Malaya Tea Room is situated along a somewhat local street; it's nestled between a smattering of other local shops, including a record shop and a coffeeshop. The only option is street parking, so finding a good spot can be difficult. It is an extremely popular spot, so I'd advise making your reservation weeks ahead of time. Once you're inside, though, it's a great experience. Though gu the shop is small and the tables a bit crowded together, the atmosphere is lovely. The decor is tastefully quaint, and the space is clean and well-lit. The tea service itself is lovely as well. The full tea service, which runs each person $48, includes your pick from a very large variety of teas and sandwiches, including a couple vegetarian options, though I wouldn't call the overall menu vegetarian-friendly. Each table also comes with a little container of sugar cubes and creamer for their tea. This far, all of the sandwiches and teas that I have tried are very good. Each patron gets their own pot of tea instead of one shared pot for the table, which I love. Each set also comes with a scone with clotted cream and jam, a potato canape, and a selection of small desserts. It was more than enough to satisfy me. I really love that they offer both traditional British flavors as well as unique Malaysian flavors in their menu. The desserts also change from time to time, so every experience can feel a little special and new. It gives this spot a unique feel that I haven't yet found elsewhere. Overall, the experience was very positive and I absolutely do recommend it to anyone who has the time and interest. Though $48 is definitely not cheap on the surface, I feel that the unique menu, quantity of food and drink, and general enjoyability of the experience make the price worth it. read more

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Malaya Tea was a very cute place to have a tea party. My friends and I came here on a Sunday afternoon. There were two other parties there at the time. Even though there was a sign mentioning that it was a small space and asking guests to keep the volume down, that didn't really happen. One of the other parties was an intimate baby shower. My friends and I weren't exactly quiet either, but I think it was because the whole room was fairly lively. There were so many different kinds of tea to choose from. There were six of us, and we all ordered different flavors so we could sample each other's teas. The sandwich selection was also impressive, and our tea towers included a variety of small desserts that were all delicious as well. I chose the Smoked Salmon & Chive Cream Cheese, Cucumber & Dill Cream Cheese, and Coconut Jam (Kaya) with sliced cold butter. The Kaya sandwich was easily my favorite. The desserts were a wonderful addition to the experience, and everyone at the table enjoyed them. I was torn between ordering the Peaches & Cream Black Tea and a green tea. I ended up choosing the Genmaicha with Coconut, and it was delicious. If I come back, I'd definitely like to try the Peaches & Cream Black Tea. As a group, we all agreed that the Kaya sandwich was the standout item. We did have a small hiccup at the beginning because two of our tea orders arrived without tea bags--basically just hot water! We all had a good laugh about it. They were busy, and mistakes happen. The staff was very apologetic and corrected it right away. They even offered us two extra sandwich orders, which was a very thoughtful gesture. Overall, it was a good experience, and I enjoyed my first tea party. However, I do feel that this venue is better suited for a calmer, more intimate gathering, such as a bridal shower or a quiet afternoon tea with close friends. The staff was very friendly and attentive. Anytime someone rang the bell, they came to the table almost immediately. If you're looking for a relaxing tea experience with a small group, this is definitely a place worth trying. For my group of friends, we're a little louder and more energetic, so it almost felt like we were too much for such a peaceful setting. Still, we had a wonderful time and would recommend it to anyone looking for a charming and cozy tea house read more

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Such a cute experience, British afternoon tea meets Malaysian comfort! I came here recently with my partner for our anniversary and was completely delighted with the experience. Heads up, this place is street parking only so come prepared! I would also recommend making a reservation since it is a smaller space (it was busy when I came!) The menu is pretty straight forward and majority of folks including us ordered a set for $45 each person. It comes with two choices of sandwiches, a scone, an array of sweets, and tea of choice. What makes this place so great too is that they allow you to pick sandwiches that are traditional to English Breakfast or you can go out of your way to pick traditionally Asian flavors. Between my partner and I we ordered: Meat floss sandwich (my favorite but that is because I have an affinity for meat floss), beef jerky (love how it paired with the creamy mayo), kaya jam with butter (a delicious salty sweet blend), and chicken curry (comfort food at best). We both enjoyed the scone with clotted cream and jam, very typical for afternoon tea, and in the dessert tier we got chocolate rocks (fun!), macarons, ube chiffon cake, and a strawberry sago pudding. Heads up everyone in your party gets their own tea set so you can mix and match to share with folks. Btw, they do have square sugar cubes, a nice accent. Overall, I feel like you should try this place at least once! Everything was great including our service! read more

I have tried the standard British high afternoon tea, but never a Malaysian afternoon tea place! Definitely make reservations. They combine British and Malaysian flavors, so of course we went for the Malaysia tea and sandwich flavors. For $45 per person, you get to select a pot of tea, two sandwich flavors accompanied by scones and a random assortment of desserts. For the teas, we had the Malaysian signature tea, the white chai, and the Paris Morning. Paris Morning was our favorite - a black tea with a hint of cherry. Also added on their Malaysian pulled tea which was milky, gingery, and sweet! Amongst the three of us, we ordered the southeast Asian style sardine, Malaysian style pork jerky (bak kwa), southeast style curry chicken, coconut jam (kaya) and the spicy tofu sambal. I really enjoyed the sardine and curry chicken flavors. The scones were delicious, not overly baked/dry and paired well with the clotted cream and jam. Desserts included a raspberry macaron, rose custard tart, pandan cake, lemon panna cotta, and some fresh fruit. They even threw a dollop of potato on a cracker. I initially thought it was a dessert (especially since it was pink!), but was pleasantly surprised to bite into potato (my weakness!). All of it was beautifully arrange and popped with color from the varied desserts and fruits. Overall, we had a lovely experience at Malaya Tea Room, and I would be happy to have another tea time here in the future. read more

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We've been to quite a few afternoon tea restaurants/ cafe, and was expecting a lot from a malay fusion tea experience, but it was unfortunately not good. Service was great, but the overall vibe and the treats were just ok. The scones were good and the only thing we enjoyed but the rest of the items tasted meh. Also, I expected a lot more sandwiches and quality food for a 125$ check. Glad I tried this place, but wouldn't recommend it. read more

Cute spot where we had my baby sprinkle. It's small with limited seating, but quaint. Time limit of 2 hrs. Averages $45 per person with yummy bites. A lot of the sandwiches seemed mayo heavy, but tasty nonetheless. Services was efficient. read more

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Malaya Tea Room is so cute! It is located on Central Ave and there is street parking only. I believe it is reservations only and I was able to book my reservations through OpenTable. I love that the tables had peoples names on it of those who booked the reservation. It was such a cute and personal touch. The place is small and can get a little bit loud so there are bells on each tables to ring in case we needed anything but I felt like the staff was very attentive and always showed up before I even needed them. I ordered the Earl Grey with citrus and for my sandwiches I got the curry chicken and the coconut jam and both were so good and I would highly recommend. I can't remember what the potato thing was called, but that had to be one of my favorites as well. The pandan cake was very light and fluffy which I loved too. Overall, this was super fulfilling, I had such a great experience, and the staff were so nice and attentive and I cannot wait to come back! read more

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I came here with my 2 friends on a Sunday at 11am. It's a cute little shop with about 8 tables. The staff were kind and patient. We had a lovely time. We ordered the Afternoon Tea Service, which allowed us to select 2 sandwich flavors. We chose and shared the Smoked Salmon, Turkey, Cucumber, Chicken Apple and Curry Chicken. All of the sandwiches were delicious and the bread was so soft. This set also came with a scone, 3 desserts and a pot of tea. For the tea, we chose passionfruit mango, butterfly pea and jasmine silver tip. The butterfly pea was a fun choice because the tea changed color when lemon was added. However, my favorite would be the jasmine tea. It is a but pricey but highly recommend coming for a fun and relaxing experience. But be sure to make a reservation for the time slots on their website because they will run out of space! read more

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I made a reservation for a Sunday 11am for table for three. Street parking was super quick to find that day. My favorite sandwiches was the curry, and the smoked salmon one. I got lavender earl gray tea and the scent and taste was pleasant. The staff said we can split the malaya milk tea three ways so we did and it came in a small cup. Perfect size to just try it! It is sweet and I really liked it. They got us chocopie on a small plate for our birthdays. Staff are really nice. Will always be back! read more

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We had a blast! Beautiful decor, excellent eats and delicious tea! This was fun and a great idea for any couple. I'm not taking my homeboy anytime soon but I could definitely take my granddaughter. Service was prompt and rendered w/a smile. We really had a great time & plan to return. read more

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Great little spot for a girls date! The ambiance was so cute inside. Small but very cozy feel. Service was great, she checked in only when we needed her by ringing the bell. They had an abundance of tea selections to choose from. You can also have milk on the side and sugar cubes are on the table. The food was delicious and had a nice twist of Asian spin on some sandwich selections and desserts. Nice spot to check out if you want a cute date or hang out with friends! read more

Cute tea room with pretty good food, and a nice tea selection. The staff was attentive and they give you enough time to dine and really enjoy the spread. We had a larger group (given the size of the space) of 6. Each person ordered their preferred teas and sandwiches. I had the egg salad and curry chicken and can recommend both! Tons of flavors. The English style scone was not actually an English scone (which is more like what we're used to calling a biscuit), it was sort of like a sweet cookie. Not a fan as it didn't pair well with butter and jam. But the actual sweet treats were great. Overall it's a good interpretation of afternoon tea in a cute space. There's indoor and outdoor seating. Lots of free parking around the neighborhood. read more

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Such a lovely tea room experience! Very small, intimate, and a good variety of food and tea options. Came here with my mom for mother's day a while back, and the food offerings were delicious! Great place for fun conversation while sipping over tea. The service is very kind and friendly throughout the tea room as well. read more

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This is probably one of my favorite places I've ever been to in the bay. I enjoy a good afternoon tea, but this place really added a great Asian twist that fits my Asian palette. It's less of a fusion spot, and more of a place that offers some Asian options and traditional flavors as well. The typical set comes with two sandwich flavors, a scone, pot of tea, and some small desserts. Everything was honestly really delicious. Our favorites were the curry chicken, fig, and kaya. Pork floss and tofu (mostly texture issue) were alright. Scones were perfect, really soft and I loved the chewy almost candy like fruit within it. Service was amazing. Very friendly. Super cute inside with great decorations and even smelled like a tea room. We mentioned it was my daughter's birthday, and they brought out a fishcake with chocolate filling to her to celebrate her birthday! I would definitely make a reservation, weekends seem to book up earliest. We came in on a Friday afternoon, which we were able to get early that same week, but it looked full when we came in. My one and only critique is that the wee tea meal has just way too much sugar. Without knowing what the desserts were, we ordered kaya and a hot chocolate for our daughter, but the desserts ended up being chocolate rocks, cotton candy shaped into an ice cream scoop with waffle cone, and marshmallows. Just sugar on sugar on sugar. Regardless. This place is magical and delicious. I will just make sure to order less sugary items for the little ones. read more

Pros: -cute decor -ample street parking -cordial staff -various sandwich/tea options Cons: -dry scones/sandwiches with minimal fillings -porcelain worn down, basic -we had folding chairs in an already tightly packed building -handbell, to call for service, in which staff both ignored or looked confused for whom to serve we sat for 2, and paid $45+ for tea service per person (also came on valentine's day) read more

Malaya Tea Room - $45 tea service/per person for 2 people ($90 total) - Tea Rooms Near Me - Alameda, California

I really enjoyed the creativity in the tea sandwich flavors, my family especially loved the curry chicken and smoked salmon with chive cream cheese. The tea selection was also great; we each chose something different, including fruit tea, floral tea, black tea, and apple cider. The staff was kind and attentive whenever we rang the bell, and the bathroom was clean and well-maintained. The only suggestion I have would be to offer less sliced fruit. At $43 per person, I think the experience could be elevated by replacing some of the average sliced fruit with more specialty bites, or perhaps serving it in a fruit cup for a neater presentation. Overall, this is a place I would definitely save for special occasions and look forward to coming back to again. read more

Malaya Tea Room - Afternoon Tea Set - Tea Rooms Near Me - Alameda, California

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OMG what a treasure in Alameda. My friend introduced me to this charming tea room. We made a reservation for our group of 3 online. Highly recommend, it's quite popular~~~ AFTERNOON TEA SERVICE - Coconut jam sandwich (!!! I love anything with cold butter. Sue me) - Spicy tofu sambal sandwich (flavorful, mild heat) - Scones (so flaky! so buttery!) - Desserts (not too sweet. High praise) Oh! The rocks are edible. I love that! The meal is small, but over a slow conversation and endless tea, it becomes filling fast. I would love to come back another time. read more

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Came here with two of my dear college friends sometime in February and had a wonderful time. First off, they were so kind and accommodating when we were running late due to traffic, and they also let me keep my big suitcase inside next to my seat as well, so shout out to the great customer service. The interior is so cozily designed and well done - nice wooden furniture, beautiful paintings/drawings, green plants tastefully arranged. My friends and I all ordered an afternoon tea for one and ended up getting a variety of different tea sandwiches to share. I believe we got all the Malaya flavors except for sardine, and we ended up getting the fig spread with butter from the British section. I personally enjoyed the curry one the most, but I know my friends found the meat floss and jerky ones to be less tasty. My friends definitely liked the butter one. The desserts were absolutely delicious and was the perfect ratio of offering not too sweet options, which a lot of tea rooms don't take into consideration. The scones were wonderful, and the purple jelly and pudding were subtly sweet and yummy. I also enjoyed the macaron and fresh fruit they offered. Finally, the tea itself was nice and standard. I ordered the butterfly pea because I love the color change, and they offered me some honey to go along with it, which I appreciated. Overall, an absolutely lovely experience. I would love to come back again the next time I'm in NorCal. read more

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I love tea time so this was a perfect place to visit and drag my friends along. We all ended up have a nice time, all dolled up and ready for our tea, mini sandwiches and desserts. It did not disappoint, everything was tasty and every time I think I won't get full with all the tiny treats, I still do. Staff were very friendly and helpful and gave us a nice experience. Worth the price for me. I want to go back soon! read more

Malaya Tea Room - Tea Rooms Near Me - Alameda, California

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Such a cute little spot. I came here for my very good friend bday and we all enjoyed it. Colorful, flavorful and really beautiful set up. It's a bit of a tight space for a small group but we have fun and regardless. And yes, teas were wonderful! read more

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Excellent service excellent tea excellent food excellent experience!!!! Will definitely go back again what s delightful place must try if you've never been read more

Service is a little lackluster but the teas and food are good - somewhat pricey. Cute little place but they do rush the tea service for the second afternoon seating. This is a good place for a girls lunch or celebration. Just be sure to get there on time or order ahead for anyone running late so you're not rushed. read more

Lovely and great tea size sandwiches and sweet treats. I've been three times! Highly recommend.

I was looking up something unique to do or to eat while we waited for our dog to finish at the vet and I was able to find both! I totally forgot tea time was a thing I wanted to do more of until I was looking up "desserts" on Google. It's a small tea shop and on this day there was only one server. You were given a bell to ring if you wanted to get her attention- I felt so rude and awkward ringing the bell so I just waited till she walked by. She was helpful in explaining how the menu worked. All the pastries were delicious and the finger sandwich too. My favorite was the jerky sandwich. Overall would come back again! Loved the ambiance and food was good. read more

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Loved this Alameda-based teahouse that offers hotel quality afternoon tea in a sophisticated, British-Malaya setting with dark woods, Asian ephemera and ringing bells. I discovered Malaya Tea House listed on a "best teahouses Bay Area" list, and it was the only high quality, last minute afternoon tea reservation I could find, that wasn't over $50. Normally you'd want to book your afternoon tea weeks in advance, so it was worth a trip to Alameda to try something different. Servers here appear when you ring a gold bell to summon them. Tea options include various black teas, exotic fruit black teas, and herbal teas, and sandwiches options include several malay options (curry chicken, pork jerky) and the remainder are classic English tea sandwiches (salmon, cucumber, egg salad, etc.). Sandwiches and portions are on the lighter side, for example the scones were shortbread cookie size and the jam portions petite. Seconds on jam were absolutely essential. Their afternoon tea hit the spot. This was a cozy setting for a multi generational hang out, and we always love a good tea house. Recommended! read more

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Came to Malaya on recommendation of a friend "Partteawithmeblog" so glad I did. We walked in and were immediately welcomed in and sat down. Our name was already on the table which was so cute. We decided to order different sandwiches so we could try as many flavors as we could. All the sandwiches we tried were so good, my absolute favorite was the Coconut Jam. I would have never picked this flavor but my cousin did and I was so happy she did, because it was so good! The tea was very tasty and I appreciated how we each received our own full tea pot. Definitely will be returning. read more

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My first time having afternoon tea and it was a blast! I went with my girlfriends and we each got a set that included 2 sandwich flavors and 1 tea of your choice. My favorite was the pork floss and jerky and I believe kaya butter. The interior was so cute and the tea cups and plates were adorable as well. I loved how they featured more Asian flavored sandwiches! It came up lots of different small desserts and fruits. It was so yummy to eat with friends, I really enjoyed my experience! read more

Malaya Tea Room - Tea Rooms Near Me - Alameda, California

We have done a sit down afternoon tea here in the past, and it was lovely, but this time we got the to go tea boxes for an afternoon picnic. The order was ready quickly and packaged beautifully, and we enjoyed everything. read more

Malaya Tea Room - Takeout tea box - Tea Rooms Near Me - Alameda, California

This was my first experience at High Tea and I was weary. I didnt know if i would like bland cucumber sandwhiches with watery tea - but Malaya Tea Room has changed my mind! Their high tea with asian flavors really stood out to me! The atmosphere is so ecclectic I LOVED IT! Such a unique small business and I loved the decor and theme. The service was very attentive - especially considering we had around 10 people! They took time to explain how high tea works and what each person would be getting. There was only 2 waitresses, but both were very nice and friendly. The tea was SO GOOD. I dont remember what I got - but I remember drinking almost all of the pot by myself! The little sandwhiches were much more flavorable than I thought they would be. The Asian flavors really made the High Tea experience much more enjoyable from my point of view. I did try some traditional flavors that were alrighhhtttt but I think the asian flavors were the star of the show! Pro tip: go with lots of people and get different flavors so you can swap! read more

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We came here to celebrate my nieces 16th birthday. It was such a cute experience. I would love to come back and try more sandwiches. They were all soooo good. I recommend the salmon & cream cheese. The tofu was also good. Give this place a try! read more

Malaya Tea Room - Tea Rooms Near Me - Alameda, California

An absolutely amazing experience! My friend invited me for tea and I truly enjoyed it! We did 2 Afternoon Teas for 1 and they were delicious! I had the no 24 with passionflower and Mango tea and my finger sandwiches were smoked salmon and southeast Asian curry chicken. Divine! My friend had the Paris Morning Tea with turkey and Malaysian style pork Jerky finger sandwiches and we loved them. The desserts, scones and potato bites were also delicious. Even my birthday treat was refreshing. The inside was small but bright and beautiful. The servers were kind, patient and quick. I would definitely try this again! read more

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Our work team normally does the Holiday Tea at the Fairmont. This year we opted to try a different location and Malaya was the choice. Walking in you are warmly greeted. The tea selection is wonderful so many choices. The best part of this tea service was that you were able to customize and each person could choose their sandwich selection, 2 choices per person. The desserts were wonderful as well. They offer a bell on the table if you need any assistance which was a welcomed addition. This is hopefully a tea service we will return to in the future. The decor inside is so cute! I only wished I had snapped more photos of the cute interior, but I was too busy enjoying the treats and tea. read more

Malaya Tea Room - Tea Rooms Near Me - Alameda, California

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Tea at Malaya is formal without being stuffy. The space is small but welcoming with a mix of formal and tropical touches. Think English manor house in the jungle. The staff is efficient, and you ring a bell for service, There are a multitude of choices to customize the experience. Tea is served on a traditional tiered tray. The bottom tier had out finger sandwiches, two types of chicken salad for me and coconut jam and sambal tofu for my friend. Our middle tier had sliced fresh fruit and a traditional British scone with a serving of house made clotted cream and strawberry preserves. Our top tier had panda sponge cake, macarons, and a raspberry toppled pot de creme. I had a fragrant honey rose tea and my friend tried both the Malaysian pulled tea (much like Chai) and a lovely grapefruit and cacao. Everything was good, particularly the sponge cake and my tea. It was a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Stree parking was easy to find and they do have a couple of outdoor tables. Recommended. read more

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The Malaya Tea Room - Above 5 stars! Truly one of a kind! A true gem! A cultural treasure! Every visit feels more special than the last. Lena has created not just a tea room, but a cultural experience that beautifully blends British tradition with the rich heritage of Malaya. As a Singaporean, I feel so proud every time I bring friends here -- the food, the tea, and the atmosphere are simply above 5 stars. Thank you, Lena, for making every gathering unforgettable! read more

High tea with Malaysian flavors, count me in! We made a reservation for 8 people and when we arrived, our table was labeled with a cute little card to welcome us. Each person selects two sandwich fillings and can pick from British and Malaya flavors. Each flavor will come with 4 small sandwiches and they serve you on one tiered tea tray for every two people, so we found it easy to share with the person across from you if you want to try four sandwich fillings. They have an extensive tea menu and their signature Malaysian pulled tea is a special offered only on weekends. My favorites were the curry chicken, yuk sung (meat floss), and kaya (coconut jam) sandwiches. The clotted cream that comes with the scones was incredible! It's $37 a person (before tip) which felt pretty reasonable considering Bay Area pricing. You can walk in, but I recommend making a reservation. They have 3 seating time slots a day at 11am, 1:15pm, and 3:30pm. The decor is cute and all and all Malaya Tea Room makes for a fun group outing! read more

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I hosted a tea party for a small group for my daughter's 40th birthday. They were most accommodating for our COVID cautious members and offered a vegetarian option. The teas were delicious, the sandwiches unique, and the service amazing. I would highly recommend them. read more

Malaya Tea Room - Tray - Tea Rooms Near Me - Alameda, California

A lovely high tea room! Great worth for the price you pay. I've been to other high teas in the city and always end up needing to supplement with a meal somewhere else. I accepted this as normal since I know part of what you're paying for is the experience. But at Malaya, my party and I were very satisfied with the amount of food we got! I got the afternoon tea for two with pork jerky, coconut jam (Kaya), salmon, sardine sandwiches. My favorite was the coconut jam. The sardine was a bit salty and pork jerky could've used a little more flavor. The sweets were yummy! I especially liked the mini cheesecakes and pandan cake. Overall cute decor and nice ambiance. Service could have been better, they didn't refill our waters until the very end when we made a request. read more

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I came here for a friend's birthday, and it was my first time. It was a little hard to find parking on the weekend; however, if you're willing to walk a bit, you can find it in the neighborhood. It was pretty crowded, so you need to make a reservation in advance to get seated. Walk-ins are pretty difficult, especially on the weekend (I'm not sure about weekdays). The ambiance is very cute. It was a little different from what I pictured in my head. I originally thought it would be more of a British vibe, but it ended up having more of a Southeast Asian feel, which I absolutely loved. I loved the greenery, and especially their bathroom--it was giving White Lotus season three. Everything comes in a set, and it's priced per person. Everyone selects two sandwiches, which are cut into four pieces each, so that leaves a total of eight servings. They also have cute little bites, snacks, and desserts. As for tea, everyone selects their own, and it comes out in one teapot. There are free, unlimited refills, which I do appreciate. read more

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Cute little tea room with amazing sandwiches. Try the curry chicken and sardine sandwiches! The honey rose tea was my favorite! read more

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Cute tea house. Tea was delicious. Service was good. Wished we had more scones they were yummy read more

Malaya Tea Room - 2 person tea service - Tea Rooms Near Me - Alameda, California