Marlene's Tea & Cakes

Marlene's Tea & Cakes is a hidden gem, not complicated to get to for North County folks, and they have plenty of parking! We had a wonderful experience with "Afternoon Tea!" Calm, soothing atmosphere and the food options (sandwiches & sweets) were all delicious! They have a vegetarian option as well. Reservations are a MUST!

Just had a beautiful afternoon tea at Marlene’s today and it was so beautiful and well set up, everything was so detailed and stunning! The tea and food was super tasty ! Service was amazing as well very welcoming and accommodating. The owner marlene was also an absolute joy and i will definitely be back for my next special occasion.

I would like to think the pictures I posted say it all! However, they don't tell you about the exquisite taste and exceptional service. Everything from the service, decor, china, tea selections, and food make the entire experience unforgettable. They have inside seating and patio seating, we went on such a beautiful day, which added to the ambiance. Even on a cold and rainy day you can sit on the patio and keep dry with a tent and warm with space heaters. I have been to other afternoon tea establishments from old town San Diego to Beverly Hills, Marlene's Tea & Cakes is one of the best. The recipes are all her own and made in house. You can tell everything is made with love, which is evident in every bite. The only thing that made this experience even better was when Marlene came out to greet us, she is such a beautiful person that makes you feel like you were invited into her home for afternoon tea. I would also like to recognize her staff, I was only able to get the name of one of the ladies, Alma, but all of them were wonderful. This is a treasure to experience in the heart of San Diego, I will definitely be back!

We had an amazing time here celebrating. The staff is so kind and friendly, absolutely wonderful. The food....tell you something...and that's not just saying...potato leak soup was delicious. You know when you think of tea time, you think small portions, sipping tea then, okay bring on the main course. This isn't that, I left here full and satisfied with lots of leftovers. We had a grand ol' time. Definitely recommend. I have already recommended Marlene's to a few friends and family. Trust, you will not regret it. Def, well worth it. You show up for the reservation, the table is set, tea hot and ready,don't spill all the tea. Very chill joint, no rushing, enjoy your time & people. Then when you're all done done. You simply get up and leave. If needed, they have to-go containers. No check, no tip. It's all included. Absolutely fantastic service. So kind. Enjoy yourselves.

This is another amazing afternoon tea! I love that the menu is always changing and the tea is a burst of good flavor! If you want an elegant new experience this is the perfect place! I love the table setting it always matches and the food is so fresh and inventive I love that when you’re done you can go across the street and there is a field you can walk around it feels as if you were in the show Bridgerton lol

I have been to many Afternoon Tea places including the Ritz Carlton. Marlene’s offers everything you would expect if you enjoy Traditional Tea service. The food was outstanding and so was the service. The atmosphere is very quaint and I loved all their tableware including having a warmer for your teapot which you don’t see very often. I will definitely be back.

Absolutely stunningly beautiful place with amazing service. That she options were plentiful and delicious. The food was also all delicious It just leans heavy on the sweets and not as heavy on the savory so we still felt a little hungry afterwards. It's a bit on the more expensive side of tea houses but still worth it for how nice and high-end it is. Dress fancy and go enjoy yourself!

Super cute environment and area. Delicious food and tea. Good service from staff. My first time to tea ever, as I was skeptical for the price and the amount of food you receive and also not a huge tea person, but I will admit it was all great! Tea’s we’re delicious and had so many different varieties. The food was delicious! I left full (not having eaten before hand) and even had to take a couple desserts home. The scones inexplicably delicious! Overall would recommend trying!

We had a wonderful experience at Marlene's Tea and Cakes! Our party of nine, initially a party of eight, had no trouble adjusting our reservation three days before our visit. The staff promptly called to confirm the change and sent a confirmation email/text. Upon arrival, we were greeted instantly and seated at a beautifully prepared table. The atmosphere was quaint and intimate, accommodating about six groups of various sizes in the main room, with additional outdoor seating. The waitresses were kind and attentive, consistently checking on us. Marlene, the owner, personally introduced herself and thanked us for our business, which added a special touch to our visit. The food was delectable. Out of our party of nine, everyone agreed that the scones were to die for! Our other savory favorites included the mini Beef Wellingtons, quiches, and tomato tarts. Across the way, there's a charming place to promenade, and despite the "private property" signs, we had no trouble enjoying a stroll around the area. I absolutely love this place--100% worth the money and experience. Everyone in my party adored it and plans to bring back friends and family. A small suggestion: expanding and creating more photo ops could enhance the experience even further. Thank you, Marlene, for providing a memorable experience for my family and friends!

It was okay - felt more like a diner setting that a tea shop because of how the layout was configured so if you're looking for a more quaint Victorian type of regal setting, this ain't it! But the tea was good and the food was alright. Nothing I would return back for.

Loved the decor and outdoor setting amongst flowers, so pretty! The tea sets and table ware were very Anthropologie-esque. Our waitress was very attentive and made sure our teas were always replenished. I really liked the Paris tea with some added milk, and the mango tea just as is - no need to add milk or sugar. The savory bottom of our tier had onion quiches, cucumber + cream cheese sandwiches, deviled egg puffs, a ham and cheese sandwich, and I forget what else. All were tasty! Got to try scones with cream and fruit on the second tier, and the top most one had lots of delightful little cakes and pastries I don't know the names of. Such a lovely way to spend the afternoon.

This was a great afternoon tea experience! Our first time coming, and everything was delicious. The service was consistent and courteous - we even got to meet Marlene as she checked on our table. We sat outside on the patio among the beautiful plants and flowers, it was a very peaceful setting. Highly recommend!

Beautiful space for tea time with some gal pals. I had made reservations for about 11 girls a few weeks prior to the day - full payment was required at the time of reservation along with choice of two tea flavors. Reservations are required and two tea times were available to choose from: 11am or 2pm - dining service is 2 hours. The inside space was a lot smaller as I'd imagine - it was a bit tough navigating through the space as they packed in as much as they could. There is also outside seating with overhead coverage available. Each table was beautifully decorated with the plate settings, fresh floral bouquets, and the tea with a warmer below. Tea time first started out with a potato soup, followed by the 3-tiered tray of food. Bottom - two variety of finger sandwiches, chicken pot pie, beef Wellington, and a mushroom quiche. Middle - apple walnut biscuits, whipped cream, and a few bite sized pieces of fresh fruit. Top - assorted desserts. Thoroughly enjoyed the corned beef & cabbage sandwich, apple walnut biscuits (very moist and delicious), and the mushroom quiche. Great service throughout our stay. We ended up having an additional person last minute and the staff was very accommodating to the change. Private parking lot available so there aren't any issues.

What a beautiful teashop in a quiet residential area of Santa Luz. We sat outside and from start to finish it was a lovely experience! From the soft music, the bright but covered outside patio with gorgeous flowering plants everywhere and birds, down to the colorful and delicious bites and teas, it was a wonderful two hours away from the everyday without having to hop on a plane! The service was excellent, cordial and professional. A wonderful place to savor and celebrate!

The food was extremely delicious! 10 out of 10. The puffy pastry items were phenomenal, buttery, crispy and served warm. The variety on our tower was surprisingly wonderful. Each tier was full of multiple choices. The fruit was even cut into cute shapes. The setting on the table was gorgeous. Each table had their own color themes which I found visually pleasing. We both left full and very satisfied. We were seated outside and the sun was definitely an issues. We had to keep moving around and moving our table even though there were umbrellas. I will definitely get a seat inside from now on. Very beautiful outside but the sun was just too much for me personally. I can't wait to go back.

Had tea for the 4th time here today. One of my absolute favorite experiences. The staff is so amazing and sweet, and the food is so so so great. The scones are the very best I've ever had. Nothing but great things to say about this place.

This was a very memorable afternoon tea experience! The indoor and outdoor tea areas are decorated beautifully and calming piano music is playing in the background. If seated outside, you will be surrounded by gorgeous flowers and can spot a few hummingbirds flying around. The owner and staff are very kind and offer further recommendations if you decide to order more tea. The tea and food is absolutely delicious! After the soup is served, a tea stand will arrive with a variety of sandwiches, quiches, scones, fruit, and desserts. I look forward to coming back!

Such a cute place...very elegant and beautiful tea sets. The food and mini sandwiches were great too. It doesn't seem like a lot but it was fulfilling! Kind of weird to be next to a vet hospital but all the dogs coming were cute. Anyways, this is a good fancy spot for a girls day or something! Make sure you make the reservations prior. You have to also pick your tea before coming since they have it all ready for you by the time you sit down! Adventure on my friends!

We have a great time at Marlene's for a Sunday Tea service. We went through 4 pots of tea which is unlimited by the way and they were all excellent. The food was a good portion size and the space is adorable. My complaints are there is only one bathroom for all the ladies pounding tea and the tables and chairs pushed up against one another in an effort to maximize guest capacity at the expensive of guest comfort.

Super cute tea spot for high tea! Nestled in a quiet neighborhood up north. I called in the morning on a Sunday and they were able to squeeze me and my family in. The food was pretty good and better than other places I've been to for high tea. I loved the presentation and the soup!! Also really thought the tea was high quality. Our favorite one was one of the oolongs but I forgot that name :(( the other tea was also delicious!

Afternoon tea was very delicious at Marlene's! It was an absolutely full house on Sunday, but there was plentiful parking in their lot and street parking in the nearby area. Speaking of which, the drive to the location was beautiful and scenic. The surrounding neighborhood is clean, quiet, well kept, and gorgeous. The teaware was gorgrous. The inside is adorned with chandeliers. Lovely ambiance and solid service. We sincerely enjoyed the entire experience. The soup and savory bites were very tasty. The scones, fruit, and other sweets were executed well too. We all drank a healthy amount of tea. It was a memorable, wonderful experience!

We had our NCL Chapter tea at Marlene's and I can't say enough about how wonderful everything was! The venue was beautiful and sweet. The food was all homemade from scratch and was delicious. They even killed it with the gluten-free options. They were very accommodating to all of our needs and everyone enjoyed themselves tremendously. Jackie was really easy to work with and we even got to meet Marlene. She's a bit of a perfectionist and it shows. If your looking to have tea or host a classy and elegant event, do not hesitate to have it here:)

I've never been to a tea-party place before, so this was a great first experience with fantastic service. NOTE FOR OTHER FIRST TIMERS: Reservations are required, and it's about $57 per person with gratuity included. This includes 2 different teas, full tea set of sandwiches and desserts (quantity scaled to how many people, eg. Three of each sandwich for three people), and an appetizer. It seemed like teapot refills were included but we were full after we finished our teas so we didn't ask for more. The servers are very quick, informative, and helpful. Our server took the time to explain all the food on the table since we told her we'd never been there before, and another employee helped us take some photos to commemorate our day when we were done! All the decorations are stunning and elegant, but not stifling. The dress code is casual to fancy, the person over the phone said jeans and blouse are fine (and really we could wear whatever we like), but coming here I definitely recommend at least a casual dress or a polo shirt if you want to match the vibe. (Think clothes for visiting a nice winery!)

What a lovely experience! I've never done anything like this so I didn't know what to expect. Here's what you should know: - They offer a variety of tea so you'll have plenty to choose from. You'll have the chance to try up to four! - The food? Delicious! You'll have a variety of flavors to enjoy and the desserts are sure to WOW your kids. - The place is beautifully decorated and the table set up is to die for! It honestly made me want to buy a whole tea set to use when guests come over. The service is excellent and so friendly. I believe our server's name was Jackie and she took great care of our group of three. You can tell they take a lot of pride in the experience they provide. You won't feel rushed. Get ready for a time to sit back, relax, and catch up with friends/family. I highly recommend this as a girls night out, date day, or quality time with the kids. It'll give you a reason to dress up, too. Come check out Marlene's if/when you're in the area. Pro Tip: If you're in a group of four or less, ask for seating outside on the patio. There's a lot more space since the indoor area was prioritized for larger parties. Also, there's only one bathroom on site so if you've got kids, make sure they use the potty beforehand so you don't have to run into them waiting for the bathroom if it's urgent.

Tried Marlene's tea and cakes again and it was a delightful experience. The attention to detail and food presentation is incredible. Definitely a lovely way to spend an afternoon with friends

Environment was great! We had a great mother daughter tea. They had kids option and service was really smooth and timed perfectly. Reservations are required.

I took my nephew for the afternoon tea on a Sunday for his birthday. We sat on the patio amongst the flowers, it was beautiful. I preselected two teas - chai and mango, they were both delicious! Every bite we had was amazing and the service was excellent. Marlene came by to see how we were enjoying everything and after speaking with my nephew she brought out several more teas she wanted him to try. They were all so good. My nephew left there a tea drinker and I purchased several teas (bagged and loose leaf) to go.

It's hard to trust good reviews. This is an example to trust those good reviews, ending up in disappointment....,This place charged $60+ ( including tax and tips ) per person for a tea set. I believe there are lots of place where you can get way much better bank for the buck. First of all, I was told they make their own pastries, but if it's the truth then I would suggest they consider buying the pastries from some other places. Their pastries didn't look good or attractive, and they didn't taste good. The fruits were dry and not fresh enough. We had a party of eight, and we couldn't finish the food, not because of the portion ( it's actually quite small ) but because they didn't taste good......The tea was a highlight. We tried 6 different kind of tea, only one was great, the rest were just ok. The ambient was mostly decorated in pink color, which may look great for some people ( particularly young girls ) but not us. Our conclusion is the tea set should not worth more than $30 per person. Disappointing experience.....

Really cute place for a girls date or to take your younger kiddos (as long as they sit still) I went with 2 other girlfriends and when we made reservations we had to prepay about $175. When we got there. They already had our two pre-picked teas ready for us with little candles underneath to keep it heated. Their decor was so cute. We sat outside, which I think is much preferred as long as the weather permits. They also have sugar and milk on the table if needed as well. They give you a potato soup to start with a yummy puff pastry twist. The soup could have used a little more salt, but it was still yummy nonetheless. The tea platter was delicious, starting with savory sandwiches, quiches, and a mini beef Wellington. The second level had a cranberry scone and some Fruits, and the third level was all delicious desserts. They brought out enough for each person to get One of everything. Once we finished our teas, we were allowed to choose more options to try next. This was a really cute event, and the staff was so kind and helpful- especially Jackie. I'd definitely bring my nieces back here! It's worth the experience.

Solid spot for afternoon tea! We booked about a month in advance and prepaid for the experience. The decor here is super cute and the tea sets were pretty! The sandwiches, scones and pastries were pretty standard and flavorful. Service was excellent as staff came to refill our teapots often. The teas were also very flavorful and strong. Would def come back again!

Wow! I have been to several tea rooms and I was blown away by this one. Beautiful decor, kind service, and delectable desserts. The best scones I ever tasted! Slightly smaller tea menu than other tea rooms I have experienced but the ones they have are delicious. 10/10 recommend.

This a gift to myself for Mother's Day. The owner was very open and warm. She asked me if I would like to be in a quiet area but enjoy the sound of people. I just don't want to talk to people sometimes. I like the fact that I wasn't rushed. The tea service is pre-paid, and I like that because it would ruin the experience if you saw people paying a bill. The food was dainty like most afternoon tea service, but for sure, filling. For teas, I had Paris and Blue Bang. Paris is the way to go. Everything was delicious! It was fun to see people dressed up with the hats and all. Only one thing, they didn't have lemon curd, but the server told me it was made in-house, but people weren't interested because they didn't know what it was. I'm looking forward to bringing others for conversations next time.

I decided to make a reservation at Marlene's for a random Saturday afternoon tea. Upon arrival, the whole venue had such amazing décor. I loved the vibe of the place indoors and outdoors. It was a lovely day so being outside wasn't bad at all. Outdoors area was covered in shade and there were many flowers and even butterflies around. Afternoon tea consisted of two pots of tea to start. I picked Jasmine and Early Grey which were very delicious. We were served with corn soup followed by finger sandwiches, pastries and dessert. The finger sandwiches were my favorite. The pastries/desserts were alright but could have been better. Service was excellent and they were constantly checking in on us. Very friendly and always had a smile on their faces. Highly recommend if you're looking to enjoy some afternoon tea in the summertime!

Hosted a baby shower here and it was perfect. The decor was so cute. The food and tea was delicious. Everything was set up and ready to go when we arrived. Service was a bit slow but the place was very busy and there were only a few people working. It is the perfect location for a girls outing would highly recommend.

Today was the worst tea experience I have ever encountered in a tea room. My tea group of 8 yrs has gone to Marlene's many times. Today we all left with a terrible headache and zero communication with each other which is the purpose of our monthly gatherings! There was a large group of about 35 women seated inside along with us who had no regard for anyone else and certainly no tea etiquette. Afternoon tea is supposed to be a relaxing ritual not a bar scene sporting event. We asked the owner to please ask them to be a little quieter but all we got were excuses. When paying almost 60 dollars per person our group of 8 today would have liked to have been able to enjoy each others company. It was so loud we couldn't hear our neighbor at either side. I personally will not go back. It negates what a tearoom should be.

Food was great especially the savory pastries , loved the tea flavor cinnamon and spice, mango Ambiance is calming and exquisite Service , since it was Mother's Day , it was very busy , servers were somewhat confused with orders , tried to give our order to another table but was corrected . They tried their best .

#ThankYouThursday Thank you for another year of great food and service. We always enjoy our visits.

If I could I would give this place zero stars . I felt so taken advantage of. This is the most over priced food establishment I have ever been. They gave us one tea per person that you pre order , they give you a platter of 5/10 food and desserts and charge you 415.00 for 8 people. I am not kidding . Go to a different place if you want quality service and food. I really feel like it is a scam and I wish I would have known better . It is a cute place but not worth the cost at all! Save your self 100 per person and stay away.

Such a gem of a place! If you love the frills of a proper tea and adorable ambiance, this is the place. Perfect for anyone who wants to feel a little bit spoiled and without much effort. Marlene's does all the work for a great tea time experience. I went with my mom and her friend as well as her daughter for a ladies afternoon. What I appreciate is the reservation system so you know you'll get attention and you're all set with tea, food etc. For four people we shared two pots and got to choose from a rather robust menu. The food was also ample - having sweets and savory again portions out for the number of people in your party. Some tea places have been stingy - this was quite the opposite. We all felt full we took some cakes home! The scones are truly the best I've had in some time. Not only is food and tea great, but the ambiance really adds to it. If you're going to have tea, you want to feel like you're in some delightful parlor. There is also outdoor seating with heat lamps. Just a great unique spot if you want to go with friends for fun or out of town guests.

This place is so lovely! I attended a bridal shower and it was a very wonderful experience. The staff is so pleasant and very attentive. I'd like to return to enjoy tea with a friend.

After reading all the reviews, I will have to say I would agree with the 5 star rating. We were a group of six sitting on the patio on 12/17/22. While it was chilly, the outdoor dining had patio heaters that made it comfortable. With the published holiday menu, we were treated to an extra dessert item not included on the menu. The service was excellent and new tea pots get coming with different teas. My favorite was the mango. The server explained each item on the tray. We were not rushed out the door like some reviewers have commented about. I do like that they offered to bring take out boxes shortly before our time period ended. To our surprise we also got a boxed gingerbread cake as a holiday treat. The food, ambience and service were excellent.

I had one of my birthdays here this year and it was great! I was able to make reservations online and paid ahead of time- the cost includes tax and gratuity as well. You can choose indoor or outdoor seating and your two choices of teas to start with. I opted for the Paris and Mango n Friends teas. You are allotted 2 hours, so it's best to get there on time! When I arrived, they had told me that the mango and friends tea was no longer available, which was a bummer, because that was on of their most popular teas. We ended up asking the the Earl Grey instead. Each month, they have a different menu, although most of the items are the same. August's menu consisted of corn chowder and a puff twist, cucumber sandwiches, mini-beef wellington, blue cheese mascarpone and red onion confit quiche, deviled egg and bacon sandwiches, chicken, tomato, and parmesan tart, cream scone with fresh blueberries, peach cobbler, pavlova, chocolate souffle cake, and lemon meringue cookie tarts. It was a great menu and everything tasted delicious and fresh. Marlene makes all of the offerings and you can tell she enjoys doing it. The tiers are beautifully decorated and she only offers fine China, so the decor and table settings are gorgeous. Tea is unlmited, but I didn't get to try that many. I had a fantastic time here, but wish that they didn't rush us out before the two hours are up. The staff starts handing out boxes about half an hour before, and then you must leave your table about 10-15 minutes prior your allotted time. It was such a beautiful venue, that I wish we could spend more time here.

Beautiful, delicious. The beet/orange sandwich was my favorite. The scone was amazing.

Really nice high tea experience for a great price. You start with two type of tea and once you finish those you can order more. They start with soup then bring out the three tiered tray, it was extremely filling! You can request full vegetarian. Staff was very friendly and welcoming. Only thing I would say is that it is hard to find where to book, hard to find if you don't know where to go: https://tableagent.com/san-diego/marlenes-tea-cakes/ Link seems a little sketchy but this is the correct one

My first ever tea party and it was elegant and tasty. Marlene's was very well decorated from the floral centerpieces to the purposefully mismatching plush dining chairs and china, it was a beautiful and photograph worthy venue. It's like the whole place is having a tea party as they have specific seatings. Upon being seated at our table, we got two pots of their signature Paris tea delivered, which we had preselected. We also selected green tea and Earl grey to try. The Paris tea was floral and lovely, but I liked the green tea more, which had a hint of nutty/oatty flavor to it. To start, we had a corn chowder, which was very tasty. Then the towers came out with the bites with savory on the bottom and moving to the top where the desserts sat. My favorites were the mini beef Wellington and the berry scone. Overall a fantastic experience and be sure to wear those tea hats and dresses to complete the experience!

What a cute place!! We had such a lovely time here. The tea was amazing and the food was delicious! I definitely recommend to anyone in the area. We got the Paris tea and it was a 10/10. It was so flavorful. The menu was preplanned. They have indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seating is well covered so it's nice and shaded. I will say they were slower but the owner came over and apologized. She said it's been hard to find staff to work. But the wait was fine because the ambiance was so nice and the tea was good.

Cute little afternoon tea spot! The sandwiches were good and the scone was delicious. Top tray desserts were a little basic in my opinion. Soup was good, but it was lukewarm. Tea selection really good but one of our candles went out that was keeping it warm.

Solid 4 stars Came here with a friend while visiting SD and it did not disappoint! This place is super cute and it really sets the mood for afternoon tea. Loved the chandelier and the table setting. The tea set was pretty standard: scones, sandwiches & desserts. Everything was tasty and beautifully presented. The tea was strong, which I loved. The price was reasonable and the service was excellent. They came by and refilled the tea pots several times. This is a great place to catch up with friends. Highly recommended!

I never get invited, but according to my wife and her friends ( they meet every two months at Marlene's ) it's a 5 star experience .

This is my 2nd time ever doing tea.. but Marlene has now defined the experience of what high tea should be. In fact, she's set the epitome of what a true small business owner is: a beautiful, young woman.. who identified what she loves to do.. made it her own.. put in all her hard work and efforts.. and truly excels at the execution of her craft. We had such a fantastic time here. I HIGHLY recommend it. TL;DR: This is San Diego's High Tea House. An experience you won't want to miss. I have always loved the thought of high tea. A) I love tea, B) I love mini munchings (wee!! finger sandwiches).. and C) it just sounds like a lovely moment to share with with your gal pals. It was very easy to make the reservation. It was also very easy to find. It's in a small little business plaza, inland from the 56.. plenty of parking, and the most adorable little garden patio. 4 momma bears came to escape the kids and husbands to celebrate birthdays over the past month. The business itself isn't large but everything is well spaced and organized to accommodate your party. We sat alongside a larger group doing a birthday party (we sat inside) but did not feel like it took away from our experience. It makes so much sense to have the reservations in advance so that you can prepare just enough for everyone to enjoy. The table was lovely. The most gorgeous little plates and silverware. I am not a "princess" type mom (i'm a boy mom who doesn't mind getting dirty), but oh -- you just can't help but smile with the lovely details. Marlene and her sister and the lovely waiters were extremely attentive. It was all just so beautiful. The food! The food was amazing! I was surprised with how full i was with all the finger foods and treats. The quality of the food was like eating at a super fancy restaurant. The soup and little twisty bread.. the sandwiches.. even the fruit! Oh and the SCONE. The best scone I have ever tasted in my life!! It was warm and moist. and when you wash it down with the rich and deliciously fragrant tea.. it feels like a hug through your mouth and belly. You can tell the quality of the tea and the brewing method through the taste. We tried 3 different teas and they were all so lovely. Highly recommend the Lady Londonberry. If you have little girls.. this is SUCH an adorable mommy-daughter date location. Hell, dads!! Come out and have high tea with your girls. It's not a girls only club and I was just smitten with the girls dressed up. It's just such a lovely experience. All in all, I loved the experience, the food, the story and it was wonderful to meet the owner and hear about her vision and business purpose. RECOMMENDED 5 star. Definitely go check them out.

We did the 2:30pm afternoon tea. First thing I recognized was all the Royal Albert tea sets which was really cool! I recognized a lot of designs and I just liked the whole set up and vibe of the tea room. The tables were all so pretty and the chairs and couches were nice. The food was good, some sandwiches had more bread than I would have liked. For example, there was a roast beef sandwich that was tripled. The apple cinnamon scone really stood out to me and tasted really good. There was a lot of food, but I just didn't enjoy the food as much compared to other tea places I've been. The service was great and they were very friendly and made sure that you had enough tea. The tea pots were big so I didn't even finish my first tea pot, and I drink a lot of tea! I do have to take away one star because they allow big groups and we were seated near a group of 12 people. They were playing games and just being really loud the entire time. It really just ruined the moment for all the other parties doing afternoon tea. It's great that the tea room allows bigger parties, but I definitely think that they should either put them outside or have them respect other guests and keep it down. If you want that tea room vibe, with the fancy tea ware this is your place.

Absolutely delightful! We really enjoyed our experience here!!!! The food was so good! The decor was lovely! My only 2 notes would be that there's no jam and the service is a little slow if you ask for anything (more water, tea, cream, etc).

We had a fabulous experience for a baby shower. The staff are attentive and the tea and lunch were delicious.

Before actually getting there, I was frustrated with this place. Trying to make reservations is a nightmare. They do not pick up the phone. Took me forever to actually TALK to someone to give my card info to secure a spot on Mother's Day. They said they would charge my card 2 weeks before, then didn't until 2 days before. I sent a message on Facebook to make sure we still had a table and that was the easiest form of communication. Someone wrote back within 24 hours. $98 for 2 people with tax and automatic 20% gratuity. The positives though... friendly staff! Love their positivity and willingness to accommodate. Totally made up for any prior issues hence the 4 stars. The tea was DELICIOUS! They're out of a lot of it because of distribution, so we received the Paris and as a happy accident what turned out to be our favorite was the Roasted Almond & Fruit. In lieu of the Londonderry not being available, she brought us something similar that was also very tasty, and truly appreciate her customer service in that aspect. The mushroom soup comes out first and that was perfect because I wasn't feeling well and that managed to settle my stomach. Then they bring a gorgeous 3 tier plate thing with a variety of food. All of it tasted great. The display of it all is so appealing. They've really done a great job. It's worth the headache of getting a reservation in my opinion. Watching the hummingbirds was adorable too. :) Some people were dressed up, we had jeans and nice sweaters on. Doesn't seem to be a strict dress code just not a hoodie type of place.

Delicious tea service beautifully served. We were a private party but we were treated very nicely. We didn't rent the place out. We just happen to be the only people there.

Lucky to have many options for afternoon tea in San Diego, whether at a local business or in a luxury hotel. Marlene's Tea & Cakes is a local business that is the creation of passion and attention to detail. This is the quintessential high tea experience! Super impressed by the aesthetic and ambience they have created in the outdoor space of the patio garden with a beautiful variety of flowers that attract Monarch butterflies. Indoor decor with small chandeliers, pressed white tablecloths, and fine English bone china in a variety of pastel colors. The menu changes every month, which warrants repeat visits in the future. We were lucky to have their strawberry scones, mini beef Wellingtons, Petit Fours, and much more. Take your time, eat the sweet, relish in the savory, enjoy the experience, have great conversation, sip on your two types of tea, and raise your pinkies!

Our good friend brought us here and treated us here today and it was wonderful. Kinda far from where I live but definitely worth the drive!! I have read mixed reviews and I'm very surprised because the service we received was AMAZING!! Everyone we encountered was very professional yet personable, friendly, very helpful and attentive. From reviews I thought we would feel pressured and rushed and that did not happen at all! It's Hightea so it's not like you're going to eat as if in a buffet. Everything was sooo good, it was really hard to pick faves but the puff twist, quiche, cucumber sandwich, ham sandwich, chicken salad sandwich, scones were very memorable. We ended up getting so filled we only touched the chocolate mousse (very good) and had to take the rest of the desserts to go. We learned the food is made daily in the am and so everything is so fresh! After hanging out in the front for over an hour (lol my friend can really talk) we bumped into Marlene. We chatted for a while and I asked her to open in my neck of the woods lol. She was the sweetest ever, also very personable. She has a calm and relaxed vibe about her and really takes pride and puts her good energy into giving the FULL experience whether you are dining inside and outside. She mentioned later in the month you can actually experience tea with butterflies around. Now its no wonder that the atmosphere is how it is! This business is very well done and I can't wait to return.

Came out to try the Christmas tea. When we arrived the teas were already placed on the table. There is a candle under the teapot holder to keep them warm. The soup and finger foods were good and the puff twist was delicious. When the waitress brought out the 3-tier stand, she let us know what each item on the trays were. Honestly, when I saw the soup I thought the serving was a bit small but it was enough to continue eating the mini sandwiches, fruits and pastries. We came out feeling full and even had leftover dessert. When you're finished with your tea, you can get a refill of the same or different one. I really liked the Almond and Fruit Tea. The staff was friendly and the waitress was attentive. Overall nice first experience.