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Southern Serenity

4.9 (43 reviews)
Closed • Closed

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SOUTHERN SERENITY ATMOSPHERE

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Recommended Reviews - Southern Serenity

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George L.

Amazing! Totally worth the 500 mile drive! The scone alone was worth it, but that beef stew was the highlight of my day!

Miss L.

Southern Serenity has a charming ambiance with vintage upholstered chairs, elegant china, dainty hanging florals and fairy lights which create a relaxing afternoon tea experience. The menu changes monthly and offers a nice variety of sweet and savory treats. We enjoyed two tea selections during our visit. A tasty scone was our first course. Next course - potato soup - served in a dainty dessert glass - was a wonderful blend of potatoes, cream, bacon and chives. Next came the tiered serving tray with a variety of nibbles that were beautifully presented and quite tasty. Service is exceptional - the owners are so welcoming and friendly. Be sure to stop in and enjoy this local treasure. Make your reservation online to ensure seating.

Cute!
Katie C.

I love Southern Serenity and recommend it to everyone. The atmosphere is so unique, and the service is truly the best ever- couldn't ask for more. I enjoy trying tea but am mainly obsessed with the food. The chef is AMAZING and other staff are great too! Farrell especially! I love how welcoming everyone is. You can feel comfortable wearing fanciest tea attire or simply come as you are and still feel like it's a special occasion. Make a reservation! It does get busy. Plenty of parking though!

Sandwiches and sweet treats

This is a surprise gem you won't be expecting in the area they are located. Went for the first time today for their Christmas tea. It was nicely decorated and the service was great. The second course of the three course offering was beef stew which I was honestly skeptical about at first but I have to say it was some of the best I've had. The salmon and cucumber sandwich was awesome. Will definitely be back again. Great little place.

Maria T.

Let your worries melt away when you enter this tranquil and relaxing tearoom & cafe. Highlighted with peaceful turquoise walls, Victorian décor including colorful fans, a warm fireplace, and cozy nooks, you will certainly see why this lovely space is called Serenity! I love the curio cabinets filled with china, teacups, and teacups! The pretty tables are covered with white tablecloths, sprays of flowers, and tea accoutrements. The tea ware is beautiful and if you are lucky, your tea may just be served in one of the owner's Sadler teapots! The owners, Shena-Rae and Al, have done an incredible job creating this soothing tearoom! I came in on a whim and their southern hospitali-tea was so welcoming! I just had time for the cream tea, which came with an endless pot of tea and 2 scones (vanilla) and jam/cream/lemon curd. The scones were light and fluffy, some of the best I've ever had! They just melted in you mouth! The tea was robust and perfectly balanced with amber hues that warmed my soul! I will definitely be returning to sample the menu! That quiche is calling me back! Here's to Southern Sereni-tea!!

Lyndsay J.

Been here many times! The food is always fresh, the scones are light and fluffy, their homemade clotted cream is wonderful! Beautiful selection of delicious teas. Stop in or make a reservation. A wide variety of foods and ways to enjoy their selections.

R H.

Where to begin. Gentlemen greeted my daughter and I at the door. Very kind and gracious. Our server was phenomenal. She had the right amount of personality, friendliness and knowledge to make our experience wonderful. The chef/owner came out to describe the servings on the tower and to see how we liked everything. What an incredible chef and owner. This level of interest by a business owner in their customers experience is hard to find nowadays. The entire experience from tea to food, greeting to ending, server to owner was simply spectacular. I would do this again in a heartbeat and would definitely recommend Southern Serenity when in Richmond.

delicious corned beef and cabbage soup
Melina S.

what a delightful experience at southern serenity! the tea selection was vast and delicious, and all the food was delicately prepared and plated. The service team were kind and knowledgeable in the overall feel of the dining room was so relaxing and pretty. I can't wait to come back!

The amazing house made food
Roxanne K.

This place is absolutely adorable. I booked reservations for a Saturday and my friend was running about 10 minutes late so the owner sent me next to the fire and made sure I was comfortable. I didn't know that it was a mom and Pop shop and their three sons were also back there. Everybody was so kind and respectful And the service was amazing and the food was freshly made, and the tea was amazing too of course

Entrance
Mary A.

This new tea room is situated in a strip mall. Once you enter you feel the charm and warmth. The owners are incredibly friendly and welcoming. All the food and tea we had was fresh and delicious. The scone was really tasty. I was a little surprised that it came first and unfortunately it was so delicious that I filled up on it and the soup and had little room for the other treats included in the full afternoon tea. Thankfully I was able to bring home the treats for later. Definitely worth a visit!

I ventured 45 min from home to find something yummy for breakfast when hubby instructed me to take a day for myself. The nicest man (and husband of the chef) at the door offered me their "rose" table near the window. The special tea that I chose was purple papaya berry and not only was it beautiful but also delicious. I loved every bite of food and the small friendly conversation with the staff and chef who delivers and spiels the main tiered attraction to every table. I definitely plan on coming back with my family as I saw another table walk in with kids and everyone enjoying themselves. There was a special Father's Day menu posted by the door. I highly recommend calling and making a reservation for this special day!

Salina P.

Wow! This is definitely a hidden gem within the Richmond area. My family and I have tried all the tea rooms Richmond has to offer but this is by far our favorite. The service is outstanding, a husband and wife owned business that they put their heart and soul into. Even though it was quite busy on a Saturday afternoon, they had adequate staff to handle everything. Most of the food is house made which makes the whole experience even more personal. We even found out the chef behind it all went to a very prestigious culinary school! Being vegetarians, we didn't know what to expect and if it would be enough food for us but we were pleasantly surprised. Our favorite was the arugula and tomato sandwich with a house made hummus on wheat bread. It's budget friendly at $30/ a person, I almost felt like they were undercharging for how much food you get. While the location is just in a shopping center, once you step inside it's like you're in England. The ambiance and decorations of the entire facility are beautiful. I will be recommending this to friends and I myself will be back!

Joanna H.

Husband and wife hosts do a great job of providing a perfect tea party experience. You'll feel like you're at your grandmothers house using her china and having tea. The tea blend of the day was different but very good. The treats were just one delicious bite after another. Very pretty display. I asked for vegan options fully expecting to not have much to eat. I was very surprised at all the things they brought me. It was a great treat for me!! Super fun place for book club, birthday or just a time to slow down and visit. They do a nice job!!

Gluten Free Tower

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Food is so yummy and the service is amazing! Ambiance is cute. Definitely will be back again!!

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Service was great, presentation was lovely and the food and teas were all absolutely delicious!! Can't wait to go back again!!

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Ask the Community - Southern Serenity

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Parking: street parking available. There is street parking right out front and also near the…read moreentrance. However it is not guaranteed. Seating: there are no seats inside. They have a 8 people maximum capacity. There is a slim bar along the windows for people to stand and eat, but other than that, there are no chairs. It is a small arroom so don't expect to stay long. Food: the ice cream was very creamy and delicious! I loved the special flavors they had! And they change the flavors every now and then! So it's fun to try them all. Bathroom: there is no restroom. Price: I thought it was pretty good for the amount you get! It isn't on the cheap side, but you do get a large serving! Service: our server was very patient and nice! He gave us a few samples because I couldn't decide which flavor I liked (like any typical girl haha)

If you are vegan, gluten free, dairy free, etc this will be your new favorite ice cream spot!! I…read morecome from a family with more food restrictions than a class full of picky eaters, & I was so excited to text my sister that I found ice cream flavors she can eat that aren't just watery sorbet! And not only that, but the flavors were so delicious and creamy. I've tasted my fair share of DF ice cream; this is the best I've maybe ever had. My friend could not tell a difference in her scoops either. Staff was super nice & were more than happy to entertain multiple samples. Prices were great for being allergy friendly. The shop is a little small so summer nights might have long lines, but we went on a rainy day in March. Can't wait to try the whole menu!

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| ALWAYS ROOM FOR ICE CREAM |
| ALWAYS ROOM FOR ICE CREAM |
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Came here to get a breakfast pastry while in the area. Brecotea is a Korean inspired bakery that…read morealso has hot and cold beverages, breads, cakes, and savory sandwiches as well. The ambiance was clean and orderly. Upon entering, you grab a serving tray lined with parchment and some tongs. The items are in a glass enclosed display that you have to open and place your selections on your tray for purchase. I settled on the pistachio cream filled pecan pastry, the almond twist, and strawberry shortcake. The beverage menu was extensive: matcha, flavored teas, cocoa, espresso/coffee, and more. We were greeted by pleasant staff at checkout and our orders placed in a parchment type bag for take out. They also have seating inside. The pastries were just sweet enough without being overly sweet, which I like. The pistachio cream was a perfect compliment to the pecan encrusted pastry. The almond twist was both flaky and crunchy with the sliced almonds on top, and the strawberry shortcake had layers of real strawberries, whipped topping and yellow cake that was moist. All were fresh. All in all, a great place to stop by for a morning pastry treat and tea/coffee while in the area,

Bright and airy space, almost like a spa!…read more Quiet when I came in weekday afternoon. Calming spot to grab a treat, get some work done/journal, or catch up with friends in an aesthetic and modern cafe. Ordered the paradise tea with mango and avocado. I loved the textures and layers of flavors. The drink was filling and lasted me a while, not watery but refreshing. The mango tasted fresh and avocado creamy. I haven't tried the pastries at this location, but have at their other Richmond cafe. Great cakes and buns made fresh in-house. Easy to find parking at the lot outside. Service is pretty quick.

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A fantastic experience after many years of having them on my list…read more Make no mistake. Proper Pie is a Richmond gem. Located in Church Hill neighborhood. Free off street parking is plentiful. There is good signage. It's now a take out only establishment since Covid. Two table are available for outdoor seating. Most customers took their orders and walked away. I visited them on a Sunday afternoon just after St. John's let out. It's just one block away and the church Patrick Henry gave a speech. There were a lot of church goers enjoying the business. Proper has a menu in the window to guide customers on choices of savory, or sweet. I wanted one of each. The man at the window was great in providing recommendations. I ordered the steak and cheese as well as the Banoffee. The preparation is already done and the man with assistant moved quickly to complete my order. I enjoyed my treats at their outdoor table and also enjoyed conversation with locals. I started with the steak & cheese which was loaded with meat and cheese. DELICIOUS! Then onto the Banoffee which smelled heavenly of cocoa. Another home run! I love bananas and if you do too this will be enjoyable. So glad I found them open on my visit. There hours are very good, but I have missed them in the Summer before on vacation. Just go, no brainer.

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If you like cereal and ice cream, this is the place for you. All of your retro cereal dreams come…read moretrue here. This unassuming shop has a huge selection of ice cream styles to choose from. You can get simple ice cream, cereal infused ice cream, milkshakes, and more. I decided to go for their signature item, the cereal infused ice cream. I got a vanilla base with cheese cake bits and fruity pebbles. It was absolutely delicious. I live nearby so walked over, but there are street parking spots in front. Do know when you walk in, it might take a minute to place your order. It's a super local place and the person who runs the front is usually next door. It's more of a takeout ice cream place. There is Clay park nearby to enjoy your ice cream at. My ice cream with tip came out to about $12. It was a huge serving too. As you can see from my menu photos, there are a lot of option to pick from. So if you're more of a captain crunch person or apple jacks, you're good. I highly recommend checking this tasty ice cream out.

Stopped by One Way Cream & Goodies while in town for a conference. With the large menu, it took us…read moreawhile to decide, but the owner was very patient and helped us choose. I built my own creation, topped with Cinnamon Toast Crunch. It was so yummy, and it's definitely a large portion that you can share. Be prepared because there isn't a ton of seating, only a few barstools inside and two picnic tables outside, but it's not too large of an issue. My ice cream was so good that we can back the next day!

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Southern Serenity - breakfast_brunch - Updated July 2026

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