Willard Peacock Alley Tea

We love an afternoon tea! This one is set up in Peacock Alley in the Willard Hotel, which is basically a hallway. Still lovely and a nice experience with live harp music. Everything was enjoyable, but we especially enjoyed the cognac lobster sandwich, pear toffee basket and the scones. $90/adult or $105 with a glass of champagne. $65/child. Would recommend.

A Vegan Afternoon Tea to Remember… for All the Wrong Reasons Ah, the joy of celebrating a special occasion with an afternoon tea! The delicate pastries, the fluffy scones, the endless tea refills… oh wait, I must have wandered into the non-vegan section of the menu (see photos from other reviews). The experience begins with a thrilling 30-minute queue, which I assume was meant to build anticipation—like waiting for a Michelin-starred meal, except at the end of this tunnel, there's no light… For those of us plant-based peasants, we get a plate featuring cut fruit, a lone chocolate piece, short bread, raspberry puree, and—brace yourselves—a fruit gummy. A gummy! The pinnacle of culinary innovation gone so, so, so wrong. And the scones? A true marvel of engineering—so rock-solid, I considered keeping one as a self-defense weapon. No vegan butter, no clotted cream, not even a half-hearted apology for the dental damage we were about to endure. Other tables received celebratory cakes. We, on the other hand, were treated to the sweet, sweet taste of neglect. Nothing. Not even a “Congrats, here’s another gummy.” To be fair, the staff were absolutely lovely. So, two stars for them. As for the food? If you’re vegan and considering this place, I have just one piece of advice: run, very very far.

I had a wonderful time here today celebrating my sister‘s birthday! Having tea at the Wiilard is such a special and fun thing to do! The hotel is the perfect setting. The Willard is such a beautiful, historic hotel. They had a harpist play, and she was wonderful. I loved all her selections, and she did a wonderful job. Our tea came with both champagne and tea. We got to choose from a wide selection of teas. I’m generally not a big tea person but mine was delicious. I got the Willard special selection. It’s their own blend. The three-tiered tray had scones on one level, little sandwiches on one, and little desserts on the other. They also gave us each a tray of different butters and jams. My favorite thing was the scones and the butter/jam selections. We each also got a birthday cupcake, even though it was only her birthday, and they sang for her! The gentlemen who served us were very sweet and attentive. I didn’t necessarily love all the desserts and sandwiches, but I ate so much. I was quite full, so it didn’t make any difference. We left a lot of food at the end. It’s definitely expensive but for a special occasion, it’s worth it.

It was a wonderful way to close off my vacation with my family. Definitely pricey, but the experience was worth it. You should take a peak at the miniature museum just up the stairs while you’re at it. The history of this hotel is fascinating.

We love afternoon tea and try to go whenever we can, especially to venues we have never tried before. The afternoon tea at the Willard was exquisite!!! One of the best if not the BEST we have ever had. The food was delightful, especially the scones and pastries. Each pastry was a small bite of heaven, incorporating unique and wonderful flavor combinations, not the same tired flavors found at most afternoon teas. And the service was impeccable!! Can't say enough good things about it (and no this is not a "compensated" review.) You must experience afternoon tea at the Willard hotel in DC.

Excellent tea in a gorgeous hotel setting w a harpist strumming classical music from all eras. Gaggling ladies enjoying the pristineness of it all.

Both the sweets and the savories were lackluster. There was something always off about the combination, and everything felt stale. My guess is they pre-prepare it so all the bread-y ones had become stale or soggy. The tastes leaned very American, with the scones being sickly sweet. The service was fine but not what’s expected of a 150 per person tea service. The seating area is in the middle of the hotel—a couple of tables thrown in the middle of the lounge chairs—with tourists walking around. We joked that we felt like we were in Vegas (derogatory). Not a good experience

The tea provided was amazing. That was the highlight for the evening. Whatever the tea you chose, you won't dissapointed. If you are able to get the Evening Tea package for 50$ per head package, this is worth it. It seems the package is available only in December. Otherwise, it will be around 100$ per head You are paying for the atmosphere, which is unique and elegant. Can't complain about the food either. The crowd was charming, and the service was excellent. Most people dressed like Downton Abbey scene. There is a courtroom all the way back, near the washroom. Ah, washroom entrance also vibrent. You get around 1.5 hours to enjoy. Some people celebrating birthdays and services were providing complimentary cakes. There was a live lofi music provided as well. Not a every day tea place for me. But I wish I could get that tea every morning.

Really wanted to love it, but the tea sandwiches were definitely stale. Also, we brought the kids, and their platters had more substantive sandwiches than the adults. It's fun for the experience and the service was awesome. They were very attentive and the hotel is beautiful and you're getting pampered (just not in the taste buds department). The best tasting items were the scones and jams. Scones were buttery and flakey. Good clotted cream. At the end of the day, I'm more of a savory sandwiches tea person so it was disappointing for me. I'd do it once if you really want the experience, but not worth the price if you want it to also taste good.

Holiday tea at the Willard has been on my DC bucket list so I was really excited to be able to snag reservations with my two best friends during the first official snow of 2025! The hotel looked so regal and grand with the snowflakes falling softly around it. You could not help but feel a little more festive when you walked through the entrance and was greeted by a giant, gilded Christmas tree. The Willard has two seating times, so you have to wait in a long line before getting seated. Once you are in, you are ushered into a small lobby hallway while a harpist plays delicate sounding music nearby. Final thoughts on my experience: 1) Service is not very personalized, it's very much an in-and-out experience. They do take pictures without you even asking which is nice. 2) I didn't love my tea sandwiches but each dessert I had was divine, especially the vanilla bean scone and cream puff with the cracked sugar crust. 3) The Willard knows how to do wallpaper right, I was already daydreaming of plastering my walls on my way out. 4) Seeing all the random tourists walking through the alleyway was not really a great vibe. 5) The Willard delivered, but you can get much better vibe, service, and atmosphere for much less at other places in the city.

Overall, a good experience, but not one I feel the need to repeat. We arrived early for the early afternoon tea and were asked to wait in the lounge while they finished setting up. After about 10-15 minutes, we were escorted to our seats. There were several other parties already seated, and after a while, a waiter took our tea order. Unfortunately, there was a mix-up with my friend's order, and we were given an extra tea that wasn't the one she requested. After another 15-20 minutes, we finally placed our sandwich and treat order. We opted for the regular savory sandwiches, though they do offer a vegetarian option. The tea was excellent--apple pie and masala chai were both delicious, and the ginger yuzu was a standout. However, the sandwiches and pastries were just okay and didn't quite live up to the hype. What truly made this experience memorable was the ambiance. The live harp music was a lovely touch, and the decor, including a charming apple tree replica with apple-shaped menus, really set the mood.

The Peacock Alley has an amazing ambiance. Afternoon tea is located on the main floor of hotel. It's a very relaxing ambiance with an individual playing the harp. It's a large bright open space that still sees quiet despite all of the people present. The service was mediocre. The waiter was really nice and took pictures of us and explained each item on the menu. However, he wasn't very attentive. The tea was good but it didn't stay warm long. The finger sandwiches and pastries were very delicious. The scones were very moist and the lemon curd was perfect. It's plenty of food per person and you will go home stuffed. However, afternoon tea is VERY overpriced. With the mandatory 20% gratuity, it is $158 a person. It's definitely not worth the price.

As for the interior placement and atmosphere - an absolute gem! It is peaceful with the sunroof and just gorgeous furniture ~ I went during their Fall season theme and it was super cute! They had an apple tree and a harpist playing as well! The service was simple - they give you their select tea options and all the desserts that come with their set menu. Spent a lot of time just taking pictures and relaxing / lounging. As for the treats - some were good and some weren't! Some items were too sweet and just a bite of each was enough! However, their theme and aesthetic was such a pleasure to taste and enjoy! Their tea was delicious! (we tried the apple tea and pear tea) especially with their adorable sugar cubes! Overall 8.5/10 definitely would recommend coming during one of their seasonal selections!

Finally getting around to posting from April outing. Wanting to go to a cherry blossomed tea, I decided to try this place for a get together with a friend I hadn't seen in a while. We were immediately impressed and wowed as we walked into Peacock Alley. It was so impressively decorated with cherry blossoms everywhere! The faux tree in the center created a magical space with a harpist playing underneath. It was definitely a photo worthy place. We were seated promptly with a reservation. The server came after a few minutes, but since we were busy chatting and catching up, the wait wasn't bothersome. We selected our teas from a choice of eight and ordered our set tea menu. The sweets and savories came presented on a lovely gold birdcage presentation. The offerings looked elegant as they should. And all of the bites were tasty, each well prepared. My friend and I had a lot of catching up to do so a lot of time passed as we chatted, sipped, and took bites of our treats. During our time there, our server came by only once to check on us. We didn't notice at the time because we were busy chatting, but on thinking back, thought there wasn't too much service. We weren't offered more tea as many places do. The server did turn up shortly after we decided it was time to leave and helped us wrap things up there by offering to box items and bringing the check. Overall, the place was fabulous for a cherry blossom themed tea. The treats were well crafted. Teas were good. I'd like to go back to have tea there again.

I like Afternoon Tea and have learned some valuable things about it. It should not be confused with a large meal, it is merely a snack between lunch and dinner (dinner at 8 PM give or take). For Afternoon Tea, people who expect a big meal with lots of savory items will be disappointed. Perhaps they are thinking of High Tea which is a larger meal. That said, I enjoyed Peacock Alley's Afternoon Tea service. There are two seatings, at 1:00 PM and 3:30 PM. They were able to seat us via a last-minute reservation. We arrived at 3:30 PM and stood in line to be seated, which took about 12 minutes. The setting / decor is pretty and the harpist played and sang well. The food was excellent! Seasonal flavors were featured without being kitschy about it. Kudos to the chef! I subtracted one star because of the location. I understand the history/tradition of seating in the "alley" but the hallway location of the tea tables was awkward at times. When one takes the trouble to dress elegantly for tea, it is unpleasant to endure a constant stream of high-spirited (loud!), sweaty tourists in shorts walking back and forth within inches of your clotted cream... Peacock Alley gives a good Afternoon Tea experience and I did not begrudge the $136 per person tab. It was second only to the Waldorf Astoria's Afternoon Tea service.

Absolutely loved the high tea experience here with my parents. We really enjoyed the tea options: Lychee Rose Green Darjeeling Willard signature blend "Company, savory finger sandwiches, decadent pastries, and Willard's famous freshly baked scones." Definitely make sure you get a reservation 2 months ahead of time, it sells out quickly depending on the weekend and time slot you want.

The feeling I get each and every time that I enter this place makes me feel magical, let it be the romantic weekend getaway stay or summer Alice in The WonderLand Tea or the autumn pumpkins Tea. The petite sandwiches and the macarons and the delectable cakes makes me want to keep returning to this place over and over again... and I do ... I love to just come over to the Peacock Alley Lounge and have my brunch or a late lunch. This time round took my daughter for a mom daughter lazy afternoon time... ordered their Mediterranean Platter ... we were halfway done when she found a hair in the hummus, called the server and showed, they were very apologetic and went and showed it to their manager on duty. The server came back and offered us to order something else which we didn't and said they will take it off our check. Ok ! Sounds good ! What bothered me the most was that the Manager didn't feel the need to come to our table and acknowledge the mistake. This was a shocking and sort of disappointing experience. We get food any place but people come for experience. I do know the Director of the Food and Beverage there and he was so apologetic of the situation that he said it is personal to him. Well for me and my family we love Waldorf Astoria and are patrons there ... so would be coming back for the Magic !!

Recommend Peacock Alley for their breakfast. It's located inside Waldorf Astoria in Washington DC. Also venue for afternoon tea that is available from Thursday to Sunday (which we didn't have opportunity to try!). We ordered Eggs Benedict and Shrimp n Grits. Both were delicious, shrimp and grits lacked the southern style sauce/gravy, it was less southern then Italian (tomatoes in sauce). Eggs Benedict muffins could have more crispness, bacon was not crispy.

Food was great with plenty of options. The service was fantastic; from the hosts and the servers; they were all very friendly and welcoming. The ambiance would absolutely breathtaking. They change the decor with seasons and often feature themed decorations.

Saw this place on instagram and it looked very LUX and my friend and I had to try it out. It was booked out and we had to book the reservation weeks in advance. This place is located inside a very grand looking hotel. The decor is beautiful, looks like something straight out of a European palace. A harpist plays and sings. They gave us champagne and then asked for our tea order. I got the signature blend which was very flavorful. They offered to refill my tea with hot water multiple times. They also give us a tiny hourglass to use to know when the tea was ready. Then they brought the tray of little treats. Each one was its own unique blend of flavors. Overall, everything tasted great. I will say one or two of the tiny breads were a little stale and a few of the sweet ones were too sweet for my taste. The whole thing was very filling. Sadly at the end, the server accidentally spilled champagne on my friend...

For our first lunch in DC, we decided it would be quicker to eat at the hotel before we ventured out to explore the sights, so Peacock Alley is where we went. It's in the lobby of the Waldorf Astoria with a beautiful cherry blossom tree, modern blue couches & lots of marble with crystal chandeliers throughout. We called the front desk to see if a reservation would be needed & we were told that hotel guests may just walk in. When we arrived, I saw how busy it was with tea service & were nearly turned away by the host before we mentioned we had just called & spoke to the front desk. This was frustrating, but they decided to seat us at the smallest table right next to the host stand. We weren't offered the tea service menu since they only have a limited number of reservations for this on the weekends, so we ordered sparkling water, juice & coffee & were given these promptly. However, we had also ordered 2 Caesar salads with grilled chicken & these took an hour to arrive. We had to flag down the restaurant manager because our server was too busy assisting other tables. Compared to our dinner at the Bazaar, the service here was quite absent & left a lot to be desired.

This was my first time having afternoon tea, and the Willard is well-known for theirs. It was a beautiful experience and the hotel is very nice, however in terms of taste and overall value it leaves much to be desired. The tea is delicious but some of the food was hard and brittle. It's very expensive for what it is, and I feel that the food was relatively basic. Maybe in the future I will try out a seasonal afternoon tea service for a more unique experience.

I was a guest at the Waldorf and we had our breakfast here at 9:30 and it was a wonderful time. We also came for drinks in the evening around 9 pm as well. Both of which were lovely. I do highly recommend getting a reservation. This is a highly sought after location and menu, especially for high tea. The history of peacock alley is literally a place to see and be seen, people want to be here. And for good reason! The food was wonderful! The drinks are great. The coffee I'll be thinking about for months to come. Call and make a reservation for when you want to attend and it'll be fine! Just like all of the other nice places in DC. Peacock alley is no exception.

Savory foods, unique tea blends, Moet and Chandon, intimate conversations, and a harpist serenade. This was the blueprint for Afternoon Tea at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel. From calling to reserve a table for a group of eight, to the follow up received a week before arrival, they were so welcoming. Upon arrival, I drove to the front of the hotel and left my car with the valet. I walked across the lobby to Peacock Alley. There was a line at the front desk for the 3:30 pm seating. My parking ticket was validated at the front desk for complimentary parking. What stood out to me was the harp playing in the background. Everyone noticed and commented when the harpist stopped playing. It's so soothing. It dulled the table chatters. We had an enjoyable afternoon. I've indulged in many afternoon tea experiences in the area and around the world. The Willard's is one of the best afternoon experiences. Amazing customer service. Complimentary valet parking. Extensive tea selection. The ambiance was 10/10! Helpful and jovial staff No through traffic, only tea goers in Peacock Alley. If you want a quintessential afternoon tea, look no further.

This was the most overpriced thing I've done in a long time. It was pretty and the service was fine, but there are far better options in the area for far less money. The food itself was very good, but the tea options were limited and they were out of multiple blends too. The theme was cute but could have been further leaned into around the room. I didn't really mind the setup inside the lobby, but it was a bit weird to have the concierge sitting there and people wandering around. Overall, I enjoyed it but, specifically due to the unreasonable cost, I will likely never recommend it.

Walking in you will be blown away with the grand nature of the space. Absolutely beautiful. Our afternoon tea had a harp player which made the experience incredible. They poured us the wrong tea and we needed new cups. No apology or anything for the inconvenience. We were rarely ever checked on and items were not cleared so everything got super cluttered. I had to wave people down to even help us and every time they just seemed less enthusiastic or willing to help. When you're in this kind of atmosphere and paying that kind of money you sincerely expect more. They also include gratuity which is probably why none of them care. The tea was steeped way too long. The food was pretty good but wish they had more savory. The sweets were not light enough and were almost too dense for me to even get through.

A wonderful way to get into the holiday spirit. The Willard is beautifully decorated and everything with the service for the tea was wonderful including the harp playing! The food was also delightful and the Willard's Signature Tea was great. However you could only order one tea. There were so many I was hoping to try and was a bit disappointed that we couldn't try them out. Would still recommend going but if you want to go during the holidays make sure you book it early!

Food and ambience were amazing. Our actual server was very nice, too. But the hostess was curt, telling my party five minutes before the reservation time that check-in was not available and that we should wait to the side. When check-in time actually arrived, other people had filled in a line, so we got to the back of another group and waited what seemed like another 10 minutes. The biggest sin was rudely cancelling my initial reservation without much warning. I had made the reservation online and gotten a confirmation, but when staff called to tell me that tea was not available on the day and time requested, they communicated that it was my mistake, not a system error. I dug up the confirmation later and saw that tea had been confirmed. Something went wrong on their end. The worst part of that cancellation was that prices increased significantly between the time I made the first reservation and the time my friend and I actually got a space to have tea. The experience felt extremely overpriced given the price initially promised and the poor customer service. I would not visit Peacock Alley again.

We canceled our reservation at the Plaza Hotel hoping that our afternoon tea at this place would be better but regret coming here! We arrived at 12:35 pm but they weren't sitting guests until 1 pm, so we waited because we were pretty excited. At 1 pm we were told to check in and then wait for our table but they called 2 tables before us even though it was our turn. So we waited patiently again, and then they called another group before us, and that was when we decided to complain, and they finally sat us at our table. I already had a bad feeling about this place, but I was so hungry because we didn't eat breakfast so maybe the food would be good. I was wrong: the food was the worst I ever had of all the afternoon teas that we had been to; and what's worst was when I asked for our server to take a picture to at least have some kind of memory, considering we were paying so much money for this place. But he never came back until all the food was gone. We saw him taking pictures of the other tables. For the food, they don't give much of the savory, and when I tasted them all, I liked none of them. All tasted bland -- no salt or flavor. Just the worst. I am not happy with my experience here and will not come back! I suggest if you guys want to have the best afternoon tea experience, go to Tiffany's Blue Box Cafe. They have the best service and the food is very good. For Peacock Alley Tea, out of a 1-5 rating, I will give just 1 or maybe even 0. By the way, the place is weird because it wasn't a private area: they do this tea in the main hallway of the hotel. So weird! The manager or whoever the person who talked to us didn't do anything or give any feedback to make our experience better -- even after my complaints. The worst afternoon tea place!

The Peacock Alley Tea is located in the Intercontinental hotel. I came here earlier in the year for the cherry blossom afternoon tea. I had never been to an afternoon tea before but I was very impressed. I came here with a large group and they were great with accommodating us. There was a variety of black, green, white and herbal teas. I had the Lady Blue Earl Grey tea which was great. The savory finger food was visually appealing and also delicious. The pastries were good too, though I thought the savory bites were better. I also had a glass of champagne with the tea/food which was nice. The decor was elegant and beautiful and I had a lovely experience.

I had the pleasure of dining at the @waldorfastoriadc for their Cherry Blossom afternoon tea. As I walk in, I see the gorgeous cherry blossoms decor. I had an 11 am appointment, arrived 10 minutes early but was seated around 11:15. I started off with a bottle of @piper_heidsieck champagne and Cherry Blossom tea. Then I was presented with the tower which included different tea sandwiches, scones, and sweet treats. Some of my favorites were the Smoked Salmon Pinwheel, the Mini Lobster Roll, and the Coffee Opera Cake. I wish I had way more savory dishes!!! One of the highlights of my visit was meeting @davinejoy. She is absolutely humble and amazing!!! If you haven't seen the movie, The Holdovers run and go see it. She recently won an Oscar for it and her Oscar was well deserved!!! The Cherry Blossom Afternoon Tea experience will be offered until 6/30. You're able to enjoy this experience for $120 per person on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays at 12 pm and 2 pm. Be sure to book a reservation and tell them @chi_lebougie sent you!!!

Nice setting in the lobby of the Waldorf Hotel. The service was excellent and it was a whimsical experience. The tea, sandwiches and desserts were good but not sure if it is worth the price point for a repeated visit.

4 star for ambiance, 4.5 for service, but 3 stars for food. I understand in the States, you typically don't do afternoon tea for food - but for the experience, so take this with a grain of salt :) Intercontinental hotel has a separate area for the high tea. It's a small space but pretty cozy. Hostess greeted us and asked if we needed validation for parking - and they validated for the full duration which was nice (some places give you discounted parking which kinda sucks). When we went, there was a harpist playing live music which was a plus. After being seated, our server offered a glass of champagne - what he didn't mention is it's for an extra $12 per glass. We knew this because we had looked at the menu prior to coming, but those who might not have / newer to this kind of experience- might have been surprised when they received a bill. Service was pretty fast - I got the signature black tea. Very aromatic, not too sweet which I loved. Food, on the other hand, could be better. Except the scone, I didn't think any of the sandwiches / desserts tasted good. I honestly expected a little better since the price here is steeper than some other high tea places in DC. My friend told me while food wasn't great, it was better than at the St Regis (she told me St regis had better presentation but worse food) - so would also take this into consideration. All in all, it was a nice experience. I personally like afternoon tea and its whole vibe, but thought it was very much overpriced for the quality of food we got. I wasn't upset or anything but would not necessarily do it again here.

Beautiful ambiance! Especially being next to the clock tower. however, mid service... servers were inattentive and the food and drinks are SOOO overpriced. only paying for ambiance and don't expect any crazy good food out of this place

I stopped in after taking a tour of the Old Post Office. I had some time for lunch prior to a scheduled tour and questioned how long it would take for lunch. I was assured the salad I wanted would take 19 min to prepare. Unfortunately, the staff clearly forgot about me, and 3 of them were talking in front of me nearly 30 min after I ordered about "where my order was". The atmosphere was beautiful, and they were decorated for the Cherry Blossoms. However, service was incredibly slow. When my salad did arrive, the chicken was overcooked and dried out. The rest of it was fresh and tasty. I had no time to say anything, so I ate it. But then nobody came to bring me a check. I had to get their attention and ask for my bill and finally take an Uber to my next tour (instead of the commuter bus as I had planned) because I was so late now. For $48 (salad and unsweet tea), you are supposed to be paying for the experience and excellent food. I felt service was lacking and the food not worthy of that price tag. The setting was beautiful. So come in and take a few pictures, maybe order a drink, then move on.

cliff notes -- go for the atmosphere and quality cute time with some special vs. the food and service (must book in advance!) 4.5 stars for ambience 5 stars for tea 3 stars for food 3.5 for service Having a cute seperate space with a live harpist was so special. lt was well set up, well decorated and made to feel like a true experience. Once we were sat, we were offered a glass of champagne - what they don't tell you is that it IS EXTRA - i knew this as i looked at the menu online before but my friend didn't and was surprised when we got the bill. It's a nice touch but I can 100% see it catching people off guard. The tea was phenomenal - large selection, variety of flavors and types - my pumpkin herbal tea was absolutely delicious. I wish we could have tried multiple The food was alright. Pros is there was a lot of variety both sweet and savory and they did come around with a box at the end incase you wanted to take some home. Con is nothing blew us away - expecting a little bit more esp for the price. Service was alright - for the price and atmosphere we were expecting top notch. We were greeted, asked what we wanted and they came back once to fill our pots with more hot water over half way through being there. It also took a long time to get a regular glass of water. and paying at the table electronically while they stand there always rubs us the wrong way in a high end environment Overall we had a great experience but for the price expected more. I'd go back as a treat to a loved one or quality time with my niece but be warned you have to book well in advance

This was a lovely experience, the Alice in Wonderland theme was a beautiful addition to the already grand Peacock Alley. The tea was delicious "Mad Hatter's Tea Party" and "Lavender". The waiter was exceptional (Ismiel). There is a vegetarian option. I was disappointed by the amount of pastries and snack items that were presented for the price of $120 per cage... it seems that my party received bare bird cages in comparison to other bird cages I have seen in previous pictures. They also served a wonderful celebration cake!!! The harpist played a fantastic selection of modern music and Disney selections. All in all a memorable experience, our graduate and princess enjoyed "tea time" at Peacock Alley.

What an unremarkable milestone birthday celebration here! It was so bad. The food was not fresh, and even worse I submitted my dietary restrictions and they were completely ignored. The service was chaotic with different people coming to our table constantly interrupting us, but not in a helpful or supportive way. Every two minutes tourists were walking through the middle of the alley, leaving the experience to feel very touristy and it killed any vibe they were trying to go for with the harp player. I actually felt bad for her. At one point she stopped playing and just looked around. It was pretty sad. I shared my concerns with the manager and even gave my name and phone number and I have not received a phone call. This was an extremely disappointing experience, especially because I was celebrating a significant milestone birthday. I do not recommend this experience to anyone and I'm surprised by the positive reviews on here. Even worse, we ended up going to get dinner after the experience because it was so underwhelming and unfortunately very expensive.

The elegance of a tea party was well presented, but we did not get what we paid for. It was 6 of us that left hungry and disappointed on the variety of teas and amount of food and tea available. Too many sweet options and not much savory. Savory items were bite size and just not enough. The pots of teas got cold fairly quickly. I would recommend to others to save your money. Or just order from the main menu if you still want to experience the hotel decor and ambiance.

Poorly managed place resulted my poor experience. I was interested in trying the apple cider braised pork belly and potato mille-feuille but was still full, so I decided to get take out, pick up myself, and eat it later in my room. Mind you I did not receive room service or dine in service. On top of that, it took a really long time for my orders to be ready while we were told it would be ready in 15 minutes. However when I got the check, there is a pre-included gratuity of $8 which does not make any sense. The host passed along the message from the manager that "all take out (self-pick up) order automatically includes gratuity". Before this was settled, the host said I don't need to sign the check yet and will get back to me. After all, when we finally took the food back to the room, potato mille-feuille order was wrong (we received a mashed potato looking thing called au gratin which is nowhere on the menu)! Pork belly was dry!

Located in the Waldorf hotel, Peacock Alley is absolutely stunning! It's in the giant atrium with plenty of natural light flowing through. The seats are plush, and the marble flooring gives a sense of grandiose. The finger sandwiches were yummy, with the highlight being the smoked salmon one that looked like a pretty flower and a chicken/walnut/grape one. I loooved the orange cranberry scone, it is an elevated version of the Trader Joe's version I used to be obsessed with. Definitely try all three of the accompaniments (cream, berries and peaches) to enhance your experience. The tea selection is smaller than I would expect. One area for improvement is to offer guests ability to steep for the appropriate time. I've usually seen other businesses offer a suggested time or an hour glass. My tea ended up being too strong. Otherwise very lovely time and wonderful staff!

This was worth the experience!! We throughly enjoyed our tea time here!! As we planned to be reunited with a very special family friend, this was the perfect event to celebrate with loved ones, that provided enough space and courteous service to make our experience worth while. Now, Im not going to play coy: this experience is a pretty penny...$68 per person, or $75 with a glass of champagne. And then there's an option for additional champagne at $25 per glass, as well as $12 extra if you want to try a different tea (from your initial selection, which was already included in the base price). You can also purchase a bottle of champagne that can range from $65-$495. Also, The food was good!! the mini bite sized sandwiches and pastries were eclectic and flavorful. Now, it is the best crumpets you have ever had? maybe..., but honestly it was very good and very well rounded, since the pallet complimented the tea and left us feeling full for now. The tea selection is also plentiful, as they offered a variety of black, green, white, and herbal tea. And the selection of champagne was top notched also! The overall service is a little slow initially, but kind, professional, and attentive. So don't be in a hurry here. The live harp player was very talented and played a variety of songs. The table seating was perfect, and very spacious between the different tables, however, the "alley" in Peacock Alley, means that random people are walking through the event space, which can be somewhat awkward. They also validate parking, but since my dad graciously served as our chauffeur, I didn't catch the price. But otherwise, just uber, Lyft, or ride share to this downtown location, or just car pool. Overall, I highly recommend!!

I had a wonderful time here today celebrating my sister's birthday! Having tea at the Wiilard is such a special and fun thing to do! The hotel is the perfect setting. The Willard is such a beautiful, historic hotel. They had a harpist play, and she was wonderful. I loved all her selections, and she did a wonderful job. Our tea came with both champagne and tea. We got to choose from a wide selection of teas. I'm generally not a big tea person but mine was delicious. I got the Willard special selection. It's their own blend. The three-tiered tray had scones on one level, little sandwiches on one, and little desserts on the other. They also gave us each a tray of different butters and jams. My favorite thing was the scones and the butter/jam selections. We each also got a birthday cupcake, even though it was only her birthday, and they sang for her! The gentlemen who served us were very sweet and attentive. I didn't necessarily love all the desserts and sandwiches, but I ate so much. I was quite full, so it didn't make any difference. We left a lot of food at the end. It's definitely expensive but for a special occasion, it's worth it.

Came here for afternoon tea to close out a weekend trip with my friend and despite there no longer being online reservation available, I was able to call and make a reservation about two weeks in advance. It's hosted in an "alley" inside the Intercontinental Hotel, which itself is beautifully ornate. The vibe is elegant and lively, with a harpist playing the whole time. As for dress code, I just wore a nice blouse and slacks with white sneakers, but there were definitely people who went all out with their outfits, so dress as you please! I got the Lychee Berry Rose tea, which I enjoyed with a sugar cube. We both ran out of tea during our time, so we were able to flag down the woman who went around refilling teapots with hot water. The food selection was delightful, with three tiers of savory bites, scones, and then small desserts. We also got a tray of two different jams, lemon curd, and cream. As the menu is seasonal, our desserts featured flavors of apple, walnut, and pumpkin. It was definitely more than enough food, as I could just barely finish everything. I would say though, that I wouldn't recommend relying on this for a meal. We came around 3:30pm on a Sunday, so we weren't completely hungry. We've both done high tea in London, so this experience brought us back. While it's definitely not cheap, I would say it's worth the ambience and experience. Would definitely recommend for a celebration, or simply having a cute date with a girl friend or girlfriend.

I need more than 5 stars for Peacock Alley Tea! What an amazing afternoon tea experience. I can say this is hands down the best place I've ever been to for a tea spread, and I've been to quite a few around the world. The service was impeccable, the live harpist was a classy touch (Stairway to Heaven on a harp sounds pretty sweet) and the flavor combinations in the meal were exquisite (if the chef offers classes, sign me up!). They had so many teas to choose from it was difficult to narrow it down. It's a little pricey but worth every penny. If you're looking for a fun way to celebrate a special occasion, like a milestone birthday, this is the place to do it!

When in DC you must do Tea, Peacock Alley is a beautiful place to enjoy the afternoon, many think of it being very high priced but you're paying for ambience, The harpist, the experience. This time they had a different Tea sandwiches and desserts on the menu. The service was great, if you're planning on staying past your 1:30 hours they will let you know that they need to set up for the next seating.

Customer service is uncommunicative. We arrived for a reservation 15 minutes early for a party of 8. We were told to wait for our table. Once the time came we asked and the host told us it would be just a few minutes. A few minutes later we checked again and another hostess told us all reservations were cancelled due to a " high value guest". We asked another hostest for clarification and gave us "it will be a few minutes. Or it could be an hour. We are trying to squeeze you in." Terrible service and unable to receive a straight answer to just determine if we had a reservation.

Came here for afternoon tea for a bridal proposal - absolutely stunning. The lobby decor is beautiful. They started seating us around 12:50pm as it starts at 1pm. At first, the host seated us in the back of the hallway, which I was not happy about. I spoke to her about it and she gave me a walk- through of the seats she had available, afterwards she was very accommodating and brought out two additional chairs for our group. So I was a happy gal. I ordered the hibiscus lychee, and it was a too sour, but the sugar helped. The menu has lots of variety of food and the service was great. They gave me two additional cupcakes that said "happy birthday" and "congratulations" which was so cute. Champagne was an additional $25. Rita Moreno was there, so I got to see her and say hi! Great experience overall.

I dined here yesterday for afternoon tea to celebrate my early birthday. I must say the ambiance is nice, but I think that's the only thing you're paying for. We had a dietary restriction (no red meat), and we received only sweet pastries, which were all quite underwhelming. Our total came up to a whopping $316 for only two people. So we spent $160 per person on pastries and tea. They were kind to give me a complimentary birthday treat, so I'll give one star just for that. However, overall, I thought the price was ridiculously expensive. There are cheaper afternoon tea times elsewhere, like the Ritz-Carlton or Ladurée, where you'll get more for your money. I wouldn't return to Peacock Alley for tea time and I don't recommend it unless you're willing to blow hundreds on lackluster tea and pastries. It was a one and done experience for me.

Was really looking forward to this place as we were told it was the best in DC. The location and the ambience were awesome. Very comfortable chairs and a beautiful hotel/"peacock alley" location. Everyone was nice but the the food was a major dissappointment. The food was stale or soggy in some cases. A soggy sable is not right. It was like it was made hours or a day ago and set out for later. For the price of this major disappointment. I hope this was just an off day for them. The children's menu (the reason we went) was disappointing too. The bread was stale. It was nutty for $65 dollars. The sweets were the same as the normal menu which was weird to me as this is for kids and if my child wants to eat a dark chocolate tart with banana cream I would get them the regular menu. Kid did not like any of the fancy dessert (ginger strawberry choux!?) and the hot chocolate was nothing special. I don't want to write this location off entirely because it was a really special experience because of the ambience but really the food was not remotely worth it. Made me just want to host my work tea party at home even though it's a ton of work.

The food was pretty good but the service was the worst. It took 30 min to get acknowledged with a glass of water then another 20 min for the waiter to come over to take the order. The ambiance was great and relaxing. Definitely worth going again but spending $200 and poor service makes one question if it was worth it.

Now this place is absolutely beautiful inside and there is even a harpist playing which adds a very elegant touch ,but so expensive for what you are getting! It's small bites which kind of leaves you hungry an hour after leaving this place. Ive been to a couple other afternoon teas in the area for better prices. This place is only nice maybe for birthdays.

My friend and I went here for Sunday tea. The ambiance is top notch. There was a harp player that unfortunately we were sat right next to for our reservation. The harpist's music selections were Bridgerton inspired. Under the Sea, a song from The Little Mermaid followed Desposito and so on. I have been to many high teas pre pandemic and a couple in the last several months. The food was, well honestly, just ok. For $78 I expected higher quality and more variety. There was one duck and brandied cherry puff that was inedible. We both found it inedible. The scones were quite good, though the rest was just ok. The selection of scone toppings was more varied and generous than other places. Lemon curd is divine and I could put that on anything. I am glad I went once. However, there is better food elsewhere.

A subpar afternoon tea experience with a pricy tag. Because it is nestled in a hotel, direction is confusing and there is a separate line that becomes chaotic with the bustling of people moving around. The pastries are mediocre, more on the drier end, but I'm not sure if that's to somehow complement the tea, but the tea was also mediocre so it's not like they balanced out. This is definitely a place you go to once for the experience, but can probably find a better place elsewhere if you don't care for the hype of this actual location.

Subpar experience for the afternoon tea. $120 becomes $158 with taxes and mandatory service charge. That would be fine except Heidi our server seemed more annoyed than pleasant and would disappear for long stretches of time. She was adamant that we had 2 vegetarian options (not true) and seemed put out that 2 of the party didn't enjoy their tea and asked for a different one. We had to flag down a manager to get the replacement tea. Items were tasty but tiny (the size of a quarter), eat before you go. Pretty for pictures and atmosphere but maybe the waiter ruined it with her lack of attention. Overall disappointing and would recommend just going to have a drink and snack after the tea is over.

I did High Tea in UK and it was remarkable and memorable like a religious experience! Of course with Covid travel restrictions, the next best thing I thought would be to check out what DC Metro has to offer and the Peacock Alley looks promising so I thought i'd try them. Just to get the most of the experience I put on my most feminine and appropriate designer dress and shoes to look the part without the fascinator though i'd consider it a minute. Still, I was well prepared for this somewhat Royal(ty) ceremony. Well... While I appreciated having secured the elusive reservation (July 24) for they are fully booked all the way to September 2021, I was slightly disappointed with their offerings. Ambience was great! Customer service was excellent from Valet parking to the seating reception and attentiveness...however, I expected better spread. It lacked the necessary finger sandwiches selection. In fact, except for the two very tiny cucumber sandwich to share with my companion, it was lacking! The sweets were nothing special than other pastries you get at your local grocers... So, I guess we paid for sitting in a well-adorned hotel lobby where sweaty hotel guests in casual or athletics shorts coming back from sightseeing in the mall freely roamed or went back and forth the middle of the very alley where this high tea ceremony was taken place! It was laughable if not downright ridiculous!!! Anyway, because the idea of it was executed excellently and customer service was okay, I freely give them 3 stars for almost $100 a person ($75 price plus tax plus tips) X 2 in my party = $200 excursion after it was all said and done! I can forgive the lack of edible mini sandwiches for it was to be expected this was an afternoon tea and they did serve adequate sweets but the sweaty guests roaming was unacceptably unappealing and somewhat ruined the moment! Was it worth it? I'm on fence but definitely a one off for me! I'd wait for when I can visit UK again to even consider the concept!

I just arrived for what was supposed to be the Alice in Wonderland themed afternoon tea and upon arrival, there were no Alice in Wonderland decor whatsoever. I asked where the decorations were and was told that they took them down because they wanted to make more room for reservations and some of the decorations were falling down. I'm extremely bothered most by this because I made this reservation MONTHS ago and was thoroughly looking forward to this experience. When I was called to confirm my reservation a few days prior, this should have been communicated because it's literally why some come to these seasonal themed teas. Furthermore, I specifically asked when I was called how long the Alice in Wonderland decor was going to be up and was told until September 1st, meanwhile the Alice in Wonderland themed decor was not even up. For $120 per person plus 20% gratuity, I expected way more on the communication end. Needless to say, when I arrived and talked with the server, I did inform him that I'd be leaving because that defeated the entire purpose of this experience and he understood. If you plan on attending afternoon tea from now until 9/1, please be advised there is no Alice in Wonderland theme and my hope is that this is communicated to everyone who has an upcoming reservation.