Silver Dove Afternoon Tea

Spent a wonderful Valentine’s Day weekend having afternoon tea at Silver Dove. The staff are very accommodating of food allergies and I really enjoyed the nut-free desserts while my wife had the traditional options. So many options for tea and I did not regret choosing the Silver Dove Winter Blend, which was like a delicious a spicy chai.

I really love the option of an entirely gluten free tea house. It was a small and unique store front with very limited seating, you can only get reservations. The bites are petite like a tea house, my only complaint is that I wish there were at least two pieces of each bite for $50 a person. I am grateful they accommodate to every allergy and diet preference. The lot of teas have a large variety and all in all I enjoyed the experience.

I really enjoyed my afternoon tea. Our server was great, knowledgeable about the tea, and was able to make recommendations. The small bites provided will definitely be a hit or miss for some people. While I enjoyed a majority of what was served other people in my party did not. And the small children we brought were also not fans of a majority of the flavors. For that reason I wouldn’t recommend this spot for picky eaters or kids, especially with the price point being higher than other tea rooms outside of Boston. Atmosphere is quiet although I do wish they had some calming music playing. Overall, I really liked the experience.

A lovely tea experience in the heart of downtown. I have seen this place a ton of times before, but I never went in until a friend invited me. I’m so happy I went! With the seasonal menu and variety of options and care toward people’s dietary restrictions and allergies, this place builds a cozy environment to enjoy a chilly day. The scone was warm and buttery and a great start to the afternoon tea set. For the savory items, I really liked the bread with carrots on top. There was a savory umami spread under the softened carrots that was bursting with flavor. The soup was a bit gritty but warming. The yellow bread had light curry flavor and great texture. The cucumber sandwich was a bit sad; it was plain and didn’t taste of much. For the sweet, my favorite was the Bakewell tart. The jam was delicious and a perfect balance of sweet and tart. The almond part was nutty and smooth. The eclair could and should have had more matcha flavor, but it was just powder on top which meant the roof of your mouth was just matcha. The macaron’s lemon jam was light and refreshing, but I’m not a big fan of poppy seeds. The speculaas cake tasted like carrot cake. The coconut mousse just dissolved in the mouth but didn’t have much coconut richness. Overall, a tasty, relaxing experience!

The afternoon tea was delicious, do book in advance as the tea room is quite small and seating is limited. The selection of tea is varied and should be able to cater to everyone's taste. I liked the scones, the homemade pizza strawberry jam, coronation chicken and the peach upside down cake were all amazing.

Fantastic place, do NOT get scared off by the gluten free kitchen, everything is amazing. Perfectly filling, not too much not too little and with the seasonal menu I can’t wait to visit again. The highlight for me was the scone, if you ever feel like sharing the recipe let me know first!

Had corporate lunch here, while it's a cute spot with good service, the food portion were bite sized. $60/person and we all left hungry. Most of the bites were sweet too, for that type of money I would expect to leave at least semi full. Not worth the money.

A lovely place to spend an afternoon with friends! Having everything be gluten-free AND having a vegetarian option makes this place that much greater. My group all got different teas, all of them absolutely delicious (the Silver Dove Winter Blend my drink of choice). It's hard to pick a favorite of the foods, but the scones with jam and clotted cream are such a delight. The service is top-notch; everything is brought out right on time, and the staff are excellent at what they do. This is my second time coming here, and it will continue to be on my list of places to go to.

Such a cute spot and a wonderful way to spend an afternoon or a special occasion! The place is quaint and cute, lots of natural light and cute velvet booths. The service was great! All the servers took care of all the tables since it's a small place. We started with choosing our teas, we got Jasmine and Earl Grey, and they refill hot water throughout. We next got the scones with jam and clotted crème which were so delicious! Finally they bring out the tower with lots of savory and sweet options. They also have extras that you can add on, which were dates wrapped in prosciutto, but this changes seasonally. All the food was very good! I'd highly recommend this experience. Also the price is very fair for the service and food, and much more reasonable than other tea options in the city!

I knew when this spot opened and yet, I wasn't really inclined to visit after what I heard. But, one fateful evening I ventured out to visit their small establishment because my friends wanted to try it out. It's only a 5min walk from the government center T stop. I admit the inside is adorable. You come into an indoor entryway with a wall of flowers and you open another door to one of the staff graciously offering to hang up your coat. It feels simple and elegant but cozy inside. I think there are only about 5-6 tables so it's small. Love the artwork and the tiny pieces that give the place life. They have a preset menu of what you get and a bunch of lovely teas to try and everything on their menu is gluten free and oat free! I got the vanilla rooibos tea but the winter blend which the staff mentioned was a favorite of visitors smelled great! (they let us smell a couple of the teas). The staff was all very nice and helpful in answering questions.I'm going to be honest though the food was just okay to me. I tried a lot of things with different flavors and yet nothing really stood out to me... except the scone but that's because I love bread with butter and jam which is just so simple yet so amazing. We also added another item for $3 which was like a salmon cracker. The salmon with the granola-like bottom was an Interesting mixture... not a fan. This is a one and done but glad for the variety of delicious teas. It was $62pp with the extra item with the tea package (no alcohol or mocktails) with an automatic tip of 15%. $$$ Food 6 Atmosphere 8 Service 7 What we got Rooibos Vanilla Tea Smoked salmon bite Currant scone Beef confit Parsnip soup Coronation chicken Cucumber chicken Genmaicha eclair Bakewell tart Lemon poppyseed tart Speculaas cake

I walked past this place while in the area and got so excited. I have always wanted to try an afternoon tea lounge! So I made a reservation for a date night/afternoon. I am so happy we tried this place! I was delighted by the decor and cleanliness of the restaurant. The seating was cozy, they had this green velvet sofa which fit the aesthetic perfectly. There were also a few booths for larger parties. However, the tables are very close together and the noise in the restaurant does get a little loud, it can be hard to carry a conversation. I also don't like to overhear other's conversations and here it kind of is inevitable. I understand that the restaurant itself isn't particularly spacious, but I would love if the tables could be spaces out a little more? Just a suggestion. The service was good as well, our server explained the snacks and they were quick about clearing our dirty plates. Tea: we chose the option where we each get a pot of tea. They do also serve cocktails in addition to tea, but that is a little bit extra cash. I chose the white peach tea, which was amazing! I added sugar cubes as needed and it had a perfect light, fruity flavor that reminds me of spring. My bf chose the Sencha green tea, which he loved. It had a bitter and earthy flavor. The tea pots were also great at keeping the tea hot throughout the meal, and there was a special diffuser with tea inside the pot which can be removed whenever you think your tea is strong enough. Treats: you get a course of sweet and savory treats when you order your tea. They also have gluten free options and ask about allergies. I absolutely loved everything we received. My favorites were the cucumber cream canapé (salty and mild), coronation chicken (had a curry like flavor), and apple butter tart. I also loved the scones at the beginning of the meal, they were warm and the clotted cream and strawberry jam was heavenly. This course changes seasonally, so I want to come back to try what they will serve next! *I also see some reviews here complaining that they were not satisfied with the amount of food, left hungry, etc. "Afternoon Tea" is an English custom where you are served tea and light snacks in the gap between lunch and dinner. This is not meant to be a full meal! If you are looking to feel stuffed go get a steak somewhere. TL;DR: This is a fun experience for a date or just catching up with a friend! The tea is delicious and the menu has some great food. I would recommend this place for anyone looking to try something new :)

I came here with two girlfriends a few weeks ago and it was really cute. The food was good, the tea was great, the place is small. The staff is nice but not too talkative. Things are priced very reasonably. Don't be alarmed that you don't see a sign outside the door.

If I could give this place 10 stars, I would! They accommodate so many food allergies, literally everything is delicious, we are repeat customers and love it every time!

Such an elegant beautiful place for high tea right in Boston downtown! Highly recommend this place- limited but great tea collection and good drinks too. The bites are tasty and the service is impeccable I highly recommend silver dove for a nice relaxing Sunday afternoon. Books in advance and no parking around- plan ahead.

Very cute spot with a wonderful staff. Highly recommend making a reservation as this place books up quickly. The staff is very friendly as we were given a complimentary tea while we waited for our table to be ready. You are also able to make changes to the pre-fixed high tea menu depending on your dietary needs, and the staff will pack up anything you don't finish. The food was light and delicious with unique flavor profiles. The fact that the menu is seasonal also makes you want to come back more to try all the different menu selections. Location wise, its also easy to get to in downtown either by train or car. I can't wait to come back here.

I really enjoyed my afternoon tea. Our server was great, knowledgeable about the tea, and was able to make recommendations. The small bites provided will definitely be a hit or miss for some people. While I enjoyed a majority of what was served other people in my party did not. And the small children we brought were also not fans of a majority of the flavors. For that reason I wouldn't recommend this spot for picky eaters or kids, especially with the price point being higher than other tea rooms outside of Boston. Atmosphere is quiet although I do wish they had some calming music playing. Overall, I really liked the experience.

Very good "afternoon" tea place! Exceptional service, tasty, well presented food and relaxing comfortable atmosphere. Added bonus is you can add on individual items = double maybe triple down on your favorite sandwich or treat! (yea I'm talking about you = chicken salad sandwich and raspberry macaroon!). Had the Lychee Ricky, actually had 2, and it was one of the tastiest drinks I've had in a looong time. Really good option for tea in Boston at a really decent price point.

I came here with friends and had a great experience! The servers were lovely and very attentive to our array of dietary restrictions. The venue itself is on sort of a random street downtown, so it feels insulated from the hustle and bustle outside. I had 2 pots of a very nice 2013 pu-erh tea. Other highlights included the mango cheesecake, which I loved, and I don't normally even like cheesecake. The matcha macaron was nice and tasted like they used high-quality matcha. The chicken vadouvan sandwich was enjoyable, as was the classic cucumber sandwich--an afternoon tea staple. We appreciated their thoughtful and flavorful thoughtful dairy-free substitutions. Overall, would definitely come back!

Came here for afternoon tea. Do make a reservation well in advance to make sure you get to visit this adorable restaurant. It exclusively is for high tea! We each got to pick our own tea which I liked because I've been to others where you have to share so you might not necessarily get your first choice. With our tea, came a scone for each of us. It came with clotted cream and this delicious strawberry jam. It was fabulous! Next came our the tiered stand with all the sandwiches and desserts. There were four different sandwiches to try. I liked them all except for the Gougere. I don't think any of us cared for that one. All of the sweets were so good. I especially liked the pumpkin spice macaron. The service here was excellent. I would love to be able to come here again. If I have the opportunity I will, and you should too!!!

We reserved for 4 adults and 2 kids. They had a kids menu but it was essentially the adult menu minus two savory items(gougere and duck confit). Ironically one of the kids tried one of the adult items and didn't want to eat the chicken sandwich! It was hard to believe everything was gluten free! Everything was very delicious. The scones and the Mirliton were a big favorite by all especially the scones paired with the clotted cream and jam. I was glad for a non caffeinated tea section with an iced tea option for the kids. The place is small so definitely have a reservation, especially during the holidays. Service was great and non-obtrusive. I had to bribe my son not to play so much with the utensils/plates, so would beware of bringing too young of kid to tea. There was also a cocktail menu which I sampled from others and it was really flavorful.

All items are gluten free therefore don't expect the moistest cake keep that in mind. The service was wonderful but if just judging the food I would put a three star however the service gave it the extra star. The savory items were better than the sweets. Overall my girlfriends and I enjoyed the tea time.

Cute idea and definitely a bucket list item. The service is really dedicated and friendly. I've had a male server both times I've been and his professionalism and knowledge made it feel that much more of a special occasion. Not a huge fan of their treats though! The hummus/turmeric one is weird and none of them are mouthwatering, just good enough to wash down with tea. I do appreciate their selection and presentation. I'm planning on going somewhere else next time just because the food is not enticing enough for me to come back.

Silver dove is a wonderful place to have tea in Boston. The prices are great. The menu is excellent. They are very accommodating to allergies. 5 stars

I thought this place was really cute and dainty. The service and staff were very very nice and professional. I would really like the selection of teas and appreciated my hibiscus tea and all the sandwiches and scones were absolutely delicious. If you want to order extra sandwiches or scones it would be an extra four dollars. I think that's a little much but I get it. They're very strict on time and you can't stay there for more than 90 minutes which is a little bit unreasonable to have a complete, relaxing time with conversation, but since this place is narrow and small, I get that this is a business and It needs to get as much clientele as possible. I don't think I'll go out on my way to come here unless I'm in the area but it was my birthday so I appreciated the experience.

Came here w a friend and had a blast! The food was delicious and all gluten free:) the tea was also so yummy and fun. The staff was super polite and friendly. Our waiter saw I had a birthday gift for my friend and went ahead and put a candle in one of our treats! Super thoughtful. The atmosphere was so relaxing and elegant. Such a fun activity and recommend for a nice weekend afternoon.

A lovely and relaxing experience in a cute and intimate space with soft music playing and attentive service. I love how they ask as soon as you sit down if there are any dietary restrictions or food allergies. The menu is an assortment of savory and sweet petite treats customized to fit your dietary needs. The tea is excellent with high quality flavors and ingredients. Each treat is made with precision and layered with delicacy. It felt like eating edible art! A beautiful sensory experience. We left full and satisfied. Yes, it's pricy and reservations are hard to make but absolutely worth it for a special occasion.

Wasn't blown away by this place. The tea was delicious, but it's pretty small and so were the bites. Definitely don't come hungry or you'll be leaving hungry! The service was great, I just wouldn't go there again.

Came here to celebrate Mother's day and enjoyed the time here! I had been wanting to have high tea to celebrate mother's day, but made the reservation a bit late (only a couple weeks in advance), but this place had openings! Service was polite and attentive. Also the decor of the place is nice and has a flower wall at the entrance if you want to take a quick picture. I found the set menu to be creative in what they served in comparison to other high tea places I've been to. Love, love, loved the scones. While I have been to better high tea places (in terms of sandwiches, cakes etc.), I think for the price point and the service, high tea here is decent. Difficult to find parking around this area unless you're willing to pay a high price at a parking garage in the downtown area.

Came to celebrate my friend's birthday and we had such a delightful time! We had a reservation for a Saturday at 11am, when they opened. I would definitely recommend having a reservation because it filled up almost immediately. The service was attentive and friendly, and they even took photos for us. As for the food, I really appreciated that they had options for various dietary restrictions. My friend opted for the vegetarian set, while I ordered the standard. Our savory dishes were separated, while the sweets had no meat so they were served together on the top tier. I also enjoyed the variety of tastes. The menu changes so I won't get into specifics, but my favorites of the set were the curry sandwich and the pistachio macaron. I don't have a sophisticated palate when it comes to tea, but I enjoyed my pot of Genmaicha. Overall, not the most decadent place, but it was a fun special experience and relatively well priced compared to other afternoon tea options in the city.

My son took me here with my whole family for my 65th birthday. I can't say enough about the whole situation. Our waiter was fabulous. I'm sorry I cannot remember his name, but he was tall with glasses. The food is beyond comprehension. The soup is the best soup I ever had in my whole life. The ambience is perfect. It's elegant and beautiful Their mock tails that they make with tea and sparkling water in a champagne glass was the best thing I ever tasted in my life -I so enjoyed it. Thank you.

Extremely kind staff as well as great tea selection and food. I ordered the Genmaicha along with the tasting options for the table. The tea selection felt extremely well curated and our server was well versed in being able to tell us about each type of tea. The amount of tea given was generous and brewed carefully. The food was small bite style and had a good variety of interesting offerings. While the portions of each type of food were small, they all ended up feeling like a full meal and allowed for a good taste of each type of dish. I specifically enjoyed the open-face cucumber bread and the lemon bar that was part of the dessert section. Would highly recommend the experience for the food options, tea selection, and knowledge of the servers - it was also very comfortable and aesthetically pleasing seating. Just to note, it was especially necessary to make a reservation in advance for the time of year we went.

Lovely small space serving the standard high tea with a decent selection of tea, cocktails and of course tea sandwiches and sweets. The scones should be bigger but otherwise it hits the spot and the service is friendly and efficient. A lovely stop among the hustle and bustle of tourists between Gov't center and park street

Great addition to the government center area! Made reservations for 3 friends and we loved sitting down having tea and catching up. The service was very friendly. The space is narrow and well decorated. There is an option to have a cocktail with the tea service which was well worth it. Please visit and take your time and enjoy tea

Went here in the spring with a friend, it was good. Tea was yummy. My favorite was the scones. Definitely a cute aesthetic tea spot.

This place was top notch. Plan on planning ahead as the place is busy and books ahead. They make sure that food allergies are addressed. Tea and sweets and savory treats are really good

Don't go. Friendly staff. But this was SO expensive for not that much food. I'd pay $25 for this tops. With an "admin" fee it was $60. Insanity. Scone was tiny. "Sandwiches" tiny. Desserts were good but tiny. Food was tasty but quantity wise, this was pathetic. Don't bother coming here.

We made a reservation for 4 at 11 when they opened on a Sunday. We were seated right away, greeted, and service began. This place is quaint and clean. A reservation is definitely needed. They can accommodate several different dietary needs. Each person gets to choose their own pot of tea. I requested the green jasmine tea, it smelled and tasted wonderful. The menu was pretty delicious, maybe not for picky eaters though. I'm not a duck person, but I was still willing to try it. All of the servers were friendly and knowledgeable. I would definitely visit again if in town.

Completely gluten free, lots of variety, wonderful tea and plenty of options, wonderful service, lovely peaceful atmosphere.

A Tea room located near downtown crossing with a chic and classy interior to enjoy an afternoon tea with friends. The service was excellent and they served a variety of savory and sweet small bites. However, I wish the portions were bigger, I was still slightly hungry when I left after paying $59 for it. They offer a good selection of tea in different categories and we enjoyed all of ours! Food: 8.5/10 Service: 10/10 Experience: 9.5/10 Value: 8/10

12 out of 10! I came here because everything is gluten free AND they have the option to advance-request dairy free as well. This is so hard to come by at a tea house and they definitely did not disappoint--they had so many variations of both savory and sweet items that were excellent and met my dietary restrictions. The tea comes out piping hot & the servers were attentive. Note: this place is small so it's best for parties of 1-4.

What a wonderful addition to the downtown area. This place is perfection. The service is outstanding, excellent tea selection and the food is out of this world.

This has got to be one of the hidden gems in Boston! Right behind the Government Center it's a beautiful and serene interior design delights with the intimacy you like for your cozy afternoon tea. The owners Lee and Patrick are friendly, personable, and welcoming (same for the staff). A lovely selection of tasty and classy bites were elegantly presented. The tea is top shelf, creative in their origins, and served in delightful porcelain services that they also sell in house! Lee is also a legendary creator of cocktails, therefore you can't skip a chance to enjoy one of the menu's selected offering before you wrap up your culinary adventure. A must add stop while shopping, touring the sights, or to celebrate your next milestone. Be sure to follow their culinary efforts on their Instagram account and say hello to Lee and Patrick for me!

Good ambience but pricey for quality of food. The best item is mousse cake that packs a punch of creamy chocolate despite its tiny size. The other good item is its scones and clotted cream.

Took mom here for Mother's Day. The tea selection is pretty solid and they also have cocktails if you wanna be extra fancy. Service and ambiance were both good. The only reason why I'm not completely sold on it is because of the tiny portion sizes. I didn't come here expecting it to be a full meal because that's not what afternoon tea is, but I also didn't think the portions were going to be so tiny.

We came here for tea and a mimosa on a Sunday afternoon and had the loveliest time! The little toasts and desserts were delicious, and the quantities of food quite generous. We definitely left feeling full. The tea was wonderful! The waiting staff just as nice! We had a beautiful little corner booth which set the tone for a lovely tea time! Would recommend!

Afternoon Tea at Silver Dove was a fantastic experience, especially for a new-ish business! The desserts and scones were executed perfectly and the savory food items were interesting and delicious too. The service was fantastic and place was clean and quiet. Afternoon tea was priced nicely for the area as well, and is on the cheap end compared to a lot of other places in Boston. I would highly recommend this place for a pleasant afternoon tea with lots of delicious food!

We went to Silver Dove the first weekend that they opened. This place is not very big and has simple and classic decoration style.The food is mostly made in their own kitchen. Overall food taste is not bad and the service is very good. You don't need to order a set meal for everyone, you can order a set meal for two people to eat together which we didn't know in the beginning. (We ordered a whole set meal for each person. The waiter didn't mention that it was not required to order one set for each person until after we finished eating) They have two different sets, one is the basic set $48/person and the other is $56/person with wine. The set includes 4 desserts, 4 savory snacks, 1 scone, and 1 pot of tea. There are a lot of tea options, and our White Peach White Tea is quite delicious. There are also cocktails, red wine, fruit wine, and beer to choose from. You can make a reservation online or call in advance.

This quaint restaurant is such a gem. It is super cute and 100% gluten free! The service was amazing and their offerings were divine. We loved all of the items on our afternoon tea especially my non gluten free companions. They even had my husband's favorite liquor, Chartreuse! Reservations are highly recommended. I booked a few days out and there were very little time slots available. It was completely full the day we went. I will be back!

My best friend took me here as a surprise for my birthday and I love everything about this place. First, the servers were awesome and friendly. The deco was so romantic and really gave you an European vibe. Love the flowers wall that was filled with pink and white flowers. It just brightened my day to see such a beautiful cafe right in Boston. I have tried many different scones in different countries and it was one of the best ones. The scone had a nutty texture and it was delicious. The scone was served with clotted cream and jam. It got a rich and indulgent taste that kept me want more. A wide variety of teas to choose. They served the loose-leaf tea in a fine China teapot. The finger sandwiches and all the pasties were delicious and lovely. Everything was elegant and I felt like I was in London. It was a truly amazing experience. Please make a reservation ahead because I saw they had to turn people without reservation away on a Wednesday afternoon. Highly recommend!

Outstanding! The food, the service, the ambiance are all A+. I'm still thinking about the asparagus canapé and don't even get me started on the macaron, DELICIOUS. Even though I'm not a big tea person, I loved my pot of tea, but I loved my cocktail even more (no surprise given the proprietors first met while working at Drink in Fort Point). I'll be back soon!

If you are looking for a filling high tea this is not the place to go. One tiny scone per person, savory sandwiches were on thick toast which makes it hard to eat. Portions were tiny. Choice of tea was mediocre. For a better experience go the Courtyard at the Boston Library. Cocktails were fine. Tab came to $137 which is way too expensive for the quality.

A great place for some great food and some peace and quiet. The staff are super accommodating and offer vegetarian options. My tea was excellent and it was fun getting your own personal tea pot filled with the tea you selected. The strawberry jam was very good on the scone. Sandwich wise all of them are very tasty. If you are not an adventurous eater, I would stick with the beef sandwiches. Lastly, you can order alcoholic drinks and I recommend the pear cider. It was best cider I have ever had!

Silver Dove afternoon tea is a newly opened establishment in the busy government center neighborhood of Boston. The ambiance is well suited for a fancy and trendy tea outing for you and your friends. The service is impeccable as you would expect from a place that caters to people who prefer to drink with the pinkies up (jokes). Our waiter was prompt and accommodating to our requests and made for a very pleasant experience. The tea selection is heavy from the Yunnan province of China, which just so happens to be my favorite tea in the world. The food trays were little bites to accommodate the tea. I especially liked their take on the egg sandwich. Check them out when you're in the area!

Enjoyed a lovely afternoon tea at Silver Dove. The staff was very friendly and helpful in suggesting tea recommendations. Each person gets an individual pot of tea, scones, and selection of sandwiches and desserts. The food was very yummy and we were all full by the end of our meal. Make sure to make a reservation ahead of time, we saw several groups turned away at the door due to Silver Dove being fully booked.

On a recent trip to Boston, my sister and I visited Silver Dove. We both had a great time. The food and service were both exceptional.

Charming spot in Boston, def recommend it for tea and scones. We stopped in to kill time and wish we had come here for a full meal. The White peach tea is delicious and the scones and homemade creams are too. The staff are friendly, attentive, and the music is relaxing.

I've been wanting to try Silver Dove since it opened, and it didn't disappoint. The setting is lovely, cozy, and beautifully decorated. Four of us enjoyed the full tea service, and two of us had fabulous cocktails. The food is delicious and presented so nicely. Standouts are the scone with strawberry preserves and clotted cream, the smoked salmon with avocado spread of a crispy cracker, and the carrot cake. The owners and servers are friendly and knowledgeable. They helped everyone at our table decide on a tea that we liked. I can't wait to come back again soon.