Even after so many negative reviews, bestie and I decided to give them a try. We believe in finding out for ourselves and not listening to hearsay knowing that each experience is different. The bus is so pretty and picturesque. Lots of PINK and pretty flowers everywhere. The table scape is beautiful and they serve Aqua Panna water, if you know, you know. We paid for the VIP selection which offers additional food and a glass of virgin Rose'. Mike our driver explained that we would have a 90 minute ride exploring Chicago. Eliot was our entertainer during the ride. He has a beautiful singing voice and would crack a joke or two. Lola was our beautiful tea hostess and made sure we tasted four different flavors. We each received a beautifully decorated plastic tumbler for our samples. Every single flavor was amazing! I do love a good tea. We started with Maple Apple Cider, Breakfast in Paris, Moroccan Mint and finished with a nice Chai. Again, each tea flavor was amazing! On to the food. The scones were good and came with clotted cream and preserves. VIP included lobster rolls. Smelled like fish but it was a pink spread, not good. Each finger sandwich had hard bread which seemed to dry out after being exposed to the air. Each tart that was supposed to have a hard crust was soft and mushy, not good. The deviled eggs had no flavor at all. Bottom line on the food, not good at all. Not sure how long it's sitting before being served. Everything that was supposed to be soft was hard and what was supposed to be hard was soft. Overall, the concept of a mobile tea party is great. Maybe find a way to cover the food. Get real lobster rolls. read more

We had a disappointing experience. Our tour package included two souvenir cups. While I didn't necessarily need another cup, it was something we paid for as part of the experience. When we arrived, we were told a shipment hadn't come in and were told, "sorry, but at least one of you in your party gets a cup," which was not acceptable. The tea portions were extremely small - literally about two sips each. The package advertises 5 teas, but in reality you only receive 3 tastings. For the price, it felt very misleading and overpriced. Yes, the space is cute inside, but that alone doesn't make up for the poor value. To make matters worse, the food was stale. Lastly, there was no AC, so the bus was hot and stuffy the entire time. I would not recommend this tour. read more

I would give this company zero stars if I could. I strongly do not recommend anyone use TopView Tours. Their communication is completely unacceptable and their operations are disorganized. The first time we booked, we were ready and waiting, only to have them cancel via text five minutes before the bus was supposed to arrive. They then rescheduled us for a day when they knew Chicago had St. Patrick's Day celebrations--something any competent company operating in the city should plan for. On the rescheduled date, the bus showed up two hours late, did not complete the route, and then dropped us off a 15-minute walk away from our original starting point. To make matters worse, they blamed the city festivities--despite the fact that this is their operating environment and these closures are widely known and predictable. I even asked for logistical details ahead of time and received nothing helpful. The lack of planning, accountability, and basic customer service is shocking. This is a horrible company to do business with, and I would absolutely not recommend them to anyone. read more

1. The outside of the Bus was very dirty - almost black. 2. We had 6 tickets and they were going back and forth saying we had 4 tickets . This wasn't the server but the actual host and she was rude. 3. The tea was not good. 4. The food was plentiful . All in all it was cute but wasn't worth 113.00. read more

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The young lady named Kay was phenomenal, her service and knowledge was top tier. I celebrated my 61st birthday with them and I left that venue HAPPY and GRATEFUL. THE 4:30 bus owes me nothing, worth every penny read more

Tea Around Town - After the talented gentleman sang happy birthday to me. I was so happy - Bus Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I saw this advertised on Instagram and thought it was an concept, so we decided to give it a try. Tea Around Town offered different packages and got the upgraded package which came with extra sandwiches. There was no alcohol served on the bus, but the package I got had sparkling non-alcoholic rose drink. The bus was definitely pretty in pink and a sight to see, double deck and all glitzy. We were seated upstairs at our table and were greeted with our tea sandwiches and desserts already on the table as well as these cute water cups. At the time I did not realize that those would be holding our tea. The food itself was good as well as the pastries. There were scones and other little desserts, including a cake pop. The sandwiches were tasty as well, with there being a beef club sandwich and a lobster roll, which I believe was a part of the deluxe package. In addition, we got some Ahi Tuna on a spoon as another bite for us. The tea itself was a letdown as I thought we were getting five teas, but in reality we only got three and the serving was literally a sip of tea for each one. Not really enough to wash down food. There was also no sugar, lemon or cream for those who like their tea that way. Because it was a lovely day, it was fun driving around downtown Chicago seeing sites I normally don't see if I am driving and trying to make lights and left turn signals. But beware when the bus makes turns as drinks and plates can go sliding off the table. The Queen, unfortunately, had just put down her glass of rose and the glass slide right off the table into her lap. Not good. The hostess was nice, pointing out sights along the way about different sights, all that I was familiar with, but it was nice to hear someone speak on them. She also performed some songs, with myself and the lovely ladies sitting across from us singing along with her. Did we have fun? Yes we did. Would I do it again at the price I paid? Not likely. My expectations for a tea experience was based on having tea at places like the Drake, Russian Tea Time or Allis and this did not live up to that. That said, I think if you have folks in from out of town and you want to do a 1.5 hour downtown tour with some snacks, doing the basic package would be a nice treat to see and hear about some of the great sights in Chicago. read more

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My husband booked Tea Around Town as birthday gift to celebrate my birthday on December1st, and honestly... it felt spectacular experience. At first, we weren't sure where the bus was parked, but it ended up being right in front of the hotel, super convenient! Parking was also reasonably priced, which was a great start. From the moment we stepped inside, the experience felt special. The welcome alone had a warm, almost Disney-like charm. Our host and hostess were absolutely wonderful. professional, kind, and incredibly attentive. The host even sang throughout the ride, which added such a fun and whimsical touch, while the hostess made sure we were comfortable and had everything we needed. The food? Amazing. Beautifully arranged three-tier trays with a perfect mix of sweet treats, savory sandwiches, and two types of scones served with jam and butter. Everything tasted fresh and thoughtful. The tea selection included four seasonal flavors, each one more delicious than the last. The whole ride lasted a little over an hour. just enough time to enjoy every bite and sip without rushing. We toured through downtown Chicago, passing by iconic spots with light commentary that made the views even more interesting. It felt charming, cozy, and a little bit romantic . such a unique way to see the city. The only letdown was the souvenir. Their website advertised a tea-themed cup, and I was excited to take one home, but it wasn't provided. Not sure why, but it would have made the experience even more perfect. One small thing: at some point, the host started chatting about a sports match, which didn't really match the dreamy, elegant vibe of the tour for me. But it didn't ruin the overall experience. In short, if you're looking for a beautiful, whimsical, and memorable outing especially for a celebration. this is such a lovely choice. I left with a full heart, great memories, and a birthday I won't forget. :) read more

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BEWARE: they charge significantly higher prices if you click on their ads vs. looking up their website. (See pics). Check ALL sources before booking if you really want to go. Fun thing to do. Bites were meh. Teas were pretty basic and something you can probably get at a grocery store. Cool vibe and very instagramable. read more

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Great concept to view the city's delightful architecture and iSights on top of a bus with high tea. Easy checkin with my 80 year old British boss . The tables were already set up with treats ... tad bit skeptical to see smoked salmon on toast sitting out for a while . We were welcomed with flutes of rose and water botules . The top floor was pretty packed with the exception of few unoccupied tables . As the bus turned on Randolph our neighbors trays fell to the floor and so did their drinks making a major mess . The staff came by and cleaned up . Our guide was entertaining with his Chicago history knowledge and crooning to some famous musics numbers the scones were the only thing really that were edible the sandwiches and sweet treats were subpar . Overall a fun experience for people touring Chicago read more

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the bus was beautiful the food great; but experience was not great, we were left standing in the rain waiting for the bus to arrivee for 30 minutes then there was just one person waiting on us, and while it was called "Tea" there was not a single black tea nor any hot teas, most of what she served tasted like koolaid and she gave just 2 sips and when I asked for more she was dismissive. unfortunate experience. read more

Simply it was not clean, bird shit on the window couldn't enjoy the view at all couldn't take videos and pictures, and that just ruined the moment. The Bus window ceiling was all scratched up not nice and clear to enjoy the view. Everything look cheaply made I was hoping for a more luxury feeling, but sadly that was not the case. read more

Tea Around Town - The bus wasn't that clean , Couldn't enjoy the view from the bird shit on the window. - Bus Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If i could give it a 1/2 star I would...It was a horrible experience, the bus was late and the food was disgusting, the only thing good i can say about it was the two workers who did a good job of singing and serving whoever is running the company is running it very very badly. My experience took place on June 6th and with this horrible experience and I was warned by many but still wanted to see for myself what I should have did was listen to the warnings so I'm warning those who want to do this experience DON'T!!!! read more

Extremely disappointing experience. We booked the Chicago tour expecting the experience that was advertised, but what we received fell far short and felt very misleading. The microphone on the bus was not working, so there was essentially no tour guidance provided. Instead of enjoying the atmosphere, we had to listen to music interrupted by constant advertisements, which completely ruined the ambiance. There was also no live entertainment, despite that being part of the advertised experience. The tea service was equally disappointing. We were supposed to receive four flavors of tea, but only two were served. We even had to ask for a third cup, only to be told the other flavor wasn't available. To make matters worse, the ride itself ended about 15 minutes earlier than expected. The base level of the bus also smelled terrible, which only added to the unpleasant experience. While the employees were kind and polite, they appeared inexperienced and were not given the proper equipment or training to provide the experience that was being sold. The problems seemed to go far beyond the staff themselves and reflected poor preparation and management. We paid a premium price expecting, at the very least, a guided tour and the advertised tea service. Neither was delivered. I requested a refund and, after all of these issues, the only compensation offered was a 5% discount on a future booking. Why would I want to book again after paying for an experience that was never provided? This company sold us an experience we did not receive. Between the missing tour, lack of live entertainment, incomplete tea service, unpleasant odor, shortened ride, and inadequate response to our concerns, I cannot recommend Tea Around Town Chicago. Save your money and spend it somewhere that delivers what it promises. read more

This was a unique opportunity to see Chicago from a very pretty perspective. I treated my cousin to this experience for an early birthday gift. We had a lovely time tasting new teas and finger sandwiches. It would be cool to do this in a different city. Being from Chicago, it was nice to experience this city from a tourist lens. It's a bit pricey but so are a lot of touristy attractions. read more

Tea Around Town - Bus Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This experience did not meet expectations and was not worth the cost. Guests were instructed to arrive early, but staff did not arrive until just before departure and were still setting up, leaving us standing in the rain for about 10 minutes. The bus operators were very kind, but the food was poor quality, and I found a hair in my sandwich. The tour provided very little information about the buildings and landmarks we passed, making it less engaging than expected. The advertised "sing-along" atmosphere was also lacking, with subdued music throughout the ride. The tea service was particularly disappointing. Although the website lists several tea options, only four were offered, and two were more like sugary fruit drinks than tea. Overall, the experience felt overpriced and did not deliver what was advertised. read more

Canceled 30 min after atart time. Offered 50 percent refund which is crazy!!! We waited 45 min as your supposed to arrive early. Waited in the snow only to be canceled on and offered 50 percent is wild to me!!! read more

Tea Around Town - Bus Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Do NOT waste your money! Came to visit from TX and booked this for 6 people to attend this event and this event was apparently cancelled since two other families asked if we were here for the event. We did not receive an email or anything about cancellation. I cannot believe this is the kind of customer service this company runs! If we do not get a refund I will absolutely be fighting this with the bank. read more

First and foremost, let me start by reminding people that at the time of this post this is a brand new experience here to Chicago. I want to say it's been here, maybe almost 2 months, but no more than that really. With that being said - there are definitely some kinks that need to be worked out however there is a bigger picture. I tried the Luxe experience and I think I've seen some mentions of people saying that the breads on some of the sandwiches taste hard like they've been sitting out all day. Newsflash folks - all bread isn't soft. Some breads are made with different textures; there are literally hundreds of types of breads - not just the white bread that you get for a buck out of your local store. With that being said, we had a variety of different sandwiches, and we actually liked them all. My favorite was the chicken on the rye bread, the salmon that was smoked, there was a mushroom mixture on top of a crust, a delicious cucumber sandwich and more. It was also scones that were delicious that came with butter and jam. And an array of desserts. Our food did not taste like it had been sitting out all day. Now what would be helpful is if they had a small menu at the table describing what each sandwich was because we had to go online and look at the menu to figure out what we were tasting. Also, this isn't meant to fill you up. Traditional tea times are enjoyed and served with small finger foods mint to just complement the tea and be enjoyed over conversation. The timing was a little off as well like I saw some others mention. It's supposed to be 90 minutes, but it seems like we had about 70 maybe 75. There were some last-minute logistical adjustments so I'm assuming that that had something to do with it. However, regardless of that, it was a great trip . Riding through downtown on a double-decker bus was such a cute and lovely experience. I can definitely tell that they are still sorting out the route and trying to identify what works best. And I think they just added a second tour bus so there some in and out of navigating through that that they are still working through. For the entertainment when we weren't being serenaded by our tour guide, he was giving some facts about the area that we were in and when that wasn't occurring, there was real life Bridgerton music playing lol very nice touch! I did see some people talking about the decorations, looking like a DIY experiment. I mean, they turned a double-decker bus into a tea party on wheels, totally custom made by them - what are you expecting? Lol it's still extremely cute and very nice and we loved it. Unless you're standing up on the seats and looking into the nooks and crannies of the corners of the ceilings and seats, I'm not sure how you're even bothered by this to begin with. All in all - it's a great experience! It is a bit pricey, but I would say it's something you would need to do at least once. Yes there are some kinks that need to be worked out, but it's like that with anything that is brand new, especially in such a large city . If you want to be safe, give it a little time for them to make needed adjustments and sort things out and then check them out. They should be doing winter wonderland theme coming up soon for the winter time in Chicago, which will look amazing if there's actually snow outside. Go and see for yourself, but I'm sure you'll have a good time. read more

Tea Around Town - Bus Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Bus showed up at 3:07. The driver did not do the scheduled tour route ( I have my tracking to show exactly what time we departed and when we arrived back AND the actual route taken) and the tour was supposed to last 75 minutes (not including boarding time as it is stated that they leave promptly at 3:00pm). We arrived back at the departure locations at 3:57. Fifty minutes total time in the experience. read more

Our bus was on time our server and singer was absolutely amazing . Our tour went extremely well, great experience, food bites, teas were .

Omg , Disgusting filthy.. tea in a kiddy sippy cup ...not to mention , this was my second time trying to ride . The first one in January was canceled without a call or text . The bathroom was the worst ... Blood on the seat and the water doesn't work and the floors were filthy . The bus was late again , they were people who had been waiting for 2 and half hours late .. terrible , the experience was nice but nasty . The young lady , pouring up the tea was a delight .. but wow ., filthy read more

Tea Around Town - Tuna - Bus Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great concept, mediocre execution! The food is sitting out when you board, and was already starting to get stale. The tea is served in a plastic tumbler, with about three sips...and no milk when I asked. The server was lovely, the guy who was the host/emcee looked like he hadn't showered in days and his clothes were filthy. Decor was trashy. Tons of fake fall leaves everywhere...on Feb. 15th. We arrived 15 minutes early as stated, and boarded right away. And then waited another 25 minutes for late arrivals. And the last stop on our tour (Shedd Aquarium) was skipped. Probably due to the late shows. All in all, wouldn't recommend. Put the money towards a nicer tea elsewhere. read more

Extremely disappointed with Tea Around Town Chicago. While the actual ride itself was about what we expected, the way they operate is honestly unacceptable. The ticket specifically tells guests to arrive 15 minutes early, yet the bus wasn't there early at all -- it showed up about 20 minutes AFTER the scheduled ticket time. We received absolutely no communication about the delay and no additional time was added to make up for it. If another guest hadn't mentioned that she received a text saying they were running late, we likely would have left assuming we were in the wrong place. Meanwhile, I was trying to call every number listed and email for help, only to find there's apparently no way to reach an actual person. No live customer service, no updates, nothing. This was supposed to be the start of a birthday celebration, and instead it turned into a stressful, frustrating experience standing around with no answers wondering if the event was even happening. Completely unprofessional and really put a damper on the entire day. read more

Poor customer service and communication. I was unable to reach anyone regarding reservation. Showed up to meeting spot and was notified 40minutes later it was cancelled after having to go to a new location per their request. read more

AVOID THIS COMPANY AT ALL COSTS! I would give zero stars if I could. We booked at the March 14th tour, but once I realized it was the St Parick Day Parade in downtown Chicago, I tried to reschedule. The customer service team was AWFUL. Asking me to pay a 50% fee to reschedule, saying that the parade would have NO effect on the tour. The day of the tour came, and after being asked to arrive 30 minutes early, we received a text at 11:47 (only 13 minutes before the departure time of noon) that the trip would be departing at 12:30. This was extremely disappointing because we were all waiting outside. The bus did not actually pull up to pick us up until 12:30, which meant we did not depart until 12:50, almost a whole an hour after our scheduled departure time. The trip itself was spent sitting in standstill traffic, sometimes not moving for more than 15 minutes at a time. By the end of the trip, we had not even driven past 1/4th of the promised sites to see. While I understand that the route may change, we did not pay to sit in traffic for 90 minutes. Then, after more than 2 hours stuck in traffic, we were unloaded in the middle of an intersection- more than 15 minutes away from our promised drop off spot. Customer service is a joke. I tried reaching out 3 times after the event with my concerns, and they completely ignored me, so I am writing this review. This was an extremely disappointing experience overall. I would NEVER recommend this experience to anyone. Save the $150 and just eat a stale sandwich with two sips of tea in the middle of Chicago downtown traffic. read more

The experience was disappointing. The bus was scheduled to arrive at 7:30 PM but didn't arrive until 8:10 PM. There was no apology or proper communication--only a message saying it would arrive in 5 minutes. The food was not good, and the bus was not clean; the floor was sticky. I expected much better for the price. read more

Tea Around Town - Bus Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I went for my birthday and my experience was terrible and this is the worst way to spend $80+ is a complete waste we literally went for a 15 minute drive and was dropped back off. They didn't announce any landmarks or anything , although I am from Chicago and didn't need that there were people on the that wasn't from there and probably wanted to know the experience just wasn't worth it. The food was cold. Nasty steel just terrible experiment. read more

Tea Around Town - Bus Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have not even taken the ride and I'm worried. I have eight tickets to take a group. But now that I see all these horror reviews I'm scared. I reached out to the company via email, text and telephone and have not received any responses. I am hoping and praying that for Mother's Day they will be on their best behavior and put their best best foot forward and show mothers a good time read more

Don't be fooled by the aesthetics. At 1:18 PM--twelve minutes before our 1:30 PM reservation for my daughter's 7th birthday--they called to say they couldn't accommodate us. No real remorse. No accountability. No meaningful apology. I bought the tickets a month ago. And I had five little girls dressed up, excited, and ready to celebrate... only to have the day derailed at the last minute. If you're considering this place for a special moment: don't. Save your money and choose a business that respects its customers and honors commitments. read more

Avoid these scammers. They have overwhelmingly negative reviews for a reason. I tried to cancel/request a refund due to a family member being hospitalized and they refused it. They deserve every 1 star read more

Terrible experience and very unprofessional. I bought tickets for my household family and friends to celebrate my birthday. We were all downtown at the pickup spot excited for the tea time experience along with other customers. Literally 5 minutes before our experience was supposed to begin, we all received an email from the company saying our Tea Time was canceled. Everyone was dressed up and waiting outside. They offered a 50% refund and a pass to a future tea time (which I had no interest in at that point). I called the company and it took them FOREVER to issue a full refund. Cute concept but these operators fail to execute. read more

We traveled to Chicago specifically to have the Tea Around Town experience and it did not disappoint. We saw some discouraging news reports prior to coming, but are happy to report that the bus arrived on time and was exquisite. The tea was good, the tour was nice, and the food was delicious. The servers were very kind and helpful. My only wish is that the tour guide was a little louder so I could hear everything. The bus driver did an exceptional job handing the busy streets of Chicago. 10 out of 10 for us. Would recommend and totally do again! read more

I've visited Chicago dozens of times and this tour was such fun. The tea sandwiches and desserts were amazing, our tour guide was funny and friendly. 15 out of 10 would recommend. read more

Tea Around Town - Our Tea Around Town guide. - Bus Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

BE AWARE! Purchased a $95 ticket for my group of 6 (that's $570) when I clicked on the link on their IG account. However, when you go to their website through Google, the price changes to $75. The fact that these people are messing with the pricing and scamming people out of their money is disgusting. Screenshots attached. read more

Tea Around Town - When you go through their website on Google, it's cheaper. - Bus Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Wish I could give zero stars. We had a 10:30A.M. tour. Bus pulls up at 10:10AM from the prior tour. While the bus was letting guest off, we received a text saying the tour was running behind and the eta will be text shortly. The tour operator didn't say one word. Without notice the bus doors close and the bus pulls off, leaving 25-30 people standing in the cold. About ten minutes later we receivd a text saying the tour was cancelled. read more

Unfortunately, all the reviews are true. We had a 12:00 time. All of us waiting in the very cold, but happy the bus showed up. 11:58. Food and sweets were good. People serving were nice. Very overpriced for no alcohol. Gave us 5 teas, but nothing more than two sips per tea. Honestly, it's water! Don't skimp. The bathroom was not working, so I felt bad for a little girl. Overall a gimmick, will go back to hotel high tea. read more

Tea Around Town - This was all the food, no extras. And a splash of juice - Bus Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Im from columbus,OH. Me along with a group of girls came for a short girls trip, a group of 10 ladies come to do the Tea around town chicago. We was excited to attend this even we all bought our tickets well in advance thru topview before our trip which was from May 15th to the 17th. Our tea tour was on the 16th and upon arrival the bus was late. They announced that the air wasn't working on the bus and that a mechanic was on the way tonfix the issue we sat on a hot bus reaching im pretty sure what was over 90 degress for more then a hour. Eventually they announced that they are canceling the tour. They send emails on how we can get a refund and we all responded to the email. Till this day none of us have yet to still receive our refund. I personally was issued a refund that was pending for a week and then it just canceled, when emailed my bank on why it was canceled they said the merchant canceled the refund. Now im currently in a loop of going back and forth with topview and my bank trying to get this issue resolved. Upon reviewing reviews I seen that this is common problem and I feel like this company need to be exposed. I would appreciate anyhelp to make sure this dont happen to anyone else this whole process has been nothing but a ongoing nightmare trying to right a wrong. read more

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The atmosphere was cute! The tea was delicious. Don't pay for the upgrade. I was supposed to get special upgraded treats with the Luxe. We got one of the 4 listed on the site and it wasn't even one of the delicious deserts that I wanted. The bus was 20 minutes late, and I think they were trying to make up time because they cut off a chunk of the route. It said we were supposed to go past the planetarium and we didn't even enter the area so the 75 minute tour was a total of 56 minutes. read more

Tea Around Town - The desert tray. Everyone got this exact tray. - Bus Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My mother paid for her, myself and a friend to do this today. We woke up early to come on time as they stated. They didn't text us that they would be running late until 10 min before the time they should have arrived. We were all so excited and this could have been such a nice experience but we all were extremely disappointed. You should add that one hour and 15 minutes later, they still had not arrived. And, we had to leave and eat somewhere else. read more

We had a nice time there. Lola was our waitress and entertainer and she had a beautiful voice. Brian was helpful and informative! Thank You. read more