The Lobby Lounge is a beautiful lounge and restaurant for tea time. I came here to celebrate a birthday. You can see the views of the property and where people have weddings from the Lobby Lounge. I saw a wedding take place while I was dining here. My friend and I did the afternoon tea time lunch. The setup of the tea and food were very cute. At first my friend and I didn't think we were going to get full because the sandwiches and desserts look small, but surprisingly they were filling. Also for your birthday they give you another dessert and we got the banana crunch cake. All the sandwiches, scones, and desserts were good. I like how they made everything look very pretty. All the servers here were also very attentive and friendly so that is a plus! read more

Lobby Lounge - Banana Crunch Cake as a free birthday dessert - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

It was good but not great. I went with a friend who was visiting from out of town. When I saw the price for their tea experience I had high expectations. Some were met and some fell short. It was quite crowded around 1pm on a Saturday afternoon. There was no hostess to greet us when we first arrived. We had to wait until someone finally noticed us and took us to our table. The tables are located in an open space with large windows overlooking the grounds of the hotel. There is a set menu for the food but you get to choose 2 teas. Each person gets 5 small tea sandwiches which include cucumber, egg salad, smoked salmon, prosciutto and chicken salad. You also get 2 different scones (plain and cherry) and 4 small deserts. It was a lot of food for one person. I thought the sandwiches tasted just average. The scones were better, but I would recommend eating it when they first come out warm. The deserts were presented well and I liked the variety of flavors. I was happy with the amount of food but I didn't get the wow factor that I was hoping for. The teas were just okay as well but they do give you two whole pots. Our server was nice but they were not as attentive as i had hoped. For example, they pour the tea for you but once you're done with your cup you have to flag them down for a refill. We finally just asked that they leave the pot at our table so we could help ourselves. Overall, it was a nice experience but we have had better and for less. Be aware you do have to pay for valet parking. They also charge you gratuity (service fee) so be sure to check your receipt. read more

See all

The service is great and everyone was very on top of our needs but I was disappointed with the tea and items for the tea service. Our party liked none of the desserts because they were so strange and uncommon. The savory items we liked a bit more but just very expensive for what you get. Plus you have to pay for parking even with validation. Live music was a plus but I'd skip. read more

See all

Happy Birthday to me! My birthday week came to a perfect end with a wonderful afternoon tea at The Langham Pasadena. My friends and I gathered in the Lobby Lounge, dressed in our best tea attire, and opted for the Royal tea service--complete with some bubbly champagne! The room was buzzing with energy and laughter, filled with beautifully dressed people and a live harpist serenading us. They even played "Happy Birthday" when the staff brought out a miniature cake for me~ The food was as high-quality as it was beautiful: The Savories, Delicate salmon, curried egg, roast beef with cheese, and classic cucumber sandwiches. Sweets, Chocolate ganache banana mini cakes and tiny apple tarts. The Scones, Incredibly buttery, served with fresh cream, jams, and honey. The Tea, We sipped on the Sugar Plum Fairy & Vanilla Earl Grey, both were so aromatic and soothing~ We were tucked into some very comfy couches and, despite the dainty portions, we left feeling incredibly full with to-go boxes in hand! We finished the day wandering through the enchanting gardens and by the pool. At over $700 for the five of us, it's definitely a special occasion only spot, but it was such an enchanting experience. I feel so grateful to have celebrated another year in such a beautiful way~ read more

See all

Beautiful experience overall. The venue itself is stunning and the live harp music created such an elegant, relaxing atmosphere. It truly felt special from the moment we walked in. The food presentation was gorgeous and thoughtfully arranged. We especially enjoyed several of the tea sandwiches, which were delicate and flavorful. I do have a chocolate allergy, so I asked if there were any alternative sweets available. Since most of the desserts included chocolate, I was given a bowl of fruit instead. I appreciated the accommodation, though it did feel a bit minimal compared to the full dessert offerings. Our server was kind and professional, but the service pace was on the slower side. We were also seated at a very small table for five people, including two children. We ordered five full afternoon tea experiences, three with champagne, and there simply wasn't enough space to comfortably fit everything. Several items had to be placed on a side surface. It was a bit confusing, especially since there appeared to be larger tables available at the time. Overall, it was a lovely setting with beautiful presentation and a memorable ambiance. With slightly more attentive service and better seating arrangements for larger parties, the experience would have been exceptional. read more

See all

Setting and live music was great. Food was ok not great: Service was below expectations. For a place like this you expected the server to explain the items versus just drop and run. read more

Lobby Lounge - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Pasadena, California

Fantastic afternoon tea at the Langham Hotel! We booked afternoon tea while staying at the hotel and didn't realize it was teddy bear tea (Christmas themed)! Decor: very festive with lots of holiday details including bright red bows and flowers. Menu offerings: scones, sandwiches, and variety of tea. Enjoyed each of item in every category! Might not seem like much, but I didn't even get to finish the petite fours (chocolates, pastries) as I as full from the scones and sandwiches. Will say it might be because we had the breakfast buffet just earlier that morning lol I wished they offered cold tea in addition to hot. Service was great, they were attentive but not overbearing. Overall, a great afternoon tea place. Delicious bites, tea, and ambiance! read more

See all

The food at the Afternoon Tea was awful. The bread was stale, the chicken salad was dry, the prosciutto was very fatty, chewy, which basically makes all the sandwiches inedible. The desserts were bland. When I brought the poor quality of the food to the servers attention, she acknowledged our disappointment, but no manager was available to address our disappointment in the quality of the food . It was upsetting to spend our time and money here to be served subpar food. More discouraging was the management's lack of response to address our disappointment in the food. We were the only patrons in the Afternoon Tea, which now I understand why! read more

We came here to kick off my mom's 80th birthday week with Afternoon Tea, and it was perfect! The service was friendly, welcoming and informative. The large tea room with large windows was the perfect setting on a November afternoon. The tea itself was great, and the sandwiches were delicious. The harpist even played "Happy Birthday" for my mom, and I love how she played familiar songs as well. The experience was very pleasant. read more

See all

I consider myself quite the Tea connoisseur, enthusiast, and steepster (insert cheeky laugh). We had made reservations through OpenTable to try this place out some time ago. Upon arrival, be prepared to valet your car. The lovely entrance welcomes you to a special day.. It's the perfect setting for your Afternoon Tea. Tables down in the (I call it) Solarium portion of the Lobby Lounge are made up of the traditional 2 or 4 tops - combining a couch with 2 chairs and your Afternoon Tea spread placed on a coffee table. Excellent scones - moist and never crumbled when we spread the lemon curd and clotted cream on them. I would say the sandwiches were perfect! The bread was so soft, and the fillings were plentiful. My favorite was, by far, the Chicken Salad. They prepare Tea Leaves (out of Canada) Tea OMG!!! the Vanilla Earl Grey and the Thunderbolt Darjeeling has always been my favorite from Tea Leaves and I was so happy to see it here. I'm excited to return! Respectfully Reviewed. read more

See all

I am frankly really annoyed about my tea experience in the lobby lounge. For the amount of money I paid, I was expecting a lot more. The rates that they're charging for this are outrageous and that's exactly why I'm giving them a 3 rating for this because they're being greedy. Charging what they're charging for a few finger sandwiches, desserts scones, and tea is outrageous. While they tasted good, it is not worth this amount. And I have done teatime in New York City, Chicago, and London. While it was an experience, it's not an experience that I'm going to repeat at this location. I wish that I had paid more attention to other people's reviews and saved my money and gone elsewhere. Also including a gratuity and then expecting a gratuity on top of that is just really ripping people off . read more

See all

Giving 4 stars due to ambiance. Beautiful hotel. Service was good, we went as soon as it opened. The food was good, desserts could be better. Didn't care for the melon dessert. The tea was not pleasant. For the price you pay you would think they would put more effort into decent tea and have the tea hot. It was warm. Will come again to see more of the grounds minus tea. read more

Lobby Lounge - Table setup - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

Came here for afternoon tea. The views on the property are quite beautiful, hotel itself is historic, it has a certain regalness to it that really draws locals in and the neighborhood is just lovely. The tea experience itself was mediocre and overly priced. Not sure what I would expect $100 per person to experience to be like but I guess you're paying for the ambiance? The tea wasn't particularly special itself. Pastries were standard, desserts were underwhelming, sandwiches were decent, overall just mediocre. Service overall was decent but it was annoying to have to wave down our server several times because she was chatting with other servers. Don't plan on coming here for the actual afternoon tea and expect to be wow'd. It's really more for the "fancy" experience I might be remembering it wrong but parking was $16 after validation from the Tea Room read more

Lobby Lounge - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

Probably the best all in all high tea experience in the Los Angeles area. Nestled in the Langham Hotel in Pasadena this is truly a beautiful venue. Hotel is valet only and for customers it is discounted at $15. It's still a good amount but for a 5 star hotel I think it's fair. The lounge is pretty but the tea room really blew us away. Huge window panels to lookout into the garden, this is one of the most beautiful places to have afternoon tea. Do note that it's only open Thursday to Sunday and most hey reservations ahead of time. Easily done with opentable. There is a $50 dollar cancellation fee per person. There's a good selection of teas to choose from and between the 4 of us we were given 2 tea choices, we were able to change to different ones on the second round which was nice. My favorites of the tea were the egg salad and the cucumber sandwiches. Scones are so fluffy and chocolate chip ones were delicious. The butter is pre melted which is a really nice touch. Highlight was the dessert, the almond poppy financier was truly addicting. I wish I can buy a box of these just to take home. The gold leaf on top adds a nice, fancy touch. Must visit if you're a lover of the British tea experience. read more

See all

I'm glad we did it but would never recommend it or go back. I hope this helps someone. I read a lot of reviews before we went and would agree with the more negative slants of this place, and I'm generally not a critical reviewer. For 2 people, the basic tea service level with no champagne add-ons, the total was $317. Was it worth it? No. 98 tea x 2 people: 196 forced tea service charge, 20%: 40 added gratuity for server of 20% : 47 parking, valet only: 18 parking, valet tip (coming and going): 8 x 2 = 16 Your costs might vary slightly based on the tips you give, but it'll be close to $300 for 2 people. We have done a few other local tea services (Chado and Huntington) and I would rank this in the middle, with Huntington above and Chado below. Huntington has a better atmosphere/setting that is conducive to tea and Chado is like a fast food place by comparison. The tiers were presented wrong, and scones were on a plate and served first. So, if you're a traditionalist about your British tea service, they do it wrong. The scones were excellent though, very dry and enough to choke you, so perfect. The sweets and sandwiches were also good enough, dainty and nice, but out of the selections maybe just one sandwich and one sweet stood out. Again, just average. Where the place really falls down is ambiance. You're paying to be on the grounds of the Langham, but you don't get to wander around. You're directed to the tea room and unless you're a guest there at the hotel you cannot go freely onto the grounds for photos. The Lobby Lounge room is on the back side of the main lobby, but there is no clear signage and the room itself is off a main hallway and not enclosed with any doors. So, it's LOUD. It's loud in the hallway and loud in the actual space, because it's not properly enclosed. You can hear the loudness of the room from the hallway before you even get there. They seat the large groups right at the front entry so it's even louder when there are groups of 12+ women sitting there as you walk in. The hostess stand is placed very very far back into the dining space so you have to pass large groups of people to reach it and no one mans the hostess station. We had to wait upwards of 5 minutes before someone even came over to seat us, and we watched another party do the same - wait for help. At a place like this there should be a dedicated hostess, especially if reservations are expected and people are arriving at set times. The hostess was not friendly or accommodating, either. The service begins before the service begins so the first impression was very negative. There is no view unless you're seated at one of the very few window spots. The gardens cannot be seen, just the tops of trees, so it's not scenic, the carpet is old, they advertise a cellist and had a piano player instead who did maybe 5 happy birthday rounds and just a few songs. The ambiance is lacking -- old fixtures, old carpet, too loud, staff in regular black clothes, just nothing that we expected for "THE LANGHAM." You're paying for the name and nothing more. We preferred the Huntington and would recommend that over this because it has a better level of service for the same spread, gorgeous location, with ample seating, a quieter atmosphere in nature, and a lower cost, too. The dress code here was varied and some people were much more dressed up than others, but definitely come in your best outfit and handbag (Chanel and Hermes spotted often) and avoid street clothes. read more

Food was not esthetically pleasant....didn't match any of the photos online. If I'm paying $90 per person plus tax and tip, the least they can do is make it pretty to match the theme. Service was slow. We ended up asking for the tea pots to be left on the table so we can refill our own cups. We paid a hefty price tag to eat 1/2 a sandwich and taste a few aweful desserts. The tea was not loose leaf, they were tea bags. We will NOT be back! read more

See all

The hotel itself was stunning, but unfortunately afternoon tea at the Lobby Lounge was extremely disappointing. There were different tiers of afternoon tea you could choose from. Obviously the more expensive ones included bubbles and additional items, and nicer teapots apparently. We opted for the $79/pp one which included your choice of tea, scones, tea sandwiches, and desserts. For tea, we opted for the early grey and the oolong. We were served cinnamon sugar & cranberry scones with lemon curd, devonshire cream, and fruit jams. For sandwiches, there was an assortment: chicken salad, smoked salmon, curried egg salad, prosciutto, cucumber, and jambon beurre. None of these were particularly amazing and I didn't like the bread they used. For the desserts, we were given opera cake, raspberry napoleon, vanilla pate a choux, and an earl grey madeleine. Meh. To differentiate between teas, we noticed they wrote the initials of the name of the tea with marker on the tea pot itself which was a bit tacky imo. They should find another way to differentiate between pots. Our server would also pour our tea up to the brim which left us with no room for cream. We'd constantly have to sip a little to make room. We ultimately ended up refusing the refills and just did it ourselves.. Glad we tried tea here, but unfortunately we won't be back. One thing that stood out was the cute pink to go boxes, but that's it. Afternoon tea at the Huntington or the Peninsula is way better. read more

See all

Beautiful food, but the extras add up fast I really wanted to love this experience, but came away disappointed for reasons that had nothing to do with the food itself. The tea service was genuinely great -- well-prepared, nicely presented, and our server was an absolute gem: attentive, warm, and clearly knew her stuff. That part deserves full marks. Unfortunately, everything around the food fell flat. The atmosphere and setup felt underwhelming for the price point, and small details added up in a way that felt more like nickel-and-diming than hospitality -- $12 for a sparkling water being a prime example. The real dealbreaker, though, was the automatic 20% service charge added to my bill without any option to adjust it. I understand the reasoning some restaurants give for this, but it defeats the entire purpose of a tip, which is meant to reflect the service received, not be dictated by the house. I'm normally a generous tipper -- over 20% when service earns it -- but I want that to be my choice, not a line item I discover on the bill. Between that and the add-ons, I paid $130 for a solo tea that, atmosphere aside, felt overpriced. If a business needs more revenue to pay staff fairly, that's a completely reasonable business decision -- but it should be reflected in the menu pricing, not disguised as a mandatory "tip." I won't be returning, and it's entirely because of this policy, not the food or the wonderful server who happened to be working that day. read more

Stayed at The Langham for a couple of days and decided to reserve their Afternoon Tea for my wife and I. Beautiful hotel and enjoyed the pool before our reservation and when we got to the Lobby Bar they had moved the tea experience to the restaurant next door because of a wedding. They gave us a nice window seat in the corner and server was great in explaining the tea varieties. The tea sandwiches and desserts were excellent. Overall it was a decent experience but after we got back to the room and reviewed our check I just realized they included gratuity and I had given tip as usual. Surprised to see that gratuity was included even though there was just two of us. Would have been appropriate if the servers would have mentioned that when they brought the check. So just be aware that gratuity is automatic but overall it was an ok experience and the ambiance might have been better in the Lobby Bar. read more

See all

Finally got a chance to try high tea at the Langham Hotel. A little disappointed by the experience. I had such high expectations. But it was a bit of a let down. Here is my review: 10/10 Ambience - definitely a beautiful venue with stunning view of Pasadena. 6/10 Food - the sandwiches were just alright. The bread was a little too thick and a bit dry. Taste wasn't great. The desserts were good and presentation was nice. The scones and the clotted cream were the tastiest. And the tea was a bit lackluster and not that great. And we did not like the fact that not everyone in the party can have their own pot of tea and every 2 people in your party had to share a pot. The selection of black tea was also very limiting. 5/10 Service - our food was really slow to come out. We waited almost 30 minutes for the scones and tier of sandwiches and sweets to come out. And I noticed other guests who arrived way after us received their food before us. Also, the server would not leave the pot of tea at our table. but we would wait very long to have our cup of teas refilled so we ended up having to get up and grab the pot of tea ourselves to fill our cups. For the price we were paying and for such a swanky place, we expected better service. Also, we all requested glasses of water besides tea and the water only came halfway through our meal. We had to request water 2x. Only saving grace was the fact that the manager was willing to switch out one of our tea pots because we didn't like the tea. We did appreciate that accommodation. But overall, disappointed with the service or lack of. This place is definitely a "one and done" experience for me for high tea. There are far better places to have tea. This place received 3 stars from me only because of the beautiful ambience and fact that the manager was willing to let us change one of our tea section. Otherwise, the review would have only been a 2 star... read more

See all

My girlfriends and I came to The Langham Huntington for an afternoon tea to celebrate Galentine's Day on a Sunday. The ambiance was elegant and cozy. The service was attentive without being intrusive. Our server took the time to go over the menu and was able to substitute sandwiches for ones that better suited for our tastes. The scones were warm and flaky, sandwiches were savory, and desserts were cute and tasty. Also, you can pick 3 types of tea per table. I believe they only have valet parking, and the Lobby Lounge will validate parking for a discounted price of $15. The whole experience was great, but it was a bit pricey for the amount of food. Royal tea is $109 per person and noble tea is $99 per person. Overall, it's a really cute place to spend time with your girlfriends. read more

See all

Pasadena, A 2023 highlight in review. This tea room was closed for several years for renovation and I'm so pleased it has reopened. I did not realize how much I had missed it until I returned. We made a stop in a few months ago, it was just as nice and possibly better than I ever remembered it to be. You know when you haven't had a favorite experience in a while and then you try it again and you remember all of the contributing reasons as to why you enjoyed it so much? I thought I previously reviewed this beautiful tea room which I have frequented dozens of times over the years. A highlight of our recent visit was seeing Jenny, a long time employee who is so gracious and kind and provides excellent service. The food for the tea service is prepared by a classically trained French Executive Chef, Denis Depoitre. The Chef has a European flare with a Farmers Market driven approach and attention to detail, everything was just fantastic. The scones were so creamy, light flaky and decadent, with the classic Devonshire cream, lemon curd and jams served alongside. You could eat the house made lemon curd by the spoon, it is so addicting! The tea sandwiches were exquisitely prepared and tasted fantastic. They were happy to double up on some of our favorites. We ordered scones, tea, and a plate of sandwiches for two a la cart and opted not to go for desserts for this particular visit. The tea was brewed to perfection. Our experience was quite relaxing and enjoyable, having tea and listening to live harp music on a Sunday afternoon to celebrate a special occasion. I have many special memories of celebrations here with loved ones, and we were able to create wonderful new memories on this most recent visit as well. It truly was a highlight to see Jenny who has been part of so many of our celebrations here over the years through her excellent and gracious service, she actually brought a smile to my face and tears to my eyes as we reminisced. The property of the Langham Hotel is so beautiful, it's always lovely to take a stroll after tea. Highly recommended. Valet Parking. Make a reservation to treat yourself for a special event or just a nice relaxing afternoon. read more

See all

I decided to avoid the Super Bowl game - my girlfriends and I chose to enjoy an afternoon tea. The ambiance at The Langham Hotel is beautiful - my girls and I were very excited and looking to have a fabulous time. Once I arrived at the Lounge area I looked about for a hostess as no one was at the desk I went to the location where the tea caddy's were located as I noticed Langham employees - I was told to have a seat and wait for the hostess. I sat down and waited several minutes before the hostess appeared. I gave her our reservation name and I was told we had been upgraded to the front windows looking down on the gardens. I found the service to be rather inattentive. As my party was seated I noticed we had a small cramped table, which did not have a table cloth and was water stained and the chairs reminded me of something from my childhood kitchen. The tea pots were set on a table top behind my seat. I asked the waitress how to determine which of the four pots belonged to our table - as it appeared I needed to get up and pour my own tea. We ordered our tea, which was brought out quickly and we were offered scones. The scones were warm upon arrival - yet there was no clotted cream or lemon curd they arrived several minutes later. I had no idea what to top my scone with and as such they were extremely bland. When the clotted cream and lemon curd finally arrived approximately 10 minutes later my scones were cold and hard as they had been warmed in a microwave. Next came the plates of tea sandwiches and sweets. The Egg and Chicken sandwiches were delicious. However, the Cucumber and Prosciutto sandwich were terrible, the fillings were minimal. The sweets were just meh! They were just sweet no flavor at all. Overall, at the price point $109 plus tip for tea this did not meet the mark. I have had tea at The Biltmore Hotel and several other locations which were fabulous. I suggest if interested in an afternoon tea - go elsewhere. read more

Located inside the Langham Hotel, this afternoon tea was one of the highlight of my birthday celebrations. Make reservations through OpenTable. Parking is valet only and $15 after validation. As one of the first to arrive for the day, we were seated at the very end by white curtains to block out the sun. Decor is nice and very upscale. There is a harpist that plays soothing and calming music. There is a preset menu for each season. I thoroughly enjoyed the scones as it was freshly baked. My favorite of the sandwiches is the curried chicken salad. I wished some of the breads were softer but all in all, everything was delicious, including the dessert. As a nice birthday treat, they added a chocolate hazelnut cake which was super rich and yummy. I forgot to take a photo of the tea menu, but it was pretty simple. I went with an herbal tea that had notes of berries and changed colors when lemon was added. My husband got the chai which was just as tasty. Shout out to Louisa, our waiter who was amazing! read more

See all

During the holidays our family always dine, enjoy afternoon tea and through out the year stay at the historical Langham Hotel. The hotel has gone by many names my wife had her prom there many years ago when it was the Sheraton Hotel. Later it became the Ritz Carlton and now the Langham. The hotel has become our home away from home. Occasional stay away and also longer stays with their special packages that have celebrated our birthdays and anniversaries. The most delightful feature about the Langham is that it is situated in the quiet neighborhood of old Pasadena. Accessible to travel via the freeway system through out Los Angeles or the streets that can lead you to all the pleasures of old town Pasadena. The staff are usually folks that we have known for years. Like the friendly and accommodating server Fernando at the Terrace restaurant and the terrific Jenny who works at the special Teddy Bear Tea and the Afternoon Tea in the Lobby Lounge. With the Royce high end fabulous restaurant and the Tap Room Bar you have with the Terrace pool side restaurant all you need. They have recently added another pool also called the Royce. The rooms are newly renovated, with our favorites on the lower grounds overlooking the horseshoe area of the magnificent property. They also have tennis courts and the Forbes Four-Star rated haven of wellness. All in all they are a superb classy premier Forbes Four Star rating in the quiet setting of a neighborhood. Overall good food, service, comfort, luxury and wonderful ambience in every facet of this hotel. read more

Came in for tea last month. I want to say service was great! The hostess was kind and the bus boy was so attentive. Our waitress was also amazing. A but disappointed with the offerings, very limited and pricy. The restaurant and furniture were very very outdated and in major need of a remodeling. read more

Valet parking available for $10. Cash and credit card only. The ambiance here is classy but yet relaxing. The live harp performance was amazing and service was super friendly. Staffs were smiling all the time and were super attentive. We ordered the summer 2023 tea set since that was the only option we saw on the menu. Our group had a total of 5 people and were offered 3 kinds of tea. My personal favorite was the Earl Grey and my least favorite was the plum tea because the flavor reminds me of cough syrup or cough drops. As for the food, the scones were very average. The taste was okay but it lacks the texture and buttery flavor I normally expect from a good scone. Same goes for the assorted savory bites and mini desserts. They all had a good presentation and decent flavor, but unfortunately none of them really stood out. I would still recommend Lobby Lounge to those who enjoys a good high tea experience. However, I would suggest that you lower the expectation for the food so you are less likely to get disappointed. read more

Lobby Lounge - Summer 2023 Tea Menu - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Pasadena, California

I highly recommend having high tea at the Lobby Lounge! From the moment we were greeted it was a warm and exceptional experience in every way. The tea, food and service was beyond our expectations! Jenny did a fantastic job!! read more

I'll start right off by saying that I am an afternoon tea kind of girl. I remember my first time going to a formal high tea with my family as a young girl, at the long-shuttered Compass Rose tea room at the St. Francis hotel in San Francisco's Union Square (it closed in 2004). Everything about that first tea service was mesmerizing: The suited waiters and their formal manners, the little metal strainers we were given to use with the loose-leaf tea, and of course, the lovely china. Not to mention the beautiful marble walls and floors. Since then, as an adult, I've become something of a high tea aficionado. I've now had high tea in London, NYC, SF, and all over Southern California, from traditional to super edgy and modern. How does the Langham's high tea stack up, you may wonder? Perhaps we were there on an off day, but truthfully, the tea service was a letdown. I went with my mother in mid-October 2024. Generally, we had a fine experience; the tea was nice, though not exceptional. The decor was lovely, and the harp music was wonderful. But other elements during our visit were sorely lacking. The service: It was slow and inattentive from the moment we walked in. First, despite having a reservation at 1:30, we were kept waiting for our table until nearly 1:50. I understand that kind of thing at a trendy restaurant, but at high tea on a Sunday? Once we were finally seated and our order was taken, we relaxed as the scones and tea arrived. The scones were seasonal (one was cranberry, one was apple cinnamon), and the tea - a Darjeeling - was very nice. The waitress said that she'd be right back with our clotted cream and lemon curd, plus cream for my tea at my request. But 15 minutes later, we were still waiting as our tea got cold and we nibbled at our bare scones. Finally, we managed to flag our waitress down as she frantically rushed past us, not looking in our direction. I reminded her politely that we were still waiting for our clotted cream and lemon curd, and she blurted, "I know." But then she caught herself and looked somewhat mortified, and said she'd be right back with it - and out it (finally) came. After finally receiving the lemon curd and cream, we settled in and listened to the lovely harp music. But then we noticed that we'd been sitting quite a while. Where were our sandwiches and petit fours? Our waitress returned again to mumble an apology for how long the kitchen was taking to bring out our food, and offered to bring out free non-alcoholic sparkling hibiscus beverages to placate us (which largely worked!) When the tower finally arrived, the finger sandwiches and petit doors looked very pretty and tasted fine, but I'd had more inventive and unique offerings at high tea. Our particular tea service also included a glass of sliced strawberries with pink Chantilly cream, which was brought out at the end of the service. It looked both beautiful and mouthwatering, and we had eyed our neighbors enjoying this concoction as we were being led to our table. But to our surprise and disappointment, the Chantilly cream was really unappetizing. My mom thought the texture was like Crisco - heavy and oily - but I thought it tasted more like the excess frosting you might scrape off of a slice of supermarket birthday cake. In a word: Yuck. We did our best to eat around it and just enjoy the strawberries. (Note to the kitchen: It would have been a better choice to simply serve the strawberries with freshly-whipped cream that had been lightly sweetened). While the overall experience of our tea service wasn't awful - for example, the live harp music and surroundings were lovely - the inattentive and slow service was just inexcusable. And while the food components were fine, I had been "wowed" by other high teas recently, and the Langham's didn't quite stack up against them. Do better next time, Huntington! **Note: The Huntington somehow got Yelp to remove this review the last time I posted it, claiming I hadn't actually dined there. Nice try! :D I'm attaching photos that I took during our visit. read more

Lobby Lounge - The Langham tea room's dining room (my mother is sitting at our table, on the far left of the photo). - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

Ambiance: highlight of this place for sure. Beautiful grounds. Had a lady playing the harmonica. Beautiful and historic looking Service: prompt and friendly Food: tea time was definitely lacking for the price point. Have had better for much more affordable Overall impression: would come back for the ambiance. Food sucks lol read more

Lobby Lounge - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Pasadena, California

Lovely time for Afternoon Tea. The room where the tea is served was decorated just as one would expect for tea service. Service was attentive and friendly. I wish they provided a stand for the tea pots that would allow us to pour our own tea without having to get up, or wait for the server to refill it. The scones with the Devonshire cream and lemon curd were delicious. The savory and sweet offerings were beautifully presented & all tasted good, but nothing memorable that set it apart from other tea services we've had elsewhere. Still a nice time and a pleasant way to spend a Sunday afternoon in a beautiful hotel setting. read more

Lobby Lounge - Afternoon Tea Service - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Pasadena, California

Finally getting to this review. This afternoon tea service is a must-try if you're looking for an elegant tea time with the girls or date. The tea service had 4 loose-leaf teas to choose from so you're sure to find something to suit your palate. The food was an assortment of savory bites such as finger sandwiches, and scones served with Devonshire cream, lemon curd, and a variety of jams. The size of the savory bites looked a bit small but it was actually really filling in the end. I was surprised by the scones as they were perfectly crumbly and buttery. There was also an array of sweets like macarons, cakes, cookies, fresh fruit, and a pink chocolate fountain. Champagne was offered as well. Overall, the tea service is an indulgent experience. During the service, there was also a harpist playing the harp which was a plus for the ambiance. I would definitely be back. read more

See all

I've been to tea at lots of places, but I've never had food as good as what I had at the Langham. Everyone in our party of five women gushed about every single thing we ate. I wish the chef would teach a cooking class! I chose to have the ginger yuzu tea poured over ice, and it was fantastic. My dining companions also enjoyed their decaf Earl Grey and chai tea, as well as the elderflower champagne. We were grateful for the birthday cake and the birthday song played by the live pianist. The service and atmosphere were also top-notch. My only suggestion would be to follow the Huntington's lead and not charge for more food. We were told that it would cost $25 for another five small sandwiches. We wound up having enough food for our group, but if there had been heartier eaters in the group we would have had to pay more. read more

See all

The Langham is a stunning beautiful historic building and grounds. I could just imagine walking around all day and sitting on the lawn to enjoy the sun. To access the Lobby Lounge, you enter the main hotel hobby, make a left to the end of the hallway, make a right, and just follow the sounds of people chatting. Make sure to hold onto your valet ticket to get it validated at the end of your service. My party and I made a reservation online in advance, which was easy to secure. Make sure to check in with your party to confirm they'll be there in advance or you'll be charged a $50 a cancellation fee. The Lobby Lounge is tastefully decorated and it was buzzing with activity when my party and I arrived. Seems like a popular spot for birthdays, baby showers, bridal parties, etc. There was a harpist playing a mix of classic and contemporary styles, which elevated the atmosphere. It was around lunch time when we got there, so we were starving. We opted for the $79/pp tea service, which includes two different teas, scones, sandwiches, and desserts. We tried the Sugarplum Fairy and Monkey Picked Oolong tea. Both were delicious and appealed to different palates in our group. You can ask to try out other teas on your next round FYI. To my dismay, the food was overall below average. The scones were warm and surprisingly tasty with the jams and cream. The bread on all the sandwiches was extremely dry though. Like sitting out for a couple days dry. The cucumbers sandwich had hummus with a touch too much cumin, overpowering the taste. Out of all the desserts, we enjoyed the malted chocolate roulade the most. It tasted just like a Ferrero Rocher. The food was pretty disappointing, especially considering how much it is. I'm glad I read the reviews before coming, so I knew what to expect in this regard: there is a 20% service charge. I didn't see it posted on any of the menus. It would be nice for guests to know beforehand. In all, it was great to try, but I don't think I will come back when there are other options nearby that have better quality food for less. read more

Lobby Lounge - Tea menu as of February 2025 - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

My first afternoon tea, a birthday treat from someone special. It did not fail my expectations. Location was the Lobby Lounge of the Langham Hotel in Pasadena,CA. I was told this used to be The Ritz. Beautiful, elegant and classy hotel. Sprawling and surrounded by nature. You'll be smiling while entering the place. Serving winter menu featuring curried chicken salad, egg salad, cucumber, smoked salmon and prosciutto sandwich. PETIT FOURS included cookie butter macarons, earl grey chocolate gateau, sesame choux au craquelin, apple puff pastry - my fave and, almond poppy financier - a bit dense for me. You will also have tahitian vanilla and chocolate chip scones served with lemon curd, devonshire cream and a selection of fruit jams. You get to choose your tea served in one whole pot. I had the ginger yuzu - a bit bland for me, the hubby chose darjeeling tea and that's better. Cost was $79/pp- We paid a total of $209, gratuity of 20% was included plus tax, of course. PARKING was $15 validated. So don't forget to have your ticket stamped!! lol Great for groups on a chit-chat mission while tea-ing away the afternoon. read more

See all

Lobby Lounge is a cute little dining option inside the Langham Hotel in Pasadena. It's got huge windows that let in a ton of natural light and you get a great view of the lawn behind the hotel. During Christmas there's a gorgeous tree which makes for an awesome photo op. The afternoon tea service was amazing. Our server was Pamela and she was exquisite. She was thorough explaining the menu, she checked up on us often and we never had to ask for a refill on tea or any other beverage. The tea and the food was all exquisite. I was obsessed with the Pantone blue herbal tea which has notes of berries and citrus. It was delicious! Definitely coming here again. FYI parking is valet only but the restaurants will validate for you and it ends up being about $15 for parking. All in all it was a great experience for afternoon tea. Oh there was also a harpist which made for an elegant ambiance throughout the entire place. read more

See all

I've been sitting on this review for a while since my visit for afternoon tea in summer 2018. I decided to post anyway because my feelings ultimately haven't changed. Though prices and quality may be different now, we paid about $111 per person with $8 valet. I don't recall if there were different tiers for tea service, as I was treating my sister to her birthday, so my inclination was to choose the most extravagant option. A glass of champagne and additional dessert were also included with the tea and pastries. The ambience and decoration of the tea room was a fusion of stately and "old school". A pianist played in the background. I don't recall what room we were seated in, but it was dim and a bit dark for pictures. I would have liked a brighter atmosphere. The food gave off a similar vibe aesthetically, as there were edible flowers and pretty sandwiches mixed with packed-to-the-brim plates and uneven macarons. Our small table was cramped. Overall, I had no complaints about the taste, but I wasn't sure that the experience was worth the price. At least the quantity was generous. I didn't realize that there would be another dessert at the end (strawberry and cream with a printed cookie) at the end. We were completely stuffed! Though I can't comment on taste, it looks like the presentation of the food has improved based on recent reviews. read more

See all

This review is only for the afternoon high tea. Can only valet (nearby street parking is permit only). Valet is $15. The grounds are emaculate. You walk through a beautiful courtyard with all the feels to get to the lounge. The lounge has a bright and airy feel that looks out to a garden. It's a picturesque place to have high tea with your girls. I've been on a health journey so I opted for the gluten free tower while my party got the regular menu. My friend said the bread/pastries were a bit stale. The gluten free pasties were so good that when I come back, I will order it again! Teas were good and they have a children's menu too! Overall it was a good time with good company. read more

Lobby Lounge - Pastries - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

Haiku: The Lobby Lounge Assorted desserts Sipping tea in a grand room Perfect with girlfriends. --- I recently had a girls' staycation weekend and came for afternoon tea at the Lobby Lounge. The Lobby Lounge is located within The Langham hotel and is as grand and opulent as a museum. Afternoon tea here comes with a steep price ($75/per person), but I felt the quality of desserts and teas, ambiance, and service made it well worth it. (It's a once-in-a-while, special occasion splurge.) The assorted tea sandwiches came in mini French brioche buns and were elegantly topped with edible flowers or sprouts. The assorted bite-size desserts were too gorgeous to eat and had a good variety of fruity and chocolate flavors. There was a vast selection of high-quality teas. I felt like royalty. There was a harpist playing contemporary music in this elegant room with high ceilings and we were indulging in delectable sandwiches and desserts. The service was impeccable. Our server came by often to fill our tea cups and check in with us. She neatly packed what we couldn't finish. It's easy to make a reservation via phone or OpenTable. However, there is a nominal reservation fee. If you have any dietary restrictions, make sure to let them know and they'll be happy to make substitutions. read more

See all

Visited Langham with a few girlfriends and it fell quite short of my expectations. First and foremost, the pricing was shockingly high. For a whopping $100 per person, I was expecting a truly extravagant spread. Regrettably, what I received was a far cry from that. The portion size was incredibly limited, and I couldn't help but feel that I was not getting my money's worth. The savory offerings were particularly disappointing. Instead of a proper assortment of sandwiches, I received a mere five bites of savory food. Yes, you read that right - just five bites. The lack of variety and quantity left me hungry for more substantial fare. I couldn't help but wish for a heartier serving. The same sentiment extended to the dessert selection, which consisted of just five petite bites. Given the price tag, I had anticipated a more lavish array of desserts. I was still starving afterwards and got $10 sandwich nearby! The decor is darling and the harpist made the ambiance better. But it doesn't justify $100 a person for the amount of food you're getting. read more

See all