With the rise in popularity of Bridgeton and the "Regency Core" aesthetic afternoon tea has begun to rise in popularity in the US. I've been to some bad afternoon teas, overhyped afternoon teas and some really great afternoon teas. Peacock Alley at the Willard Intercontinental is one of those great afternoon teas. I went on a Saturday during their 12PM seating. Tea and accompaniments are served over 90 minutes and costs $90 or $110 with a glass of champagne. This price is comparable to not only similar afternoon teas in the DC area, but also higher end afternoon teas in London. Peacock Alley has a wide selection of black, green, white, herbal and Roobios tea. It also comes with a mix of sweet and savory accompaniments including scones, ginger sandwiches and pastries. They were very accommodating with my request for no nuts and were very knowledgeable about all of the items served with tea. While you are only given 90 minutes I never felt rushed and was able to enjoy my tea and snacks. The ambiance in the tea room is amazing. They have soft harp music playing, the tables are arranged with ample space between them so you never feel that you are too close to other guests or those in your party, and the flatware accompanying tea is good quality. The service was quick and efficient and they were more than happy to accommodate someone in my party who was running late. There are a lot of afternoon teas at this price point around the city and this is one that is actually worth it. They also have a tea to-go service where you can enjoy the same food and tea at home for a slightly cheaper price. Overall I enjoyed my experience at the Willard Tea room and would definitely recommend it as one of the better upscale afternoon teas in the city. read more

Peacock Alley Tea - Tea Rooms Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Back at the Willard for tea at the famous Peacock Alley Tea room after 14 years (omg?) and it was enjoyable again. Wanna get some sticker price shock? Last time I was here tea was $35, now it is $105. Hah time flies. (And inflation exists). Everything was lovely. Valet parking is validated. Our servers made sure our teapots were filled with hot water, made note of all dietary restrictions. The tea itself was great. I got an herbal tea for a change which was refreshing. My favorite items were the lobster tartlet, the scones, the ube mango basket and the matcha roulade. The best thing was they offered a fully gluten free menu for my friend and she said everything tasted great. This coming weekend is the last weekend to get the cherry blossom menu so if you really want to get that try to see if any reservations open up. read more

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Such a magical experience with some AMAZING tea selections. Beautiful ambiance Great service Extensive tea menu, brewed fresh Why didn't I rate it higher?: well, the food selections weren't memorable and I wished that they had a better and more enjoyable selection for nondairy eaters and even a diabetic friendly menu. However, I appreciate their attempt to accommodate our party but wished to have enjoyed more alternative selections. Would I return? Sure, why not! The tea alone is a stand out presentation! The ginger mix was SPECTACULAR! Great for kids Beautiful for friends And perfect for tea lovers who enjoy a beautiful ambiance. read more

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I always have an excellent time coming at Peacock Alley for afternoon tea during their cherry blossom theme teas. This is 7th time coming here for my birthday and never fails me. The manager literally remembers me every time I come so that says a lot about the staff. They really care about the guests. We also love that there's valet parking and is validated when you do afternoon tea. Cant wait to come again next year! read more

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An amazing place for special occasions. Today we were celebrating my daughter's birthday and this is where she wanted to go. We arrived about 30 minutes early so we walked around the lobby of the historic hotel and all the amazing significance that it holds. Then you are escorted to your special predesignated seats based on your party size. Menus are presented and our servers introduce themselves. We each selected a different tea as well as some extra drinks, including whiskey and champagne. As today is the peak of the cherry blossom festival the food was inspired with the cherry blossom theme and Japanese delicacies. All of it was absolutely delicious and a truly special occasion completed. They even ended with happy birthday played on the harp . read more

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I had the best afternoon tea experience! The tea set-up is exquisite and the seating is well thought-out to accommodate large groups of tables with children. There is beautiful live music from a harpist and all of the staff are polite and diligent, I interacted with at least 5 people working. The cherry tea had a nice tart flavor and the menu was delicious. Staff was quick to refill and offer boxes/bags to take leftovers. I'm looking forward to coming back soon! read more

Peacock Alley Tea - Tea Rooms Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The cherry festival tea had been on my bucket list for a while and this was the year! It was absolutely worth the wait. The Japanese inspired savories and sweets were wonderful. The tea options were fabulous and the included champagne was a lovely surprise. We were seated in the center of Peacock Alley near a beautiful artificial cherry tree and a harpist played most of the time we were there. Our servers treated us like royalty and made the whole experience very memorable. read more

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Our group booked the afternoon tea at the holidays well in advance when reservations opened up on the summer. When we arrived for our time there was a very long line, but it went fast once they started seating parties. This was a really nice experience, definitely pricey, but fun to do for a special occasion! They had a harpist playing fun songs like Pink Pony Club, a KPop Demon Hunter song, and the Game of Thrones theme song. I had a glass of champagne and the vanilla rooibos crème tea (really tasty tea). I opted for the vegetarian menu since I don't eat a lot of meat or seafood. I'm really glad I went with the vegetarian option, it was really good! All the food and desserts were delicious. Our server, JP, and the staff were very patient with us. We had some people with food allergies or dietary preferences so we had a lot of questions. They also gave us some to-go treat boxes, these were a fun surprise! read more

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Listen, they do high tea well: it's relatively authentic and high quality, service is great and the ambiance is fantastic, but the pricing is simply absurd, especially during Christmas time-there's a couple other strikes against them as well. As of right now it's $105 per adult, $120 with a pour of champagne. They attempted to charge $20 per champagne instead though, so I had to have them take off $10. We got the vegetarian menu and it was mostly very good, but if you come hungry, you will leave hungry. We did literally pick up food from elsewhere after leaving. The scones were god tier though, I have to give them that. -1 star because their machine defaults to 20, 22, and 25% as options and they apply the selected percentage on the total WITH tax, which is shady. 20% alone (which is what I'd selected) is already excessive given the minimal service and high raw dollar amount and how quick it all is. I didn't realize or see indication on their site that parking would be validated so we paid $30 to park nearby, but this is something worth noting. I guess I won't hold that against them, but what I will is how rushed they make the experience since there's two seatings, one at 12 and another at 2. They put the check on the table automatically at 1, we got there a few minutes late for the 12 session and everything came out fast, so it just blew by. Don't know if they would be willing to refill the tea pots, but it wasn't offered and our waters weren't refilled either. We ultimately paid $316 for a non-multi-course day time "meal", which is in my top 3 most expensive restaurant experiences. We felt regret leaving to be honest. I wish afternoon tea were more common. At this price may as well pay slightly more to have a similar experience at a high end hotel and/or just do afternoon tea in the UK. read more

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Peacock Alley at the Waldorf Astoria is a stunning setting for afternoon tea--just be prepared to splurge. For a group of four women, our total came to just over $1,000. The experience includes a shared tea tower with an assortment of pastries and savory bites--about 6 to 8 items per person--along with one tea selection per guest and a single bottle of Moët for the table. While the ambiance and presentation are luxurious, the price tag (nearly $300 per person after tax and tip) feels a bit steep considering the champagne isn't individual. A bottle of Moët per person would've made the cost feel more justifiable. That said, you're definitely paying for the upscale experience and the elegant aesthetic. The service, however, was impeccable. Manager Valentin and our server Dennis were attentive, warm, and made the experience even more enjoyable. read more

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Wow. This was underwhelming. My mother and I decided to splurge on the VIP experience Cherry Blossom tea during April and we were so disappointed in our purchase. Let me say, the space is stunning. Gorgeous glass roofed atrium with industrial struts. A huge flowering cherry blossom tree in the center. Impressively suited staff. Also, contrary to their website/Open Table, there is complimentary valet parking available at the hotel. That's where the positives end. We checked in early to our 1pm reservation and were told we had to wait for our seating. Okay.. but where do you sit when the lobby is where you have tea? We found a spot and checked in at 1pm, but then had to wait in line to be seated. There's got to be a better way to do this. However, while we were not the last seated we were the last to get our tea and our treats. Service was disappointing. At first they offered us a glass of champagne, and when I pointed out that our reservation included a bottle, the server said he'd go check. Then returned and begrudgingly said that while they had updated their terms since I booked, they would honor my reservation. Ummmm... of course you will! It's what I paid for! The savory and sweet treats were just fine. Nothing was exceptional, but it was plentiful. The tea was flavorful, but there was no way to keep the pot warm (other teas I've been to have included a warmer of some kind), so by the end of the pot, the tea you were drinking was cold. There was a harpist who played pop tunes. But she packed up about 30 minutes into our reservation. That combined with the fact that you are in a hotel lobby does put a damper on the ambiance. Bottom line: Over priced and severely lacking for what should be a stellar experience. We will not be returning to this DC landmark. read more

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We were a party of four who came to a noon time high tea at the Willard celebrating a special occasion. We particularly reserved a table at the Peacock Alley instead of the main dining room. The "alley", like the rest of this historic hotel is elegantly designed and exudes quiet luxury. We had the standard high tea selection and it came with sumptuous samples of savory and sweet delectables. Of course there are many choices of tea. The tea time is accompanied by live harp music. Service was excellent. Parking at the hotel garage was validated which was a nice surprise. I heard their Christmas holiday high tea is even more popular because of all the festive decorations. At any rate, it is something that's quite comparable to high tea in England. A great experience indeed. read more

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I am glad I came here, but I did not enjoy the food and tea that much. Having Afternoon tea is certainly a occasion/upper class feeling activity. So you'll get that posh hotel interior, live harp music, excellent service, and some history. I enjoyed all of those aspects, and if you need a place to chat, as afternoon tea was designed for, this is probably a great option. In terms of food quality, I tried to eat everything, and there is a lot, but it didn't taste that great tbh. Many of the desserts were way to sweet, and my favorite pieces of food were the savory ones. The scones I guess you gotta have, but I just did not enjoy them that much. As for the tea, you can only choose one per guest, which is a shame because it would be much more fun if they had a trolley pushed around to serve tea of your choice and try a bunch. But at least you get to try all the fun tea gadgets. I think worth experiencing this once as a local resident. But the tea experiences in London have been much more enjoyable. read more

Overall, a good experience, but not one I feel the need to repeat. We arrived early for the early afternoon tea and were asked to wait in the lounge while they finished setting up. After about 10-15 minutes, we were escorted to our seats. There were several other parties already seated, and after a while, a waiter took our tea order. Unfortunately, there was a mix-up with my friend's order, and we were given an extra tea that wasn't the one she requested. After another 15-20 minutes, we finally placed our sandwich and treat order. We opted for the regular savory sandwiches, though they do offer a vegetarian option. The tea was excellent--apple pie and masala chai were both delicious, and the ginger yuzu was a standout. However, the sandwiches and pastries were just okay and didn't quite live up to the hype. What truly made this experience memorable was the ambiance. The live harp music was a lovely touch, and the decor, including a charming apple tree replica with apple-shaped menus, really set the mood. read more

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The Peacock Alley has an amazing ambiance. Afternoon tea is located on the main floor of hotel. It's a very relaxing ambiance with an individual playing the harp. It's a large bright open space that still sees quiet despite all of the people present. The service was mediocre. The waiter was really nice and took pictures of us and explained each item on the menu. However, he wasn't very attentive. The tea was good but it didn't stay warm long. The finger sandwiches and pastries were very delicious. The scones were very moist and the lemon curd was perfect. It's plenty of food per person and you will go home stuffed. However, afternoon tea is VERY overpriced. With the mandatory 20% gratuity, it is $158 a person. It's definitely not worth the price. read more

Peacock Alley Tea - Tea Rooms Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Afternoon tea at Peacock Alley has been a bucket list item for a while, and it didn't disappoint! The hotel is so elegant and the tea setup in the main hallway is so unique. The tea items were delicious, and they brought out a massive cupcake to celebrate my friend's birthday. I think one drawback is that the hallway is pretty tight and busy with service traffic and tea diners, and there are regular guests with suitcases trying to get by to enter and exit the hotel. It wasn't a big disturbance, I just felt bad for them! read more

Peacock Alley Tea - Champagne station - Tea Rooms Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I like Afternoon Tea and have learned some valuable things about it. It should not be confused with a large meal, it is merely a snack between lunch and dinner (dinner at 8 PM give or take). For Afternoon Tea, people who expect a big meal with lots of savory items will be disappointed. Perhaps they are thinking of High Tea which is a larger meal. That said, I enjoyed Peacock Alley's Afternoon Tea service. There are two seatings, at 1:00 PM and 3:30 PM. They were able to seat us via a last-minute reservation. We arrived at 3:30 PM and stood in line to be seated, which took about 12 minutes. The setting / decor is pretty and the harpist played and sang well. The food was excellent! Seasonal flavors were featured without being kitschy about it. Kudos to the chef! I subtracted one star because of the location. I understand the history/tradition of seating in the "alley" but the hallway location of the tea tables was awkward at times. When one takes the trouble to dress elegantly for tea, it is unpleasant to endure a constant stream of high-spirited (loud!), sweaty tourists in shorts walking back and forth within inches of your clotted cream... Peacock Alley gives a good Afternoon Tea experience and I did not begrudge the $136 per person tab. It was second only to the Waldorf Astoria's Afternoon Tea service. read more

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Holiday tea at the Willard has been on my DC bucket list so I was really excited to be able to snag reservations with my two best friends during the first official snow of 2025! The hotel looked so regal and grand with the snowflakes falling softly around it. You could not help but feel a little more festive when you walked through the entrance and was greeted by a giant, gilded Christmas tree. The Willard has two seating times, so you have to wait in a long line before getting seated. Once you are in, you are ushered into a small lobby hallway while a harpist plays delicate sounding music nearby. Final thoughts on my experience: 1) Service is not very personalized, it's very much an in-and-out experience. They do take pictures without you even asking which is nice. 2) I didn't love my tea sandwiches but each dessert I had was divine, especially the vanilla bean scone and cream puff with the cracked sugar crust. 3) The Willard knows how to do wallpaper right, I was already daydreaming of plastering my walls on my way out. 4) Seeing all the random tourists walking through the alleyway was not really a great vibe. 5) The Willard delivered, but you can get much better vibe, service, and atmosphere for much less at other places in the city. read more

The space/ambiance is very nice, though, notwithstanding that we had a reservation, we had to wait in a relatively long line to enter. We were seated at a couch and armchairs, which were a little far from the table for my liking, but we weren't given the option for a regular table (I'd ask for that in advance if I were to return). The tea I chose, the signature black, was fine but nothing special. (I honestly prefer the teas at Panera). My wife liked the golden apricot orchard tea a lot. But my biggest complaint was the food. It was all very festive and colorful, but, with the exception of the scones, they forgot to make it taste good. I've never had so many desserts that I didn't like (nor did the majority of my family). The sandwiches/sushi were also disappointing. I won't return. read more

Jeff surprised me with "Tea" in my stocking. He has often heard me wishing to partake in "tea at the Willard". He had set reservations just after Christmas to partake in their high tea. I was so excited and my expectations were met and exceeded at every turn from the historic architecture, traditional holiday decor and posh ambience this hotel made me feel like a royal. It was a breathtaking experience. We were seated just off the alley in the "tearoom" I highly recommend that. The main hallway was stunning but a little chilly and loud for me. I still briefly experienced the alley while being completely comfortable enjoying my tea. Jeff had the standard tea while I had preordered the gluten free tea service. It's rare that a gluten free tea offering try so hard to meet the standard offering. My food was delicious, I tried the Willard's signature blend of black tea, it was rich and flavorful and fruit forward. Sitting where we did we we easily enjoyed the talented harpist and excellent service but also reveled in the exclusive quietude. If you have sensory issues you may wish to request the tearoom seating. It is more sensory friendly. Please see my pictures because they are more of an endorsement than I could possibly write. If you want to treat yourself to a uniquely upscale experience, I urge you to do tea at the Willard's Peacock Alley. read more

Absolutely loved the high tea experience here with my parents. We really enjoyed the tea options: Lychee Rose Green Darjeeling Willard signature blend "Company, savory finger sandwiches, decadent pastries, and Willard's famous freshly baked scones." Definitely make sure you get a reservation 2 months ahead of time, it sells out quickly depending on the weekend and time slot you want. read more

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As for the interior placement and atmosphere - an absolute gem! It is peaceful with the sunroof and just gorgeous furniture ~ I went during their Fall season theme and it was super cute! They had an apple tree and a harpist playing as well! The service was simple - they give you their select tea options and all the desserts that come with their set menu. Spent a lot of time just taking pictures and relaxing / lounging. As for the treats - some were good and some weren't! Some items were too sweet and just a bite of each was enough! However, their theme and aesthetic was such a pleasure to taste and enjoy! Their tea was delicious! (we tried the apple tea and pear tea) especially with their adorable sugar cubes! Overall 8.5/10 definitely would recommend coming during one of their seasonal selections! read more

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For our first lunch in DC, we decided it would be quicker to eat at the hotel before we ventured out to explore the sights, so Peacock Alley is where we went. It's in the lobby of the Waldorf Astoria with a beautiful cherry blossom tree, modern blue couches & lots of marble with crystal chandeliers throughout. We called the front desk to see if a reservation would be needed & we were told that hotel guests may just walk in. When we arrived, I saw how busy it was with tea service & were nearly turned away by the host before we mentioned we had just called & spoke to the front desk. This was frustrating, but they decided to seat us at the smallest table right next to the host stand. We weren't offered the tea service menu since they only have a limited number of reservations for this on the weekends, so we ordered sparkling water, juice & coffee & were given these promptly. However, we had also ordered 2 Caesar salads with grilled chicken & these took an hour to arrive. We had to flag down the restaurant manager because our server was too busy assisting other tables. Compared to our dinner at the Bazaar, the service here was quite absent & left a lot to be desired. read more

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Recommend Peacock Alley for their breakfast. It's located inside Waldorf Astoria in Washington DC. Also venue for afternoon tea that is available from Thursday to Sunday (which we didn't have opportunity to try!). We ordered Eggs Benedict and Shrimp n Grits. Both were delicious, shrimp and grits lacked the southern style sauce/gravy, it was less southern then Italian (tomatoes in sauce). Eggs Benedict muffins could have more crispness, bacon was not crispy. read more

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Finally getting around to posting from April outing. Wanting to go to a cherry blossomed tea, I decided to try this place for a get together with a friend I hadn't seen in a while. We were immediately impressed and wowed as we walked into Peacock Alley. It was so impressively decorated with cherry blossoms everywhere! The faux tree in the center created a magical space with a harpist playing underneath. It was definitely a photo worthy place. We were seated promptly with a reservation. The server came after a few minutes, but since we were busy chatting and catching up, the wait wasn't bothersome. We selected our teas from a choice of eight and ordered our set tea menu. The sweets and savories came presented on a lovely gold birdcage presentation. The offerings looked elegant as they should. And all of the bites were tasty, each well prepared. My friend and I had a lot of catching up to do so a lot of time passed as we chatted, sipped, and took bites of our treats. During our time there, our server came by only once to check on us. We didn't notice at the time because we were busy chatting, but on thinking back, thought there wasn't too much service. We weren't offered more tea as many places do. The server did turn up shortly after we decided it was time to leave and helped us wrap things up there by offering to box items and bringing the check. Overall, the place was fabulous for a cherry blossom themed tea. The treats were well crafted. Teas were good. I'd like to go back to have tea there again. read more

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I was a guest at the Waldorf and we had our breakfast here at 9:30 and it was a wonderful time. We also came for drinks in the evening around 9 pm as well. Both of which were lovely. I do highly recommend getting a reservation. This is a highly sought after location and menu, especially for high tea. The history of peacock alley is literally a place to see and be seen, people want to be here. And for good reason! The food was wonderful! The drinks are great. The coffee I'll be thinking about for months to come. Call and make a reservation for when you want to attend and it'll be fine! Just like all of the other nice places in DC. Peacock alley is no exception. read more

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This one of the best high teas I've ever had. The ambience started it off. The food and service was top notch. read more

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Savory foods, unique tea blends, Moet and Chandon, intimate conversations, and a harpist serenade. This was the blueprint for Afternoon Tea at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel. From calling to reserve a table for a group of eight, to the follow up received a week before arrival, they were so welcoming. Upon arrival, I drove to the front of the hotel and left my car with the valet. I walked across the lobby to Peacock Alley. There was a line at the front desk for the 3:30 pm seating. My parking ticket was validated at the front desk for complimentary parking. What stood out to me was the harp playing in the background. Everyone noticed and commented when the harpist stopped playing. It's so soothing. It dulled the table chatters. We had an enjoyable afternoon. I've indulged in many afternoon tea experiences in the area and around the world. The Willard's is one of the best afternoon experiences. Amazing customer service. Complimentary valet parking. Extensive tea selection. The ambiance was 10/10! Helpful and jovial staff No through traffic, only tea goers in Peacock Alley. If you want a quintessential afternoon tea, look no further. read more

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Food was great with plenty of options. The service was fantastic; from the hosts and the servers; they were all very friendly and welcoming. The ambiance would absolutely breathtaking. They change the decor with seasons and often feature themed decorations. read more

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A wonderful way to get into the holiday spirit. The Willard is beautifully decorated and everything with the service for the tea was wonderful including the harp playing! The food was also delightful and the Willard's Signature Tea was great. However you could only order one tea. There were so many I was hoping to try and was a bit disappointed that we couldn't try them out. Would still recommend going but if you want to go during the holidays make sure you book it early! read more

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Walking in you will be blown away with the grand nature of the space. Absolutely beautiful. Our afternoon tea had a harp player which made the experience incredible. They poured us the wrong tea and we needed new cups. No apology or anything for the inconvenience. We were rarely ever checked on and items were not cleared so everything got super cluttered. I had to wave people down to even help us and every time they just seemed less enthusiastic or willing to help. When you're in this kind of atmosphere and paying that kind of money you sincerely expect more. They also include gratuity which is probably why none of them care. The tea was steeped way too long. The food was pretty good but wish they had more savory. The sweets were not light enough and were almost too dense for me to even get through. read more

Peacock Alley Tea - Tea Rooms Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This was the most overpriced thing I've done in a long time. It was pretty and the service was fine, but there are far better options in the area for far less money. The food itself was very good, but the tea options were limited and they were out of multiple blends too. The theme was cute but could have been further leaned into around the room. I didn't really mind the setup inside the lobby, but it was a bit weird to have the concierge sitting there and people wandering around. Overall, I enjoyed it but, specifically due to the unreasonable cost, I will likely never recommend it. read more

Peacock Alley Tea - Keyhole door - Tea Rooms Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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4 star for ambiance, 4.5 for service, but 3 stars for food. I understand in the States, you typically don't do afternoon tea for food - but for the experience, so take this with a grain of salt :) Intercontinental hotel has a separate area for the high tea. It's a small space but pretty cozy. Hostess greeted us and asked if we needed validation for parking - and they validated for the full duration which was nice (some places give you discounted parking which kinda sucks). When we went, there was a harpist playing live music which was a plus. After being seated, our server offered a glass of champagne - what he didn't mention is it's for an extra $12 per glass. We knew this because we had looked at the menu prior to coming, but those who might not have / newer to this kind of experience- might have been surprised when they received a bill. Service was pretty fast - I got the signature black tea. Very aromatic, not too sweet which I loved. Food, on the other hand, could be better. Except the scone, I didn't think any of the sandwiches / desserts tasted good. I honestly expected a little better since the price here is steeper than some other high tea places in DC. My friend told me while food wasn't great, it was better than at the St Regis (she told me St regis had better presentation but worse food) - so would also take this into consideration. All in all, it was a nice experience. I personally like afternoon tea and its whole vibe, but thought it was very much overpriced for the quality of food we got. I wasn't upset or anything but would not necessarily do it again here. read more

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The Peacock Alley Tea is located in the Intercontinental hotel. I came here earlier in the year for the cherry blossom afternoon tea. I had never been to an afternoon tea before but I was very impressed. I came here with a large group and they were great with accommodating us. There was a variety of black, green, white and herbal teas. I had the Lady Blue Earl Grey tea which was great. The savory finger food was visually appealing and also delicious. The pastries were good too, though I thought the savory bites were better. I also had a glass of champagne with the tea/food which was nice. The decor was elegant and beautiful and I had a lovely experience. read more

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Rushed service, mediocre food. Seated in a main hallway that has people walking by. Never need to do this again.

Really wanted to love it, but the tea sandwiches were definitely stale. Also, we brought the kids, and their platters had more substantive sandwiches than the adults. It's fun for the experience and the service was awesome. They were very attentive and the hotel is beautiful and you're getting pampered (just not in the taste buds department). The best tasting items were the scones and jams. Scones were buttery and flakey. Good clotted cream. At the end of the day, I'm more of a savory sandwiches tea person so it was disappointing for me. I'd do it once if you really want the experience, but not worth the price if you want it to also taste good. read more

Saw this place on instagram and it looked very LUX and my friend and I had to try it out. It was booked out and we had to book the reservation weeks in advance. This place is located inside a very grand looking hotel. The decor is beautiful, looks like something straight out of a European palace. A harpist plays and sings. They gave us champagne and then asked for our tea order. I got the signature blend which was very flavorful. They offered to refill my tea with hot water multiple times. They also give us a tiny hourglass to use to know when the tea was ready. Then they brought the tray of little treats. Each one was its own unique blend of flavors. Overall, everything tasted great. I will say one or two of the tiny breads were a little stale and a few of the sweet ones were too sweet for my taste. The whole thing was very filling. Sadly at the end, the server accidentally spilled champagne on my friend... read more

Peacock Alley Tea - Tea Rooms Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Located in the Waldorf hotel, Peacock Alley is absolutely stunning! It's in the giant atrium with plenty of natural light flowing through. The seats are plush, and the marble flooring gives a sense of grandiose. The finger sandwiches were yummy, with the highlight being the smoked salmon one that looked like a pretty flower and a chicken/walnut/grape one. I loooved the orange cranberry scone, it is an elevated version of the Trader Joe's version I used to be obsessed with. Definitely try all three of the accompaniments (cream, berries and peaches) to enhance your experience. The tea selection is smaller than I would expect. One area for improvement is to offer guests ability to steep for the appropriate time. I've usually seen other businesses offer a suggested time or an hour glass. My tea ended up being too strong. Otherwise very lovely time and wonderful staff! read more

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Food and ambience were amazing. Our actual server was very nice, too. But the hostess was curt, telling my party five minutes before the reservation time that check-in was not available and that we should wait to the side. When check-in time actually arrived, other people had filled in a line, so we got to the back of another group and waited what seemed like another 10 minutes. The biggest sin was rudely cancelling my initial reservation without much warning. I had made the reservation online and gotten a confirmation, but when staff called to tell me that tea was not available on the day and time requested, they communicated that it was my mistake, not a system error. I dug up the confirmation later and saw that tea had been confirmed. Something went wrong on their end. The worst part of that cancellation was that prices increased significantly between the time I made the first reservation and the time my friend and I actually got a space to have tea. The experience felt extremely overpriced given the price initially promised and the poor customer service. I would not visit Peacock Alley again. read more

This was my first time having afternoon tea, and the Willard is well-known for theirs. It was a beautiful experience and the hotel is very nice, however in terms of taste and overall value it leaves much to be desired. The tea is delicious but some of the food was hard and brittle. It's very expensive for what it is, and I feel that the food was relatively basic. Maybe in the future I will try out a seasonal afternoon tea service for a more unique experience. read more

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