Madeline Garden Bistro & Venue

This afternoon tea spot really surprised me! The set was beautifully presented, with everything from scones, salad, and soup to a three-tier dessert tower. The shrimp toast and mini desserts were especially good, and the service was friendly and attentive. The overall atmosphere was elegant and relaxing — a great place to hang out or take someone on a nice date.

I went with a friend to the dinner/play event. It was mostly a wonderful event, but 2 issues did detract from the overall experience. This was the fourth high tea since April I have been too, so in comparison to other venues, this food was the best. It was all delicious. However, it was more expensive and half the portions of any of the other tea houses we have tried. We left the event hungry. A couple sitting across from us had been to this venue pretty often and mentioned that an afternoon tea at this place actually had more food than what we had been served for dinner. Also, we had to share a pot of tea, which meant we had to agree on one of the 4 flavors offered. My friend and I have different tastes, so one of us had to be ok with a tea we wouldn’t have chosen for ourselves. We both paid full price, I think we should have both been able to choose a preferred tea. Th play was a fun experience. The actors were very talented, however, the event was marketed as a 6 to 8 event and it went until 8:45. We live and hour and a half away, so this got us home much later then anticipated. I would have appreciated if the details of time had been more accurate. I had to get up early for work the next day. Overall, it was a great experience. I would eat before and be prepared for a later night, but I would definitely go again.

We had the most wonderful experience enjoying afternoon tea at Madeline Garden Bistro & Venue! From the moment we walked in, we were swept away by the charming, European-inspired ambiance — every detail of the decor feels like stepping into a storybook. The afternoon tea itself was absolutely delightful. The tea selection was impressive, with fragrant blends that paired perfectly with the beautifully presented tiers of savories, scones, and sweets. Each bite was exquisite — fresh, flavorful, and artfully crafted. The scones were warm and fluffy, and the desserts were as delicious as they were elegant. What truly made the experience unforgettable was the impeccable service. The staff were attentive, kind, and made us feel so welcome and cared for throughout. It was the perfect way to spend an afternoon — relaxing, indulgent, and a little magical. I highly recommend Madeline Garden Bistro & Venue to anyone looking for a unique and memorable afternoon tea. We can’t wait to come back!

Absolutely beautiful venue, I went with some friends to celebrate my belated birthday. The service was great and very friendly. They even had a harp musician that played lovely during our high tea, the tea was delicious.. the little sandwiches weren't anything to write home about, but the tea was delicious, I didn't even need to add lemon. What brought about this review is, the server asked if we were celebrating a birthday and we said yes, and they brought out a cute small slice of oreo cheesecake, which one would think was complementary, and because we didn't ask for it.. HOWEVER it wasn't, the slice was a whole ten dollars.. which is wild for something we didn't ask for. But overall a lovely experience ☺️

This is a beautiful restaurant. My friends and I had a great time here. The service was excellent and the food was beautifully presented. This is also a dream photo spot for girls.

We go out to a fancy tea place every year with the family, and while we like to change things up, this is a repeat option for us. We just came here again this past month, and these are my notes. To whomever said below that it is not kid-friendly, it absolutely is. The kids loved it! But our kids were 9 and 10. Perhaps they were talking about toddlers. The kids loved trying the different options of food and tea, and the biggest hit was that they picked the hibiscus tea. It was actually everyone’s favorite tea, and we had three additional options on the table. There was a little bit of mixup a couple of times with the service, as we were brought salads twice and had to let the server know we already ate hours, and then later we were brought a minty tea instead of lavender Earl Gray, but that was fixed. The strange thing is that Earl Gray is a black tea—a strong, black tea that is delightful with milk—and this most definitely was either watered down extremely or was not a black tea at all. It never took on a dark color. I think that perhaps those large white tea pots require two teabags? My other suggestion was that those large white teapots should not be the ones that the kids are given, because they are too heavy for a child to pick up. The two kids shared a tea, and we had to help them pour each time. Two other people on our table had much smaller teapots given to them, and I recommend doing that for the kids next time. Also, the kids had a spiced pear cheesecake on their plates, and that is not something kids are familiar with or kids would appreciate very much. The adults ended up eating that and really praising it. In fact, it was every adult’s favorite dessert, and we all just had one tiny bite of it, as we had to share. But the adults were given something chocolate, and what kid doesn’t like chocolate? I highly suggest you switch those two, chocolate mousse for the kids and spiced pear cheesecake for the adults. My favorite thing to eat was the smoked salmon sandwich, and everybody else’s favorite sandwich was the grilled cheese with soup shot. The harpist played beautifully, and the bathrooms were elegant. Parking was not an issue, as we all easily found street parking on a Saturday at 1:30pm.

Went for high tea, and definitely had a wonderful time! Loved the decor and the peaceful ambience (we were there early on Sunday so we beat the crowd and were able to enjoy the harpist's performance to the fullest). Food was great; they had more savory items than sweets, which was a good difference than most high tea places. I only wished there were more scones.

Lovely venue and excellent service! I threw a bridal shower here for my friend, and the staff are incredibly responsive and accommodating throughout the process. The bride-to-be and all the guests had a great time, and we especially loved the scones and the lychee oolong tea. Special shoutout to our waitress Jessica for the thoughtful service :)

Friday's girls' date felt like stepping straight into a Parisian dream We went to Madeline Garden in Pasadena -- honestly the prettiest spot ever! The European-style building, velvet chairs, chandeliers, and gold mirrors made it feel like a mini fairytale palace We shared one brunch set -- Five Cheese Quiche and Seafood Quiche (with smoked salmon, shrimp & crabmeat!) -- super creamy and flavorful Of course, we had to try their High Tea sets -- European High Tea & Madeline High Tea, both with 3 courses: soup or salad, buttery scones with jam, and bite-sized desserts. My favorite? Definitely the scones -- crispy outside, fluffy inside, and so addictive I had the Lavender Black Tea and my friend got the Rose Tea, both served in the cutest pots ever The café's in Old Town Pasadena, surrounded by little shops -- perfect for a relaxed weekend stroll! Perfect for birthdays, brunch dates, or just a fancy girls' afternoon! Madeline Garden Bistro & Venue, Pasadena Must-try: Seafood Quiche, Scones, European High Tea

My friend found Madeline's through a viral reel on Instagram and immediately messaged me that we had to go...especially since my name is also Madeline! I have been to a lot of high teas, but this one did not disappoint. It's in a historic building in old town Pasadena. The outside and inside are beautiful! From the brick building, fountains, paintings and spiral staircase I was completely impressed. Then, once in the tea room, we were promptly greeted and shown to our seats. We were about 10 minutes early, prior to our reservation time, and got sat right away. I was blown away by the breathtaking room built for a queen. The harpist was a fantastic touch. The experience was elegant from start to finish. Our server was kind, helpful and explained all the options beautifully! My friend and I both got the English tea and went with 2 small pots of tea to share. It was the perfect amount. I appreciated that our server even freshened our pots with more hot water a few times too. The tea sandwiches were so tasty! I loved the cucumber mint the best! I also loved the mini crème brûlée dessert. We got a pot of the mint and camomile tea as well as the rose black tea (which was my personal favorite). I was very impressed by Madeline's and am looking forward to coming back again soon! I think this place may be due for a little freshen up, as I did notice my chair had some stains on it, and so did some of our plates too. But, it was still a beautiful time. It's the perfect place for a party, or just a fun afternoon with friends!

This was my first high tea experience. I visited with my friend as possibly one of my last outings for awhile before baby boy's arrival. My friend and I both ordered the English High Tea. It comes with a large pot of tea, or two small pots, a salad, warm scone & clotted cream, 5 tea sandwiches, & two desserts. We opted for two small pots. I ordered the Lychee Oolong tea, and my friend ordered the Black Tea with rose buds. I really enjoyed the warm scone with clotted cream, & the Dijon Basil Honey Walnut Bacon Crostini. My friend doesn't eat pork & they accommodated her by bringing over some Bruschetta instead. They brought us both a crème brûlée for one of our desserts, but my friend was given a chocolate mousse & I was given a lemon cake with fruit. I would have appreciated being asked in advance which we'd prefer, but I enjoyed the desserts nonetheless. They also have children's tea options so this would be a cute spot to visit with little ones. The venue is gorgeous inside and out! Before and after our tea, my friend snapped some beautiful maternity photos in their cute courtyard outside. I checked in with staff beforehand to make sure we were okay to snap some photos before being seated. Staff were very accommodating and friendly. Overall a pleasant experience, and I think I will be returning.

We had a reservation for 12:30 PM and were seated about 15 minutes after our arrival. The ambiance of the place is lovely--it really captures the charm of a true high tea experience. We were a party of five and had high expectations based on the setting. Unfortunately, the service we received was disappointing. Our server, who appeared to be college-aged, was difficult to understand as he spoke very quietly and mumbled, which made communication challenging. We were confused about the menu and didn't receive clear explanations when we asked for help. We ordered 4 European high teas (with 2 pots of tea to share, as stated at $68/person) and 1 Madeline for the birthday guest. However, we were first brought 5 pots of tea, which we had to correct. Then, only 1 Madeline tray and 2 European sets were brought out. After we pointed this out, the remaining 2 European sets were eventually served, along with scones and 4 mini desserts. The server told us they were part of the European set. On the bill, we noticed we were charged $76 per European instead of $68. Additionally, there were two extra charges of $39 each for "High Tea Sharing," which we never ordered or agreed to. We were under the impression that everything served was part of the original European set. When we raised this issue, the server did correct the $76 charge down to $68 but did not remove the two $39 sharing charges. Another frustration was that gratuity was automatically included in the bill, and we weren't given an option to adjust it. Given the poor service, this was especially disappointing. We were truly surprised by the inexperience and lack of attentiveness from our server--especially at such a beautifully presented and seemingly high-end establishment. Interestingly, the staff member who refilled our water was far more professional and attentive; he even offered to take our group photo and checked in on us more than our assigned server did.

Madeline's Tea Garden and Bistro is such a gem! Probably my fave tea house in Pasadena! I came here for the Rumors immersive show and tea dinner, and the entire evening was magical. The staff created such a warm, welcoming atmosphere, and the ambiance of the tea garden itself feels cozy, elegant, and a little whimsical -- the perfect backdrop for a night of theater and dining. The tea selection is wonderful, and I especially loved the lavender mint tea -- it was fresh, soothing, and beautifully aromatic. The dinner was delicious and paired so well with the whole experience.

I took my niece here for her birthday. While I would give the place 4 stars, Tutu's customer service is the reason for the 5 stars. She went above and beyond to make our visit absolutely fantastic. I could go on and on about how kind she was and accommodating. First, the restaurant is gorgeous and we went on a Saturday so there was a harpist playing music. It felt like a scene right out of Bridgerton. The harpist was super talented and playing current songs so both my niece and I loved it. We chose to go with the brunch option even though we came for high tea. I'd now recommend the high tea instead. Originally my niece got the French toast and I got the crab Benedict. The French toast was not pieces of bread dipped in egg but instead was in the true French style and steamed/baked. This gave it more of a bread pudding texture which my niece didn't like. Luckily Tutu was very gracious when we asked to send it back. We instead purchased the garden tea (I think it was called). This was nice because we got the tower display. The tea sandwiches were pretty good. I would probably go with the middle tier high tea next time. I didn't like the crab Benedict. It did not taste like fresh crab. Perhaps it was canned. It tasted more like tuna in consistency. The poached eggs were delicious though. We ordered the cranberry green tea and the honey chrysanthemum tea. Both were delicious. Tutu brought out a beautiful slice of cake/cheesecake out to my niece for her birthday and also had the harpist play happy birthday. It was super sweet. There is street parking but it is only one hour so that makes it a bit difficult. Not sure if they have a lot or not. I will definitely return for another high tea experience and hopefully enjoy Tutu's phenomenal service again.

Lovely venue and excellent service! I threw a bridal shower here for my friend, and the staff are incredibly responsive and accommodating throughout the process. The bride-to-be and all the guests had a great time, and we especially loved the scones and the lychee oolong tea. Special shoutout to our waitress Jessica for the thoughtful service

I had the best tea party with my friends here on a Saturday afternoon. We checked in around 1:30 PM and it was perfect because the harpist was still playing. We got live music, great service, and the most delicious bites. They have a variety of tea flavors that you can choose from and each tea pot is for two people to share. Madeline Garden is also a great place to host parties - they have a variety of different rooms depending on the vibe or how many people will be at your event. There's at least 4 different spaces from what I remember and they were all unique and beautiful. Highly recommend checking them out!

What a magical special place in Pasadena! I came here eight years ago to celebrate my birthday with my girlfriends with high tea and champagne! And it was such a great time we all got to dress up and take a bunch of cute pictures! There's indoor and outdoor seating which is a great option! During the weekends, they have a heart player, which was very lovely! They have different tears and their menu is a bit confusing but you can always ask the waitress and they will explain it to you. I absolutely love their tea selections and love that they refill it and if you have leftover, you can ask for her to go box!

I saw this place online and checked them out on Yelp. I was hesitant on coming here because they have three stars. A friend wanted to come here so why not try it out as I love tea time. There was plenty of street parking and I was told there is a parking structure nearby. As I walked in I was surprised in how nice it was inside. The decor was beautiful with the colors, drapery and I love high ceiling. I also love there was a harpist there. How cool is that? They have vegetarian options too which is nice. I had the Madeline high tea which comes with a pot of tea to share. This tea option comes with soup, scones and different bites of food. There is hot food, seafood and dessert. It really was very filling and satisfying. My entire experience here was very pleasant that I made reservations for a future visit.

You're come here for the atmosphere, not got the food - let's just get it out of the way. Quiet space for those that want to have a little fantasy regent dream. This is a great photo op place; decadently decorated like something out of the gilded era, it's a pretty spot for a girly lunch. Dress up, dress down, dress as you like - it's meant for you to enjoy. The hostess seated you and the wait staff took your order, served your food, and checks on you once in a while but leaves you alone to enjoy your time with friends. Food was dressed up to look pretty and taste fine - overly complicated but pretty finger foods for your delights. A nicely dressed harp player provides an array of classic takes on modern songs - very nice touch.

Ambiance: 5/5 one of my FAV high tea settings! We were sat in an intimate room with less than 10 tables. The Harpist was next to us and we were by a window. The setting was perfect from the art, chancellor and staff attire. It truly made us feel like we were in Bridgerton! Tea: 4/5 great choices and recommendations! I've been to high tea locations with a bigger menu but we enjoyed the Strawberry Green Tea we chose Eats: 2/5 this was the biggest disappointment of our experience. We chose the Chef's choice High Tea for $52 per person. I only enjoyed 1-3 tea sandwiches out of the 5. The scone was decent but i've had better and the desserts weren't exciting Service: 5/5 we felt very taken care of! received hot water refills for our tea and staff were accommodating with dietary needs Overall, I'd def come back with friends that love high tea settings but would probably warn them about the food not being the best. Still a gem!

Wonderful French traditional decor, small bites, and a variety of tea. A great place for an elaborate afternoon tea or meeting.

Went here for brunch with some girlfriends. Came on a weekend and wasnt too busy. Loved the ambiance. Tea and food were good. There was a lady playing the harp the entire time which was nice.

The best place I've been to have high tea. When you walk in, you are immediately transported to the past with the aid of the luxurious palatial decoration and the harpist player plying soothing music. The staff were so friendly and attentive to our party making sure we were fine. The tea and food were delicious with my favorite bing the English breakfast tea and the Madeline high tea. Definitely worth coming here.

5 stars Madeline Garden Bistro & Venue - Pasadena, CA We had the loveliest Madeline-style high tea brunch, and it was truly a fairytale experience from start to finish. If you're looking for elegance, charm, and food that's as beautiful as it is delicious -- this is the place. We ordered the Afternoon Tea, which came out on a stunning three-tiered stand overflowing with variety! The top tier had delicate desserts -- mini tarts, macarons, cream puffs, and chocolate bites that felt like edible jewels. The middle tier was filled with perfectly sized finger sandwiches -- cucumber, egg salad, smoked salmon, and more, each one fresh and flavorful. The bottom tier had warm scones served with clotted cream and jam -- absolute heaven. To sip, I had a Strawberry Mojito, which was light, refreshing, and just the right amount of sweet. Their tea selection was also impressive -- I chose a floral blend that paired beautifully with the meal. The ambiance is like something out of a vintage French novel -- high ceilings, chandeliers, antique furniture, and soft classical music in the background. The person who was serving us the delightful food is the best person her behavior and explanation of all food items just amazing Whether you're going for a bridal shower, a birthday, or just a fancy brunch with friends, Madeline Garden is an experience, not just a meal. Can't wait to return!

If you're looking for a beautiful place with great tea and food, then this is the place to visit. Staff is friendly and attentive. I would highly recommend the champagne and brunch menu over the high tea menu to get more bang for your buck. Quality of food is great and the honey chrysanthemum tea is to die for. Harp player during your meal is excellent as well. I will be coming back Thank you for the great service.

Absolutely beautiful venue, I went with some friends to celebrate my belated birthday. The service was great and very friendly. They even had a harp musician that played lovely during our high tea, the tea was delicious.. the little sandwiches weren't anything to write home about, the tea was really delicious, I didn't even need to add lemon. What brought about this review is, the server asked if we were celebrating a birthday and we said yes, and they brought out a cute small slice of oreo cheesecake, which one would think was complementary, and because we didn't ask for it.. HOWEVER it wasn't, the slice was a whole ten dollars.. which is absolutely wild. Overall we had a lovely experience :)

We had an amazing English High Tea for my mom's birthday here at Madeline Garden this past weekend! I was looking online for restaurants that serve English High Tea and came across Madeline, a beautiful restaurant in Pasadena on Green Street which also doubles as a venue for many special events. There is street parking on Green St. And the entrance invites you into the courtyard of a gorgeous old building that has clearly been redone inside to reflect a more colorful atmosphere. The service was excellent from the ease of booking by phone to the wonderful server who took care of our party. We ordered 5 English High Tea options with one child's High Tea and one of our party just ordered a latte without issue. The soups were delicious, and few of us ordered the French onion and others Tomato Bisque. We were also able to choose from a wide variety of hot teas (one pot per two guests) and a single pot from the children's menu. From the Chai, Earl Grey, Hibiscus, and Strawberry Green there was not a bad pick. The sandwiches and desserts were divine, my favorite being the cucumber with a berry cream cheese and my daughter loved her PB and J! The best part of our experience was the harp player. She took requests and did a phenomenal job at creating an ambient atmosphere. We added on a birthday dessert option which included a full size berry cheesecake slice and the harp player started playing happy birthday while they brought it out! How cute is that?! The grilled cheese sandwich was the only one that was a little too hard but everything else was delightful and we can't wait to come back again.

Food was so so. Ambiance was beautiful. However, quite expensive. $262 for 2 children and 2 adults. They automatically add the tip and for that reason alone I will not return.

My fiancé took me here for my birthday. We made reservations for 11am. Parking was a bit confusing. They said we weren't allowed to park in the lot directly behind the building but to park in the free public lot across the street on Catalina (Thatcher Medical Center) so we had to do some car moving. When we arrived we were seated in the Harpist room. We were the first one there so we got the opportunity to take photos with the Harpist which was nice. We ordered 2 sets of the European Tea High Tea Set at $68/person that came with a pot of tea, soup or salad, scone with clotted cream, 7 hors d-oeuvres, and 2 desserts . We shared a pot of Lychee Oolong Tea which was very fruity. Tasted good with some block brown sugar. We also had a choice of soup or salad. I got the tomato bisque and my fiancé got the misto salad. Both were good. Next came the scones. Their clotted cream is actually butter. I usually like my scones with mascarpone cream - bummer. Next came the 3 tiered sets which included the 7 hors d-oeuvres, and 2 desserts which included: Salmon Rose on Cucumber chicken Bouchees Bruchetta Beet Deviled Eggs Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus Bacon Date Potato Au Gratin Tiramisu Crème Brule The fingers food were all good but nothing special. But we weren't there for the food. We were their for the experience and the ambience which we really enjoyed. The harpist played song after song. I think I recognized every song she played. She was also nice enough to play Happy Birthday for me. I think we stayed for about almost 2 hours enjoying our tea and the music. Service was good. She came to check on us and refilled our pot of tea 1 time. The bill was pretty hefty though. 2 x $68/person + 20% historical venue charge + 10.25% sales tax charged on both the 2*$68 and the 20% historical venue charge + 15% tip. So in total it was $200.33 for 2 people. Very very pricey. It was a good experience but at that price, I probably won't be back. I still had room for more food when I left. Also, not sure if that building is in fact a historical building and should they be charging customers for that?

My daughter and I had an 11 am reservation We were running late I called and they changed our reservation to 11:30 very accommodating, this is our second mother daughter tea celebration at Madeline's Garden Bistro We love the Atmosphere!! The decor !! The service is first class! The food Could not ask for anything better !! Love this place will be our tea place forever !! I've been taking my daughter to tea Since she was 4 yrs old And we still go to tea at least once or twice a year There was a harp player it was a great atmosphere. Christmas decorations Cozy fireplace. Love this place !!!

Such a cute place! I can't believe more people in Pasadena are not talking about this tea place! My friends and I visited this restaurant to celebrate a birthday with an afternoon tea and were so happy we did. The interior was beautiful and giving Bridgerton (a dream). We visited on a Sunday afternoon so it was only us and about 2 other parties so the ambience was really nice and peaceful, especially with the harpist playing beautifully! Our waitress was very nice and accommodating and explained all the different tiers very well. We ended up all ordering the English tea tier and sharing 2 pots of tea. The glassware was all beautiful and fairy-like, which added to the whimsy and fun of the high tea experience. The teas we chose (Lychee Oolong and passion peach green tea) were both really good and perfect as is but you do have sugar cubes at the table in case you want to add any. The soups were also really good! I got the butternut squash and it was sooo creamy and nicely sweet and like a warm hug. Then the tiers arrived and were plated so nicely. The sandwiches were all very good (I didnt try the egg sandwich because I don't really love egg salad but you can sub for an extra of the others if you just ask). The grilled cheese with soup shot was super cute, thought the soup was just marinara sauce. But it tasted like a mini pizza all together! The sweet desserts were also really good and not too overindulgent. Overall, definitely a lovely experience that I would come back for if I was in the Pasadena area. I will say it is a bit on the pricier side so definitely more of a treat than frequent occasion. The bathrooms are also very clean (a bit dark though) so definitely a nice spot!

Came to celebrate my daughter's birthday and everything was decorated so nice between the teas and food selection everything was so delicious our experience was very nice can't wait to do it again

A beautiful place with the most amazing ambiance I just wish the food tasted as amazing. We came here for a baby shower and instantly loved the ambiance. Very cute seating areas, a huge fireplace in the middle, cute cups and serve-ware. They served us three kinds of tea but we only liked the earl grey. The scones came out first warm and delicious. Then a salad which was ok, pretty simple. Then the tower of bite size food was served. I was a bit surprised that there was not a single tea sandwich on the tray only finger foods. Most of them tasted good but seeing a spoon of mashed potatoes was unusual. I'm thinking this is the menu the hostess chose I'm sure they have tea sandwich options as well. We also had a lot of Prosecco ... Yumm. Customer service was friendly and attentive. Overall a wonderful place to celebrate a special occasion or even a girls afternoon out would be great here. Great ambiance.

This is a good place for catching up with friends. The service is good and they know not to bother the customer often. It is a nice place to take pictures, but I think the food is just ok. Because I don't like to look for parking, this took off some of my willingness to come again.

We went here to celebrate my daughter's birthday whose name is also Madeline :) Ginny was our server and she's so wonderful. From greeting us, explaining the menu, to making my daughter feel special on her birthday. We opted for the European tea package and everything was delicious. The place is also very cute and dainty. There was a harp player who was also very nice and played the happy birthday song for my daughter. Thank you!

TERRIBLE!! I drove an hour and was a few minutes late, my guests had not been seated. The host barely greeted me, walked away. We didn't really know what to do, but soon followed since he said "you have this room" which was not at all interesting and continued to walk down the hall without a word. He then took us into the beautiful room with the harp that we came for and said "you can sit here, bit you have to leave at 1:45". We calculated that it was enough time and agreed and his response was "ok I will kick you out" The servers were confused who was supposed to take care of us, so it took a while to get anyone to give us the information. When the server told us the information it was very confusing and we just went with the brunch and said that we would like to order some tea, she said she'd come back with a tea menu because she did not know the teas and forgot for a long time. The food was cold, the béarnaise sauce had a very strange flavor and a creepy texture like it was served out of a can...... I only ate had a couple bites and pushed it away. I asked for Pepper never received it. We had barely finished our meal with still had a good 15 minutes on our time clock and had two people come and say hey we're closing and can they clear the table. The second person that asked us I said well we don't have a check yet. When the server finally did present us a check she made a few apologies and said you don't have to put a tip. Now the service and quality could've justified me not leaving a tip, but I was a server and know that they rely on those for their salary so I left a tip. As we were leaving because we were rushed out the server came to me and said hey I don't get any of that tip unless it's cash. Do you want me to re-ring the bill? I did and paid her cash. I saw host and told him we had a miserable experience, he just laughed at me. I then said I'm glad somebody's having fun.

We had a wonderful time celebrating my dear friend's birthday! Excellent high tea and the food selections and tea ( fave was lychee oolong)! Wonderful service from Jinny and staff were so nice and accommodating!

Best high tea! Everyone is super friendly and all of the food is tasty. The tea is also top notch! We spent hours here just enjoying and relaxing. I've been here twice now and will keep coming back for the lovely vibes and experience.

Fantastic tea experience with stories of Einstein and Caltech, even a few wartime stories. Food was on point and as expected, the service was phenomenal, and the ambience only added to the great experience.

Ginny was our server and led the way to a PERFECT meal in every way! This is a full high tea experience and more! Wow wow wow Best ambiance in Los Angeles!!

Disappointing Experience Despite Beautiful Decor and Music I joined my daughter and my wife, they have a long-standing tradition of visiting tea houses together--a special mother-daughter ritual we've enjoyed for years. This was our first time at this particular tea house, and unfortunately, it didn't live up to our expectations. When we arrived, we were greeted by a rather disengaged host (possibly the owner), which set the tone for the rest of the experience. While we appreciated being able to choose our own table and found the decor to be quite elegant--certainly more refined than other nearby tea houses--the service left much to be desired. The menu looked impressive at first glance, but sadly, the food did not reflect that. We ordered the European tea service, and nearly every item was overly salted and lacked flavor. The savory bites were particularly unappetizing. If the menu is intended to reflect European traditions, I imagine many would find it quite disappointing. One bright spot was the live harpist--a beautifully dressed young woman who played with grace and talent. Her performance truly elevated the ambiance and was the highlight of our visit. Unfortunately, the service staff seemed disorganized and under constant surveillance from the owners. Midway through our visit, a young server asked if we wanted the check while I was still sipping my Prosecco and my daughter was enjoying her tea. I said no, we were still enjoying ourselves. Moments later, another server silently dropped the check on the table. Then, the owner returned once again to remind us--pointedly--that gratuity was already included. This had already been stated at the beginning of our visit, so this repeated mention felt like a passive-aggressive cue to leave. The overall vibe screamed "hurry up and buy"--eat fast, drink fast, pay, and get out. That kind of approach might work in a liquor store, where people are locked and loaded and ready for anything, but it has no place in a tea house. These owners clearly have no grasp of the grace, elegance, or customer care that defines a proper tea experience. It's a shame, because the decor and harpist had potential to create something special. But that charm is quickly drowned by an unwelcoming, rushed atmosphere and poor service culture. Frankly, this place shouldn't be allowed to disgrace tea time in such a manner. My full 5 stars go to the harpist. A generous 2 stars overall--for the ambiance and music--but I will not be returning.

I liked this place! Loved our server! She was very sweet and gave good recommendations This was my first time having afternoon tea, option of brunch or tea. I had strawberry lemonade, they do offer cold teas as well as hot and both come in the nice little pot. The tier offered a variety of food as shown in my attached photos with the prices . Being honest I did not like the cucumber mint sandwich the mint was overwhelming. The egg salad was delicious and the desserts were good. Our server did say If you don't like something they will substitute it for you at no extra cost but I didn't ask. Reason it took a long time to get our tea and food I didn't want to wait. It's a small place, the decor was a tea house that was older.

A perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. From the beautiful Parisian atmosphere, to the delicious small bites, and the kind staff, this was a lovely experience in every way. The building is rich with Los Angeles history, and we just loved learning all about the incredible architecture from our waitress Ginny as we sipped our lavender black tea. We truly felt like royalty and can't wait to return. Perfect spot for a special occasion like a day date, a bridal shower, or Mother's Day. Thank you for everything, Madeline Gardens!

Tried out this amazing tea place in Pasadena. The ambience was welcoming, antique and relaxing. As we come in we can hear the beautiful harp played live. She played amazing love and traditional songs. The teas were delicious, we tried; Earl Gray, Hibiscus & Dried Fruit, Chai and Strawberry Green tea. They all tasted delicious, the scones were fresh and warm. They had blueberries with apricot jam and cream on the side. The soup and salads were also very fresh and delicious. They were quite affordable for the experience and all the things that came with it. They played Happy Birthday on the Harp, it was epic! Will def come back and recommend this for anybody looking for a nice time.

I went to Madeline Garden a week and a half ago. First time in Pasadena and I wanted to do something different than my usual typical restaurant outings. Beautiful space.Had the English order (sorry if I'm not using the correct High Tea lingo). As a self-proclaimed chef (my friends and family can attest! :) ), I was extremely disappointed in the items that were served as part of the English order on the menu (considering the price). The egg salad open sandwich tasted "interesting", the mini sandwich with a brown bread was just not appetizing, the grilled cheese was tasty but dry...cheese was dry. The creme brûlée tasted good aside from it being a tea spoon and a half full only. The environment was nice, server was pleasant and I was okay with sucking it up as an experience. Then I found out from the guests sitting nearby (ladies chat in the restroom :) that I should only leave cash for the server if I want to tip the server. Apparently this guest has been coming here for over 6 years and knows the establishment doesn't disperse the tips to the servers as intended like other normal restaurants. This made me extremely uncomfortable. Is this normal for establishments to do this to their servers?

So cute here! Highly recommend, such a cute space and menu. Very sweet service, and not to bad at on parking . I want to come back with my sister and bring my little toddler here , so so cute !

Surcharge?! I guess that's better than giving a tip, I don't know but for only 2 people to be have a surcharge, I don't get it. Other than that it's a nice tea place. Food was good, tea was good. They definitely allow you to take your time as they bring the items out one at a time. Took a bit to bring out the main course. Nicely decorated- definitely gives the feel of afternoon tea. For me, it's a one and done kinda place.

I've been here twice: once for a baby shower and recently, April, 2025, party of 3. The ambiance and decor are impressive. I love French Victorian! When we went, we had our choice of rooms to sit in. Although our seating seemed like stadium bench style since we were up high, it didn't take away from the experience. Prices are steep, about $100 pp on average, but worth it especially for a special occasion. The food that came out, from scones to tea to desserts were delicious! I enjoyed everything. I thought because this is small tea food, that i wouldn't be satisfied, but I was pleasantly full afterwards and this girl can eat. The front check in could be a little smoother and more welcoming, but it didn't take away from the overall experience. They don't rush you to get out, like other places do. I definitely recommend and would return. Bonus was the live harpist playing during tea.

The decoration is beautiful and the lady playing the harp did such an excellent job. Our server Tutu was so sweet and was very accommodating. The tea is excellent and the food is just as good!

Cute place, very sweet waitress. Portions are TINY. Expensive for what you get, confusing menu dumb it down a bit. We all assumed the service charge was the tip, so did not add anything extra as it was excactly 20%. Came to see reviews on this place and woa, what a joke. I do not live here in Pas I live in SCV and we don't add this BS to our bills. I wont pay service and a tip pick on or the other, do you expect people to pay 40% tip fees go fk urself . Never again. Also it is NOT REQURIED TO PAY BOTH FYI... do your research up to you to TIP ON TOP Of this stupid fee.

The ambiance is beautiful, I love the setting, the live harp player, the decor, and the unique history of the building itself. We were there to celebrate a shower and the menus and options were a bit difficult to navigate through and an option for tea service with sandwiches and hot foods would've been nice but it was not available. The service took far too long and even though it is about the whole experience, we waited over an hour between courses. I'd like to go back with a smaller group and try the tea sandwiches. The rose black tea latte was delicious!

Had the best time here with my bestfriend! Everything about the restaurant is amazing. The food was filling, the service was excellent, the ambience was impeccable, and the presentation was so cute. Extra points for the live harpist that just tied everything together! Definitely can't wait to go back with more family and friends.

My first visit to Madeline Garden Bistro came under unfortunate circumstances; I was invited to a Celebration of LIfe for a dear friend who passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. Given that family and friends were experiencing grief and needed comfort and care, Madeline Garden provided exactly that. Ambiance: Madeline Gardens offered a high tea experience, with prompt, professional and understated service. The decor provided the perfect setting for our group to share memories and tears: old-fashioned but classy, like visiting a great-grandmother's mansion for tea. Our group was in the front room facing the street, with a large fireplace and ample, comfortable seating. The event was on a hot August afternoon and the air conditioning was sufficient inside the salon. Menu: The high tea experience included fresh hot teas, wines, and many typical high tea menu dishes including scones, all well-executed. Parking: Madeline Garden does not have its own parking lot. There are two Pasadena parking structures nearby, as well as street parking. Read the signs closely to avoid a parking ticket. Pricing: I cannot speak to the prices as I was an invited guest. The menu is available online. Overall, I would recommend Madeline Garden for a large gathering. It was absolutely wonderful for the Celebration of Life and seemed like the perfect spot to remember our friend.

The service was great and the food was alright but we're not super happy about having to pay a service charge on top of an additional gratuity because the service charge does not go to the staff. As of Summer 2024 (Senate Bill 478), restaurants in California are not allowed to charge service charges anymore so I'm unsure why this one was still doing so. We ended up paying $160 for two (including the service charge and the additional gratuity). Unfortunately we will be going elsewhere for tea in the future.

Summary: 5 stars for high end US afternoon tea experience; smaller portions justified by the quality and taste in my experience though I have some critique *** My friend and I enjoyed the afternoon tea at Madeline Garden Bistro on a Sunday at 12pm. The venue was fancy and beautifully decorated. I specifically made reservations at noon to catch the harpist! Unlike some reviewers, I preferred the smaller portions in comparison to the amount you get at $100+ high tea places in LA. The reduced quantity of Madeline Garden was priced proportionally without a dip in quality. I liked that I didn't leave with my gut busting, and I was hungry by 5:30 pm -- but note that I'm only a moderately active person. Someone who regularly lifts at the gym probably needs an extra protein bar to feel satiated after coming here. PARKING Their parking entrance is down on Catalina Ave behind the building. I missed it of course, but all was well: I found free street parking very easily on S. Wilson Ave. I later asked the host for clarification. He said that guests could also park in the medical plaza somewhere near Catalina. I would double check the signs if you do this. SERVICE Seating was prompt with a Yelp reservation. There are apparently various rooms on the property, which I was not aware of when I booked online. Perhaps we got lucky being placed in the tea room we wanted. Our server was prompt with check ins and well-time plate clearing, but we did not feel pressured to turn over our table. We chatted at a leisurely pace, soaking up the vibes. Speaking of the table, it was small and a bit cramped for two, but I've found that to be standard around LA high tea places. FOOD ORDERED We chose the Green Garden High Tea, which was about $62 per person after tax and gratuity. The variety of dishes included 1 salad, 1 scone, 3 tea sandwiches, 2 hors d'oeuvres, and 2 desserts per person. For our pot of tea, we chose Earl Grey. I was pleasantly surprised by the volume of tea, which appeared to be double the amount I've received at other places. My friend and I had at least 4-5 teacups each. The tea quality was standard but good. - Misto salad. Mixed spring greens, crunchy croutons, freshly grated parmesan, and a sprinkle of sundried tomato. The salad was lightly dressed with a flavorful and umami vinaigrette. - Scones (not sure if cranberry or some other dried fruit). The warm scones were fluffy and crisp on the edges, so good! Unfortunately, the spreads could have been better. I think the jam was apricot since it was a little tart and otherwise not very flavorful. The menu listed the other spread as clotted cream, but I think it was just regular butter because the scoop was solid and lacking in dairy flavor. - Egg rolls. I didn't expect to see this, but I wasn't mad because it was even better than Panda Inn's (restaurant version of Panda Express): crispy with flaky outer layers, filled with carrot and rice noodle, topped with a dab of soy sauce. The ginger in the egg roll did not overwhelm the rest of the bite. - Garden Crostini. The bread was evenly toasted all around, a great vehicle for the cream cheese, watercress, and edible flower petals. I'm not sure what made the savory spread pink, but it was really good. - Eggs Canape. I think this counted as a tea sandwich. It was soft crustless grain bread cut into a heart shape, topped generously with egg salad and dill. Cute and tasty! - Cranberry Cucumber Mint Sandwich. Soft crustless white bread with a sweet and tart cranberry cream cheese, thinly sliced cucumber, and julienned mint. I enjoyed this riff on the classic cucumber tea sandwich. - I'm not sure what the final tea sandwich was, but it was on soft wheat bread, garnished with edible flower petals. The inside might have been some sort of fruit salad. It was much sweeter than the cranberry cucumber mint, but not excessively. It might have been more balanced to present only one sandwich on the sweet side. If I had known, I would have alternated between the sandwiches and hors d'oeuvres. - Macarons. The delicate cookies had a good chew and crisp, airy shell. It was hard to discern the flavors, but I preferred the cream colored macaron because there were tasty crunchy bits in the filling. - Creme Brulee. It was well executed. Smooth creamy custard, not too sweet, topped with a hard sugar barrier that we cracked open. I forget it if was served warm or cold. The blackberry was also good.

This is probably the best afternoon tea experience I've had in awhile! My friends and I go to a different afternoon tea place every month and this place definitely stood out from the various places we've been to. PARKING- I don't think they had their own parking lot so we just parked on the streets right in front of the entrance. It was a weekend but it wasn't hard to find a spot. LOCATION- It was like stepping into a beautiful estate. The venue was more spacious than I thought. The room where we had our tea was beautifully decorated and had a vintage European style. The thing that made this place stand out from other afternoon tea experiences is that there is live music being played. We enjoyed having a harpist playing music while we drank our tea. FOOD- We ordered the most expensive selection which was the Madeline High Tea. I ordered the Rose Black Tea which was fragrant and delicious. Unlike most tea places where you get served the classic scones and sandwiches, it's like we are being served mini versions of meals you would get at some 5 star restaurant. My favorites were the scone and the truffle risotto. I enjoyed every single bite and didn't find anything that was lacking much. SERVICE- Our server was very nice and attentive! She made sure we were enjoying our experience so far without being too overbearing. I definitely would want to come here again for the ambience and tea experience.

Food was good, LOVE the scones, alot of sweets, the place is extremely pretty, very elegant, formal, the service is a completely different level of amazing, excellent service, truly unique and overall it was really great