Coral Tree Tea House

While visiting San Diego from Connecticut I spent a wonderful Sunday afternoon at the Coral Tree Tea House. My friend and I enjoyed a three tiered tray full of delicious treats including little sandwiches, scones, brownies and other delicacies. My sister who is gluten free enjoyed her own platter of scrumptious treats that were just as beautifully prepared as mine. The tea choices were plentiful and the service was outstanding. If you are visiting the area I suggest you make a reservation for afternoon tea during your stay. If you live in the area definitely go there.

I took my daughter (4) and my mom to tea for their birthday and it was such a wonderful and cozy authentic afternoon tea. We were given several amazing teas and the food was delightful and delicious. A lot of time and thoughtful preparation was put into every aspect of tea. The house adds charm to the experience. My daughter was given a special, fun plate of kid friendly treats and sandwiches. She also was given her own tea pot of apple juice when she had her fill of hot tea. I would highly recommend visiting the Coral Tree Tea House for a fun, authentic, relaxing and sweet experience. The staff was also so kind and caring and even sang their own rendition of "happy birthday". The experience was exceptional from start to finish. We will be back!

I recently took my girlfriends, who were visiting from out of town, for a delightful Afternoon Tea experience. We truly savored our time together in this charming establishment, an ideal setting for a ladies' day out. As we settled into our cozy table, we were enveloped by a warm ambiance that encouraged conversation and laughter. The selection of teas was impressive, offering a delightful array of flavors, each served alongside an exquisite assortment of pastries and finger sandwiches, beautifully presented on tiered stands. Nestled within the picturesque historic district of Old Town, the venue's quaint surroundings added to the overall charm, making our afternoon enjoyable and memorable as we indulged in conversation and culinary treats.

Tucked away in a serene park near Old Town, Coral Tree Tea House is a picturesque gem that exudes charm from the moment you step in. Parking spots are ample, making it a breeze to access. We had the Queens HighTea, a 1-hour-30-minute experience that was nothing short of exquisite. From the apple salad to the diverse assortment of Tea and Savory Sandwiches, along with the homemade pastries and petite desserts— we enjoyed every bite. They are committed to accommodating dietary restrictions without compromising on taste or quality. They take their tea, food, and service seriously, evident in the experience we had. We enjoyed insightful conversations with the ladies about the history, business, and inspirations behind their concept and products. Do note, reservations are a must via phone call only.

Located in beautiful Heritage Park, a charming historic area in Old Town, you will find this gem of a tea house. I’ve been to pretty impressive afternoon teas while living in Japan, so I was a little reluctant but I’m glad I was proved wrong. The ladies who manage this establishment take pride in serving you and make everything homemade in their vintage kitchen- from the fresh cream to the scones, to the warm spanakopita and tea sandwiches. Savory and sweet tea pastries, with your choice of two different teas, makes for a wonderful time with friends. It was fun to dress up and really absorb the experience. I highly recommend! A few things to note and be aware of: They change their menu monthly (I believe), they have ample parking, you must make a reservation and leave a deposit, the space inside of the tea house is extremely small and tight. You will be very close to the guests next to you. There was a large party when we visited and the room was filled with laughter and conversation throughout our dining experience. Dress up and plan for some extra time to walk the grounds- the homes are fascinating and charmingly picturesque.

I absolutely loved this tea house. One of the best ones I've been to. The ladies who run it are simply delightful. I enjoyed the stories they shared. They allowed us to bring our dogs and sit on the front porch and it was a beautiful, peaceful view. The scones were my favorite. I never would've chosen a chocolate coconut tea off a menu, so it's smart to make that the house tea. It was surprisingly delicious. I also ordered Lucy's and my mom chose Creme Brulee, both were great.

Amazing customer service from the get-go, Pam squeezed us in last minute and was absolutely delightful to speak with. Traditional tea treats were served in a most beautiful historic home and district. Everything was thoughtfully set up and no detail was spared providing my daughters and I a most memorable afternoon tea! We'll definitely be back!

Our reserved group had nine people. We were seated in the front room next to the little shop. Pam and Blanche were our guides and there was also a gentleman. The ladies were so sweet, took our photos, and told us some interesting history. First, we were given the house tea, Coral Tree Tea. Second, we picked two more as a table. Third, we were given a three tier plate offering savory and sweet treats. They gave us a bracelet and showed us a coin. There is one bathroom in the building. I hope to return. I think it would be so fun to work here!

just lovely! very sweet staff, delicious food & teas set in a beautiful late victorian house.

The home is gorgeous and the ladies who run the tea service were wonderful to us. They took extra time to talk to us about the resident spirit in the home, Mary. They also paid a lot of attention to us during the tea service and made sure that our cups were always full and to check on us to see if we needed anything else. We started out with a chocolate and coconut black tea, that's the house tea and it is superb. They have little bags of it for sale upfront, so I did pick a bag up to bring home. After that, we chose another black tea that was crème brûlée and then a green tea that was a raspberry hibiscus. Both were also really tasty. All of the sweet and savory items on the tower were very good. My favorites were a little meatball crustini, a delicious toffee scone and some sort of incredible cheesecake custard situation that had a little bit of chocolate, caramel and nuts. Making a reservation is kind of a clunky experience. I left a voicemail and somebody called me back two weeks later, but I was able to book our reservation easily on the phone at that time. They don't have the ability to reach them by email and the policy is you have to cancel at least 48 hours in advance. Fortunately, I didn't have to cancel, but I was worried that if something came up and I called and left a voicemail and they didn't receive it in time that we may have been penalized.

I have always loved coming to here over the years! They have such fun holiday teas and a great selection for their year round afternoon teas too. You do have to call ahead to make a reservation as they have limited space and a busy schedule. The staff is incredibly kind and welcoming and any server I've had has always been very attentive and sweet. During my most recent visit, I had their Paris and creme brûlée teas. Both were great but the creme brûlée was fantastic. No add ins necessary as it was perfect on its own. For our afternoon tea tower, i especially loved their open face and cucumber sandwiches and double scones (sweet and regular scones). Their desserts to end our tea with were delectable! I really love that they give you a tea cookie in the beginning to pair with your tea. Great attention to detail in the tea house itself and the spread on their tea tower. Definitely worth it for the entire tea experience and to visit the historic site!

I've been here a couple of times and I will continue to come back here. I love bringing people here, too. They love it! The staff is super sweet. I didn't expect them to give a gift to our birthday friend and they sang a beautiful happy birthday song to her. The tea and treats were so good. The first tea severed is their specialty, a chocolate and coconut tea. We got the mango passion fruit and pumpkin tea! So goooooood! It's delicious! Their whole shop in and out is super cute! It's a perfect place to take pictures, after sipping tea and snacking on finger food.

Pros: the location, the sweet demeanor of the staff Cons: booking is a pain, requiring a call. They are not flexible at all when it comes to cancellations of members of the party, and cited that "they already made the food" when one member of our group could not make it, and they charged us for that food. Their tea selection is large, but they are out of a lot of things they have printed. There is only one bathroom, and with this much caffeine being consumed, that means waiting in line to pee. They had no high chair to accommodate a young child. The actual food they served us was fine, not exceptional, and the $10 price jump between afternoon tea and queen's tea was not justified for a single Waldorf salad. Overall, a pretty poor value and only worth it if you mostly care about having tea in a quaint old house.

This tea house is simply beautiful! I was there last summer. From the decor and tea pots & dishes...each food element was crafted with care...every item was artfully prepared and tasted wonderful. Definitely will go back...reservations are tight so plan early!

Left several messages to plan a tea with friends no one answers or calls back so we decided to go to Aubrey Rose you can make a reservation on line. Wondering if coral reef is still in business they way they run the business. It use to be very efficient.

As far as tea rooms go, this place is my favorite! I have been to 7 different tea services in San Diego (including the $300 high tea at the Grand Del Mar) and nothing beats the service, tea selection, treats, or charm of Coral Tree Tea House. Although the house is a little old which may not be everyone's style, it's got so much more character than even the more expensive tea places. The ladies who host the tea are lovely and warm and they never leave you wanting for anything. Coral Tree has by far the best tea selection I have seen and every tea I have had has been amazing. Their signature tea is to die for. The food items are delicious as well. I can't wait to go back!

I came here on a Saturday morning with my family to celebrate birthdays. We had a great experience and REALLY enjoyed the food and tea. We ordered the Afternoon Tea which was more than enough food. (I took some of my desserts home with me because I couldn't finish them all.) My favorite savory item was the spinach pie, which they recommended we eat first while it was warm. And my favorite sweet item was the toffee scone with cream. My sister is a vegetarian and they substituted the chicken salad sandwich for a goat cheese sandwich, which she really enjoyed. You do need to let them know ahead of time if you need vegetarian substitutions. There was plenty of parking available in the free parking lot by the tea house when we arrived. However, the lot was full when we left the tea house at 1pm. So something to keep in mind if you're visiting on a weekend. We had a wonderful time interacting with the ladies who run this place and it added to the overall experience. I have visited multiple tea houses (in California and elsewhere) and love how different each one is. I will definitely return to this tea house due to it's cozy atmosphere, delicious food/tea, and excellent service.

This tea house is a cute concept, but doesn't execute well. I came here for a friend's birthday party. After reading through some other reviews, it seems that my bad experience isn't unique. First, I had some difficulty finding parking in Old Town and no one answered the phone when I called to ask for help. I eventually found the dedicated lot reserved for the historic buildings in the area. The women who work there were quite hostile. I don't think this tea house caters to large parties and would not recommend for large groups. We were 12 people. They sat our party at separate tables and made inappropriate comments to my friend about last-minute adjustments to our party size. After the initial unwelcome greeting, every question we had was handled rudely. When the food came out someone asked which of the sandwiches were vegetarian to which the staff shouted out that no one requested a vegetarian menu. 2 of the 3 sandwiches were in fact vegetarian so I'm not sure why the staff's response was so combative. We were also constantly reminded that our reservation had a time limit, which suggested to me that the staff just wanted us to leave. The teas were nice, but I found it odd that we weren't offered anything else to drink like water. The food was okay, but nothing special. Also, it was so hot in there. Not sure if the had AC or just wanted us to suffer?

Made a reservation for our family. Was instructed of the cancellation policy over the phone as she took my credit card information and charged me $35 to hold the reservation. My plans changed and I called two days later which was five days before the reservation, which only required a two day cancellation. Weeks later the charge was still on my credit card. I called over four times and finally, one month later, she called me back, apologized and refunded my money. Do not bother with this establishment.

These ladies care about their patrons. They care about preserving good things. Their tea is delicious and we really like their signature Coraltree. I have their Lucy tea at home. Named for one of their grand daughters. Blanche and Pam are great. Always having a story to share. Amber describes the tea treats so well. The house is a Victorian home and always decorated for the season. If you can't climb stairs there is a ramp in the back.

Just had a lovely afternoon tea at the Coral Tree Tea House! The food was delicious- I especially enjoyed the olive, pimento and cheese sandwich, it was a yummy and different addition to the usual chicken salad and cucumber sandwiches (which were also very tasty). The scones were light and sweet and the desserts were delicious. Great tea selection! They even brought out a gooey brownie with a candle, sang to us, and gave my sister and I hand-beaded bracelets when they found out we were celebrating our birthdays together. The ladies who run the place were organized and helpful and very on top of the food and tea service- they interacted a bit like family with one another (with a little bickering included amongst themselves, maybe that's what some of the negative reviews are referring to? They were perfectly cordial to us). One of the women (the manager I think) pointed out a great photo op spot for us and offered to take our group photo which we really appreciated. We had a great tea-time view looking out of a window with a view of trees, bunnies and butterflies, and enjoyed walking around the historic homes after we tea. Overall we had a lovely and delicious experience.

Finally tried afternoon tea at this lovely place in Old Town and it was a very delightful experience. The ladies were very sweet and accommodating. The sandwiches, scones, savories, and mini desserts were delicious! I've been to a few tea houses in SD county, and this is in the top tier so far. Pretty teapots and decor, and the ambience was relaxing. Highly recommend!

Coral Tree Tea House is an absolute gem worth discovering. It's located in a park near Old Town San Diego and there are parking spots nearby. I recently visited for the Queens HighTea experience, it was an exquisite 1-hour and 30-minute affair. The interiors are perfectly designed for tea parties, and were very cozy. The array of delicacies served during the Queens High Tea was beyond compare. From the apple salad to the divine assortment of Tea and Savory Sandwiches, and the delectable homemade pastries and petite desserts. They had good service and dedication to accommodating dietary restrictions without compromising on taste or quality. They take their tea, food, and service seriously, ensuring every guest has a delightful experience. We enjoyed engaging in a delightful conversation about the history, business, and inspirations behind their offerings with the delightful ladies managing the place adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the visit. Reservations are a must, and they're made via phone call only.

Went to the Coral Tea House for the first time today and I would not recommend this business. The cost for four of us was over $270; the general atmosphere and the house were excellent, the tea food items were OK (usually I would say excellent compared to other tea experiences) & the staff generally welcoming except one lady who told us as soon as we sat down that we had to be out of there in 90 minutes - no exceptions. If she had grammatically wrapped that statement in a kinder, gentler way, it probably would not have bothered me. But several times she was abrupt in her service and not welcoming. First time I've ever been to a teahouse that I've been treated like this and not like a welcomed customer. Won't be going back.

I have lived in San Diego for 20 years and often visit Old Town. I stopped by the tea house this weekend with my girlfriend and we were apalled by the rude treatment we received from the women who lease the place. When I inquired about their tea service, they immediately launched into saying no walk ins, reservations are booked up, they barely have seats left for Christmas... basically telling us to get lost. And get this -- they never looked at us. One of them kept her back to us the whole time she spoke. They're older folks too. People complain about the service from young people these days? I would prefer a bored millenial in a coffee shop over this pair. It was a hot and I was wearing a straw cowboy hat, so maybe they assumed I was an out of town tourist? So what? Why treat anyone like that? If you're busy then you should be grateful to your customers, not rude. They needn't worry about me inquiring again.

Coral Tree Tea House has such a quaint, traditional feel. Located in a house in the heart of Old Town, this building has quite the historic feel. The tea room can best be described as lovely. I attended a baby shower in the tea room. They removed the wall that they use to partition the space, so that we were able to spread across the entire inside area. We were served a full tea service with a variety of finger sandwiches and pastries. They offer both caffeinated and decaf teas, which is especially important for me since I try not to drink caffeine. They also had options for those with dietary restrictions like gluten free.

Great friendly service, beautiful antique home. We had the corral tea, the my chai and duchess all very good. Also the scones and petit fours were very good. Everything is made in house and the Devonshire cream with scones was delish.

Let me just say that these ladies take their tea and business seriously! But I love that about them because it shows that they truly care and you are going to get the best. The food is so so good. The cheesecake was so good. And the sandwhiches and savory items were so good I just wanted more and more!! We had the house tea, the Lucy tea and the Wedding tea! They were all super delicious! I think my overall would be the Lucy tea!! The lady's that work their are so sweet and passionate about their tea and the place but as mentioned before they take it seriously. So they aren't the biggest fan of people being late for their appt, or cancel last min. The area surrounding is beautiful and honestly makes you feel you are not even in San Diego!! Great great picture opportunities if that's your vibe!

Took my mom here for a girls outing recently and had the best time. We arrived a little early but they were still able to seat us and we got to enjoy all of the decorations including the beautiful china. She had the Apple Waldorf salad and loved it and we got to split sandwiches, scones, and desserts along with trying three types of tea! She's already asking to go back or to try a different place.

Husband and I came for afternoon tea. It was very busy, all the tables were full. The service was good, the ladies were very sweet. I personally didn't think the food: sandwiches, scones, desserts etc were that great. The selections of teas were pretty good but the one we wanted wasn't available at the time unfortunately. It was a nice experience in a cute building but it felt quite rushed and not as yummy compared to other high teas I've had. They gave us the wrong bill which came out to be 5 people for afternoon tea instead of 2 people. But once my husband let them know they fixed it right away. Very sweet and friendly service.

Very unprofessional and should not be working with the public. They do not know what they are doing. Will not go back.

I went here for my birthday last year and it was WONDERFUL. Everything was perfect. I'm not understanding any negative comment about the tea, because my friend and I (she lived in England for years) feel they have some of the best tea of any teahouse we've tried. Additionally it is served in such beautiful pots, and they keep it warm with little tea warming units. The table we had was perfect, tucked away into a little corner with windows on all sides. The food was delicious. Everything is made to order in their kitchen which you can look right into. This is a delightful experience for all ages. Everything is really stellar: The china, the food, the tea, the ambience and the service is all wonderful. If you are looking for a memorable tea experience, the Coral Tree Tea House is a real treasure!

The food was delicious, but the service was poor. I was given rude looks and they attempted to throw away my plate without asking me and I was standing right in front of them. I thought the location was nice .

I booked a reservation for 10 for my 30th birthday and it was an amazing experience! The tea is delicious and the tier of sandwiches and sweet treats are the perfect accompaniment. The house is beautiful and the decor really sets the mood for a classy tea party. The ladies who run it are sweet and attentive. If you don't know what to do for your next special event, think about having a tea party

The staff here is just lovely - incredibly friendly, warm and inviting. However, the tea and the food were kinda of terrible. The tea was oversteeped and tasted "burnt". I asked for it to be replaced which they happily did but the second one was exactly the same so I didn't bother asking a third time. And the food was just tasteless and kinda stale. Beware if it's hot out, there are very loud AC units that don't work very well to cool it down and are huge eye sores in the middle of the rooms.

Note: (1) There is no parking on site (2) Make sure that you make reservations as I do not think that they do walk ins. A $25 deposit is required for parties of six or more. (3) Costs about $40 per person with an additional $5 for lactose free option Absolutely loved our experience here! We had made reservations for seven people but only six of us were able to make it. The staff was really friendly and accommodating specially that we had someone in our party that was lactose intolerant (they charge an extra fee - $5 or so). The food and teas were delicious! My favorites were ALL of the sandwiches specially the chicken pineapple sandwich. The scones were yummy as well, crunchy on the inside and soft on the inside. As for tea, it came with the coral tree tea which had a hint of coconut. We also tried the earl grey and wedding one which were good as well. It's a beautiful place to visit and enjoy an afternoon tea.

My favorite tea house in San Diego! We come here for special occasions, Mother's Day, and just when we fancy well, fancy tea! Blanche, Pam, and Paul are wonderful hosts and so knowledgeable about the teas. I love the historic home and all of the lovely decor. The venue enhances the tea experience. The tea menu is extensive and the pastries and food complement the teas well. Treat yourself and make a reservation for Queen's high tea!

We visited this place Sunday afternoon to celebrate our 31st anniversary. This place located inside Old Town Heritage Park, and very quiet and beautiful, escaped from the busy Old Town visitors. We ordered Mango Passion Fruit tea and Grandma's Garden tea, among so many choices. Those teas are not just taste great but also very enjoyable atmosphere in every aspects. Food served together was also great! I'll definitely visit again and highly recommend for formal meeting with family or friends, or just to enjoy calm afternoon with your beloved ones.

I believe that an afternoon tea party should be an experience, and we sure had quite an experience here...just not what we expected. Overall, I would summarize it as confusing. Probably not the first word you want to describe high tea. We were a party of 8 with a couple guests having dietary restrictions. Our setup had two tables, one larger round table and a smaller square table. After we were seated, one of the staff came by and was immediately flustered, which made us all feel like we had done something wrong? After some muttering, she walked away. A few minutes later, another lady came by and asked about the dietary restrictions. We clarified who was allergic to seafood, who was vegetarian, etc. This lady then also became flustered. She took a big breath and then said, "okay, this is not what we intended but we will make it work, okay, this is going to be okay". Please consider that at this point we still have no idea what we did or didn't do correctly. Turns out, they wanted the couple of people with dietary restrictions to sit at the small square table. I'm not sure how we were supposed to know that or why it matters, but it turned out to be a big deal to the staff. I will say that they were accommodating about the restrictions and explained the modifications clearly. But they made those people all feel bad about their food allergies/restrictions. When it came to choosing our teas, the staff seemed annoyed with us asking any questions and was curt about us choosing two teas because more would take more time. So we discussed as a group and when we ordered the two, she asked if that was it, which then confused us because we thought we could only order two. Turns out we could order up to four - which we did up end up doing - and they mentioned a few more times how that was going to take a much longer time to serve. The teas were nice - I did like the variety we chose. Another point to note about the teas was that they seemed very particular about where the teapots were placed - on the candle burners at all times, but take them off when empty. Seemed simple enough for us to understand but they were insistent about reminding us anyway. There was a lot of sighing when they came by our table and a lot of muttering. Now the food. Overall, fairly standard. I liked the sandwiches the most, but they were not made with the highest finesse (nor do I expect them to be!). Scones were on the dry side but good with the cream they came with. I did find a piece of plastic in one of them. Most of the party really enjoyed the brownies. The whipped mousse thing, however, was very sweet and rich. One lick was great, the whole glass was too much. As we chatted and dined, we couldn't help but noticed that a staff was glancing at our party often. We tried not to think much about it, but eventually she came over and asked us what was wrong. We said nothing, and she asked us why we were not eating. We said we were just enjoying each other's company and were eating. The staff then told us essentially we were eating too slowly, which made them think we don't like the food, which makes them very sad - she said when they have leftover food from guests, they sometimes cry about it and wonder what went wrong. We felt very bad but also very awkward about the entire encounter. The piece of plastic in scone came later and we decided not to even confront them about it (which I feel is wrong but somehow we felt guilty about taking the experience slow and eating at our comfortable paces so didn't want to cause any more trouble?) Our party was tucked away towards the back of the restaurant and it was extremely warm. Even though all of us were in dresses, we were sweating. Behind us was a closet of some sort and throughout service, the door would swing open. It made some of us jump the first few times it happened. One of the staff would come by and close the door again and one of the times, she said "sorry about that, it's just the darn ghosts". Maybe funny? Maybe creepy? Wasn't sure what our appropriate reaction should have been so it was more of a nervous laugh. I'm not sure if maybe we missed the charm, but this was not the experience any of us thought we would be having or would want to have again. I felt uncomfortable and unwanted during most of the time we spent here, like we were an inconvenience to the staff from the moment we walked in. We were never loud or disrespectful in any way but treated like we were disruptive.

I came for afternoon tea for my birthday. I'm vegan with multiple food allergies. It can make finding places that can accommodate my dietary needs challenging. We called and made reservations for Queen's Tea about a week in advance and let them know of my dietary issues. They said they were able to accommodate us so we were hopeful. They seated us right away and had a pot of tea already on the table. It was a coconut black tea. I can't drink caffeine so I wanted to order another tea. They were out of about half of the non-caffeinated teas but had a decent amount to choose from. Here comes the first downside: they didn't come back for about 10 minutes to tell us about the teas but they didn't take our tea order. Someone else dropped of our fruit salad and left without taking our order. They finally took our tea order after we had been there for 30 minutes. They next served our food. Even though we asked for the Queen's tea, we didn't get it served on the tier tray, just all of the food on one plate. It had 2 tea sandwiches (same filling but one on white and the other on whole wheat), sweet potato puffs, a spring roll (which I'm not 100% was vegan), a small salad, a small chocolate brownie, 3 bite sized cookies, and a shot glass of berries. We also didn't get any scones, which is pretty standard in any tea service. I'm disappointed in the types of food served as it wasn't traditional (especially compared to the other tables). I understand that vegan changes a lot but I've been to many different afternoon teas and they have been much more traditional. Now our tea didn't come out until about 30 minutes AFTER our food and they didn't have any non-dairy milk. Overall, not happy with the service, the food was underwhelming, we didn't get scones or a 3 tier tray, the tea was served WAY too late. I would have preferred they warn us ahead of time that the experience was going to be so different and they weren't able to accommodate certain things (non dairy milk for the tea, a full tea experience). Not to mention we payed full price for it (over $100 for 2 people).

Had the Queen's Tea in this beautiful victorian home. The tea and pastries were delicious. This experience was warm, inviting and casual.

Food was very good. Just wish staff was dressed in old English clothes. Was in a pretty location in old town

It is my favorite teahouse ever! And trust me I have been to a lot. Food and service is top notch. Book reservation soon - they fill up fast.

We had a horrible experience with Pam at this establishment. She was extremely rude and displayed unprofessional behavior and service. We left the reservation early due to how we were being treated. We will not be returning.

4 of us ladies went there for afternoon tea on a rainy Saturday. It's in Heritage Park inside of Old Town San Diego. The location of the tea house is in one of the historic Victorian homes in the area, McCaughney House at the top of the circle. The ambiance was lovely; the wallpaper, paintings, and fine china really set the mood. We sat in a corner nook in a room with 3 other tables. The only issue we had with the room was that it was very very warm, even before we started drinking tea. Loved their little details of the tea pot warmers, the little sponges under the spouts to catch any drips, etc. The tea selection was great; large and varied, with descriptions of each. We enjoyed the Coral Tree House Tea, Spiced Dragon, and Mango Passionfruit. It was nice that they had a vegan menu option, which one of our friends enjoyed. The spanakopita was excellent! The scones with Devonshire cream were very nice along with the desserts: lemon cake, chocolate brownie, and cheese cake. The only slight detractors from the experience were the tea sandwiches, pretty but tasteless, and service was inattentive although friendly. We were there for 2.5 hours b/c the wait time for tea, leftover boxes, our check, etc. took a while. But we didn't mind too much since it allowed us to chat.

Finally getting around to a review! But back in June, my friends and I celebrated my birthday with afternoon tea! Coral Tree Tea house is absolutely amazing! I made reservations for 3 people and they were super accommodating as one person in our party was vegetarian. We did the Queen Tea package. The tea and food were so amazing! The staff super friendly and so knowledgeable about the teas. We had great conversations with them during our time. When making reservations, if you can't get a hold of the staff, just leave a message and they do get back to you. Highly recommend this tea house if you want authentic afternoon tea time experience!

Wonderful time ladies that work here are sweetheart The teas are amazing if you are tea person this is the place Cutest tea pots They do gluten free .. Very cute outside gazebo is cute Very nice for 2 or more

We came here for the afternoon tea and made reservations ahead of time online. The afternoon tea was about $40pp. There was a $25 deposit for our party of 6. Everything from the historic house, the service, etc was really lovely! Very quaint. We took pictures outside and they helped us take them. They prepare everything that morning. If you need to make any cancellations I would give them proper notice even if it is just adding/removing a person in your party. My favorite items were the assorted tea sandwiches, the chicken one was delicious!!! They have an assortment of teas to chose from. It was overwhelming since I am not well versed in the different types of teas. I had no idea there were so many different kinds. We tried the signature coral tree tea, early grey, and white bridal (I am not exactly sure what it was called). The group l came with favored the last two. Overall I had a great experience! It is located close to old town San Diego.

This place is absolutely adorable! It's located in a historical building in old town. It definitely takes you back in time/reminds me of the tea time in London. They serve you 3 different teas that you're allowed to pick out. They have non dairy milk options for your tea as well. The snacks come served in a three story tiered dish with savory on the bottom and sweet at the top. They offer vegetarian options as well. You don't have to dress up but it's fun to get into it and play dress up. They also sell fancy hats and scarves. The rooms are fairly small and were a bit warm so keep that in mind. Be sure to make a reservation before going. They limit the amount of time you are able to stay but they allowed us to stay a bit longer because we were the last people there. Overall it was a very enjoyable and unique experience!

I was invited to Coral Tea House for a birthday event. The area is very beautiful as well as the house itself. Our server however was very rude. My aunt miscounted our party by one person and our server began to scold us on how the kitchen works and that one of us won't be able to eat. She was very passive aggressive after the encounter which was right at the beginning of our event. I was very disappointed because instead of working with us and trying to find a solution, she put the blame on us. When my aunt apologized our server just walked out of the room, leaving all of us speechless. I have family in the food business and they would NEVER handle a situation like this. The other servers were lovely and understanding about our situation. The tea and snacks were good, I just wish our server would've handled things better.

My daughter loves afternoon tea and since today was her birthday, we surprised her by taking her to tea at the Coral Tree Tea House as part of her birthday weekend in San Diego. Coral Tree Tea House is located in a beautiful old Victorian home called the McConaughy House which is located at the top of the hill on on the roundabout in the Old Town historic Heritage County Park. To get to it, you park your car in one of the two parking lots and walk up the hill and that is where your experience starts. As you make your way to Coral Tree, you pass by some beautiful old Victorian homes that have been restored. Each of them unique and beautiful. When you arrive at the McConaughy House you walk up the creaky front steps and into the stately foyer. It was there that we were greeted by Blanche who was very welcoming. Being that we are living in the times we were in, the various room that would normally be filled with tea aficionados were empty and since patios were generally not part of Victorian architecture, outside seating was limited. There was a family enjoying their tea on the front porch and Blanche took us to the back yard where there was a table set with beautiful purple china for the three of us. Sam took care of us along with Blanche. We order the Queens Tea which comes with EVERYTHING. The tea that was given to use was the Coral Tea Blend which was a black tea with hints of chocolate and coconut. Since I'm an Earl Gray tea drinker, it was perfect. I, of course, added milk to my tea as any decent person would do. We started out with the Apple Waldorf Salad, which was very refreshing. Then the tier showed up with the warm savories, assorted sandwiches, fresh baked scones, tea sandwiches, and desserts. The apricot and goat cheese sandwich was the best and the chicken salad sandwich was really good as well. In fact, all of the food was good. Sam and Blanche let us take our time and would stop by to check in us and chat. They were very appreciative of us being there and we were very appreciative of the experience. They also had some great stories to tell of the many weddings, and wedding disasters, that go on in the park. We shared some laughs as well. There are other tea houses in the area, but nothing as unique as the Coral Tree Tea House. If you are ever in the area, check it out.

We went here for the Queen's Tea and a Vegetarian Tea last Saturday afternoon. The house itself is super cute; we were led to a room off to the left side of the house right by the windows. Blanche, Pam and the rest of the staff (we didn't get everyone's names) were so great. They stopped by our table and conversed with us before, during and after our meal. The house tea, the Coral Tree, is delicious. So fragrant and flavorful and tasted just how it smells and is described. The food is made with love and care and the scones were the best we've had, especially the blueberry with lemon curd. Amazing. We were informed that they will have a Christmas tea and we made sure to make a reservation for that before we left. Highly recommend if you're a tea goer.

Terrible. Unable to book reservations. Their website is inaccurate and the phone number doesn't work ! I had to search online for alternate phone numbers and when I called the business was closed so I left a voicemail. I got a call back nearly a week later and by that time I had already booked and received confirmation from a competitor.

Awesome high tea experience. The service was friendly and organized. Great variety of finger foods. Loved the finger sandwiches, scones, creamy spreads, and tasty desserts. Amazing number of tea choices. And the Victorian house atmosphere made it a perfect British High Tea experience.

I'm going to write a review about an experience I had in November 2022. I know it's really late, but my birthday experience this year reminded me of how hurtful my experience was for my birthday 2 years ago. Up until 2022, it was a tradition for my fiancé to take me here to celebrate my birthday. I was really really looking forward to spending the first part of my day here! Usually, the staff is super sweet and attentive. But this time we were ignored almost the entire time. The one exception was when an older staff member walked by to literally lecture me on leaving my spoon in my tea for a moment too long. We had reservations and my fiancé told them it was my birthday and they stuck us in a really weird corner, didn't even bring us our second tea, waited until the last minute to bring us our food, and they gave EVERYONE their check and helped them pay and leave before they dropped us ours. We had to ask them twice. The second time we asked if we should just go to the front and pay there and lectured us AGAIN, finally taking our payment. I'm super lax when it comes to poor service. I know things happen and people get busy and we are a quiet group so I'm sure we are easy to ignore, but this genuinely felt so intentional that I haven't been able to shake that experience and so we haven't gone back since, breaking years long tradition. My fiancé and I have had much better experiences at other restaurants celebrating our birthdays since, thankfully. Despite all of that, we tipped well and wished them a nice weekend.

This tea house is not just another tea place. It's an experience that everyone should try at least once. It's worth every penny and honestly such a special place that these ladies have opened. Speaking of ladies, they are all just the sweetest! I felt like I was at my grandmas house being pampered with love, good food, and good vibes. I'm definitely a customer for life!

I spoke to someone to make reservation and left my credit card info as requested. They even charged a holding fee on my card. On the day of the reservation, we drove down and they didn't have our info anywhere, so that was a complete waste of time. The open hours are very limited so it was hard to get in touch with them, all the appointments and info were kept as handwritten notes so it would be very easy to miss stuff. So I wasted time to drive down to not get service, and now need to spend even more time on calls to get back the amount they changed on my card. I want to give it another try because the place seems so lovely but I don't have a lot of faith in their booking system. This was a terrible experience.