Courtyard Tea Room

Courtyard Tea Room is a hidden gem in Boston—cozy, charming, and wonderfully relaxing. The atmosphere feels like stepping into a quiet European café, perfect for slowing down and enjoying the moment. Their tea selection is thoughtful and well curated, and the food is fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Service is warm and attentive without feeling rushed. It’s an ideal spot for a peaceful break, a catch-up with friends, or a solo escape from the city buzz.

Tucked inside the Boston Public Library, The Courtyard Tea Room feels like stepping into another time. The tall windows, marble arches, and soft hum of quiet conversation make it one of the most peaceful places in the city to sit down for afternoon tea. It’s elegant without being stuffy. The service stands out. The staff knows their teas, gives clear explanations without overselling, and manages to stay attentive even when the room is full. I went during a busy seating, and while it got a little rushed at times, the team handled it gracefully. If you want a slower, more relaxed experience, go earlier or later in the day. The tea selection is excellent—high-quality loose-leaf blends brewed perfectly. The savory items were the highlight for me: lobster on brioche, smoked salmon on pumpernickel, and chicken salad on marble rye. Each bite was balanced, fresh, and well thought out. The scones arrived warm, with lemon curd, raspberry preserves, and clotted cream—all spot on. This part lived up to the reviews that call it “the best in Boston.” I agree. Where things dipped a bit was the dessert tier. The sweets looked beautiful but lacked the same spark as the rest of the meal. The macarons and cake were fine, but not memorable. I’ve seen other reviews mention this, and I have to agree—the presentation was great, the flavor just didn’t land the same way. At around $68 per person, it’s not a casual outing, but for the setting and service, it feels fair. You’re paying for an experience, not just a meal. Overall, The Courtyard Tea Room delivers on atmosphere, service, and presentation. It’s the perfect spot for a quiet celebration or a refined afternoon with someone special. The savory course and scones steal the show. The desserts? A missed note on an otherwise elegant melody. 4 out of 5.

I was so excited to bring five family members here for a special birthday celebration, especially since this was my third visit. The atmosphere was just as lovely as I remembered and perfectly set the scene. However, the food this time around was unfortunately a major letdown, and it really brought down the overall experience. For the price, the **savory selections felt uninspired** and weren't executed with the refinement we were anticipating. What was most surprising, though, was the sweet tier—the inclusion of a basic Whoopie Pie felt like a **significant step down** from the delicate, sophisticated pastries you usually offer. We chose the Courtyard Tea Room for the quality we remembered, but we left feeling that the food did not match the premium cost for this special occasion.

Eh. As expensive as other high teas I’ve been to, but the food is not as tasty or fresh and the digs are not as upscale. The service was nice, and the cocktail and mocktail were well made. The main issue I had was with the tea sandwiches, which felt as though they had been pre-prepared, refrigerated, and then served. The bread on all was not particularly fresh and the fillings were skimpy and truly forgettable. Scones tasted fresh but were too sweet for me, especially with the heavy sugar topping. Mini desserts were also cloying and I only took a small bite of each. For the price, go somewhere else. When I return to enjoy the library and setting, I’ll just go to the bar.

We loved our experience here. Our waiter was amazing from brazil I believe. He was so polite and charming. Everything was serene and just beautiful.

What an amazing experience!!! This was our first time and we will definitely be coming back!! To start the place is beautiful decorated, with a very formal feel. Bright open space. Everyone staff member we interacted with was friendly and happy. Jenny our server was incredible! She was able to answer all put questions with a warm, friendly and energetic personality. When you book your reservation request table 41 [for two people] or table 34 [3 people]. You’ll have a great view of the room and be next to a window facing the courtyard. Now the food: it was amazing!! Jenny informed us that the menu changes regularly, check the website for what current. We did not think we would be full but, it was allot!! This is a great experience for couples or family with kids. Thank you Jenny for helping us have a great time!!

Nice food and decorations. Feeling strange that everyone there eating the same thing at the same time. Price is on a higher note for what it is. Tea is already pre-made when served, may not be suitable for individual own preference.

Delicious, one of those “experience” types of things that you do for a special occasion. My daughter and I did the full tea and she had the kids tea tower and I had the adult. Our server Mike did a great job and we had a very nice time. And the darjeeling was excellent.

C'mon Darling, let's enjoy high tea! Wow, what a treat! I had no idea that this Tea Room even existed. Shame on me! A bunch of us went after a Christmas Play and we had so much fun, especially for the newbies. The Courtyard Restaurant is in the Boston Public Library and was stunning. When you first walk in there is a "walk-in" restaurant with a nice bar to sit down where no reservations are required. But, then you walk in a little more to their fine dining Tea Room where you have to make reservations. With white tablecloths and shiny silverware, I felt as if I was in London at a famous tea room and maybe even a Queen (ok I won't go that far) but it was something special. Our server Peter was awesome! We all ordered Tea because duh:) and then we also had a few cocktails too. I had their Matcha Latte which was delish and then ordered their Perfect Pair cocktail. My husband had their Oolong Tea and Stolen Moment cocktail. Our server informed us on what to expect and how the courses work. You don't get to choose your food like a normal restaurant. They give you one to see what is on the menu that day. Everything is prepared by the Chef and always changing. We had a Curry Carrot Soup with Pickled Carrots to start. Then came the Scones, which were so nice and warm with homemade kinds of butter (pumpkin and regular). Then the finale was the 3 tier assortment of figure sandwiches and desserts. Everything was fantastic and the service was phenomenal. It was a per person cost of $72 which to me was a bit expensive but it was also an experience which I highly recommend doing once in a lifetime.

A very fun experience. I'm not a tea expert and have limited experience with afternoon tea service, but I had a great time at the Boston Public library's Courtyard Tea Room. Reservations in advance are needed, but we were able to snag a spot last minute in person for the next day. Service was very attentive and professional. The atmosphere was enhanced with all the winter holiday decorations. The tea's were all great. Their Copley special was a hit. The lavender and vanilla flavor really made it a wow-factor sip. The food was alright, my personal highlight was the warm scone. The savory treats were good, but white bread does have its limits. I appreciated that for the sweets they featured items from local bakeries. The alfajores were the best of the bunch. The time limit was sufficient, but we did use it all up. I'd certainly recommend it for a date or a conversation focused outing with a small group of family or friends.

I just got proposed to at afternoon tea here on Halloween, so I admit I am biased. However, we would have had a wonderful time here whether that had happened or not. We got here early and spent some time walking around the courtyard which was charming and not too crowded on a Thursday morning. The tea room is lovely and serene, and the menus and container with sugar are classic novels. When we were seated they actually gave us one of the best spots (there are only 2 by the window overlooking the courtyard). I got the oolong tea which was very fragrant and strong. My now-fiance got the most popular tea which was an earl grey with milk and sugar, and it was too sweet for both of us. Would have preferred if they had left sugar out so we could have decided the sweetness level. The food was cold but delectable--loved the mushroom tart and the lobster roll. The scone did not come out piping hot, but was a delicious pumpkin one with a crunchy sugar crust. I didn't love the macaron flavors because they were too flowery for my taste, but the rest of the sweets tray was nice. After you pay, they give you a cute bookmark to remember the experience. I would come again. I didn't want a super public proposal, so this place was actually perfect. The tables are spaced out enough that even with no music playing, you don't really hear other peoples' conversations apart from a subtle chatter.

The space is beautiful and nestled within Boston Public Library. The tea experience is a prix fixe option with your selection of tea, of which there are several. The scone and mini sandwiches were my favorites. I could've done without the sweets but to be fair, I'm not big on macaroons or cookies. The service was lacking but I suspect that was our server rather than the ordinary pace at the establishment as the other waiter in the room was quite attentive to his table and at one point, assisted us as well. All in all, I'd attend again to give the tea room another shot.

The afternoon tea was an incredible girls day outing! Make sure you come hungry cause the amount of food you get is a full meal. The food was unique and delicious! It was nice being able to sample some many different things. Our waiter was attentive and provided a full description of each item on the tower. The ambiance was calm and peaceful. Highly recommend

Beautiful, decadent, classy, historical, located inside the Boston Public Library is the Courtyard Tea Room with advanced reservations needed. You wait in line outside the restaurant for your time to be called and they will let you all in a group at once. Great sweet and savory pastries and treats with a wide array selections of teas to choose from. A big room for all to enjoy and sip. Great experience to try.

The tea room is something you must make reservations for in advance and costs about $75 per person. This tea service is in the library and is such a beautiful setting. The teas were tasty and something fun I hadn't had before! The food was amazing as well! I want expecting too much but they really did an excellent job on the flavor profiles and we did not leave hungry! Overall: I would recommend this to any book lovers who also love a tea service. It's a fun and unique experience if your city doesn't have a tea time.

Exquisite experience! The tea was delicious and milky, the food was phenomenal and very delicately prepared, and the service was exceptional. The waitress was attentive, very informative and made the overall experience a 10/10. It was very quiet and quant and I loved the details, from the book menus, to the small delicious desserts. They also recognize special occasions and make sure it's noticed. Loved it and recommend trying it out.

In the Boston Public Library so a beautiful space and atmosphere, the service was great as well. The tea and food menu selections was good, drink options limited but good, food was tasty and seasonal. Tea itself was good treats were very good. Great option for tea in Boston. It's not the 4 Seasons but much more affordable and still feels refined.

This is the third place I visited for afternoon tea in Massachusetts. So far this is the best option in terms of the quality of foods selections and services. Tea selections are reasonable and pretty inclusive. It has been so difficult to make reservations and find spots. The way I found to make it possible is being flexible. There is higher chance to see the availabilities if you check early in the morning on the day! I found the spot the other rainy day in the morning as well. We saw many girls gathering or dates. Also, you can walk around the garden after the tea time .

Amazing afternoon tea! The tea sandwiches were all so good, I highly recommend experiencing this! I have been wanting to go to afternoon tea at the BPL for so long, but when I lived in Boston, it was only in Wednesdays. I visited Boston recently and found out they have afternoon tea available more days now, so I couldn't miss the chance. I picked the blue flower earl grey tea and it did not disappoint. You can switch teas for an additional fee as well if you wanted.

Having high tea at the Boston Public Library has been on my bucket list since I moved to Boston over 5 years ago. It's notoriously difficult to get a weekend reservation but luckily I was able to snag one for a Sunday at 11am. There is a mandatory coat check, and then you are transported into this beautiful room overlooking the courtyard. The menus are placed inside books, which is a cute touch. Really the only choice on the menu is type of tea, as the rest is preset. I got the Copley Cozy (earl grey latte), which was nice and cozy as the name would suggest. For food, they started with a mini quinoa salad and tiny cup of mushroom soup - both were great! Then they brought out the main attraction - the 3-tiered tower of sandwiches, pastries, and biscuits. Everything tasted delectable - some favs were the mango cake, mini lobster roll, and biscuits with orange jam and clotted cream. They refill the tea whenever you run out. Note that they do gently ask you to leave after 90-minutes so the next group can get seated. I think the experience is overall a bit overpriced ($65pp) for the quantity of food, but you're paying for the experience and memories, so I think it's worth doing once if you're into this kind of thing!

Was meaning to check out the afternoon tea at this spot for years, and it was totally worth it for the experience! Located by the Map Room of the Boston Public Library, it's definitely a cute lil spot for small celebrations and dates. Plus, the staff were very friendly with accommodating to special occasions (at least during this visit of mine). Food-wise, I'd say that many of their treats worked well with their teas - plus their cocktails were also very yummy, so I would totally recommend giving their alcoholic drinks a shot! (Especially the Perfect Pair and the Stolen Moments on their drink menu). My personal favorites of their treat selection would include their alfajores and peppered ricotta tart since they were flavorful, yet not too strong when it came to their respective tastes. I'd also like to note that their passion fruit petite four, although being very tart, was very refreshing and definitely paired really well with the hot tea! Overall, despite being a lil pricey, I would definitely come back to experience this once again someday.

I had such a lovely time here. For my tea I got the wedding blend and I really liked it. There are no choices to be made for the food tower which I appreciated. The highlights of the food tower were the brioche roll, the cucumber bread, and the cookie pastry. The interior was very cute and it was such a great experience overall. It was a 90 minute reservation and our waitress put our check on the table after less than an hour which made us feel a little rushed. That was really the only hiccup though, everything else was great. The tea menu coming in a map book and the free bookmark at the end were adorable touches. Loved it!

Elegant and spacious, a treat to enjoy afternoon tea. I think the offerings could be a bit better (not crazy about the desserts), and like in Europe, they should offer to repeat those items you did like. It's fun, staff is wonderful. Pricey, but an experience for a special occasion.

I love tea rooms! It's such a special thing to do! I love this spot! I recommend booking reservations in advance because it gets fully booked. It is in the pricer but I felt I got my monies worth. You start of with a scone and some tea with lemon curd and Devonshire cream. Everything we ate was delicious the smoked salmon bite was on the saltier side. Bring your mom, have a dowel date with someone you love or your daughters! It's a must do!

Was really excited to have afternoon tea here after hearing the buzz and seeing the photos. The location is definitely beautiful, right inside the library, and the courtyard room itself is very nice, but for me personally that's where the awe ended. None of the food was particularly impressive (bread was dry, scone was over baked) and our teas were between luke warm and hot from the get-go. Service was ok, but there were times where some servers would loom over and stare which made us pretty uncomfortable. All in all, great for some nice instagram photos but not for the food.

What an elegant place to have afternoon tea! The menus are inside classic books, there is a great view whether you're inside or overlooking the courtyard, and the service is attentive and excellent. We were able to snag a next-day resy reservation from a last minute cancellation so it is possible to get lucky! You can't get access to the public library otherwise right now due to an HVAC issue. We had the jasmine tea and cozy copley (earl grey latte) as our teas and they were delicious. Tea comes with a tray of sugar cubes as needed. The lobster roll, cucumber/radish bread and alfajores were the best things we ate, but everything was pretty good.

I'm giving this a 3.5 rounded down to a 3 just because of a little confusion on the price that we had. Basically, the high tea is $64/person, and we went there for a big birthday. When we arrived at the table, there was a nice birthday card and the staff were very friendly. After we sat down, they even offered us some champagne to celebrate the occasion. And while we should have asked if it was complimentary, it did seem like they were implying it with the birthday comments they were making. It ended up costing an extra $24, which we would have been fine with if it was explicitly mentioned in the beginning, but it's probably a bit of both of our faults for the confusion. Anyway, that is the reason for the round down. Apart from that, the experience was lovely. We'd never had high tea before, so we were very excited to try it in Boston. I got the chai latte and my partner ordered the green tea latte, and both were very gentle and delicious. The celery soup and burrata appetizer was probably the best out of all of the food. The soup was extremely subtle and as someone who doesn't like celery, it was light enough tasting to ease us into the flavor while also being warm and inviting. The burrata was creamy and sumptuous, and the pickled mushrooms and fresh tomatoes brought a lively and nice freshness to the dish. When the rest of the platter was brought out to the table, we were in awe. The three-tiered platter looked extremely impressive, and the variety of different foods presented to us in small, cute portions made us excited to try each bite. However, the overall quality of the bites was probably not as high as we'd hoped - the appetizer definitely gave us high expectations and the savory tier was a bit disappointing: Chicken curry - tasted very standard, like some dark meat chicken with some curry powder on bread. Nothing too special here. Deviled egg mousse - this was very creamy and delightful. One of the better bites here. Roast beef - perhaps the most disappointing. It was dry and tasted like very basic deli meat on some wheat bread. There was not a lot of meat on this. English cucumber - also just tasted very basic - like cucumber on bread. Smoked salmon - the pumpernickel bread here overpowered the taste of the salmon. We were excited for this bite, but it came up a bit short. Lobster roll - also very exciting, but the ratio of actual lobster to bread was off and it just tasted like white bread with some lemon. It claimed to be Maine lobster, though I am not sure. The sweets received equally mixed reviews: Macarons - who doesn't love a macaron? Still, there wasn't much of a wow factor. Strawberry matcha cupcake - the best of the sweets. A really unique and fun combination of flavors. Cheesecake - really dense and heavy. Not a lot of berry flavor as well. Alfajores - tasted a bit dry and overly sweet. Not a fan. Peanut butter chocolate tart - very dense and not too sweet, but also not sweet enough. It felt like a lot of calories without much bang. Scones - these were actually quite good. The sugar on top was a nice addition and while the raspberry preserves weren't anything special, the lemon curd and Devonshire cream were both outstanding. The service was quite nice (barring the confusion about the champagne), and the room was also very pretty, but our table was right on top of a vent. It was not a hot day outside, but the cold air from the vent actually kept pushing the tablecloth up like it was a balloon, and we could feel the cold air throughout our entire meal rushing against our legs. It looked like only 2-3 of the tables had this similar setup, so it didn't look like everyone shared our experience, but it was certainly distracting. All in all, high tea certainly offers a large variety of exciting looking options, but when you look at each individual piece, it was rather lack luster. The sandwiches felt mass prepared and cut into tiny pieces without too much effort. The sweets had some stars, but also some misses. The appetizer was amazing, but we were a bit soured by the confusion over the birthday champagne and the ventilation issue. To top it off, the price did feel a little steep for the actual quality of food we received, so I give this a 3/5.

Excellent high tea in the US, up to London standards. Scones were amazing, as well as some of the savory sandwiches (lobster roll and egg salad on everything-crusted bread were my faves). Service and atmosphere are lovely too. And the tea, but it's hard to mess that up if you're competent.

Beautiful modern tea at the Boston Public Library ! Delicious food and tea. Our tea was accompanied by a delicious salad and squash soup

Everything about this place is an offensive money grab and I'm shocked the people of Boston continue to support this farce. The room itself is bland like an empty hotel convention room space- no glitz or grandeur like at the Plaza in NYC. The service is excellent but what they provide is honestly bad food. The chef sends out vegetable broth to begin the meal (this is what I eat when I'm on a diet.) There is a scone that I would get at Tatte for $5. Then there are a few small sandwiches and desserts. Most of the desserts are very bad- a watermelon macaron tastes like artificial flavors. The chicken sandwich is the most bland item I've ever had - like a vending machine sandwich. I'm so outraged and sad that I wasted so much money on this. Just go to Tatte instead and eat better and much cheaper.

This was the best high tea I've ever had and our servers were wonderful! The room was beautiful and comfortable, I liked the group seating, as it kept everything smooth and no distractions of people coming and going. 5 star experience

I love a tea service and experiencing one in the Boston Public Library is next level. I've attended twice; once solo and once with my husband. Both times felt special with plenty of food, enough to take some treats to go. Many of the sandwiches and pastries are the same, but they change some options seasonally I was bummed this most recent time they were out of Earl Grey, but what can you do? I'm not sure how strict they are on dress code but give yourself a reason to go a little fancy. Also, make sure to make reservations ahead of time. And if they're booked, add yourself to the waitlist and a spot may open up. It happened for me!

Highlights: Everything! Where do I even start? The Boston Library is stunning and that certainly applies to the internal tea room. With gorgeous high ceilings and moody sconces, there's no place better to sit and have a chat. In my case, I was hosting drinks at the bar for work and really appreciated how the ambiance still made such a large space feel intimate enough for the two of us to have our private conversations. The drinks are so pretty and absolutely delicious. I had the Perfect Pair and my guest had the Southern Belle. We both said we would order them again.

Came here yesterday for the first time and it was beautiful. The tea room itself was very cozy and spacious. Service was amazing as well. The price was $64 per person and it came with a tea option, appetizer, and the 3 tier. I was pretty stuffed towards the middle tier, so I brought my desserts home. The earl grey teas were delicious. I would definitely come again for a fun. 9/10 great experience.

I love a high tea. I had a layover in England one time, and I made a point of leaving the airport and having high tea in London before heading on my way. So I LOVE high tea and look for a place wherever I go anywhere. Courtyard is by far the best high tea there is in Boston. Make no mistake; It is very pricey but well worth it for what you are getting and for the ambiance of the location. Unlike some tea places, you will not leave hungry. In fact, most people I have gone with usually get a doggy bag. I like that you can also get a book-themed cocktail. It just adds to the experience. If you have allergies to any of the items, they are very good at making substitutes. I have been here at different times of the year and at different times - never a misstep. It is really a lovely way to spend an afternoon in Boston.

10/10 service! Best service we had in a long time. You truly just sit down and enjoy yourself. Worth every penny! We had the sweetest server. The food is unique but definitely try everything! Explore the library after!! Beautiful area and presentation of everything!!!

I preface this review with the information that we've experienced high tea at the Ritz in Paris, the Empress in Victoria, the Rittenhouse is Philly and many others. And with those places we were there on special occasion, this time our anniversary, and we expect with the price comes perfection. The tea room at the Boston Public Library is simple and elegant and reflects the library. The library books that the menus came in were a nice touch. The service staff were trained well and were welcoming. We felt it odd that we had to wait in a line outside for everyone to be seated at once. The tea menu itself was limited, and quite rudimentary in its selection. Nice that they offered wine and cocktails, but it's a tea room and tea is dried...figure out how to have a larger selection. We were offered only one scone each...it was large and tasted good but covered in sugar. The sandwiches were okay...the tiny lobster roll cute...but most lacked any uniqueness in flavor. The petit four were very good. All in all okay, but not at par with its peers...at this price two tea sandwiches is pathetic. Add to that being from out of town, difficult and very expensive to park nearby...over $40!

This restaurant is located inside the boston public library right past the courtyard. The first room is a cocktail bar and the next room over is the tea room. The vibe was very fancy and posh and our servers were incredibly nice. We started with the soup, which was fresh and herby. The burrata was cold and a good contrast to the soup. The next course was the sandwiches and desserts. My favorite was the cucumber sandwich. It was crunchy and thinly sliced, and the cream cheese was savory. It was surprisingly a lot of food, so we had leftovers. Overall, a very refreshing experience.

My favorite thing about dining out is having an experience.. sometimes it's elegant and romantic sometimes just simple and authentic... I just love an experience and Courtyard Tea Room provided just that: The surrounding historical homecoming for centuries old art and classical library setting unassumingly sets a mood. Walk to the courtyard and follow the signs for the tea room. Much to my surprise we walked into a modernized yet caramel color dimmed room and greeted warmly by the hostess. Bc we arrived early we snagged some seating at the bar, and was promptly attended to by Mike. He proceeded to serve some amazingly tasteful and thoughtfully crafted cocktails. Well balanced and thoughtful. He even recommended some of the places he likes to frequent.. see prior reviews to learn more bc we went to some! You can order some food, but we waited for our main service. Onto the main event.. a properly set - yet not unpretentious- tea room experience. All the servers were warm and attentive. The tea spread was amazing with a variety of small yet satisfying bites. The best thing about this was the leisurely nature of it all that's so charming. Like reading a book in the sunset.. Just go already!

10/10 experience and way more filling than I thought. Honestly don't be afraid to arrive on an empty stomach because we didn't even finish everything. If you are lucky you can get a table by the windows with a view of the courtyard. My favorite afternoon tea experience thus far

The service was top notch and the room is lovely. It is way overpriced for the quality of the food. The only homemade item was the scone. Everything else came out of a box or a refrigerator. The refrigerated sweets were ice cold and pretty tasteless.

Unfortunately I must agree with some of the other more honest posts. Aesthetically, this venue is absolutely gorgeous. Equally as impressive to look at was the food; however, I think that's all that I can really credit. There were many servers, most of which stood in a corner staring at you, making you feel uncomfortable. The food was unimpressive for how pretty the presentation was. I think the taste can really be improved. Nonetheless, still an experience to be experienced. Just level set your expectations.

I recently came back here with a friend and was pleasantly surprised. We got sat at a great table with a view of the courtyard which was fun for people watching. Me and my friend got two different tea's, both of which were really good, they have an extensive menu. And then the food was brought out. Our starter was fantastic, as well as the treats. I hadn't realized that the food changed with the season, and I liked this food a lot more so I was pleasantly surprised. Over all a fun experience, especially if you have people in town visiting or you yourself are visiting.

What a great tea service! Took my mom as a Mother's Day brunch and she loved it! The tea is great and they have coffee for the non-tea drinkers out there! The sandwiches / pastries were also delicious and they give you so much so it's definitely worth the price! The room is so open and airy so it's gives you such an elegant yet relaxed vibe! One of my favorite things to do in Boston!

So glad that my girlfriend found out about this place and made a reservation! I have lived in Boston for over a decade but never heard of this place before she mentioned there is a tea room inside the Boston Public Library. I believe reservation is always full so make sure to make it when you find a slot or put notify option on Resy app (they use this platform for the reservation.) You are mandated to go with $64 course menu with selecting your tea of choice. I went with copley house tea and my gf had wedding blend. We personally like wedding blend as it had full and flavorful fill in it, with flowery touch. It almost tasted like London fog that you usually get in cafe but much better! They also put menu in the old book as the library theme suggests which is pretty cool. Then we're given with starter of soup in tiny cup and refreshing appetizer salad; the combination of qunioa, pomergranate with sweet/sour dressing was just so fresh and appetizing indeed. Next of course was beautiful tea trays filled with delicious foods composed of three trays: first tray with bite sandwiches, second with dessert and the top one with scones with butter/cream/jam. You might be thinking the amount of food would be not enough to fulfill your stomach but don't be fooled, we got so full after our meal! They kindly substituted my gf's portion with vegetarian ones - portobello mushroom, butternut squash and cauliflower. My favorite sandwiches were Lobster bisquette(probably the best one I've had this year), chicken salad, salmon, and cucumber ones. I am glad we tried this place out and can't wait to visit tap room next door when it is not busy!

The tea service rivaled our favorites in London! The seasonal soup/salad starter tastings were a nice addition to the tea towers. A variety of teas were available and the sandwiches, desserts and scones were all very flavorful (except the cauliflower sandwich on the vegetarian plate - it really wasn't edible). The scones came with fruit jam and lemon curd. The staff were very attentive and friendly and the atmosphere and decor were lovely. Highly recommend if you are in Boston!

3.5 rounding up to 4 stars. Came here for a birthday celebration, have been looking for a cute tea room around Boston. Courtyard seemed to be the best option and most true to the traditional afternoon tea experience. Overall, the seasonal burrata salad, celery soup, and scones were probably the best food we were served. Everything else was mid, and there were so many items that all the flavors started to blend together. The tea itself was great- the cozy Copley (monthly brew) was sweet but not too overpowering, and the oolong was satisfying. However, I've never experienced so much pressure from waiters before. They were very attentive, but it felt like there was an eagle eye on us- someone was constantly asking if we were finished either midway through a bite or the second I put my fork down. Understandably there was a lot of food to get through, but the entire hour and a half felt very rushed. We didn't even have time to finish the desserts, not that they were very appealing toward the end anyway. The experience would have been more relaxed if there was more time or less pressure or less food. Overall, decent tea experience but definitely overpriced and would not return.

First off, a HUGE shout out to Alejandro the manager. I have always wanted to experience Boston's Courtyard Tea Room which is hard to get a reservation for (next one from today was 3 weeks from now). He was such a great host and his hospitality helped to exceed my expectations of having an awesome and elegant tea experience! Nelson our server was amazing as well. Place was busy but It didn't seem crowded. It felt bright, clean, classy. Beautiful ambiance. Husband had the chai tea and I had the hibiscus. Both were tasty. I loved mine! Next was a ladder of sandwiches and desserts - too many to name but you can see the picture of the menu added. Favorites were the curry, cheesecake, scones. We were stuffed by the end.. had to take some sweet untouched leftovers to the kids. If you can snag a reservation for this place I would highly recommend it!

The ambiance was great and the service was very attentive but the food was lacking. The starter seasonal soup and salad were exceptional so I really had high expectations but sadly went downhill after that. Out of the six savory bites only one was to our liking - the peppered ricotta tart. Everything else was bland and the cucumber on my English cucumber sandwich was stale and turning orange. The tea selection was just okay. We had the Jasmine Pearls green tea and the Iron Goddess oolong tea. The tea aroma was nice but flat in taste. Most of the desserts were too sweet for me and it didn't help that the tea didn't cut it. Besides the ricotta tart, the other bites that I enjoyed were bacon pumpkin spice cupcake and chai spice scone.

Incredible ambience and dining experience at the Courtyard Tea Room, located inside the historic Boston Public Library. I saw this on Instagram and was visiting Boston so decided to book a reservation for the afternoon tea here, each seat is $64 for afternoon tea which includes a seasonal soup and salad to start, a tea of choice, and a platter of savory + sweet foods. The seasonal soup and salad this time was the burrata salad with celery soup. The plating was gorgeous and really tasty! The tray of finger foods that followed was incredible. The food came in three layers. The top layer was scones with lemon curd, clotted cream, and raspberry preserve. The middle layer was the sweets like the alfajores, lemon macarons, raspberry cheesecake bar, and the chocolate peanut butter mousse tart. The bottom layer was all the savory tea sandwiches. There were SO many different types of food to sample. The ambience was light and airy, which made the dining experience really pleasant. My favorites from this platter were the deviled egg mousse sandwich, the curry chicken salad sandwich, and the alfajores (with hazelnut and shortcake). If you ever want a fancy lunch out with friends or a fun date activity, recommend making a reservation here - you'll feel extra fancy and will feel the need to drink your tea with pinkys up here :) Once you're full on food here, check out the rest of the Boston Library, there's a gorgeous outdoor area with a fountain that reminds me of the Getty Villa in Los Angeles. 10/10!

You simply MUST experience this delightful afternoon tea!! I can't say enough about our experience here. The tea room is located in the Boston Library, a unique and historic destination in itself. The room was spacious with its grand high ceiling and large windows. I knew right away that this would be an enjoyable experience when my menu was handed to me tucked within the pages of a vintage book, just perfect for a library venue. Afternoon Tea comes with a full pot of tea (refillable) for each person, soup and salad, and a 3-tiered tray full of tea sandwiches, desserts, and scones with lemon curd, Devonshire cream and raspberry preserves. The food was not only delicious, but each piece an exquisite work of art. The servers were warm and friendly well-trained professionals. The service they provided added much to our experience! They even gave us a card for our anniversary celebration. Do try the Cozy Copley tea. This traditional earl grey latte with notes of lavender and vanilla is a dreamy cup of deliciousness!! But be sure to make reservations ahead of time because it fills quickly. But if you haven't, still ask to see if there's a spot available so you don't miss out!

Awesome experience! The tea was elegant and delicious and decadent. The experience starts with champagne. The first course was delicious gazpacho and lemon-thyme potatoes in a vinaigrette. Next was a wide selection of tea's and lattes. Our server bought out a collection of savory sandwiches which included lobster, smoked salmon, prosciutto and chicken salad. All of the selections were delicious. The prosciutto was a very good grade. There was also scones with lemon curd and berry jam. The last tray was petit fours and they were amazing. From the beginning to the end it was an amazing experience. The servers were friendly band attentive. The room was beautiful and elegant. It's a must do.

I had the pleasure of dining in the Boston Public libraries Courtyard Tea Room for high tea. It was a lovely experience with very professional staff, a beautiful space, and what I would say is pretty good tea and snacks. You enter in via the grand Boston Public Library entrance, wait in line with the reservations at your same time slot, everyone is seated at once, and like well done theater the show begins. The only real choice you will make is which tea or cocktail you will enjoy, then the prefix menu is served. What you pay for here is the ambiance and the pageantry of the high tea experience. The food was not bad but nothing to rush back there for, which is fine because it's not the point. If you have extra time the Map Room Bar is adjacent and a lovely space to grab a cocktail or mocktail.

When we saw we could have tea inside of the Boston Public Library we immediately added this to our itinerary! You can make a reservation 29 days in advance and the process for doing so was easy. I got a voicemail the morning of our reservation saying that the A/C was out in the library so it was closed but that the tea room would be open, thankfully. I had mentioned when making the reservation that it was my mom's birthday and they took care of us! We had the best two top right next to the window overlooking the gardens. Since there was no A/C they had the window open, which enhanced the view even more. We also got complimentary champagne and they had a little "Happy Birthday" on the tea tower. We got a couple rounds of food before the tea snacks tower came. The scone was warm and delicious and the beet salad was surprisingly tasty too! Because if there being no A/C they allowed us to order iced tea, which we opted for just so we didn't get too warm. Besides the food being high quality, the service was unmatched. This is a can't miss experience if you're visiting Boston!

AJ's first trip to Boston was blessed with a cancellation! I heard people have to make a reservation 3 months in advance. A table opened up the night before! Always check! Not only were we able to get a last minute table, we were also seated near the windows. The view of the courtyard was calming and relaxing. Nonetheless, super romantic! I'm sure she wished it was her husband seated across from her for this wonderful experience. Touché, I wish William was there too! The ambience was magical and the wait staff were friendly and wonderfully attentive. I can only speak for myself, I'm not really into sweets. I wish there were more savory options. We left almost half of the trays untouched. Food were okay. But I'm honestly there for the vibes. With the right person, at least!

My friend who lived in Boston for many years highly recommended the Courtyard Tea Room to me. The last time I was in Boston in July 2021, the Tea Room was still closed due to Covid. When I found out that I would be going to Boston for a work trip, I knew I had to go to the Tea Room. I made reservations about three months in advance for their 1pm sitting and we were seated immediately upon arrival. Their Afternoon Tea is $52 per person and includes a starter course and a three-tier set of savory tea sandwiches, scones, and petit fours. It also includes a pot of tea per person. I opted for their pot of the month, which was a Earl Grey Latte. This was delightful and ended up being both of our favorites. X had their Iron Goddess, which was also very good. As someone who grew up drinking Iron Goddess, I think I know what I'm talking about! The sandwiches were really good and I think my favorite was smoked salmon or the lobster. For dessert, I really enjoyed the strawberry bar and green tea cookie. And lastly, the scones! I love, love, love clotted cream and so happy they had it. The jam and lemon curd were both excellent. Service was efficient and timely. It was truly a great tea experience and one of the best that I've had in the US.

I've loved this tea room for many years, but they recently changed their menu. They once had beautifully presented and delicious small sandwiches, a starter soup and salad, two types of scones, different jams, fabulous desserts, macarons. Now- no soup and salad starter, one bland scone without strawberry jam, an unfortunate selection of sandwiches (salmon mousse on a dry pancake?), no macarons. The entire experience was disappointing. Please bring back to your previous menus. I'm not sure why these changes were made- cost-cutting, new chef/management -but this is not up to the superb standards set by the original Catered Affair caterers.