm - coming out from the back to greet and introduce us to her business and letting us know everything was made in-house and fresh. The dishwasher had broke that day so she was stuck in the kitchen. We appreciated her coming out to specifically greet the customers. Everything was good and we left full! You can obviously taste the freshness of the food - the sandwiches especially don't have that refridgerated taste, and the decor was superb! Check out the glamorous bathroom ;) We were satisfied by what we ordered and will be back! read more

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My sis was able to snag a reservation for the last day of November. We got to meet the lovely owner Angela who told us the they had just opened on September 5th. She checked on us often while helpful Paloma took our order and made sure everything was great. They make their scone accompaniments in house! Delightful lemon curd, creme fraiche, and possibly the strawberry preserves. Our order: 1 Fog Tea: choose 1 scone, 1 sandwich 3 Half Moon Teas: 1 scone, 2 sandwiches, includes a mini quiche (so yummy) They also have the Maverick Tea which includes a blue sugar wave bowl with a treat like ice cream and 2 scones & 2 sandwiches. All tea sets come with bottomless tea, salad, fresh fruit, seasonal sweet, and freshly baked lavender lemon half moon cookie! So fragrant and has real lavender buds baked in. Teas we chose: *Lychee Black *Vanilla Black *Ambrosia Black *Decaf Sencha Green Scone Choices: *Blueberry Orange *Earl Grey Lemon *Gluten Free/Vegan Orange Zest, Currants & Cinnamon *GF/V Chocolate Chip Sandwich Choices: *Cucumber Cream Cheese *Egg Salad *Curried Chicken Salad *Roast Beef & Horseradish The space is so cute! Everything is either pink or blue, even the house exterior paint! Street parking is not bad at all. We were there on a Sunday. My favorite tea sandwich was the curried chicken, and it's Angela's fave as well! She said she doesn't like curry but she found a recipe that she fell in love with. Try it out! The horseradish gives an excellent kick for the roast beef, but I would like maybe another thin slice of beef added. Egg salad was tasty and can't go wrong with a classic cucumber cream cheese. Earl Grey lemon scone was fantastic! I got to try everyone's tea and I enjoyed many hot cups of my lychee black tea. Sugar cubes are already on the table. Ask for milk if desired. Lots of photo ops here! The teapot cozies are the cutest things. They serve breakfast in the morning too. Can't wait to go back with friends! read more

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It was a completely lovely place for a spot of tea! The owner told us, she just opened in September. This was their first Holiday service. Very cute place, decorated very nicely. It's small though. It didn't feel like the front of the house were coordinated in their service. It just felt off to me. ‍ Food was good. The roast beef with horseradish sandwich was tasty. There was a special holiday sandwich with fig & ham; it felt heavy on the fig jam. The sweets were a nice treat. Tea was plentiful. The soup delicious. read more

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Made a reservation months ago but requested outdoor seating. The day before, they confirmed my reservation and that they were able to accommodate. We arrived and sat quickly. We ordered 4 sets - Half Moon Teas which comes a choice of two Sandwiches, one Homemade Scone with Strawberry Preserves, Homemade Lemon Curd and Homemade Clotted Cream, Spring Mix Salad with Herb Vinaigrette, Fresh Fruit, Macaron, Lemon Lavender Tea Cookie. I selected Cream Cheese and Cucumber sandwich, Curried chicken and Earl Grey scone. Service was a bit slow and they didn't automatically give us milk and sugar, but they were really nice. They gave our friend an extra little treat to celebrate her engagement. All the food tasted good and fresh. The scone was moist and I loved the chicken curry sandwich. I would definitely return and understand that they are still relatively new. Definitely a cute spot for tea. read more

By the Teashore - Tea Rooms Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

I saw this spot randomly on IG one day promoting that they're recently opened. I was very excited and booked everything online (i like that they offer a "special request" section if you want your reservation to be even more special). I even dressed up for the occasion lol. Upon arriving, u might have to find parking on the street since it's in the downtown area of Half Moon Bay. I love the pink aesthetic from the outside, the tables and chairs set up a cute little vibe for u and ur gfs to chit chat. We got sat inside of a corner per our request. The interior has many things to look at. We ordered the mid tier set. The wait was quite long for a couple of pastries and tea, i would say almost 45 minutes or more. We got the beef radishes and egg sandwiches choice. Tasted great, i liked the beef one more, the egg salad was ok, quite bland. I also like the half moon cookie. I believe my total was somewhere around $50. For a nice tea time with my mom, it's not bad and i would come again another time. The inside is quite intimate, so if you're not ready to share what you did last weekend with strangers, I would recommend to sit outside lol! read more

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My friend and I came for Sunday afternoon tea! The tea house is adorable and decorated so quirky. The tea menu they had at the restaurant was much larger than the one online, we had many options to choose from. We both did the "half moon tea" option which came with two sandwiches. I've done a few afternoon teas and assumed the sandwiches would be small tea size, but they were big sandwiches! Just fyi if you're not too hungry. All sandwiches are made to order in house. I had the chicken curry which contained craisns which I loved the sweet and savory combo, it was delicious. I also had the egg salad which was pretty good too! The scones were huge & baked perfectly, still so soft on the inside. It was paired with homemade lemon curd (which was to die for) & homemade clotted cream! Our service was great and attentive & the owner was even there and she was lovely! This is such a cute place for a girls afternoon & the price point is great too! read more

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10/4/25 - Amazing experience! My boyfriend and I went here to celebrate our early anniversary and it was a wonderful time! The owner was so sweet and let us change our time last minute, because luckily they had an open spot for afternoon tea! We ended up going with the Maverick Tea set and did a pot of Pu-erh tea! I think out of all the tea times I've gone to, this one is the most worth it and the price is fair! Loved coming here and the staff were all so sweet! Also fun fact! The owner said most of the stuff was from her own house! So cool! Note that they did extend their hours to 4 pm btw, so more chances to try the afternoon tea! read more

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My recommendation is to give this place another month to pull it together. Location good, parking available but staff couldn't tell us if the handicapped spot next to the tea shoppe was for customers? Cute ambience inside and out We had a reservation for 1:30 but waited over 20 minutes to get a table and only when we pressed as my friend with a cane needed to sit. Strangely the owner never made eye contact with us as she hosted, went to kitchen, served tea, etc. Only 1 tea pot came out, no silverware. There was a tiered tea tray for each of us which was overkill on a small table and no plates for our food. We ate off the tea tray, strange. The food was tasty enough. Not much of a selection of sandwiches or tea yet. They said more will be coming. We had to ask for silverware. I love tea shops and I'll give this place another try but they should check out Lovey's or Lovejoys to see how tight space can be efficiently utilized. read more

By the Teashore - Tea Rooms Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

I know this place has just opened, so I am bumping my review up a little bit to three stars. I have notes! They don't have a parking lot, but it was easy enough to find street parking. I wasn't super familiar with Half Moon Bay, but it's pretty easy to find/navigate around. This is a cute location, right on the main street of HMB, and it's nicely decorated. The bathroom has a very chic Art Deco look! We had a 1:15 reservation, and got there a few minutes early, and waited to be seated. The place was pretty full, and the staff seemed busy and harried. We did finally get seated with menus. Then, eventually, someone came to take our order. There are three different tea options, and it was a little hard to tell the difference between them, so we got the middle one. The menu wasn't super clear if the tea food comes with a pot of tea, but we both ordered tea. And then waited. They brought our food out before our tea came out. The waitress said, as she put down our food, "Oh, didn't someone bring you your tea?" which was kind of an obvious question since there were no teapots there. The food looked good, but we noticed that they just give you the three-tiered tray, and there's no plate to eat off of. Also, there was a fork and spoon there, but no knife, which you actually need for putting the delicious lemon curd on your scones. We did ask the server to bring us a knife, but she never did. After a few minutes of eating sandwiches, the server brought our tea out. Except oops, the tea that my friend had ordered wasn't available (which we just found out about now). And her second choice also wasn't available. So she ended up settling on Earl Grey, which came out fairly quickly. I understand that places run out of things, but it would have been good to learn this earlier in the meal, not halfway through the service. As you can see from my picture, for whatever reason, they don't use some kind of filter with the tea service, so you end up with tea grounds in your cup. I have been to a lot of teas over the years and never had an experience like that. The food we had was tasty, but I felt like there were just a lot of misses with the service. And they really need to get some strainers/filters for the tea and plates to eat off of. I'd probably try this place in the future, but I'd give it time to grow and fix some of these foibles. read more

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Overall - we had a nice experience at By the Teashore. It's cute, quaint, and well decorated. I can see parking being a hit or miss depending on how busy it is. We went on a Sunday at 1pm and was able to find parking pretty close. I want to give this place a 5 stars so bad but you can tell that this is still pretty new to them being that they just opened. The place is tiny. Like very very small with walking room so narrow, it's easy to knock over someone's 3-tier plate. We came in for our reservations (looks like they are doing reservation only for now) and was packed at the front of the door until someone came to the front. Every worker saw how busy it was but kind of just ignored/looked away to go to the kitchen without saying anything like "we'll be right with you" or any assurance that they are aware there's a bunch of people bundled up hoping to ask a question or check in. Glad we got there around 1:30 because if we came any earlier than 11:30, teatime would not be available. They were already sold out of a lot of things we were hoping to get. I noticed a lot of people not getting utensils and having to ask for it, including us. We were not provided any forks for our salad. And no spoons for our tea. Remembering small things like this can help avoid having to walk back and forth in such a small space. Other than that, you can tell that everyone is trying their best.. it just needs a bit more time to really get in the groove of things and take some of the feedback that customers provide! The staff are sweet and attentive. The roast beef sandwich and blueberry scone was my favorite. We had the caffeine free red tea because they were out of the fruit tea, but I'm glad I tried this one because it was soooo good with milk and sugar. Will be coming back again!! read more

By the Teashore - Tea Rooms Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

If you're in Half Moon Bay, By the Tea Shore is an absolute must visit. Angela, the owner, pours so much love and care into everything she serves. She makes everything completely from scratch -- and you can truly taste the difference. The scones are incredible (she spends hours perfecting them), and even the butter and jams are homemade. It's the kind of place that feels warm, thoughtful, and special from the moment you walk in. If you appreciate real, handcrafted food made by someone who genuinely cares about quality, this little spot is a gem. Don't miss it. read more

By the Teashore - Tea Rooms Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

All I can say is wow. I'm a tea house connoisseur, and this beats every place I've ever been to. The ambiance, the attention to detail, the super sweet proprietress-- all of it!! Not to mention, everything was homemade from scratch, and the tea was delicious. Super sweet waitress as well. Definitely will be back. read more

A lovely experience by far! So quaint & everything is done to perfection. From the decor, to the menu set up, to the service. I felt like we were on a taping of Check Please (with no cameras). When everyon left around closing, I was able to freely walk around & take in all the decor. Every wall, corner & was perfectly organized by themes. It's a small place, but sooo much to take in & not overly cluttered. The outdoor space is also super quaint & the decor is also well thought out. They even had a painting outside that we had growing up in our house! read more

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Another memorable visit to By The Teashore. Brought my sister this time. She loved the experience! We might have a new Christmas tradition :-) The Christmas vibe was so charming. The snowflake project such a simple, delightful, and mindful activity. The Christmas specials were quite tasty. I enjoyed the potato corn soup flavors. Who knew that quinoa and cranberries could taste so good. The little tower desert was scrumptious! Thanks for the excellent service and memories made. read more

By the Teashore - Tea Rooms Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Mom, sister and I had the tea service here and enjoyed it! The sandwiches are not premade. They aren't made until they are ordered so they are super fresh. The lemon curd, preserves, and clotted cream are also yummy and homemade. The scones are too! We had the maverick tea service. The owner is super nice and friendly. I was a pleasure speaking with her. The building is adorably decorated and be sure and check out the bathroom decor as well. Parking was easy and the neighborhood quaint. We definitely be back. read more

By the Teashore - Maverick tea service (2 scones and 2 sandwiches as well as other goodies). - Tea Rooms Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

I absolutely love everything about this place. The decor is beautiful, the staff is so kind and friendly, the food is delicious, and the pricing is very reasonable. They recently added the tea for 2 at a great price and you get a lot of food; definitely won't walk away hungry. I've been there 3 times now and the owner is constantly improving the menu. She is such a lovely person. Everything is made in-house, even the clotted cream and lemon curd! This is one small business you should definitely come to support. I will for sure be back! read more

By the Teashore - Tea for two - Tea Rooms Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

A lovely tea room, offering delicious afternoon tea and warm hospitality. Last month, after an early showing of the last Downton Abbey movie, we had a 1:30P reservation for afternoon tea. We arrived just in time (account for traffic toward HMB in October!) and waited a few minutes in the sitting area while our table was being prepared. Vintage photo albums, photos, and a variety of teapots, dishes and serveware to look at. There were about three other tables of patrons in various stages of dining and one part of the room set up for a party of 10 yet to start. After we were seated, our orders were taken promptly. Thankfully, we didn't have to wait long at all before our teapots and food arrived. We skipped breakfast to make the early movie time and we were pretty hungry! Service was cheerful and attentive throughout our visit. We opted for the Half Moon Tea each and split an extra sandwich. The table fit everything, but just so. Everything tasted fine. The highlights for me were the lemon lavender cookie (it is what it says it is!) and sandwiches - roast beef, curry chicken and egg - each on pillowy soft bread. They just hit the spot. By the Teashore is far from home for me, so I can't visit often but if I plan on being in the area, I hope to return for another afternoon tea. read more

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We came here for a friend tea time, and the house was exactly as I pictured! Very quaint, very well decorated, and very picturesque. The owner is a wonderful, passionate person, who is so sweet and kind. She gave us history about the dish ware, gave us insight on the food (and the handmade scones!) and you could just feel the love and passion in her words. I'm not a big tea person (yes, the irony) but I found the variety of selections wonderful as everyone was able to get a tea they liked. I got the raspberry tea, and it was delicious! The food was all great, and classic tea time fare. The scones though, they were my highlight. So moist and delicious, literally the best scone I've ever eaten. It was a fantastic visit, and is now on my permanent list for tea times! read more

By the Teashore - Tea Rooms Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Visited this tea room on Valentine's Day. Tea was great, food was delicious, ambiance was cool. We had a chance to talk to the owner and she told us how she makes almost everything from scratch (including the clotted cream which was incredible). We were visiting Half Moon Bay but I know we'd be there often if we were local. read more

By the Teashore - Valentine's Day tea for two - Tea Rooms Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

I had the most wonderful afternoon tea experience at By the teashore in Half Moon Bay with my cousins/sisters! There were six of us, and from the moment we walked in, we felt so welcomed. Angela, the owner, truly made the experience unforgettable. She was incredibly warm and personable, and we loved hearing her story about her two boys and how their love of tea shops growing up inspired what she's created. It made everything feel so personal and special. And the details--wow. You can really tell how much care goes into everything. Angela shared that she spends over 20 hours making her spotted cream, and honestly, you can taste that level of dedication. Everything was absolutely delicious. It was such a cozy, memorable afternoon, and we're already talking about coming back with our little ones as she has tea service for kids as well. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a charming and heartfelt tea experience in Half Moon Bay! read more

By the Teashore - Tea for two - Tea Rooms Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Such a lovely spot. I went to By the Teashore with my mom and my daughters, and it was the perfect setting for a relaxed, special afternoon together. The food was really good, the tea was delicious, and the ambiance was just so well done--cozy, charming, and calm without feeling stuffy. On top of that, the owner is incredibly sweet and welcoming, which really adds to the whole experience. We all left happy and would absolutely come back. Great experience all around Such a lovely spot. I went to By the Teashore with my mom and my daughters, and it was the perfect setting for a relaxed, special afternoon together. The food was really good, the tea was delicious, and the ambiance was just so well done. Cozy, charming, and calm without feeling stuffy. On top of that, the owner is incredibly sweet and welcoming, which really adds to the whole experience. We all left happy and would absolutely come back. Great experience all around read more

By the Teashore - Afternoon Tea - Tea Rooms Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Not sure about the negative reviews but my experience was nothing other than stellar. The vibe of the front as you walk up is quaint and charming. The options were plentiful. They have a breakfast menu 10-11:00. Lunch 11:00 until close. Breakfast is simply three or four items with tea. The lunch menu offers three levels of tea service . The tea selections are plentiful you can choose from traditional, green tea or flavored teas. You can also request honey and milk to go with your tea. We opted for selection number two on the menu. It consisted of a variety of two sandwiches, salad two scones and desert. I'll start with the amazing ingenuity of the "Ocean wave" it was a blue candy wave filled with vanilla ice cream and a gummy shark sitting on graham cracker "Sand". Loved the presentation as well as the desert, which also came with a macaroon and a 1/2 Moon lemon lavender cookie. The next level were the savory and sweet scones homemade accompanied by homemade clotted cream, homemade lemon curd and strawberry jam. The absolute hands-down, best scones I've ever had. Lastly, were the sandwiches, chicken salad and roast beef with horseradish. I would've preferred to have the chicken on a more denser bread such as a rye or similar, but the chicken salad itself was delicious and plentiful. The roast beef was tasty and tender, and just the perfect amount of horseradish. Everything on the plate seemedseemed to have been homemade, including the cookies (with the exception of the macaroon). The attention, to detail presenting the food was admirable. The owner made the clotted cream and the lemon curd. It's obvious she planned and created this intimate tea house to make you feel at home. I'm looking forward to my next reservation to try different menu items. read more

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What a sweet tea house, new to the peninsula. Charming interior, friendly attentive service, tasty bites to sip and enjoy. A great addition to the downtown area...brunch on the weekends, tea service during the week as well, Ala cart available! read more

By the Teashore - Tea Rooms Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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If you're seeking a slice of Victorian charm with a dash of indulgence, By the Teashore Tea House offers a delightful experience that transports you to another time and place. This traditional tea house, nestled in a quiet part of Main Street, exudes the elegance of a Victorian parlor, with its ornate furniture, floral wallpaper, and soft, ambient lighting--perfectly capturing the cozy, refined atmosphere of an English tea house. From the moment you step inside, you're greeted with the rich scent of brewing tea and freshly baked goods, setting the tone for the meal ahead. The service is impeccable; the staff is attentive without being intrusive, always ready to offer a recommendation or refill your teacup with a smile. I opted for the classic English breakfast, which came with perfectly scrambled eggs, a generous portion of sausages, fresh fruit, and, of course, a steaming pot of traditional English tea. The scrambled eggs were light and fluffy, complemented by the savory richness of the sausage. The fruit was fresh and vibrant, a refreshing contrast to the rich, comforting flavors of the eggs and sausage. The tea selection was extensive, and the Earl Grey I chose was fragrant and soothing--just what you'd expect from a place that takes its tea seriously. What truly sets By the Teashore Tea House apart, though, is the ambiance. The Victorian English decor, with its mix of stained glass and art deco lamps, antique furniture and cozy seating nooks, feels like stepping into a forgotten era where time slows down and every sip of tea is a moment to savor. The porch is pretty in pink with vintage chairs. It's the ideal spot for both casual afternoon tea with friends or a special gathering. read more

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Couldn't recommend this high tea place more! The owner is so kind, the scones were absolutely amazing (both the regular wheat according to my wife and, for me, the gluten free was phenomenal). Much of the food is homemade every day with their own recipes. We had a lovely time! read more

By the Teashore - Tea Rooms Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Dined today at 10:30 AM, 09/26 to celebrate a birthday. I do have multiple notes on things for improvement but one thing I want to prioritize is the lack of food safety and lack of resolution to it. We were served a brownie for the birthday celebration and shortly after consumption we felt extremely nauseous. We had already paid for our meal but subsequently started to feel worse and noticed there was visible mold on the brownie remaining. Upon review of the initial photos taken, there is additional mold on the ones we had consumed. We alerted our server immediately and very nicely showed her the mold on the remaining piece to which she replied, "Oh" and walked off with it without a word. We waited an additional 10-15 minutes hoping for some form of resolution or acknowledgement to which there was none. We decided to leave and before we could make it to the car just a block away, my partner puked their guts out. I did as well not too long after. While we were willing to overlook the various other shortfalls, food safety is unacceptable. We would like someone from management to reach out and resolve this promptly because this is extremely concerning. I have attached pictures as evidence. This was a very disappointing and unfortunate birthday celebration. read more

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I was in Half Moon Bay for my bachelorette party and was lucky enough to do a tea lunch here with a group of my friends. The owner of this shop is so lovely and kind - she took the time to explain how the items were made and checked in several times. There were 5 of us and we all loved the experience, the food, and the tea. We came out of the tea very full and happy. Really encourage folks to check them out! read more

Such a fantastic experience! The food and tea were delish and the setting was so cute!! Everyone was very helpful and gave great tea suggestions. read more

By the Teashore - Tea Rooms Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Too often, tea spots get one thing right and miss the other: beautiful surroundings with forgettable food, or great menus in uninspired spaces. By the Teashore delivers perfection on both fronts, and at a price that makes it surprisingly affordable. Every element here feels so carefully considered, from the colors and decor to each table setting. (Even the bathroom is pretty!) The food is outstanding (special shout out to the chicken curry sandwiches and earl grey & lemon scones) and the service matches it. A big part of the magic comes from Angela, the owner. She personally manages the details that make the experience so special, and her passion is clear in everything from the atmosphere to the menu. Talking with her was a reminder that this isn't just a business, it's a labor of love, a place where she's created space for people to escape for lunch during their work week or linger over a weekend celebration. If you're looking for a tea experience that's as much about the atmosphere as it is about the food, By the Teashore is one of those rare places that gets it absolutely right, and makes it accessible enough to enjoy often. 10/10 recommend! read more

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What a wonderful experience! My daughter found this place on TikTok and we went today to celebrate my friend's birthday. Everything was perfect from the food quality to the decor and service. I noticed some reviews complaining about the wait for the food. While we did wait a while for our food, we were well entertained by all the beautiful antique collectibles to look at and appreciate the time to enjoy each other's company. The teas came out quickly and was enjoyable to sip while we chatted. English Tea is not a rushed experience. If you're in a hurry, don't come here and then complain. It's not fair to the business. Angela, the owner stopped at each table to spend time to talk to the guests, share the stories behind some of the collectibles and the inspiration for her foods. She even invited us to the back to witness the Nickelodeon play. That was a treat! We've never seen one before. The personal interaction is a nice touch and appreciated. We felt welcomed. It was great to hear the process for the recipes of the food served and the time it takes to prepare everything daily. True heart in preparing and serving quality over quantity. Angela explained why service was a little slow. It is because she was short staffed and all the foods are handmade and made to order. No wonder everything tasted so fresh! We each ordered the Maverick. The Maverick comes with 2 sandwiches, 2 scones, salad, mini quiche, fresh fruit, petite four, and a beautiful handmade spun sugar wave cup with fresh cream, gummie shark, and merreign (sp?). They ran out and the order was taking a little extra long so she went to the kitchen to hand make a fresh batch for us and offered an extra macaroon while we waited. The wait was worth it! It was a lot of food and all enjoyable. I read a review commenting not enough food for sharing for 3 people. Obviously it is not meant to be shared with 3 people for the true experience and you may still be hungry. Since we each had our own, it was plenty of food. We each had to-go box. The food... The scones were delicious! They were light and moist, not dry and dense. And... the clotted cream, and lemon curd were my favorite to add to the scones. The clotted cream tasted like smooth, airy light butter,and the lemon curd was on the thinner side but had small bits of lemon pieces. The sandwiches were fresh, my goodness, the bread was so soft as if it was a freshly baked loaf of bread. The quinoa kale salad with lemon and roasted pine nuts was one of my favorite. I recommend trying the curry chicken sandwich. It was light on the curry with a nice crunch from the apples. The three of us have been to many tea places around the Bay Area and By the Teashore is the best so far! Highly recommend trying! read more

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This place is adorable & has great potential! I went Sunday for brunch & the tea was delicious & the food. We got the oatmeal and eggs and sausage. However, I was under the impression we would be able to get the 3 tiered tea service as the website said tea service was from 11-3 but when we came into the tea shop the servers told us it was at 12. So, we weren't able to enjoy the classic tea sandwiches and scones but I hope that will be fixed and will come back for that! One more thing was that their menu said "dairy free available" for the yogurt parfait which I wanted to get but when I asked the server she said they had no dairy free yogurt yet. I would recommend maybe taking that off of the menu for the time being so people aren't under the impression that there are dairy free options. Overall, it's the cutest spot & the owner is a very kind lady! I wish them all the luck and I will be back :) read more

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I recently visited the highly anticipated By the Teashore, which just opened in Half Moon Bay, and I truly *wanted* to love it. To start, guests can order high tea per individual or choose a shared option for an additional $9 per person. We selected the Maverick to share among three people. In hindsight, I would recommend ordering a bit more if sharing between three, as the portions felt slightly limited. The highlight of my visit was the vanilla tea, which was lovely with the milk and sugar cubes. The food, however, did not quite meet my expectations. The sandwiches were okay, the scone was a bit dry, and I found myself wishing for a more generous portion of clotted cream. I did enjoy the lavender cookie on top. The candy "wave" element, filled with whipped cream, was visually charming, though it felt more decorative than something meant to be eaten. I love high tea and have been to many tea rooms across the Bay Area, so I came in with a sense of excitement and anticipation. By the Teashore is a new, small business, and that showed in positive ways as well. The service was friendly and kind, and the ambiance was very cute and inviting. Overall, I left feeling a bit disappointed with the food, as nothing in particular stood out to me, but I do see a lot of potential here. I hope the menu and execution continue to evolve, as the setting and concept are lovely, and I would be happy to return in the future to see how it grows. read more

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