Lady Camellia

Tea house · Waterfront

Lady Camellia

Tea house · Waterfront

1

229 Strand St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Photos

Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null
Lady Camellia by null

Highlights

Cozy destination offering full tea service plus pastries such as scones & croissants.  

Featured in Eater
Placeholder

229 Strand St, Alexandria, VA 22314 Get directions

ladycamellia.com
@ladycamelliatearoom

$ · Menu

Reserve

Information

Static Map

229 Strand St, Alexandria, VA 22314 Get directions

+1 571 431 7705
ladycamellia.com
@ladycamelliatearoom

$ · Menu

Reserve

Features

dine in
delivery

Last updated

Mar 4, 2025

Powered By

You might also like

Terms of Use • Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy
 © 2025 Postcard Technologies, Inc.
@eater

"Located in Georgetown until 2020, Lady Camilla’s tea room recently resurfaced in Old Town Alexandria. The pink waterfront palace offers an assortment of afternoon tea options all week long, with Saturday and Sunday spreads starting at $59 and weekday service for $32 and up. Steaming pots of tea joins a selection of scones, croissants, tea sandwiches, English pies, and spinach mushroom souffles, plus add-ons like mimosas and wine. Peruse packages and make a reservation here." - Tierney Plumb, Emily Venezky

Where to Enjoy the Best Afternoon Tea Around D.C.
View Postcard for Lady Camellia

Julia L.

Google
This was my first time and Lady Camellia did NOT disappoint!! It was such a wonderful, dainty, girly, and delicious experience, one that will not be soon forgotten. I had fairly high expectations and Lady Camellia far exceeded them. The restaurant itself is quite clean and the staff are fairly friendly which is understandable given how busy the place is! The tea and treats were quite delicious and surprisingly filling! But the interior decoration and table settings are what really made the experience so memorable and special. The light fixtures, tables, seating, walls, and even the bathrooms and more were so pretty and perfect and pink that my friends and I couldn’t stop pointing out those little details. The windows that look out onto the water are a great part of the experience too, with sunlight streaming in on the dainty china, it felt like a fairytale. 🤭 One thing that I would suggest is to use actual trays when serving food or tea, I believe they currently use gray plastic crates/bins which slightly took away from the atmosphere but other than that, the service was perfect. We had a pretty big group so I think we all appreciated the staff’s patience. Overall, Lady Camellia is the perfect place to have a spot of tea with a loved one and I 100% recommend coming here! Thank you for the lovely experience!

Forrest Peterman

Google
Very cute place! Small so definitely make a reservation. Lots of tea options. Food was delicious! The only complaint i have is the cucumber sandwiches were not very good. Too much cucumber and it was cut weird. Chicken salad and egg salad were awesome though! Staff was great and friendly but only like 2 or maybe 3 people working for the all the tables which I can see causing a wait in service. Definitely planning to make this a yearly holiday lunch!

M Carter

Google
I had a party of five and thoroughly enjoyed my experience. The service, atmosphere and food was great. Lovely table and food presentation. The selection of teas suited everyone's tastes. I would that they add more decaffeinated versions though. Love their to-go boxes as well. They also have a small room in the back for private tea. I highly recommend trying this tea house. Will definitely be back.

Yihyun Lee

Google
There are many afternoon tea cafes that are not only pretty but have a disappointing taste, but Lady Camelia is a beautiful space + beautiful tea + beautiful dessert! I was impressed! I ate it at home the next day because you packed the leftover dessert beautifully, and it was so delicious that I was moved again!

Christine’s Experiences

Google
A super cute dainty spot for tea time with friends! We enjoyed High Tea and Afternoon Tea (pasties,scones, entree soufflés, and a hot tea of our choice. My faves the egg salad sandwich, chicken and leek soufflé, and gingerbread tea. It has a bright pastel aesthetic. There is a private area for parties, and It is right on the waterfront of old town alexandria. It is best to make reservations in advance online. It is a good chunk of change + gratuity. There is paid parking across the street for $15. We will be back!

Christina

Google
This was my first time at this place. I went with four other friends and we had a blast! Not only was the tea good but the food exceeded my expectations. The funfetti scone was my personal favorite. Note if you have more people they just give you an assortment of all their items so that’s what we did. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a more unique experience.

Hannah Doyle

Google
I worked at a family friend’s tea room in high school, so I have pretty high expectations for a tea experience, especially at this price point. I also regularly steep loose leaf tea in my own home. I wanted to preface my review that way because if this place would be your first time tea experience, it’s really nice! Pros: - Beautiful space - Lovely place settings - Delicious food - Varied Tea selection Cons: - Volume of space (lots of hard surfaces in a small area) - Proximity of other tables - Wait for table upon on time arrival for reservation - Tea brew method (my biggest issue). They leave the tea leaves in the pot to steep and do not remove to stop the steep. I love flavored black tea and this method can make the tea flavor bitter. In my case, this was true for 1 of the 4 pots at my table. They also do not provide any way to keep the tea warm on your table. So, after the first cup from the pot it is not a hot cup of tea. Other tea rooms use tea cozies or a candle underneath the pot to keep it warm. At this price point, I feel this is irresponsible as it reflects a lack of excellence at their craft.

idec al

Google
Lady Cameila was a delightful surprise! Having lived in the area for a while, I was amazed I hadn’t come across it before. From the moment u walk in, the soft peachy-pink decor, crystal accents, and dainty tea cups give off a true London tea vibe. It instantly took me back to the traditional London tea culture that I love. The service was impeccable thanks to Luvianny, who was a beautiful soul. She greeted us with a warm smile and even took some amazing pictures for us! The pastries and biscuits were delicate and perfectly paired with a pot of tea served in the most beautiful tea sets. And then came the beef and chicken pies, absolutely delicious! I’m already planning my next visit for more.

Moni T.

Yelp
I came here to celebrate my sister's birthday, and I 1000% enjoyed the experience! The place is small and cozy, which makes for a more intimate tea experience. It's perfect for a small group, but I wouldn't recommend it for a large party. We both ordered the high tea, which came with an entrée, your choice of 2 scones or croissants, 4 pastries of your choice, and 1 pot of tea. We both went with the beef bourguignon English pie, and it was absolutely delicious--seasoned to perfection! I'm already planning my next visit just for that pie. The pastries and scones were also fantastic. I tried the vanilla rooibos tea, and it was delicious--one of my favorites! The staff surprised my sister with a cupcake and a trick candle, which was a fun touch. Each time she tried to blow it out, it would light back up. It was hilarious! Service was excellent. Whenever we needed something or asked for clarification on the spreads, the staff was quick to assist. Overall, it was a wonderful experience, and I'll definitely be back!

Rachel K.

Yelp
I came here with a group of 4 for full tea. We made a reservation so we were seated quickly. The place was already very full at 11am! It's cute inside with lots of natural light and there's a nice view of the water. But the inside is small. There aren't many tables and they're pretty close together The full tea was $59. Gratuity, state tax, and city tax were all included in the bill and it came out to around ~$75 per person. We were given a good assortment of tea sandwiches, scones, and other desserts. Everything tasted fine. I wasn't super impressed with anything but nothing was bad. I liked that there was a large selection of teas. I chose apricot oolong which was a nice light fruity green tea. My friends enjoyed the English breakfast and lady grey. I think the biggest disappointment for me was the service. We booked an 11am reservation and were being rushed out the door by 12:30. My friends and I were celebrating a birthday and we didn't appreciate that it felt like we were being told to get out after only 90 minutes. I understand that it was a busy day but at this price point I was hoping for a better experience. Overall, I'm on the fence about coming back here. It was a cute fun thing but also I was hoping for better.

Jithu R.

Yelp
Went here for a full tea - $57 dollar option. The food was plentiful. The service was attentive and great overall. So much good for the price point. The only things is that it is a small space and the tables are tiny. Def had lots of spills because hard to move things around.

Linnea H.

Yelp
The setting is very charming in old town Alexandria but the space is TINY. It was a little difficult for anyone with mobility issues to get in and out of this place and there is really no place to store a large winter jacket. Even the private room in back was very small and could not comfortably sit more than 8 people. We had a reservation but were seated 20 minutes late. The staff made a valiant effort to take our order promptly once we were finally seated but in general service the rest of the time made it seem they were understaffed. As I said earlier, the place is charming with beautiful china settings and real silver place settings. The full tea sevice also is more reasonably priced than many of the options in DC ($59 v. $90+). The portions were impressively plentiful and we all had to take boxes home, but some pastries were better than others. There's a surface parking lot across the street, which is convenient. I'm not certain I would go again, but I would absolutely recommend this place to someone who is eager to try their first high tea experience. It is a reasonably-proced option and is very Instagramlmmable.

Alexa S.

Yelp
Such a fun experience. I went with two friends and we got two full teas and 1 high tea and shared everything. The staff were friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. When we asked about types of tea and what we might like they asked us our preferences and made great recommendations. Inside was beautiful, it was small but had plenty of space to sit and move around. Everything was matching and looked like it was out of a book. The food was all delicious, I was able to try most things on the menu and my favorites were the vanilla crème brûlée, cucumber sandwich, and plain croissant. I got the cinnamon rooibos tea. It was brewed perfectly with so much flavor. They also brought sugar cubes and cream/milk for us to add as we wanted.

Sanchita G.

Yelp
I was pretty excited to come here after having gone to the Waldorf Astoria, high tea in DC. I was pretty disappointed by the service. We sat down for 30. minutes before we were served and apparently really have like 90 minutes to eat there and I was like well OK so we basically just wasted our 30 minutes waiting to be served and mind you we didn't even get service. We had to request the waiter to come and serve us after 30 minutes of us just sitting there. And I do agree with some of the other reviews where they're saying that the service doesn't really care about the experience or what kind things they serve . They don't really know anything about the items or anything and they don't really seem like they want to be bothered. I also thought the space was really small and it was really cramped and because it was so cramped they made us move in the middle of the high tea so they could have an extra table for another party, which was fair because we had 10 people who wanted to come, but only showed up, but they could've easily did that when we got there . As for the food I thought the tea was the best part I thought the tea I got was really good it was like the Darjeeling tea. The other pastries and stuff like that weren't super Duper good. Some of it felt a little stale. Some of it could've been better. I don't think I will ever come back here just because of the service and the food wasn't good and even though it's an old town, the views also we're not even good from the place. I also felt like for $75. It was definitely not worth it. There's high tees that are at a comparable price that much nicer places which I'm sure have much better service. I for sure will never be coming back here.

Nicole H.

Yelp
I went back to Lady Camellia! It was a spectacular experience. I loved their special sandwich-roast beef and water cress. It was tasty. The Brie and Apple sandwich is still my top favorite! It's fresh and yummy. This time for the sweets we tried a lot of the chocolate ones . They were delicious! The chocolate pastry was so good. I also enjoyed the pistachio macaron. Service was great! Place is beautiful and wonderful for memorable pictures. The teas we ordered included the strawberry mint and jasmine. All great teas ! It was a great day at Lady Camellia !

Rebecca L.

Yelp
Loved this place. Not sure what's up with all the negative reviews. I've been to quite a few afternoon teas in Europe and the states and this place is super cute. Is it expensive? Yes but you're also on the water in Alexandria. The food was delicious as well as the tea. Will definitely be back with my girlfriends.

Allison N.

Yelp
Cute! I love a good tea time and love that there's a nice tea option around me. My husband and I came in for their holiday tea and had an amazing time. The tea room is pretty small, with just a few tables but they were really buzzing! The place was packed. There are tons of options for scones, pastries and sandwiches. Some standouts for us were the lemon tart, the white chocolate scone, and loved the chicken salad sandwich. They also had a beef sandwich special that was really good. Service was good, not overly friendly but they did a nice job. I'd definitely come back!

Em L.

Yelp
This was such a fun afternoon tea experience. Great tea selection and the scones were so delicious!

Jessica M.

Yelp
So adorable me and would absolutely go here again. It was the perfect way to start the morning of a girls weekend with brunch. Looking forward to the next time.

Dee M.

Yelp
I went here with my sister. Our waitress, Alex, was absolutely hilarious and delightful! We loved her. She was so cool and candid. The tea menu offered a decent variety of teas. We got the Sakura leaves tea and lapsang souchong tea. If you get the Sakura leaves tea, you may want extra leaves to heighten the flavor because it might taste too similar to green tea. The lapsang souchong was super smokey that we needed extra water to tone down the flavor. This latter tea is more for the adventurous of those who don't usually drink tea. We both opted for high tea. Between us, we got a soufflé, English pie, scones, macarons, croissants, pannacotta, chocolate pots de crème, and crème brûlée. We loved our entrees the most. We didn't think we'd be full, but the food was more than enough. We both had to take our remaining pastries home. The ambience, decorations, and tea sets were so cute! I will say, though, that the place is smaller than I expected, but at least it's by the water! Very nice overall. I'd go back.

Alisha G.

Yelp
I went to Lady Camilla for a friend's birthday and had a wonderful time! The food was good, and the venue was super cute, with a great view of the water. I will note that the venue is small, so making a reservation is a must. However, the vibes and atmosphere were amazing, and I loved their plates and cutlery! I ordered the Jasmine Vanilla (10/10) and a bottle of sparkling rosé.' We had a group of 5 people, so they made an assortment of food for us and gave way more than enough than if we were just two people! My favorite items were Salmon Sandwiches, white chocolate cranberry scone, funfetti scone, & the mini lemon meringue pie! Cons: I didn't like the chicken salad sandwich or strawberry fruit tart. I also wish they had a regular sparkling wine that wasn't $90.

Soorya N.

Yelp
Each item in the high tea was absolutely delectable. Service was slightly slow but all the servers were so nice and helpful. The location was beautiful and right on the water. They do one thing and do it well -- highly recommend!

Chenée T.

Yelp
I have tried Lady Camellia during the pandemic when they were still in Georgetown, but I did the afternoon tea box to go so obviously a different experience than being surrounded by cute little tea cups and saucers. Their new location in Alexandria is adorable and such a great space where you can overlook the Potomac. We ordered afternoon tea for two and had pretty sizable and filling sandwiches. The tea selection is massive and you get a sizable amount of hot water, so you'll leave feeling pretty satisfied and full if you go for lunchtime meal. I can't wait to bring my friends whenever I want to feel fancy and regal. Awesome this place exists.

Eliecer O.

Yelp
We recently visited Lady Camellia for afternoon tea and had a mixed experience. The staff was friendly, helpful, and prompt, which we greatly appreciated. The food was good and plentiful, meeting our expectations for a delightful tea service. However, we reserved a private area and spent a considerable amount of money for it. The photos on the website showed a long table, but the actual room was cramped with a table shaped like the letter C. This setup made it difficult for people to get to their seats and move around, and the kids even had to climb under the table, which was quite bothersome and upsetting given the cost. Overall, Lady Camellia is a good place with potential, but it has some minor kinks that need addressing. With a few improvements, it could be an exceptional experience.

Kimi S.

Yelp
I was ecstatic when I found out that Lady Camellia was moving it's Georgetown shop to the Old Town Alexandria area. I have been to tea service all around the world and truly nothing compares to their homemade scones which are the most perfect baked good to have ever touched my mouth. The new location still packs all of the whimsy and sweetness of Georgetown but this time with riverfront views. My best friend went on a weekend afternoon to celebrate her birthday and boy were we in for a treat! The place was buzzing with fellow tea enthusiasts like ourselves, all eager to experience the magic. We opted for the full tea experience which included two tea sandwiches, their famous scones, and a delightful assortment of four pastries. Every single bite was an explosion of flavors, but we were particularly enchanted by the white chocolate cranberry scones, the smoked salmon sandwich, and the sinfully rich chocolate pots de creme. And let's not forget about the adorable little teapot that our tea arrived in, complete with charming tea accessories that added an extra dash of fun to the experience. Needless to say, we felt like true VIPs! That being said, the service was a bit chaotic. The dance between being seated, greeted, ordering, refills, and everything was super clunky and slow but everyone we spoke to was very upbeat and friendly. Lady Camellia continues to hold its rightful place as one of the absolute best tea destinations in the DC area, effortlessly combining aesthetic charm with accessibility.

Thasin S.

Yelp
Cutest high tea place! The chicken salad sandwiches were amazing and the strawberry tea was my favorite.

Virginia H.

Yelp
I love the experience of afternoon tea in Europe and when I heard Lady Camellia reopened in Alexandria I was so excited to go back! We went with the Weekend Afternoon Full Tea for $55/person. We tried the Vanilla Jasmine Tea which was pretty good. The tea sandwiches, cookies and cream crème brûlée and passion fruit pannacotta were my favorite. The downside was the workers do not communicate with one another. In one instance, a server came to take our order after we already ordered. We had a couple leftovers, but they only provided a box to take out. When I asked for a bag, they claimed they do not provide bags for small items. We did not come to Old Town Alexandria just to come here so it is inconvenient to go elsewhere with a box. Maybe because 18% gratuity is automatically added it is okay for them to provide mediocre service and be stingy about a bag.

Maria M.

Yelp
On 24 Feb 2024, a few friends, family, and I celebrated my birthday at Lady Camellia. The ambiance, tea and food were absolutely wonderful. Each guest ordered a different tea from the extensive tea selection to enjoy with the assortment of sandwiches and pastries. It would have a superb outing had the staff not initially treated us like we didn't belong. Twice we were asked if we had a reservation. For other patrons waiting to be seated they asked what name was the reservation under. Finally another staff person asked what name was our reservation under. Like the ladies in the other parties we had on fascinators and tea gloves, incidicatrs we were there for hi tea. Is stuck us oddly that we were ask not once but twice if we had a reservation.

Maggie M.

Yelp
Absolutely lovely! My mom and I go to tea for our birthdays every year and this year was our first time to Lady Camellia's. The atmosphere is adorable - a classic tea shop that you dress up to go to. The food was very good, escprcialky the chicken salad. And the tea list is extensive. And the staff were all helpful and friendly. I have gone to more expensive tea places and gotten worse food.

Nicole O.

Yelp
Lady Camellia has the best tea service that I have experienced in the area. I've been visiting them since they were located in Georgetown and the service, ambience, and treats are always top notch. I've had the simple tea, high tea, and high tea with entree and all were delicious I also really appreciate their great selection of teas, though I usually get the Sakura sencha. I've never felt rushed and they always offer to refill your tea with hot water for another round. When I get the high tea, I always have leftovers because there are so many pastries included! They make nice treats throughout the week.

Tanar W.

Yelp
If you're in the mood for a lovely afternoon with your girls, Lady Camellia's is the spot to hit up. I hosted a Galentine's tea party for ten lovely ladies, and let me tell you, it was a blast! The service was on point - super friendly and attentive, making us feel like VIPs. And the food? Oh man, it was delicious. From those cute little finger sandwiches to the mouthwatering pastries, we were in heaven. And don't even get me started on the scones - perfectly fluffy and served with all the fixings. The vibe in the tea room was cozy yet chic, with vintage vibes. It really set the mood for our gathering. Overall, Lady Camellia's knocked it out of the park. Whether you're celebrating something special or just hanging out with your crew, this place is a winner. Go check it out - you won't be disappointed!

Kimberly S.

Yelp
Ambiance - Right on the water in Old Town Alexandria. This place is very cute in the inside, just what I would expect from a tea room. Small and intimate. Food/Drink - Great egg salad. The chicken salad was ok. Loved the smoked salmon sandwich as well. The teas and pastries were very good. Service - The service was friendly, but slow. It took a while before we got to place our order. I had to ask for sparkling water twice. However, things picked up once we received our tea. Overall, I would return and recommend it for other people.

Ranjini S.

Yelp
Lady Camellia is a tea room right on the water in Alexandria. It's a small establishment so they book up quickly on the weekends. For parties of 4 and above the staff brings a selection of items to the table (they do take dietary restrictions into consideration). The full tea gets you a pot of tea, sandwiches, scones and pastries, and an assortment of small desserts. Go hungry because there's a lot of food! The high tea option gives you an added entree (shepherd's pie or soufflé). The staff is extremely friendly and the place has a nice ambience. One person in our party did complain about the acoustics when it was crowded. Overall, it's a good spread for the price.

Marissa G.

Yelp
4.5/5 I had a reservation for the full tea service. This was a pretty good deal for the price (57 per person) - per person, you get one full pot of which they will come around and refill with hot water for you, 2 full sandwiches, two scones or croissants, and 4 mini desserts. They had an extensive list of teas and the scones were delicious. One gripe about the food is that the cucumber sandwich completely fell apart when eating it. The ambiance is cute and very coquette, but the restaurant is very small so you can hear everyone's conversations.

Jemily H.

Yelp
Came here with an invite from a college girlfriend to kick off my bday month (October was very good to me). I had heard a lot about this place and had been meaning to try and find a good enough reason to go!! The place is small, not really designed with space in mind. However, the dining/tea area was beautiful, girly, inviting, and perfect for the vibe. Crown molding, frills, and all the bells and whistles. Servers didn't seem too focused on the experience but rather stretched thin and busy trying to keep all the parties happy. Plenty of ladies coming to celebrate bachelorettes, birthdays, and all reasons under the sun. A little on the pricey side. Not Waldorf Astoria pricey but felt a little excessive. Menu had plenty of options to chose from. The main tea option includes a pot of your choosing (white, green, black teas to choose from and a long list! Kind of hard to choose actually....plenty of Earl Greys with a random word in from like "vanilla" or "lavender") the tea menu comes with options from each category, little pots of dessert, scones, finger sandwiches, macarons, etc. The cucumber sandwiches were my favorite!!! A few really unique choices that I hadn't tried before like a cookies and cream creme brûlée. Lovely spot to catch up over a tea in old town. The parking was difficult (this is just old town in general) and the window we were sitting next to had a view of the parking...not the perfect location...I think they had a Georgetown one too. Gladly boxed up my leftover crumpets and had a great time due to my lovely girlfriend who surprised me with a birthday cupcake and a plate that said Happy Birthday. The thoughtfulness of this date made it 4 stars, I'm sure the other ladies there for celebrations would say the same. Wouldn't return to this one but looking forward to sampling other few spots in the DMV.

Leen R.

Yelp
Came here on a week day, so it was nice and quiet, but my first impression was that the space is TINY, and certain aspects of the decor were super a little tacky. The chairs on some of the empty tables weren't even pushed in properly and the corridor to the restrooms were super narrow and lined up with extra chairs. I'm not sure why this place is so hyped up as it was super underwhelming. The tea was delicious but $56/person for average pastries with that kind of ambiance was definitely not worth it. As many reviews stated the service was just as mediocre as everything else.

E. M.

Yelp
Very fun high tea by the water in old town Alexandria! Good for friends getting together or mother/daughter afternoons. Service was attentive but they also knew we were there to chat and enjoy tea so they weren't overbearing. We had the tea for two and we enjoyed everything! Great tea selection and pretty decor. We will definitely return, and would love to make it our tradition before kids go back to college!

Kathy E.

Yelp
The food was just ok, not great, the ambiance was not good, too many tables in too small of a space and very bad acoustics. We were a party of three and couldn't hear one another with all of the background noise. I am giving this a 3 rating because the service was very good. I won't be returning.

Tolulope R.

Yelp
I was excited to try this location as the Georgetown one closed. A friend booked reservations for a group of us today and it was a pleasant experience. The five of us spilt the the full tea experience and make it two and one full tea experience. This location was twice as big as the Georgetown location and I appreciate the view of the Alexandria waterfront. If you enjoyed Lady Camelia before this new location is just as good and has views that make the dining experience even more enjoyable. I had the Lavender tea and the apple and brie sandwich were delicious. The scones are always tasty especially with the lemon curd and jam.

Alice P.

Yelp
We originally had reservations for 6:30pm on Feb 1 2023 through OpenTable (just missed the soft opening, which was 50% off! Darn), but they reached out to us the night before at a little past 9pm to let us know they weren't ready to serve evening tea yet, and asked us to come earlier. Had i not checked my emails at that time, I wouldn't have seen that message. I responded, but by 9am the next day there wasn't a response, so i followed up again. That part was a little inconveniencing; why make the timeslot available on OpenTable if you're not ready/open then? However, despite their hours being 1-4 for now, they let us come at 5, which was the earliest we could make it. My fiancé did have to cut a work meeting short to make sure we could go because he knew i really wanted to lol. When we were dining, we noticed that the lights kept flickering on and off, which got annoying. The windows are nice and big, but not all seats are window side. Still, you can see the Potomac, although there are some interior seating areas that don't have windows. There's a parking lot that the cafe overlooks that is waterfront, and it's $10 flat rate. You do see the parking lot in front of the view of the water. We opted for a parkmobile spot just another half block down that ended up being around $2 for an hour. I quite liked the macarons, and my lady grey tea had a nice subtle hint of lavender. Our pastries came with jam, clotted cream, and a lemon curd. We tried to order the passion fruit panacotta but they told us it was unavailable. We then tried to order chocolate pots de crème, but those were also out. Then tried to order a pain au chocolat croissant--also out. Ended up with crème brûlée. One of our servers was wearing extremely long fake nails, and I personally get the ick from anyone in food/beverage service having them without gloves. The nails were cute! I just don't think they're sanitary for being around food handling; I would have preferred if she wore gloves, as a lot of dirt and grime can get stuck under such long nails, but maybe I'm just being a hypochondriac. I think this could easily be 5 stars if they fixed the minor complaints I had--namely the lighting and not running out of so many things, and also figuring out their end on OpenTable to not say they're available when they're not.

Kelley S.

Yelp
Afternoon tea at Lady Camellia was wonderful. I was looking for a place that offered weekday service and this was one of the only places that offered it. They accommodate vegetarians. There were many choices of tea which were delicious and fragrant. The tea sandwiches were very tasty, the scones were baked correctly. We got tea for 2 which was enough food for both of us. My friend and I went to a more pricey high tea in DC a few days later which was very mediocre compared to Lady Camellia. I'll definitely go back to Lady Camellia, great place and service!

Michelle D.

Yelp
A sad remnant of the original Georgetown, DC location. My guest and I ordered the Weekday Afternoon Full Tea set ($57) and made it for 2 people (+$25). Honey was served in a squeeze bottle and took away from the aesthetics of the tea room. The tea filters did not filter the tea leaves due to the filter holes not being fine or small enough. The tea room was reminiscent of a hotel lobby and lacked the charm of the original teahouse. We ordered the Strawberry White Tea and Lapsang Souchong tea. We took a sip of the Lapsang and was not a fan due to its' rubbery tire taste and requested a replacement, however was denied and asked to charge extra for a tea replacement. The Strawberry tea was also not steeped long enough so we waited a bit before trying again. For the pricing, service, and atmosphere, we won't be returning to this location.

Robin R.

Yelp
Perfect mid day birthday celebration with a friend. Lady Camellia (formerly in Georgetown) now located in Old Town Alexandria near the water front. Upon arrival you are met with smiling staff and a pristine environment that's Instagram ready! We sat near the full length window to a pretty table setting. The list of tea is extensive. We selected the Apricot and Apricot with Ginger and placed our tea sandwich requests, scones, etc. The server was professional and the service was spot on. We took our time enjoying the treats and two full pots of tea. Absolutely no pressure from the staff to leave. There were three other groups however we were spaced out enough to feel like it was only us. The food was terrific and everything you'd expect in a tea house. Dainty tea cups, sweet condiments, hot tea in a beautiful area. Wear your printed summer best and allow enough time to really enjoy your company with the delicious treats. Will definitely recommend and will return. Great experience and the price was fair. Well done Lady Camilla!

Hamid A.

Yelp
The location was nice, but the place was too small. Weekends it's around $50 per person unless you order take out. Desert was okay, so was the tea.. but we thought it was overpriced. Staff were very friendly

Sacha C.

Yelp
I booked their private room for a baby shower for 14 people and everything was great! It was super easy for me and the pastries and desserts were delicious. Service was attentive and they took good care of our gluten free guest of honor.

Sasha N.

Yelp
Die Hard Bridgerton Fan? Love French Macarons? Teaphile? Then you MUST try Lady Camellia in Old Town Alexandria!!! The tea room is very elegant, has around 12 seating areas (2-4 people), with very comfortable dining chairs and cushy back-wall sofa benches. Parties of 3 or less can pick exactly what they wish for each course. Parties of 4 or more will get a variety off the menu (barring any dietary restrictions), which to me was their only drawback. I prefer to pick exactly what I want with such a large menu (especially since I prefer fruity to chocolate and bready to dairy based deserts). Hopefully this changes in the future. We had four in our party and each chose a different blend of loose leaf tea. I had Creamy Earl Grey, the others had Ginger Apricot Oolong, Vanilla Mint and Ginger Root Black. Everyone loved their choices! The food was amazing and plentiful, and I especially loved the various flavors of macarons available daily. You are also welcome to ask for a few additional sweets if you wanted to try more that weren't brought out on the trays. Staff was attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. The entire space was spotless including restrooms, and paid parking was directly across the street near the waterfront. The atmosphere was light and relaxing while soft classical music played in the background; patrons also keep the atmosphere very nice speaking at just the right amount of volume. If you're looking for a very French feel to your afternoon tea, or love that Bridgerton-esque color pallet and style, I highly recommend this spot. I'll definitely be back for more!

Leila D.

Yelp
I love tea! And this place hit the spot, plus their scones are like real scones which is not easy to find in USA. I honestly would be happy with just tea and scones they should add that as an option. The other treats were delicious but tea and scones would be just fine for me. The decor, location, light and large windows are stunning. Staff were all nice and they even did a happy birthday candle and cupcake for my birthday teen. Not cheap but great experience and worth it. Get dressed up and elevate the experience.

Lindsey M.

Yelp
We haven't had the chance to visit Lady Camilla since they moved locations from Georgetown to old town Alexandria and I was delightfully surprised to see that they only got better since my last tea. The food was just as good as I remember (who doesn't love a fresh scone with clotted cream and jam?) and the ambiance was absolutely lovely. The restaurant is now on the waterfront and the space feels airy, elegant, and fancy. I will definitely be back again soon!

Rachel W.

Yelp
so cute!! we went for a little birthday evening tea and were very pleasantly surprised! they have a nice variety of tea, there truly is something for everyone! we were SHOCKED at how full we were after leaving. portion size is good and everything was tasty! definitely surprised at how good the quality. scones were delicious as were most of all the other pastries. there are definitely some that are overly sweet and targeted for kids (cupcakes, funfetti scones). entrees were all very tasty as well (much larger than we expected). we thought good value for the price (usually tea can be $100+ per person), but beware there are a bunch of fees they tack on at the end, our bill jumped from $260 to $340 after all the taxes and automatically added gratuity. service was not great. we asked for some recommendations and got kind of blown off.

Chaunece W.

Yelp
I met a friend here for the afternoon tea service, and we enjoyed our time. We spent most of the time chatting and drinking the tea, so we barely touched our sandwiches and desserts. This is where things took a turn: The server came over to ask if we'd like to box up our food. Absolutely! She informed us that they box in the back. So we went over with her which things went to which person. She brought the items back, in two cute bags, in each bag was a box. My box should have contained. 1/2 of a roast beef sandwich, 1/2 of a chicken salad sandwich, one macaron, an apple croissant and a cupcake. When I got home and opened my box, it contained 1/2 of a chicken salad sandwich, 1/2 of a smoked salad sandwich (neither of us had ordered this), a passion fruit pannacotta, a scone, and some kind of tart (neither of us ordered any of these) This means that they completed mixed up our leftovers with another tables leftovers--kind of gross right? Right. So I call, to let them know about the mix-up. Simply to make them aware. I didn't request anything. When I call, instead of being apologetic, they first let me know that this couldn't have happened. (Ummm but it did) And then to say something along the lines of "Well your friend already called and we already are sending her a gift card. We can't give you a refund." So not only do you think I'm lying, but you think I'm just calling to try and get a refund? I replied with "ok...that's cool I was really just calling to make you aware, but also we don't live together, so I'm not sure how sending her a gift card solves the issue of me not having the leftovers that I paid for" Their solution was to split the gift card they were going to send her and send us both half. Mmmmk. Whatever. That whole interaction left a pretty bad taste in my mouth and I'm not sure I'll return. TLDR: They served me someone else's leftovers, and implied I was making it up to try to get a refund.

Trish S.

Yelp
I love tea rooms and I wanted to love Lady Camellia. When it boils down to it, I did not feel that I received $72 worth of service. (Yes, the price says $55, but it becomes $72 after several taxes and the service charge.) The food overall was lovely. The ambiance was adorable but crowded. The crowdedness is why I feel my husband and I did not receive great service. We were seated in a hard-to-access spot by the back windows, and we watched as three tables (who were seated after us) gave their orders. My husband left our table and approached the hostess stand to let the employees know we had not been seen, and--after an eye roll from an employee--we placed our order. Like I said, I love tea rooms, but this experience WITH good service is at best worth $50 after taxes and tip.

Ailun H.

Yelp
I'd say the overall experience was a 3.5/5, but rounding down to a 3/5 because the service wasn't the best and the spacing was tight. I came here with several others for an afternoon tea experience this past weekend. I've never had British high tea before, but I'll tell you that it's definitely an expensive experience. The interior is grand with lots and lots of frills. The cutlery and plates are all colorful and pastel. You're definitely paying for the ambiance and the glamour of what British high tea is known for. Prior to this, I thought it was for a bunch of middle-aged women sitting around to gossip and talk about small matters. I would like to say I was wrong, and it depends on the party you came with, and I came with a great group of women. TEA PARTY (6-9 GUESTS) - 55 Yes, 55.00 per person for some fancy tea of your choosing (the menu is broad), 4 finger sandwiches, 1 scone, 1 croissant, and 4 mini pastries. Honestly, this is "commoner" food but on a fancy, floral 3-tiered food stand. It also comes with a bunch of dips -- clotted cream, lemon curd, and strawberry jam -- for the pastries. Each person got their own teapot full of fragrant tea. I'm not big on tea, but it's probably one of the better teas I've had (it's not in a tea bag either, phew). I got the White Strawberry Mint Tea, which was pretty good, but I prefer the White Strawberry Tea that my friend got. One of the vanilla teas were delicious, too, but the Jasmine tea that my other friend got was probably my favorite. The teas here are definitely strong and deep. I shared food with the person across from me and there was more than enough food for the both of us in an afternoon. We definitely are more savory than sweet, so we devoured all of our finger sandwiches before tackling the sweets. I enjoyed the smoked salmon sandwich the most, but it could have more lox (felt like it was a lot of cream cheese). The brie & apple sandwich was delightful, too. Egg salad and chicken salad sandwiches were just OK. My favorite pastries were definitely the scones -- warm, buttery, and it went well with the strawberry jam. Croissants were delicious, too. The pastries on the top was too much for me in the end, but I got to enjoy the creme brûlée before I gave up. So much carbs, haha. More than enough food for me. Was it worth 55? Probably not. But I'd definitely be willing to come back in the future with a good group of people (like this past weekend). The experience was definitely nice, relaxing, and very carefree.

Da S.

Yelp
Pretty decour. Beautiful tea cups and plates and all serviceware were so pretty. Friendly service. We had 6pm reservations so had option of an entree. I liked the chicken pot pie. Tried beef Bourgogne- good but a bit salty for me. Tiered plate stands had a wide variety of sweets and breads. Favorite items were the berry panne cotta, creme Brule, croissants and apple tart, Our favorite tea was strawberry.

C C.

Yelp
Make a reservation in advance. It's a lovely place with nice decor and view of the Potomac. We went for my birthday and enjoyed afternoon tea. You chose your tea, sandwiches, scones/croissants, and pastries. All our choices were really delicious, smoked salmon, chicken salad, cucumber or apple Brie. We were surprised we didn't eat it all, so they put the rest in a pretty box to take home. Will have to return for high tea sometime. It's very clean, restrooms as well and nice glass case with the little pastries when you come in. Really sweet that they also brought a little birthday cupcake with a little candle. Loved it!

Kaitlyn C.

Yelp
I have severe tree nut allergies and they have plenty of options for me! The food and tea are amazing! There's a pretty long list of tea options and the sandwiches and scones are the best part! It's also such a cute place and it's so pretty during the holidays!

Dyonna B.

Yelp
Came here for my beautiful friend's birthday celebration. I have never been to a tea party so I had no idea what to expect. I loved seeing everyone go all out with their fascinators, hats, gloves, and tea dresses. I am glad I dressed the part because i would have felt under dressed. LOL It was a party of 9 of us and we were seated pretty quickly (with reservations in place). Our server was nice but may have been a little nervous. Seems like as soon as she came over and we needed something else...she was gone from the table. Toward the end of our dinning time, i dont even remember seeing her again. Either way, the ambiance is great and we were seated by the window that overlooked the water. We all opted for the preselected course which had an assortment of sandwiches and pastries. You would think these little snacks wouldn't fill you up, but i def left feeling fulfilled. The tea was yummy too! I am not a huge tea drinker but they flavor i got wasnt bad at all. Overall it was such a fun experience. :-) BTW they do charge a state tax and a county tax which can def make your bill run up quickly along with their preadded gratuity .

Kanika P.

Yelp
The worst service I've ever experienced in my life. Called to make a reservation at 4:30pm. Was told over the phone that we would need to be out by 5:45 as they close at 6 on the dot. The place was totally empty when we arrived. Service was horrible. The absolute worst in my life in fact. The worker did not so much as acknowledge us upon entry. She was cold, cerebral, uninformative and uninviting. Just terrible. Sad because the place is extremely cute and the concept is amazing. Service 0