Laura G.
Yelp
Hidden behind the main drag in Julian, is this enchanting tea house. The Julian tea and cottage is a converted home. It's not truly a restaurant as you cannot just drop in and have tea at any time. You must make reservations and they have certain seating times that are listed. The hostesses were kind enough to make an accommodation for us, as we did not know this, and took us a half an hour early for their 1 o'clock seating. We were served the full tea which included a delicious scone with cream and jam, finger sandwiches, dessert, and our choice of tea. My girlfriend's husband had discovered Yorkshire Gold at this tea house many many years ago, and it is our favorite. They still serve it!
The cuisine was scrumptious. This was one of the best scones I've ever had, warm, flaky, moist, and not too dry as I've experienced at other places recently. It was served with cream and lemon curd. The sandwiches were delightful, both double-sided sandwiches, and also open faced, chicken salad, raisin bread, and cream cheese, egg salad. For February they were having a special Valentines tea as well. I'm assuming during other holiday seasons, they would have other holiday themed teas available for purchase. Currently they have one available for four days during March Irish themed for St. Patrick's Day. The dining room areas are warm and intimate. The rooms are decorated in a Victorian style, crammed, full of romantic, tea, goodies, racks with tea cups, hanging on the walls, tea, towels, teapots lining the top of a shelf around the ceiling. There are lace curtains, tall, narrow windows typical of a Victorian cottage. On our rainy day adventure, it was delightful to be able to sit and have a hot pot of tea with all of the delicious accoutrements.
While sitting sipping tea and dining, we had plenty of time to observe the environment to decide we loved the tea racks with dishes on them, and my girlfriend fell in love with a tea serving tray, a teapot, and a tea cozy! So we definitely had shopping we needed to do.
This tea cottage is jampacked with all kinds of goodies to shop for. Every room is a different theme and there is an upstairs to shop in as well. There are cards and stationary. There are teapots galore, all different sizes, shapes and colors. There are tea, trays, and tea cozies from floral to animals, elegant and funky novelty. There is one whole room set aside just for the actual tea leaves. Bulk tea in packages. I found some Irish breakfast which I had not found in bulk anywhere in quite some. I bought 4 ounces of that and it is just delicious. There were also many brands of tea in teabags, boxed teas, tins of teas. There are all sorts of cooking utensils, teaspoons with delightful little decorations, like teapots and flowers. Upstairs, there are some ready to wear items like gloves, hats, scarves, and also aprons, tea, towels, potholders, and other kitchen, soft furnishings. There was a room full of cooking utensils and equipment for you to cook with and make your own tea goodies along with books, cookbooks, books about the history of tea, etc. This place has tea items to warm your heart, tickle your fancy,and is the best equipped tea House I have ever experienced. A welcome reprieve during a cold rainy day. Definitely plan ahead and get one of the seating times for this delicious tea extravaganza!