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    McKenna's Tea Cottage

    3.9 (785 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    McKenna's Tea Cottage Photos

    MCKENNA'S TEA COTTAGE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Casual
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - McKenna's Tea Cottage

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    Beautiful china
    Toni C.

    This tea house has such a cute, whimsical atmosphere -- it feels like stepping into a storybook. The décor is charming, cozy, and perfect for a relaxing afternoon. The tea selection was wonderful -- flavorful and beautifully presented. The scones were fresh and buttery, and the sandwiches were delicious with just the right balance of savory and sweet options. . I loved that they offer different afternoon tea meal selections, so there's something for everyone -- from a classic traditional tea service to heartier or more petite options depending on your mood or appetite. The service was excellent -- warm, attentive, and made us feel truly welcome without being overbearing. I'll definitely be back.

    Esther K.

    Very cozy after noon tea- they have a lot to set menus that have different add ons like soup salad or dessert. The highlights for me were the scone with cream and jam. The second was the almond chai latte and some kind of dragon green tea. There were four types of sandwhiches and I liked how it was standard small bites. Overall worth good drive to try out a new place.

    Kate K.

    Some friends and I have been trying all the afternoon tea's around Long Beach and McKenna's was our second stop. For weekend reservations, they require a $5 deposit per person (refundable if you cancel in advance and otherwise applied to your bill), which you can do online. Unfortunately you cannot modify reservations online, so I had to call into the restaurant each time our party grew. They were prompt about returning my calls, updating the reservation, and collecting the additional deposits, it would just be nice to be able to do it online. We had a fairly large group of nine people and were seated outside on the patio once our full group had arrived. The patio is a lovely space and I was glad to be seated out there. Although it is adjacent to main street, it is closed off and feels like a private garden space. It was a sunny day and staff were helpful in adjusting the umbrellas to keep our party in the shade. If you have members in your party with certain dietary restrictions, they do offer vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarians they sub in additional veggie sandwiches for the two tea sandwiches that have meat. For gluten free options they do require 48 hour advanced notice. One of the great things about McKenna's is the number of menu options you have. It allows people to tailor their meal to their preferences and also provides choices at a variety of price points. They have a nice selection teas as well. Your afternoon tea comes with one pot and refills are an extra charge. The plates and teacups are all mismatched china and we had a lot of fun admiring everyone's unique teacups. Staff were very friendly and helpful. We ended up sitting and talking for a while, not realizing that they were closing up around us! They add 20% gratuity for large groups, but on our bill the gratuity was calculated on the total after the deposit had been subtracted. Luckily we caught this in time and were able to increase our tip so our server didn't get shortchanged. If you're dining in on a weekend and have a large group be sure you are tipping based on the actual total of your bill. Everyone in my group had fun and enjoyed their afternoon tea. Thanks, McKenna's!

    Veronica S.

    Had a very memorable time celebrating my cousins birthday. We had the Lady Hamilton tea for two. Delicious home made pastries and sandwiches. The tomato soup was so yummy, i would return just for this. The setting is cute and charming with lots of little details to admire. Friendly staff.

    Cute interior

    Delicious, warm scones with jam and cream. Yummy tea sandwiches. I had their peach apricot tea which was very good. The service was good. They were very busy. The ambiance is very nice in their front patio. Inside needs a little bit of a clean makeover. Parking across the street 2 hours paid and limited.

    Baby Shower
    Lisa S.

    I had my baby shower here and it was absolutely perfect! It's all because of Karen! The second I talked to Karen I knew she was going to take good care of me. The place is adorable and the food is delicious. And the staff goes above and beyond. I highly recommend you have your parties here or just come for tea. I can't wait to return!

    Heather T.

    This is an old establishment off Main Street in Seal Beach. There is one parking spot available (other than handicap spot) next to their front door otherwise find street parking. We were seated on the patio. The weather was lovely so the patio was the option. The prices are similar to other tea places. The service was friendly. This place is very low on my list of enjoyable tea experiences. My tea pot leaked and since we were on the patio with an old metal table with holes in it the boiling hot tea landed in my lap. That was not fun. The soup was good - broccoli cheddar. The sandwich bread was hard and almost no filling present. I'm used to tiny tea sandwiches but not ones with next to no filling. Sandwiches were "bread heavy" and the bread was hard and basic. I would not recommend this as a standard tea experience. They charge way too much for barely any food. They did have two different flavors of scone and both were delicious. Almost all their desserts that day were lemony - if you're not a lemon fan you won't enjoy them. Deposits are required when booking a reservation. They have lots of rules about booking and allergies so read the fine print if you have dietary restrictions.

    Waited 30 minutes for our food to arrive to table.
    Theresa Q.

    First time visit. The buzz around my circle a few years ago was to not waste my time trying it. However, after reading recent reviews, I thought it was worth giving it a try. Unfortunately, first impressions were a downer. This establishment is in need of some fresh paint and a big makeover. I suggest ditching the fake flowers on the table with a red heart in it, for example. If you can't afford fresh flowers, come up with a new idea. My guest made a visit to the bathroom and her comment was that it was "cringy." Our male waiter was friendly and attentive, but my guest and I felt his dressed down look of baggy jeans attire was very inappropriate. We wondered if he was the kitchen help and had to fill in as a waiter that day. Regardless, any savvy business owner would direct their employee to change the attire before presenting in front of the customers. These are just a few examples of how this brought the whole experience down. Our selected teas were pleasant though it took a little too long (30 minutes) to get our food based on only three other tables with customers. The scones were fresh, yet we both agreed the curd was too subtle in flavor. I must say the sandwiches were enjoyable! Probably will not go back.

    My son drinking tea
    Zeppelin D.

    The food was amazing, they have a kid's meal that is a huge discount in comparison to buying everything individually. The service was excellent, and don't get me started on the ambiance. If I could give this a 6 star review, I would in a heartbeat.

    Lady Hamilton Tea X4
    Rachel B.

    Was easy to get a reservation a week before. We were seated promptly and my group of 4 gals all picked the Lady Hamilton. Cesar salad was good, each tea was surprising good, all the sandwiches were delicious, the peach scones were a great size and amazing, the desserts were perfectly sized and also yummy! Great experience, I pour happily come back

    3 Piece Dessert
    June L.

    What a hidden gem! This little tea and lunch spot is absolutely adorable -- the whimsical atmosphere makes you feel like you've stepped into a storybook. Tucked away close to the beach, it's the perfect spot to relax and enjoy something delicious before or after a stroll by the ocean. I had the chicken salad croissant and a berry mixed salad -- both so fresh and flavorful. Everything was so yummy I completely forgot to take a picture! The 3-dish dessert sampler --was also great, each bite was full of flavors and tasty. On top of the food, the service was excellent -- warm, attentive, and made the whole experience even better. The vibe is cozy, charming, and inviting. Definitely one of those places you almost don't want to share because it's such a special find. I'll definitely be back!

    Salad with balsamic dressing
    andrea s.

    The girls and I enjoyed a lovely lunch at McKenna's tea cottage today. Parking was easy in the side lot. When we entered Karen greeted us with a joyful smile and escorted us to our table. She went over the holiday drinks and the soup of the day before giving us some time to review the menu. My daughters both enjoyed the princess tea with hot cocoa and the birthday cake tea. Both were delicious! My mother in law enjoyed the queens tea which came with various tea sandwiches and sweets along with a pot of tea. She started with the broccoli cheddar soup which was served hot and was yummy. I opted for a side salad and the vegetable quiche. The salad was premium greens which I appreciate, and the quiche was served piping hot with a delicious crust. Everything was tasty. We enjoyed ourselves and will absolutely be back.

    lady hamilton set and salad
    Tulisa T.

    lady hamilton set is around $30 a set for each person. it comes with 3 pots of tea, scones and sandwiches. we made a reservation on monday around 1 pm and it was empty. it was very cute, relaxing and cozy. service was friendly. overall, a very cute experience and would recommend. scones: 7/10 strawberry scone was the most delicious. the strawberry jam paired with it is very tasty. chocolate scone was decent. butter scone is good. sandwiches: 7/10 very small but everything fills you up. chicken salad: 8/10 chicken is delicious. it's flavorful and filling. would definitely order again. hazelnut tea: 8/10 vanilla chai: 6/10 mckennas special tea: 6/10

    Tea with milk and sugar.

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    3 months ago

    Best tea house ever! A must to visit regularly, the staff is just amazing! You're missing out if you haven't been.

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    8 months ago

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    10 months ago

    Very quaint decor and lovely service. Super friendly staff and good food. Small bathroom.

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    5 months ago

    My daughter and I love this place. Everyone here is so very nice and accommodating witmy autistic daughter and the food is great!!

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    Page 1 of 20

    Ask the Community - McKenna's Tea Cottage

    Are we able to bring and use our own tea sets?

    Their tea sets are not coordinated and of various types and appearances. I would fear having your nice set get mixed in. I'm fairly sure they would not mind though...

    Do any high tea items contain porcine (pork) gelatin?

    Are the hats still there available for guests to use?

    Do they take walk ins or is it reservations only?

    If you go on a weekend I would highly suggest making a reservation. I went in the middle of week during covid with social distancing in place and had to make reservations.

    Is this place cash only or do they take credit card?

    I was able to pay with credit card when I went.

    I have 2 x $25 restaurant.com voucher. I want to use them to buy scones, but I don't want to pay more money. It says to redeem I have to buy $50 worth on each voucher. How can I use my vouchers without having to pay more money?

    Unfortunately, I don't think there's any way around having to spend $50 to get the $25 off.

    Are there any vegan options?

    Yes!!! Sandwiches , scones and desserts! Gluten free too! I am both vegan and gluten free. Just give her a few days notice. Its divine !

    Has anyone had experience with making a reservation online? I made one but want to check it was received because I have an allergy accommodation request. The voicemail is full.

    I aways make reservations online and someone in my party has peanut, nut and tuna allergies

    View All 14 Questions

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    McKenna's Tea Cottage - coffee - Updated May 2026

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