The Huntington's Rose Garden Tea Room

Beautiful interior and ambiance. Made Reservations a few months ago for some much needed girl time. The food was pretty standard- we both ordered the traditional tea without all the upgrades. My friend loved the smoked salmon and I loved the onion sandwich. The tea, however, was absolutely fabulous. I enjoyed the Signature blend and she loved Illuminate- so much so that we sought out to buy some to take home in the gift shop but ruled it out due to price, unfortunately. All in all the presentation, the service, the atmosphere- it’s all very intentional and special. I would definitely come back!

Atmosphere: The Huntington Library, Museum, and Botanical Gardens is and always will be one of my fave places to hang out. The grounds are gorgeous, the library is fantastic, and the exhibits are awesome. Rose Garden Tea House- Atmosphere: The tea house itself is really lovely. There are different rooms with different views and even outdoor seating. It was fairly loud because people were having a really good time, but we didn't mind the noise. Food: The food is good. Don't be fooled by the portion sizes which are standard tea finger foods and such, it's all really filling. If you're familiar with and satisfied with this sort of food you'll enjoy the meal. If you're expecting some fancy smorgasbord then you may leave unsatisfied and angry at the cost. Price: We got the Huntington Tea. It ended up costing about $340 for the 4 of us (excluding hefty tip and entry tickets, parking is free). Service: The greeters were great, the woman who brought out and explained the food was absolutely lovely, and there were random servers who were extremely kind and attentive (refilling water, etc.). The waitress actually assigned to our table was pretty rude. She seemed fairly annoyed serving us, but all of the other staff made up for it. Bathroom: The only bathroom I saw in the tea house was an All Gender bathroom (I could be mistaken). The individual stalls are completely closed, you cannot see in, but men and women are in there together. If this makes you uncomfortable there are "traditional" single gender bathrooms in other areas. Personally the bathroom didn't bother me at all. RESERVATION RECOMMENDED- Use the Open Table App. Lastly, note any special occasions. A special, very cute little cake was brought out for my daughter because we were celebrating her birthday.

After multiple attempts of trying, we finally secured a reservation at the popular Rose Garden afternoon tea. Unfortunately, the experience didn’t live up to the hype. The renovated room is beautiful and definitely Instagram-worthy, but beyond the aesthetics, the food was underwhelming. Everything felt average at best. The only standout was the lobster roll, and even that came at an extra charge. For the price and the effort it took to get a table, we expected much more. The overall evening was mediocre, not terrible, but definitely not memorable either. If you’re going purely for the photos, maybe it’s worth a visit, but don’t expect a culinary highlight. On a positive note, the service was lovely. We were running about 20 minutes late and tried to call ahead to let them know, but no one picked up. Thankfully, when we arrived, the staff still welcomed us and seated us without issue, which we really appreciated. In the end, while the decor and service were nice, the food just didn’t justify the price or the hassle. There are better high tea experiences out there that offer both charm and substance. Sadly, this one missed the mark.

Very pleasant "high tea" experience. The finger sandwiches and sweets were nice, the selection of teas broad (and all of them tasty), and the ambiance (both inside the building and looking out at the rose gardens) was fine. The downsides? Service was just okay -- pleasant when there, but nobody every came by to refill water glasses, and the glass of prosecco one of us ordered didn't come until we reminded our waiter (he did fill is quite full as compensation). The experience was also quite pricey for what one got -- and, yes, you are paying for the "experience" as much as the food and drink, but the pricing felt like it was because we were supposed to *expect* it to be expensive, not because it was worth it. If invited back, I'd be okay with going, but I wouldn't make it the centerpiece of my visit to the Huntington.

Love what they did to the place! Came here on a Friday afternoon with my girlfriends - we snagged a rez about a week prior. We were sat by their fireplace and the entire experience was lovely. Staff was friendly and didn’t rush us even though we definitely stayed for longer than the rest of the tables around us. Will definitely be back.

Excellent tea service, charming staff. Delicious savory sandwiches and sweet treats. Tea selection is good. Scones/biscuits are perfect. Inside tea rooms are lovely. Bright, beautiful views of the rose garden. Make reservations.

This was my first time having high tea, and you are definitely paying for the aesthetic and the vibes rather than the food. I would recommend paying the extra $13 for the Huntington Tea, you get a bunch of savory items that is overall better value, especially if you are only ever going to try this place once like me. The staff know it is all about the aesthetic and offer to take a picture for you once they serve the food. Reservations online need to be made a few weeks in advance, but if you try calling them they may be able to slot you in sooner. All of the food was good, and one or two biters. The Huntington special tea was honestly one of the best teas I have ever had.

A fantastic place to spend the afternoon! Tea was incredible and paired perfectly with the sandwiches and desserts. Frustrating that we had to buy 4 tickets to get high team which made a $78/person meal even more expensive

Enjoyed my time in the tea room and strolling in the garden afterwards. This place is elegant and service is spectacular. We have four people in our party so we did 2 traditional tea and 2 Huntington tea. The Huntington Tea which is priced at $13 more than traditional tea includes three more items; glass of house bubbles, lobster roll and a bon bon. We opt to get the apple cider for the house bubbles. It is surprisingly tasty - not too sweet and very fruity. The lobster roll and bon bon on the other hand are just average. We tried the following teas: - Huntington Rose Blend - Happy (fruity green tea) - chamomile Clementine - fresh lemon ginger The tea all taste excellent. The Huntington Rose blend is my favorite. The rose is so fragrant. The tea room also offer non dairy milk (oat, almond, soy) The tea sandwiches and sweets are just ok. I like the smoked salmon tea sandwich and the beet sandwich. The scones come in two flavors- one savory one sweet. The scones are pretty hard. The orange marmalade really stands out. It also comes with butter and cream. Ambiance is relaxing and calming with view of garden thru window. The tea room is popular and hard to get reservations. It usually gets snatched up right away when the openings are released. Also note that admission to the garden is required and separate. Parking is in open lot.

Great place for tea, with enough to fill you. Gluten free selection is available through unfortunately only use one kind of bread for all the sandwiches, which normally the variety of breads add variety to what you are eating. All the teas (tasted about four of them) were fantastic. Beautiful spot to gaze upon a vast variety of rose cultivars. Unfortunately was not able to linger and admire the roses but from my quick walk through it on my way out of the tea house I could tell it's a wonderful place to stroll. Hope to come back one day and enjoy its beauty.

STEPH JUDGEMENT: Renovated with a more refined, elevated feel. Came here with a girlfriend for her birthday and we had a fabulous time. This was our first time back since the remodel and we were impressed! We made reservations for 11am on a Thursday and our table was inside, in the "blue" room, which was quite lovely, with a hushed, modern elegance. When I made the reservations about a month ago the more popular outdoor tables were already booked, but we were totally happy with our indoor table, which was next to a window with a beautiful view of the herb garden. Rene, our server, was wonderful--solicitous and accommodating. We opted to go the whole hog with the Huntington Tea ($77/person as of this writing), which added a glass of bubbly, lobster roll, and a bonbon to the sandwiches (the vidalia onion ones were my faves!), scones (sweet and savory), desserts, and the tea. It was totally worth it, in our opinion! It was an amazing tea experience, and I'd totally do it again. I know some people lament the passing of the less expensive buffet tea, but I don't miss the somewhat chaotic atmosphere of the old tea room, and with so many good casual places to eat in the garden now, I appreciated the option of this more elevated place for a special occasion.

Have gone to The Huntington and told myself I had to go for some tea here some time. I finally made it back here! I am definitely not disappointed. It was a very lovely experience! We ordered the Traditional Tea. Went for a friend's birthday and it was a nice girls' day out! This really enhanced our experience of visiting the library. The portions were decent and we were actually getting full! But we couldn't waste it by not eating everything! Lol! If you haven't gone, you should make your reservations!

Nice place, cozy and inviting atmosphere, perfect for a relaxing break. Their delicious snacks, including freshly baked scones, pair beautiful with a wide selection of teas. The stuff are pleasant, attentive and always ready to make your visit enjoyable. A great spot for a charming and enjoyable experience.

Went to the Huntington with a friend who also happens to be a member. She also wanted to have afternoon tea so we also made reservations for later in the day. Many years ago the afternoon tea was more of a buffet. It was extremely popular and not very expensive either. The food back then was a solid 3 and it was a fun thing to do. Fast forward to now. The tea room has been renovated and it's beautiful! The tea menu has definitely improved and is very swanky not to mention pricey. We ended up getting the more expensive tea service option because it comes with a glass of bubbles (Prosecco or a non- alcoholic version), a lobster sandwich, and the signature chocolate. Overall, I'd say the sandwiches and sweets are decent but not special. The tray looks pretty but as with most tea services I'm really left wanting more. The tea was pretty good. I had the earl grey crème. Service was good but slow. And when a very large and boisterous group arrived, it was just too much. We were in between 2 large groups and the noise level rose dramatically. Would I return? Yes probably to bring my family or for another girl's day out. LOCATION: 4/5 FOOD: 3/5 SERVICE: 4/5 VALUE: 3/5 AMBIANCE: 4/5 PET FRIENDLY: no CLEANLINESS: 4/5 PARKING: 5/5

They remodeled the tea room! It's so modern and thoroughly amazed of the beautiful natural light that shines in during tea time. I definitely had the feel of serenity during my visit. Quality of the tea is always top tier and I love that they offer kid options. One of my top favorite high tea locations.

The ambiance is stellar! Reservations can be hard to secure but I think this is a try at least once place. I have been here a total of 3 times now and I'm pretty sure I need not ever return again. The service we received 8.24.24 was just sad... I think perhaps the Server was new and maybe a bit overwhelmed. The hostess at the podium perhaps was distracted as I had requested to sit some place warmer like on the West side of the room where the sun was coming directly onto the seats but after saying this we were placed on the East side where I continued to shiver. In addition to the Huntington Tea that I ordered I also ordered the soup of the day (which was distasteful I sent it back) as well as the charcuterie - a beautiful presentation and served with buttery Brioche toast points (this is what saved the review). The tea sandwiches bread was dry with the exception of the 'James Beard' Vidalia Onions sandwich. The Petit Fours were fine and the Champagne as well. Lobster roll had a good amount of Lobster it was refreshing and petit. Scones I thought were dry, brittle and crumbly. I wish I had more happy accolades to share for this experience but after three tries... it's not a fluke. Lastly remember if you are bringing children its a limited menu be sure to check the website for selections. Great place for a Shower though! just know in advance that you probably aren't going to be wowed with the food. Also the restrooms are COED. Respectfully Reviewed.

Pros: seated pretty quickly, filling, and the outside seating is pretty cute, and service was warm and friendly. Cons: inside is now pretty generic, food was just ok, and the tea pots are small; it always took a while to get refills and we ran out of tea pretty quickly.

You can't go wrong here. A day to be fancy with the girls and you also get to wander the gardens and galleries! Pro tip: wear comfy shoes and carry your fancy ones in your bag. They'll accommodate all kinds of diets, the food is well prepared, and service is very attentive. I only wish they still had the buffet style they used to. My daughter has food sensitivities and sensory issues, it was fun for her to only eat the things she liked. And it made this tea unique.

Ever since the remodeling and all, the quality of the food has really gone down! The front desk girls were immature and unprofessional. They took us to our table in the garden as we had requested but as we were about to sit, she claimed the table was reserved for another couple and she tried to seat us in the direct sun, next to a large table full of loud children. We asked to be moved and ended up on the terrace in the opposite side. Not in the nice garden where we wanted to be. You are now only allowed to pick one tea the entire time and the sandwiches were very dry as if they had been premade hours ago and were sitting in the fridge . We only got 3 scones and food just tasted so bland. There is no longer fresh fruit with cream and the options are super limited. They hadn't even removed the crust from the bread. I didn't care for any of the sandwiches and I got overloaded with sugar on the rest. After paying about $200, we left hungry and yet with stomach aches. Honestly the only good thing was the outdoor scenery and our waitress Melanie. She was awesome and she made the rest of the bad experience better. I don't see it's returning again or recommending it to anyone. I'd rather do the tea service at Tea Rose Garden, Madeline, Chado or Langham.

Afternoon tea here is so worth the splurge! Service was superb: prompt, friendly and on top of their game. When my husband got an iced red tea instead of the sangria he ordered, they made him a proper sangria and comped it. The quality of the food was great on the day we were there. The scones were warm and buttery. The sandwiches were fresh, meaning there was no dryness on the edge of the bread. My favorite was the BLT, while my husband's favorite was the artichoke with summer herbs. My favorite dessert was the jam filled madeleine, though they were all delicious. I have to come back again someday - hopefully on a temperate spring day so I can dine outside next to the Shakespeare garden.

Came here this past weekend to have tea with my girlfriends. The reservation was made in advance and they were accommodating to updating my reservation because my friend had an emergency. I would give the tea and food and ambiance a solid 4. The presentation of the food was amazing and the sandwiches were top notch compared to another tea room in Pasadena. I love that the tea came in little teapots and they refilled the hot water when needed. We sat next to a window with a view of the rose garden which helped elevate the experience. Price, on the other hand, is like a 3.5-3.75 simply because not only was the menu pricey but we also had to pay admission to get in. Thank goodness parking was free! I was under the assumption that because the menu was pricey that the admission is included. I was wrong. Overall though, definitely an experience to try especially if you haven't been. Since you are paying for admission, make the most of it and spend the day on grounds.

We always have a wonderful experience here. We've been here several times and every time it has been spot on. The service, tea selection, finger sandwiches, the desserts make for a great overall experience. We always get the upgraded experience to add a little more. If you are coming to the Huntington Gardens, this should be on your list of must do's. Make sure to get a reservation as walk up seating can be hit or miss.

I came to the Huntington's rose garden tea room on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. I arrived early to my reservation and was greeted and seated by the friendly hostess. My daughter and I had the children's tea and the traditional tea served with an apple pie and early grey. We knew we were in for a treat when we took the first bite of our scones. All the sandwiches and pastries were decadent and the perfect portion that allowed us to try different items. We were seated in the main tea room which had beautiful natural light, made brighter by the pastel yellow walls. Absolutely will be back!

If you haven't been to the tea room make a resy and go. It's a delightful experience. I am a tea lover usually I'm not into pastries. I enjoyed almost all of the pastries on their vegan Huntington option. Rene & Juan were our servers. They took such good care of us. The ambience, food, and atmosphere were top tier.

Snagged an 11am reservation in April for June 5, 2024- a Wednesday. I thought it would be a nice early Father's Day Celebration with my son and my dad. The inside is gorgeous, My dad has a membership to Huntington Gardens and loves going to the roses when they are in season which they are now, so today was perfect. It was meant to be. All of our schedules were free today and teen was out of school for the summer. We were seated in the Herb Room where Edgar was our server. He was welcoming, knowledgeable and attentive. Since our reservation was for 11 am we were the first to be seated and enjoyed the room to ourselves before the other people with reservations staggered in. We ordered the Huntington Tea which was a little bit more than the regular tea, it came with Prosecco, lobster roll and a chocolate bon bon. The Prosecco was good, but next time I'm going to get the non alcoholic version my son had. It was bubbly and good, it didn't taste like sparkling cider so I'll be ordering it after this review. I love being introduced to new flavors. As far as the tea itself we went with the Z Huntington signature and the Huntington Rose Black by Art of Tea. We love their tea and order from them directly. I'm glad the tea room buys local and we will be adding these flavors to the others we already have. Now to the nitty gritty. The gluten free scones were pretty good. Letter grade is B+ with the orange marmalade made from the gardens, lemon butter and Devonshire cream delicious.My son thought the regular ones were okay/mid but with the Devonshire cream way better. Please note I caught him eating the cream without anything so.., Their favorite was the lobster roll and I would have to say that was my favorite too because they used a thin slice of the gluten free bread lightly toasted instead of a thick slice in the other gluten free sandwiches, Their lobster roll was on a mini brioche which complimented the lobster. Overall everything was perfect, I have leftovers but those 2 do not. We enjoyed ourselves and maybe we will get lucky to snag another reservation- hopefully with Edgar because he was great!

High tea in this lovely spot is a treat for all the senses. After walking through the many gardens of the Huntington this is a lovely spot for refreshments. I came here with friends and we all chose different flavor teas. There's a house blend which was very aromatic, a rose blend and a butterscotch for our table. We had the friendliest hostess who answered all our questions since we had a lactose intolerance person in the party. What was also so relaxing was that we got to linger over conversation and the last of the scones, cream and jam. We already plan to be back in spring!

I'm a Huntington member, and I've wanted to try the Rose Garden Tea Room for so long, so I'm glad I could finally try it. It's so hard to get a reservation because it's booked months in advance, but I went in the early afternoon and was placed on the waitlist. I was having lunch at the cafe with a friend, and then I got a call that a spot opened up, so we rushed to get there. So make sure you leave plenty of buffer room to get to the tea room in the rose garden area. After the $11-million-dollar renovation, the place is very aesthetic and beautiful. I got to eat in the main tea room, but the herb room was just as beautiful. They needed to turn up the AC because it was so hot there. I was drinking the tea, and it got even more hot. Lord, I hope they consider cranking up the AC because, in the summer, it's going to be worse. There are two options for tea: The Traditional for $62 or the Huntington Tea for $75, which comes with a glass of house bubbles and a lobster salad. We chose the traditional since this was our second lunch lolol! I got their exclusive Huntington Signature Blend with jasmine, vanilla, and bergamot for the teas. You can only choose one tea, but they will refill it with hot water. Since I went with a friend, I also got to try the rose tea. Honestly, it would be cooler to try different teas since they have a good selection. The service was really good since I was celebrating my birthday! They also need to note on the menu that some items have dairy since I am lactose intolerant. Luckily, I was able to get oat milk rather than whole milk, but my stomach was still a bit upset since other items had dairy. Pro Tip: If you don't have reservations, get on the waitlist, and if there's a cancellation, they will contact you, but there's no guarantee. Important Note: *The restrooms are gender-neutral, so don't be shocked if you see both men and women in the sink area lolol! Overall, I'm teetering between 3 and 4 stars, but I am giving them four stars because of the service and aesthetic, so I hope they take the opportunity to improve.

If you are looking for Tea (the meal) in a beautiful garden location, look no further than the Rose Garden Tea Room at the Huntington Garden. I will warn you, that, for tea, this is rather expensive. Some might balk at the 62 dollar price tag. Especially when, if you're not a member, you have to pay 29 dollars to actually ENTER the Huntington Garden. However, if you can accept that, you'll have a wonderful time. Upon being seated (I highly recommend sitting out of doors), you select from your choice of teas: I would suggest the Earl Grey Creme. Next, you are served scones with marmalade, clotted cream and lemon curd. The lemon curd is so rich and delicious you'll want to eat it by the spoonful: it was almost like taking a bite of a key lime pie. Next, you are a brought a multi-tiered tray that includes a variety of sweet and savory bites. Classics like a crust-less cucumber sandwich and a finger sandwich with salmon, caviar and crème fraîche. Also featured were madeleines, a delicious dark chocolate and caramel tart, fruit tarts and a number of other confections that I have a hard time describing other than to say that they were tasty and decadent. The Tea Room does offer vegan and gluten-free options for those with different dietary restrictions. My vegan friend joined me for tea and was impressed by the selections of food and the overall quality of what was on offer. Service was very attentive to our needs. It was quite obvious that the Tea Room caters to influencers as one of the waiters made a point of telling us she was going to arrange our plates for aesthetic impact. To be fair, sitting outside surrounded by the beauty of the Huntington Gardens is a truly beautiful feast for the senses. I'm not surprised that people would want to take photos. I would really like to give the Tea Room five stars, but the price does make it a bit prohibitive for a lot of folks. But, if you can handle the price, this was truly a memory-making experience and I would highly recommend it.

Visiting the Huntington Gardens for their Rose Garden Tea Service was a delightful first-time experience. The ample parking is a plus, but weekends can be crowded, so plan accordingly. A walk around the garden is an absolute must, either before or after your tea service. Note that there is a $35 entrance fee for each guest. The Rose Garden is easily accessible with a short 5-10 minute walk, just follow the signs. However, with the garden's vast expanse, it's easy to get a little lost. Our server, Kelan, made the experience even better with his professionalism, enthusiasm, and engaging conversation. We chose to sit outside and enjoyed the beautiful view. This spot is highly recommended for dates or outings with friends. You don't have to dine at the restaurants; picnics and dogs are welcome on the property. Additionally, the Rose Garden offers the tea service to go, allowing you to enjoy it anywhere within the grounds.

The Huntington's Rose Garden Tea Room used to be THE place to pamper ourselves with a lovely, traditional afternoon tea. Sadly, that treasure has flown the coop. In its place: The current menu is a silly, wacky melange of everything you would never expect for tea. Miso Madelines? A Matcha white chocolate puddle (served without a spoon)...?! Soy scones? NO! Oh yes, I MUST add this: The multi-stalled 'unisex' restroom is going to cause a lawsuit one of these days. Both men and women now use a group of stalls in a closed room behind a heavy frosted-glass door, so women and girls can easily walk inside only to find men standing inside (and the opposite, of course). It would be quite easy for women and children to end up in a very uncomfortable (possibly dangerous!) situation with no one outside of the restroom being the wiser. DO NOT allow your children to go to the restroom alone here--and women of certain faiths should be made aware that they will be put in a position of sharing restroom facilities directly with men. As for the 'tea:' I recently returned to the tea room to treat my sister for her birthday and, unfortunately, we are both allergic to soy. Having visited the tea room many times prior to the pandemic, we never would have guessed that there would be NOTHING on the menu that we could eat. Explaining our soy allergy to our very gracious server, she dutifully told the chef, who stated that nearly EVERYTHING on the menu has soy! The chef determined that we could not have the scones (soy flour/fat) and substituted them with strawberries...which we can eat only in moderation, which we explained to our server. Little did we know that rather than the sandwiches and cake desserts or shortbread that we had expected, the chef foisted small dishes full of either salad or fruit on us! For $62 per person, all we were served was one skimpy salmon open-faced sandwich each, one leaf of butter lettuce with onion jam, one tiny cucumber sandwich, a small bowl of spring greens and...MORE FRUIT (two small bowls of MORE strawberries and some goofy freeze-dried fruit)....! I could have purchased the lot at the market for less than $25 and served six people on it! Even worse, my sister's 'birthday surprise' from the kitchen: MORE FRUIT in a glass with puréed dragon fruit. Seriously. Days later, I am still feeling poorly from trying to eat that fruit so as not to feel that I wasted $136 and a whole afternoon, not to mention ruining my sister's birthday. Outrageously, when I wrote a letter to The Huntington's management to advise what a terrible experience this was and to suggest that the tea room add an adequate substitute option for unsuspecting patrons with soy allergies, they couldn't even be bothered to respond. They took our money and are perfectly satisfied, while we battled anaphylactic stress for days. Needless to say, we will NEVER return to the tea room, and if I could get a refund on my membership, I definitely would. Beware.

Super pretty inside the rose gardens of the Huntington library gardens. It's very quiet and quaint inside. Service was spectacular. The tea and pastries part was really good. It did feel very over priced because you also have to pay to enter into the park ($29) and 62-75$ on top of that depending on which tea experience you go for. So it's about $100 or more for this experience but it was cute and fun. They had other options as well. They offer vegan too for the sweets and finger foods. Nice to experience at least once. I think next time I'd ask to sit outdoors, since I felt like I had to whisper inside lol The scones and butter were probably my favorite part.

Waited a long time to revisit the rose gardens tea room. I personally liked the old tea room, but the new tea room is beautiful and well appointed. As expected for most things at the Huntington library, the staff is very attentive. Because of the atmosphere, it will always be one of my favorite places to go enjoy tea service.

Tucked away in beautiful San Marino near Pasadena, is the Huntington rose garden. The walk over was quite lovely. I ordered the vegan high tea that had sandwiches, tea, and dessert. The sandwiches included a cucumber/dill and a peppercress. Also a few different delectable dessert dishes with a lovely presentation. I ordered their top shelf Happy tea that came with numerous refills. Sitting outside on a beautiful sunny afternoon is a must. I felt sitting outdoors was the best decision as it elevates your taste experience. It was also nice to be mesmerized by the garden and mountains covered with all shades of the seasons. The waitress was very professional and kind. I would definitely return as everything was wickedly delightful and wonderfully presented. Tips: Make reservations ahead of time Must also purchase garden entry They also offer regular high tea and gluten free

Have a membership to the garden...incredible place to spend time walking, enjoying some impeccably groomed gardens, and take some pics. Tried the Tea Room today. Lots of little bites, and a large selection of teas. Food is beautifully presented. Service by "Jo" is highly professional, informative, technically perfect!! Surrounded by the famous Huntington gardens, the atmosphere is serene. I will def be back. The food looks as beautiful as the garden, wish it was as flavorful. Creatively conceived menu...just a little short today. Could be a five!! Will def return with friends. A gem in the San Gabriel Valley.

Food was tasty and beautiful Service was ok I didn't like that you only get a choice of one tea I also felt rushed out of there.

The Huntington Library is one of my favorite museums, so I was slightly disappointed with the accompanying tea experience. Although I originally had reservations for the late afternoon, we got hungry earlier, and they could accommodate an earlier seating. I was impressed that they offered Devonshire cream, which is becoming less typical with modern tea services. The outside terrace was lovely as always and our server, Melanie, was attentive, kind, and well-informed about the tea menu- she was the best part of this experience. To address some of the less favorable aspects of the tea, there are issues with the service structure and the food. The sandwich options were super dry, and nothing felt "fresh." They left a weird aftertaste in our mouths and weren't enjoyable. You are only allowed one type of tea, which is only refilled with hot water rather than receiving a refresh pot. The sweet tier was nice, but nothing wowed us. For almost 200 dollars, this service falls short in quality. It is nice to walk around the museums and stop to eat, but know that you are paying for the atmosphere rather than for good food.

Finally was able to make reservations to try out their afternoon tea. My guests & I opted for the pricer tea since we wanted to try the lobster roll. I will say they do give a good amount of sandwiches & desserts for the price. Had so much food that the scones arrived on a separate dish & we boxed some of it to go. The tea came with a glass of champ. I went with the Gen Mai tea which was good since it was light & refreshing. I am not a fan of flavored hot tea so I went with what I knew would taste good. My only negative review would be the egg salad & lobster roll was salty esp the egg salad. Our waitress was very nice & explained the tiers of each dishes. All in all I would say if you like afternoon tea you should experience it here.

This was our first time doing something like this. Having any kind of "high tea". We just happened to be in the area because of an audition I had, and wanted to see the library and gardens. Came across here and decided "well why not?" Pretty happy to have the experience ! They have their usual offering what seems like a premium offering with another tea and another food or something. We went with the lower cost one. And then splurged on the lobster rolls. The view most definitely was gorgeous, and we felt nice even if we weren't prepared or dressed up. We enjoyed the teas we had, though understanding how many we could order was a bit confusing. The service wasn't astounding, but was fine enough! The tables were too small to hold everything properly, honestly. Now the food all felt pretty unique to us. New flavors or foods we didn't expect and/or try, but we liked everything ! Many scones with many preserves and butters for offering. Still they were a bit crumbly, hard, or dry. From what I understand, that's normal of scones. But I think my favorite part of the meal was definitely all the little finger sandwiches and the different fillings offered in them! Not jumping at the chance to go again, but if a friend invited me I'd be excited to.

It's been a long time since the last time - and in between there was a whole pandemic and a complete remodeling of the tea room and of its concept. For some reasons, the rating on YELP is fairly low. I/we found it absolutely wonderful. Both the inside and outside of the place invite for a relaxing atmosphere. We were seated at the edge of the outside patio with unhindered view into the surrounding plants. The buffet from the old times had been abandoned and the more appropriate structure offers various choices. Suffice to say that all items we received were delicious. The service was charming. So glad to see this opportunity back. The only somewhat unrelated issue is and will increasingly be: The parking spaces to not suffice to accommodate the expanding visitor streams...!

Such a lovely tea time with my mom! We got the Huntington Tea which was absolutely worth the upgrade. The champagne was a generous pour and the lobster roll was delicious. The service was impeccable and we got seated exactly at our reservation time. I love how they did the remodel. When the weather is a little cooler I'd love to come have tea outside.

So many reviewers echo my same sentiments and feedback: Admission to gardens not included, so be prepared to pay about $100 per person for the signature tea and admission. Leave room to walk the grounds so you don't feel completely gipped. Parking is "free" so that is a small consolation. We opted for the Signature and decided on a separate bottle of Prosecco as that was the main variable to even level up. It didn't seem worth it for a lobster roll, extra sandwich and sweet, and 2 glasses of champs. The savory tea sandwiches and desserts were presented well, but our teas were lukewarm when we first received them. Our server did ask to replenish with hot water, but they weren't memorable to the point where I don't even remember what I picked. The ambiance and experience are what you're paying for, so once you accept that, everything else just falls by the wayside. We walked to the Asian gardens area before leaving just so we could feel like the admission fee was utilized. Leave about 30 minutes buffer because, you know, LA traffic, parking, and trekking.

Food was great for someone who needs to be gluten free. I didn't love all the tea options and the service was slow for more hot water. Overall they accommodate really well. It's an experience not to be missed!

Had the chance to have tea time here with my cousin on a weekday morning! She's a member of the gardens and has been trying to get a reservation for a long time. We went on 1/2, right after the new year holiday. We got the tea tasting with champagne and everything was perfect! We sat outside at one of the tables right in front of the fountain. All of the sandwiches and baked goods were decent. Some we thought were nothing amazing, but still great. The full experience and ambiance is what we loved the most. Would recommend this as a fun activity & you get to walk the gardens afterwards!

Overall, I enjoyed my experience here. The dining environment is elegant, and the service is attentive, informative, and friendly - our waiter Edgar was very good about keeping our teapots refilled. The menu is prix fixe, so all you need to select is your choice of tea, and whether you want the "Traditional Tea" ($62/adult) or the "Huntington Tea" ($75/adult). The teas here are of great quality (can't go wrong with either the Huntington Signature Blend or Earl Grey Crème). The food is all of an aesthetically pleasing nature, and most of it was of satisfactory palatability - the conspicuous exception being the Cucumber Sandwich with Dill Cream and Peppercress, which honestly left a little something to be desired. In fact, unless I was imagining things ... the slice of cucumber I consumed here seemed to actually be a bit on the stale side. Kind of disappointing, considering the price point of the meal. All things considered, I am of the opinion that the sweet "Tea Menu" items were collectively better than the savory ones. If you judge this restaurant exclusively on the basis of the palatability of its food and cost of admission, I would say it represents a poor value proposition. Evaluated solely on the palatability of its meals ... I would say a fair assessment is that it's not terrible, but neither is it top-tier. All that said, I would still rather come back here than return to Jade Court Cafe ... *shudders*. Evaluated on the basis of the totality of its merits ... The Huntington's Rose Garden Tea Room is definitely worth at least one visit, and the well-heeled are likely to want to return for the pleasant ambiance and service alone. Note 1: You need to have a Huntington entry ticket to access this establishment. Note 2: Reservations are recommended - we did not have one, but fortunately we were still seated very quickly. Note 3: The teas served at this establishment are also available for purchase at The Huntington gift shop.

I came here for a birthday celebration and it was absolutely lovely! The ambience is wonderful of course, with beautiful views of the gardens. The service was very friendly. We got the afternoon tea and everything was delicious.

I wanted to take my sweet friend out for her birthday and I wanted to switch things up rather than do the Langham high tea. Side note: this is located INSIDE the Huntington rose garden and DOES require a ticket for entry. Each ticket is $25 in addition to what you will be spending at the high tea itself. That's why I deducted one star because it all adds up, so come prepared. Atleast parking is free though! I also want to add that this is about a 10-15 min walk from the front entrance of the gardens. You do have to walk a bit but it's not too bad. I got lucky when booking and found an opening on a Wednesday for lunch. This gets booked out months in advance FYI. Yasmine was our server and she was so delightful and sweet. She was always there to answer our questions and was very attentive. The room we were seated in was gorgeous with beautiful paneling on the wall as well as big open windows looking out at the gardens. It was such a beautiful day as well which made the ambiance that much more amazing. As for the food- I liked that the amount of savory sandwiches and sweets were equal. Most places I have been put a lot more dessert on the tiers which is then hard to eat. The teas we selected were apple pie which was seasonal. It was light and tasted like apple pie without the calories. The Huntington rose blend was also so good and with cream even tastier! If you want to try something different with beautiful decor, this is the place to go. It is pricey but worth it for special occasions or when celebrating someone special.

The 1911 Tea Room underwent an 11 million dollar remodel in collaboration with Architectural Resources Group. The Tea Room is open (after closing for 3 years). The Rose Garden Tea Room delights with a most elegant tea service, complete with seasonal house-made scones. If champagne is your preference, a sophisticated offering includes it along with a "petit" lobster salad in phyllo with sprinkled and shaved black truffles. Roses in glass vases and linen table cloths are standard here. We were fortunate to get a reservation on one breezy fall day here---thanks. The new menu now offers gluten free and vegan options. Menus were thoughtfully updated by executive chef Jeff Thurston and pastry chef Luis Perez (Bon Appétit Management Co) managed since 2016. Memories made here still impart a warmth along with visiting monarch butterflies, hummingbirds and buzzing bees. The Huntington is evolving gently. Diversity and respect for all persons was observed. Reservations can be made via OpenTable. In order to access the Tea Room, The Huntington Library admission will need to be purchased prior to making a reservation. The walk from the entrance may take 10 minutes---plan accordingly.

I would say the food and value wise would def be more a 3. The fact that you have to pay to enter the garden on top of the tea service. It's def pricy. The foods were what you expect from an ordinary tea service. I wouldn't say anything stood out. But I enjoyed the experience. Service was attentive. I had fun.

Chose to celebrate my 2-year wedding anniversary here and ordered the Huntington Tea. It was easy to make a reservation with Open Table. The Huntington Tea came with two choices of teas, two different types of scones, an array of tea sandwiches, and desserts, as well as mini lobster roll sandwiches and two glasses of champagne. I think they adjust the amount of everything based on how many guests are in your party. It was amply portioned for us. Service was attentive and the food all tasted great. My only suggestion would be to make a reservation no later than 2pm. Ours was at 3:15 and although our server mentioned several times that there was no rush, the gardens close at 4 so by 4:30 the music was turned off and the staff was definitely waiting for us to leave.

I went to afternoon tea with my girlfriends, and we had a bit of trouble finding the tea room at first. But once we got inside, the inside was pretty and they were playing classical music, which set the perfect vibe for our outing. We chose the Huntington Tea set, which included the regular afternoon tea, a glass of babble and a lobster roll for $75 per person. The scones that were served first were delicious, and the selection of sandwiches and sweets was well-balanced compared to other afternoon teas, which I personally enjoyed. I gave it 3 stars because it felt a bit on the pricey side. After tax and tip, it ended up being over $100 each, plus a $29 entrance fee for the property, so it's not the best choice if you're just going for afternoon tea. Another little disappointment was that they served tea bags instead of loose leaf tea. Since it was afternoon tea, I was really hoping to enjoy some delicious loose leaf tea. But if you're okay with spending a bit more, it's a lovely way to enjoy a fancy afternoon and wander around the beautiful gardens.

I visit the Huntington 4 times a year to see the gardens in every season. High tea is often part of the treat. I waited a long time for the Huntington Rose Garden Tea Room to reopen for my cherished tradition. Once the newly renovated facility ready, I took a friend along to celebrate a special occasion. Our disappointment is hard to describe. I must begin by saying the service was ok. Everything else was surprisingly sub-par. Making reservations was difficult. Once it was clear calling by phone was impossible, I began working the on-line system. As a software engineer, I quickly realized the site was buggy showing nothing available & then many things available for the same time slot if you logged in & out several times. This is really annoying. On the weekday we arrived, I expected the place to be packed based on my tedious reservation experience. Instead, although we found it eerily empty, we were asked to wait almost 8 minutes while 2 greeters tried to figure out where to seat us. After that we were led to a room with uncomfortable modern tables & chairs that looked out on a blank canvas without a garden view. Gone were the comfy Victorian era style sofas. I saw another room that resembled a Denny's diner on my way to the bathroom that looked considerably cozier. But it was truly quite ugly. The bathrooms were under repair with tape across unusable sinks. I found the esthetic shocking. The actual tea was bitter. We later discovered that my friend's choice was artificially flavored. My tea was simply bland. The scones were hard as rocks. The sweet were served in stale pre-made pastry shells. The thin tasteless sandwiches were served on dry bread that tasted as though it had been left out too long. We both refused to eat the wilted greens. The people at the table next to us sent their tea back. The waitress was kind & happy to change it. But we simply smiled through the experience deciding there was no point in complaining. There are so many great laces to have High Tea in Beverly Hills where we live. No reason to ever come back.

High Tea seems to be a British invention. Tea was introduced to Britain after the colonizing of India. When I'm in London, I tend to eat Indian cuisine since it is so much more flavourful than mostly boring British fare. The Indian food there is so good that I have yet to find any that is comparable in L.A.   So don't expect High Tea to blow your mind. The British are very good at pomp & circumstance, but generally terrible at creating tasty, flavourful food.  The comestibles at The Huntington's Rose Garden Tea Room are well presented in a more formal dining setting with views of the Rose garden at least in the original dining room.  There is the new West Wing along with a small outdoor dining area that is not advisable on a hot afternoon having direct sunlight beating down unless baking in the sun is your thing.  There is also an east covered patio that is more advisable in the warm months.  Service is not on an haute cuisine level but quite acceptable. Our waitress knew her foods when I asked her what the caviar was on the salmon. She replied, "Paddlefish" which is not technically Caviar since they are not from Sturgeon, but to a related genus.  The Tea is split into savory and sweet items. There are also Additions: I ordered the broccoli, potato, dill potage, but it was unimpressive.   I opted for the standard Traditional Tea and upgraded to the Huntington Tea that includes Huntington Bonbon, Glass of House Bubbles which was a lively, acidic, sweet Prosecco from Veneto, Lobster Salad in Phyllo with Maldon Sea Salt & Shaved Black Truffles. Unfortunately, I didn't sense any black truffle, not even Truffe d'Été.  I will upload the menu that briefly describes ingredients of each item since the food here is mediocre.  I especially liked the Dulce de Leche-banana filling of the Banofee (banana toffee) tart.  Tarragon Chicken sandwich in a mayonnaise base was tasty, and again couldn't taste the Tarragon which is usually a strong minty fennel tasting herb. But the currant scones were overbaked, dry & hard.  Huntington Signature Blend is black tea with mostly pronounced aromatics of medicinal, bitter orange zest Bergamot and Vanilla although there is supposedly Jasmine.  The strength of The Huntington's Rose Garden Tea Room is for its relaxing ambiance: harp music piped through its speaker system to lull the mind, formal table setting, neutral cream colored walls, tableside small rose arrangements, view of the Rose Garden through the windows.  Caveat:  You must buy an entry ticket into the Huntington even if you make reservations to the Tea Room. The Tea Room is nowhere near the ticket entrance and located near and in front of the Japanese Garden entrance, which is very much worth a visit if you lIke gardens that harmonize & don't dominate over nature.   The walk may take at least 10 minutes or longer when all is said and done. So plan accordingly if you want to go directly to the Tea Room from the parking lot to ensure you arrive for the appointed reservation on time.  Food is 3- stars. Soothing environment is 4+ rounded up to 4- stars.

I went because I've always wanted to try "going to tea" and was able to book a table a few months in advance. The service is great. It's as if you're at a fancy restaurant. They were all really great. The tea was good. I tried the Happy tea and enjoyed it. (Raspberries, tangy hibiscus, jasmine, and organic guayusa tea). They give you the tea pot so you can easily share or have plenty of tea for yourself. What we ordered: Traditional Tea...$62/person Includes: 1 Tea Selection, Tea Menu (regular, vegan or gluten free options available), Seasonal House-made Scones. Tea Menu: SAVORY - Cucumber Sandwich with Dill Cream and Peppercress - Just ok. - Turkey Cranberry Salad Sandwich - Probably the best one. - Smoked Salmon with Dill Cream Cheese and Caviar - This was surprisingly tasty. - Sea Salt & Tellicherry Pepper Crusted New York Striploin on Pumpernickel with Horseradish Cream - We stacked this one with the onion one and the combo was good. - Curried Carrot & Golden Raisins - This little sandwich was my least favorite. The curry was not it. - "James Beard" Vildalia Sweet Onions, Sea Salt, Garden Herb Crusted - took off the onions. It was ok by itself but good combined with the striploin one. SWEET - Ginger Cake with Quince Compote and Cream Cheese - Eh...Pass. - Chocolate Brown Butter Almond Cake - Cute tasty little cake. Belgian Chocolate & Sea Salt Caramel Tart - The group favorite. Really sweet, the chocolate was fudge like. Delicious. Seasonal Fruit Tart - Really well made fruit tart with ripe and sweet fruit. The scones were probably my favorite of them all. If they offered just like a charcuterie type option (fruits/cheeses/meats with their scones, I'd go back just for that. They can add champagne and tea to make the price comparable to their other options. TL:DR $62 was a bit steep for what it was. If the food was better, it would have been worth it. Notes: You have to pay admission to the gardens if you go to the tea room so you're paying almost $100. Make sure you make time to walk the gardens to get your money's worth. We had booked our reservation Months in advance. Make sure you have your reservation and buy your admissions as well.

Great ambiance! It's a long walk from the entrance so wear comfortable shoes. Think 10 minute walk and it's mostly sunny. Indoor AC and we got the traditional which is more than enough food . I liked the steak sandwich and the cucumber. The signature and earl grey tea are fairly similar. They are able to accommodate dietary restrictions. The food was overall ok, the service was solid. The ambiance and library setting were the topper!

We came from the Westside and we cut it too close to the tea time. I didn't do my homework and didn't realize you had to find parking (huge parking lot and can get very crowded), then you have to wait in line to pay for a ticket to get into the park. Then you get a map and you have to find the tea place, it's 10mms away walking distance. They do tell you when you reserve that you need to add 20mms and it's no joke, I would make sure to allow 30mm extra so you don't arrive looking crazy. If you have plenty of time, it's ok to wander around, when you are 10mms past your appointment time not so much. The service was great. We sitting outside with perfect weather. I'm a tea party person and I had really high hopes, and for some reason I was expecting more of a holiday theme. It was good food but nothing crazy amazing. There is so much to see in the park, add at least 2 hours to your visit.

Checked out the iconic and renovated tea room after waiting months for an open date. Enjoyed a nice afternoon outside on the patio sipping an impressive selection of tea and enjoying the sweet and savory finger foods. Service was good - our server allowed us to move to the opposite side of the patio when it was audibly clear that our neighbors had been partaking liberally from the bubbly - and the food was decent. Was it worth it? I've been to the original tea room many years ago, and I will say the [$11 million!] renovation definitely shows, and it's a lot more interesting an addition to the grounds than yet another random section in the Chinese garden. The tea selection is also delicious, from what I tried. But be aware that the proximity to the rose garden is mostly advantageous during certain seasons, namely when the roses are in bloom. And a quick check indicates that seats are still booked out at least a month, so while the hype has definitely died down, it's still not a place you can go without some planning. Finally, though I came on a membership, if you are not a member of the Huntington, it's worth reminding that you'll be paying for both the entry to the garden and either the $62 or $74/person for tea. So highly recommended to make an afternoon out of it and enjoy the garden before or after tea. Overall it may be the nicest place I've had afternoon tea in Southern California, and bonus that it's at one of my favorite local spots, the Huntington.

This was the first time we'd been back for tea since the reopening (so hard to get weekend reservations!), and it did not disappoint. The outdoor seating was lovely in full view of the gardens, fully covered, with heat lamps that looked like giant living room lamps. Service was prompt and attentive. They allowed modifications of the children's menu to substitute sandwiches our daughter would eat for ones she wouldn't touch. Scones were served almost immediately after our tea arrived, and they were perfect - buttery and flaky, with a perfectly crisp exterior (nothing worse than a soft scone, IMO). The accompaniments were delightful, and I must confess I was very generous with spreading lemon curd or Devonshire cream on each bite of scone. The butterscotch scone was delicious, and I loved the hint of almond in the cranberry scone. When the tiered tray arrived, my first reaction was that it didn't look like much food, but we ended up not being able to finish it all. Each of the sandwiches was delectable in a unique way, and I loved them all, even the one I thought I wouldn't. Our daughter stole almost all the caviar from our smoked salmon sandwiches. The desserts were probably my least favorite of the experience because I'm not a fan of rich chocolate desserts unless they're straight up chocolate, but I very much enjoyed the ginger cake and fruit tart, which had a lighter profile. Because we had recently celebrated our anniversary, the restaurant kindly comped us another larger chocolate dessert. We took what we couldn't eat home, but after a day walking around the gardens, only the leftover scone and chocolate tarts survived. The only other minor criticism I have of the tea service is that the tea was bagged, not loose leaf, though the upside was no leaves floating in the tea. No wait for the restrooms, as they were all-gender with multiple stalls that were completely enclosed. Great for families! We've never experienced that before. They were also well designed in that after washing your hands and exiting to the dining patio, you never had to touch a door handle. This is maybe the fourth or fifth time we've had tea at the Huntington over the years, including the buffet, and this was by far the best. Can't wait to come again!