Rose Garden Tea Room

Walk-in is possible for small parties (2), but you'll get a tiny table. You have to buy one set per person. We had planned to buy one $78 tea set to share, but our server said that's not allowed. So we bought two $65 sets, which was expensive. Was the food worth it? Almost. The $65 set comes with your own selected tea, sugar lumps, 2 giant warm scones with clotted cream, butter, or lemon curd. We chose the savory set instead of the sweet set, so ours came with little sandwich bites. Thin floppy sandwiches with rich fillings/toppings. Cucumber, chicken salad, kurobota pork, smoked salmon with caviar. Tiny but delicious. Various nutty, fruity or creamy desserts. The standout was a crispy pastry cup filled with deviled egg. The tea room setting was lovely. Our server was fine, but he acted kinda strange. He spoke too softly at times and made awkward conversation.

+2

I love this place! I went here with my sister for my birthday and the service was above and beyond! I love the attention to details and how attentive the servers are. The overall ambience was exquisite. Besides the nice presentation of the menu and very pleasant scenery—the tea was amazing! I highly recommend this place!

Excellent afternoon tea experience with wide variety of tea choices, and sumptuous savory and sweet items on the team menu. Excellent setting outdoor near rose garden or fountain, or two rooms inside. Our sever was courteous, knowledgeable, and prompt. Tips: We went with members. For non-members, first Thursday of month is public free day. Reservation is highly recommended.

+6

The rose garden tea room is so cute! Great place to get tea service for afternoon high tea. They have a set menu that includes scones, finger sandwiches, and petit four desserts. I highly recommend getting a reservation as they are always very busy and can’t always accommodate walk ins. They have options for vegetarians. This is a great place for a date or to take a mom, grandmother or little girl. Realize that this is located INSIDE the garden area at the Huntington library, which requires a fee unless you are a member. Make a day or afternoon of it to make the entrance fee worth it, which it is. The gardens are beautiful and there are a few art exhibits as well.

+2

OooooLaLa...this place is a fancy kind of relaxing! We started off with a champagne picnic lunch before we went in...good call! There are so many varieties of beautiful gardens from around the world. There was an excellent exhibition inside the buildings, but we spent most of our time outside...wandering aimlessly and losing track of time. It was a sensory garden (quite literally!) with rivers, bridges, waterfalls, intricate architecture, and the scent of all the lush greenery. I've always loved these gardens and now that I'm older, I really appreciate the peace and relaxation I find in this enchanting spot. There is plenty of shaded parking when you enter the grounds. This museum is more expensive than some of the more popular ones, but it is well worth checking out for a simple solo lunch, a first date, or falling in love all over again.

+4

My husband and I had a wonderful time celebrating my birthday here. The restaurant has great ambiance, food was delicious, staff named Tiffany was sweet, courteous, and welcoming. She delivered a wonderful service which made my birthday celebration enjoyable. Thank you.

Absolute amazing experience at The Huntington's Rose Garden Tea Room today. My wife and I went for our wedding anniversary and all our expectations were met or exceeded. Our waitress Jo was also phenomenal, wife is still talking about how fabulous we were treated by Jo. The atmosphere was also impeccable in the outdoor section. The tea and food were also really good, the lemon curd and lobster roll really stood out.

Yasmine was our server and explained the whole experience to us. She had great recommendations and was amazing. The food was excellent, the atmosphere was amazing, and I would definitely come back.

We really appreciated how thorough the team at the tea room was with my allergies! I had seen some mixed reviews about the food but found it to be delicious. The scone and cream were, as some others have noted in their reviews, are different than the style I’ve had in Britain. But I still enjoyed them very much.

A peaceful and elegant place to enjoy afternoon tea. The pastries are beautifully crafted, and the teas are fragrant and flavorful. The staff is attentive without being intrusive. The garden views make it extra special. Such a relaxing and classy experience.

We really enjoyed our afternoon tea here. We originally made a reservation for inside dining room but found the noise inside to be significant, so asked to change to outdoors. The outdoor seating was lovely, and would be even better when roses are in bloom. Everything we had was good or great. We each tried a unique tea we both really enjoyed. The scones and desserts were amazing. The sandwiches were good to great. Overall for the price point this was very reasonable for a high quality experience.

Beautiful interior and ambiance. Made Reservations a few months ago for some much needed girl time. The food was pretty standard- we both ordered the traditional tea without all the upgrades. My friend loved the smoked salmon and I loved the onion sandwich. The tea, however, was absolutely fabulous. I enjoyed the Signature blend and she loved Illuminate- so much so that we sought out to buy some to take home in the gift shop but ruled it out due to price, unfortunately. All in all the presentation, the service, the atmosphere- it’s all very intentional and special. I would definitely come back!

Love what they did to the place! Came here on a Friday afternoon with my girlfriends - we snagged a rez about a week prior. We were sat by their fireplace and the entire experience was lovely. Staff was friendly and didn’t rush us even though we definitely stayed for longer than the rest of the tables around us. Will definitely be back.

This was my first time having high tea, and you are definitely paying for the aesthetic and the vibes rather than the food. I would recommend paying the extra $13 for the Huntington Tea, you get a bunch of savory items that is overall better value, especially if you are only ever going to try this place once like me. The staff know it is all about the aesthetic and offer to take a picture for you once they serve the food. Reservations online need to be made a few weeks in advance, but if you try calling them they may be able to slot you in sooner. All of the food was good, and one or two biters. The Huntington special tea was honestly one of the best teas I have ever had.

A fantastic place to spend the afternoon! Tea was incredible and paired perfectly with the sandwiches and desserts. Frustrating that we had to buy 4 tickets to get high team which made a $78/person meal even more expensive

Excellent tea service, charming staff. Delicious savory sandwiches and sweet treats. Tea selection is good. Scones/biscuits are perfect. Inside tea rooms are lovely. Bright, beautiful views of the rose garden. Make reservations.

From the moment you step into the gardens, the atmosphere feels fairy tail like with gorgeous scenery all around. The tea room is carefully crafted to not disrupt this environment and is set to have a wonderful evening. From the moment we walked in, we experienced what I believe to be Michelin rated service. Kudos to the service workers for being so graceful and attentive. The pastries were nothing short of delicious, fresh and aesthetically pleasing. This is a rave review that is well deserved.

I used to visit for high tea over many years, and the renovations were absolutely stunning. The tea service is better than ever! What a graceful and lovely way to spend an afternoon with friends. Yasmine was our delightful tea server and she helped us enjoy our experience even more with her knowledge of the property and the teas served. It's my favorite place in the Southern California area!

No reservation? No worry! They accept walk-in with the late afternoon availability, be happy as it is! The menu is limited and go with the flow, it is very unique way for the afternoon tea.

Greg

We really enjoyed our afternoon tea here. We originally made a reservation for inside dining room but found the noise inside to be significant, so asked to change to outdoors. The outdoor seating was lovely, and would be even better when roses are in bloom. Everything we had was good or great. We each tried a unique tea we both really enjoyed. The scones and desserts were amazing. The sandwiches were good to great. Overall for the price point this was very reasonable for a high quality experience.

Amy Bee

Beautiful interior and ambiance. Made Reservations a few months ago for some much needed girl time. The food was pretty standard- we both ordered the traditional tea without all the upgrades. My friend loved the smoked salmon and I loved the onion sandwich. The tea, however, was absolutely fabulous. I enjoyed the Signature blend and she loved Illuminate- so much so that we sought out to buy some to take home in the gift shop but ruled it out due to price, unfortunately. All in all the presentation, the service, the atmosphere- it’s all very intentional and special. I would definitely come back!

Amelia Chen

Love what they did to the place! Came here on a Friday afternoon with my girlfriends - we snagged a rez about a week prior. We were sat by their fireplace and the entire experience was lovely. Staff was friendly and didn’t rush us even though we definitely stayed for longer than the rest of the tables around us. Will definitely be back.

E. Dominic Black

Excellent tea service, charming staff. Delicious savory sandwiches and sweet treats. Tea selection is good. Scones/biscuits are perfect. Inside tea rooms are lovely. Bright, beautiful views of the rose garden. Make reservations.

Shawn Sheng

This was my first time having high tea, and you are definitely paying for the aesthetic and the vibes rather than the food. I would recommend paying the extra $13 for the Huntington Tea, you get a bunch of savory items that is overall better value, especially if you are only ever going to try this place once like me. The staff know it is all about the aesthetic and offer to take a picture for you once they serve the food. Reservations online need to be made a few weeks in advance, but if you try calling them they may be able to slot you in sooner. All of the food was good, and one or two biters. The Huntington special tea was honestly one of the best teas I have ever had.

Carl Lowe

A fantastic place to spend the afternoon! Tea was incredible and paired perfectly with the sandwiches and desserts. Frustrating that we had to buy 4 tickets to get high team which made a $78/person meal even more expensive

Alli

From the moment you step into the gardens, the atmosphere feels fairy tail like with gorgeous scenery all around. The tea room is carefully crafted to not disrupt this environment and is set to have a wonderful evening. From the moment we walked in, we experienced what I believe to be Michelin rated service. Kudos to the service workers for being so graceful and attentive. The pastries were nothing short of delicious, fresh and aesthetically pleasing. This is a rave review that is well deserved.

Rey DiDonato

I used to visit for high tea over many years, and the renovations were absolutely stunning. The tea service is better than ever! What a graceful and lovely way to spend an afternoon with friends. Yasmine was our delightful tea server and she helped us enjoy our experience even more with her knowledge of the property and the teas served. It's my favorite place in the Southern California area!

Ann G.

My husband and I had a wonderful time celebrating my birthday here. The restaurant has great ambiance, food was delicious, staff named Tiffany was sweet, courteous, and welcoming. She delivered a wonderful service which made my birthday celebration enjoyable. Thank you.

The Rose Garden Tea Room is a beautiful way to stop, relax and enjoy high tea service while exploring the grounds. The renovation is beautiful, and the space white bright and welcoming. Highlights of the tea service: the curried carrot sandwich, the tarragon chicken salad sandwich and the egg salad. Overall we thoroughly enjoyed our experience. My one note is there should be an adults room or a family room. When spending $75/person for high-end tea service the last thing you want is a table with crying babies and screaming kids. It dampened what would have been a fantastic experience.

Great English tea time with lovely acorns and small sandwiches and sweets. This is definitely a good place to go after church. Our church, Vintage Pasadena at Hamilton Element School is only about 4 minutes from this place. We decided to pay a visit to the library and have afternoon tea at the tea room. There are two tea set options, one with only the sandwiches and pastries for $35 and the other with caveat and champagne for $60. We chose the cheaper option. But we were so full after the devouring the teaser tower. My favorite were the Brie cheese cracker and the smoke salmons sandwiches. My wife loves their acorns. In fact she looks forward to the scorns very time we go to this tea house. This tea room also offers varieties of teas from all time favorite English teas to ORIENTAL green tea with fruits. I chose the Jasmine Blueberry tea. This tea is absolutely fabulous and smell so good with jasmine fragrance. This place is very hectic on weekends. Even though we had a reservation, we still have to wait for half and hour. So go early with your reservation to secure your seats. It's lovely roam around the library afterward to enjoy the beauty of the flowers and the different theme gardens

+3

Pros - glad to get a reservation same day. Very gracious service staff to also accommodated a larger party than expected. I though it just might be me and no one else would think it’s worth the cost. As it turned out no one wanted to be left out, including a teenager. - Surprisingly very Kid friendly, they have their own menu and a high seat. Never too early to introduce the little ladies to high tea 😊 - accommodated all ages of our party from 3yo to 70yo - it’s a beautiful ambiance in middle of an even more Botanical garden - the setting is so serene and pleasant, could spend all day there if allowed in bliss - appreciated the vegan desserts, not expecting this at all. Cons - for the price it’s always disappointing that High Tea had several potential options but you only get one choice of a tea. - the actually quality of the tea I had was bland . It was an herbal tea but I was still looking forward to more flavor profile. It was not just me, the other adults there felt their tea was not strong enough, disappointing. - May have needed another tea bag and the water was not very hot on arrival. - the sandwiches not the highest quality but most were edible. Presentation over flavor. - In hindsight I suspect the reason theEarl Grey was sold out, was that it may have been the only tea to get. Despite the cons, it’s still a must for tea lovers, just stick with the basics.

+2

There is a variety of things for everyone. A garden to stroll through and a small museum with paintings and sculptures. The famous Blue Boy painting is here along with an also bit less famous painting called Pinkie. Kids may get bored. The garden has a nice cactus and succulent area, and the Japanese and Chinese sections are really cool. We spent about five hours here, including lunch. Food was not too good, cafe style, and expensive. Make a day trip and enjoy Pasadena afterwards.

+6

Atmosphere: The Huntington Library, Museum, and Botanical Gardens is and always will be one of my fave places to hang out. The grounds are gorgeous, the library is fantastic, and the exhibits are awesome. Rose Garden Tea House- Atmosphere: The tea house itself is really lovely. There are different rooms with different views and even outdoor seating. It was fairly loud because people were having a really good time, but we didn't mind the noise. Food: The food is good. Don't be fooled by the portion sizes which are standard tea finger foods and such, it's all really filling. If you're familiar with and satisfied with this sort of food you'll enjoy the meal. If you're expecting some fancy smorgasbord then you may leave unsatisfied and angry at the cost. Price: We got the Huntington Tea. It ended up costing about $340 for the 4 of us (excluding hefty tip and entry tickets, parking is free). Service: The greeters were great, the woman who brought out and explained the food was absolutely lovely, and there were random servers who were extremely kind and attentive (refilling water, etc.). The waitress actually assigned to our table was pretty rude. She seemed fairly annoyed serving us, but all of the other staff made up for it. Bathroom: The only bathroom I saw in the tea house was an All Gender bathroom (I could be mistaken). The individual stalls are completely closed, you cannot see in, but men and women are in there together. If this makes you uncomfortable there are "traditional" single gender bathrooms in other areas. Personally the bathroom didn't bother me at all. RESERVATION RECOMMENDED- Use the Open Table App. Lastly, note any special occasions. A special, very cute little cake was brought out for my daughter because we were celebrating her birthday.

Very pleasant "high tea" experience. The finger sandwiches and sweets were nice, the selection of teas broad (and all of them tasty), and the ambiance (both inside the building and looking out at the rose gardens) was fine. The downsides? Service was just okay -- pleasant when there, but nobody every came by to refill water glasses, and the glass of prosecco one of us ordered didn't come until we reminded our waiter (he did fill is quite full as compensation). The experience was also quite pricey for what one got -- and, yes, you are paying for the "experience" as much as the food and drink, but the pricing felt like it was because we were supposed to *expect* it to be expensive, not because it was worth it. If invited back, I'd be okay with going, but I wouldn't make it the centerpiece of my visit to the Huntington.

The tea room by the Rose garden at Huntington is a beautifully restored historic building that opened up earlier this year serving afternoon tea. Reservations were packed a few months ago but it seems to have settled down some. The traditional tea is pretty steep (get it?) in price per person but includes the standard tiers of sandwiches, scones, and your own teapot. If you choose the Huntington tea you pay more for the same experience plus a little lobster salad bite (very tasty!), a bonbon with pop rocks, and a glass of champagne. The ambiance is lovely and the staff is attentive/helpful. Tea selection is high quality, with unique flavors from floral and fruity to spiced. Most of the sandwiches were quite good (flavorful and moist) as well as the scones (buttery and soft). The dessert tier was terrible. They all tasted the same, just straight sugar. Probably comes from the same vendor that sells desserts in other locations at the Huntington, which I’m not a fan of. Overall it was a nice experience, if overpriced.

Our afternoon tea date with the girls had quite a few twists and turns. We only discovered the day before our reservation that tickets for Huntington Library need to be booked separately to access the Tea Room. We had to cancel and rebook, which was a bit of a hassle. Out of all the afternoon tea spots I’ve been to, this one is probably the least decorated. I guess the idea is to have everyone focus on chatting or enjoying the view of the flowers outside? The portion sizes were generous, and we ended up packing most of it to go. The small bites were decent, but the tea itself wasn’t anything special. The tea bags started to taste bitter after just a short steep, and we had to keep pouring it out or adding hot water to make it drinkable. Overall, it was a decent experience, but probably a one-time thing. I don’t think I’ll be coming back.

Finally got a reservation and went to the tearoom for the first time after its renovation! Great new interior design and outdoor sitting, wonderful environment. Servers were friendly, but there is definitely room for improvement on service speed and accuracy. Food, I have to say, was ok, not impressive. Savory sandwiches and scones were much better than the small desserts. Roses are still in bloom, so the views are unbeatable.

Kpop Mom

Atmosphere: The Huntington Library, Museum, and Botanical Gardens is and always will be one of my fave places to hang out. The grounds are gorgeous, the library is fantastic, and the exhibits are awesome. Rose Garden Tea House- Atmosphere: The tea house itself is really lovely. There are different rooms with different views and even outdoor seating. It was fairly loud because people were having a really good time, but we didn't mind the noise. Food: The food is good. Don't be fooled by the portion sizes which are standard tea finger foods and such, it's all really filling. If you're familiar with and satisfied with this sort of food you'll enjoy the meal. If you're expecting some fancy smorgasbord then you may leave unsatisfied and angry at the cost. Price: We got the Huntington Tea. It ended up costing about $340 for the 4 of us (excluding hefty tip and entry tickets, parking is free). Service: The greeters were great, the woman who brought out and explained the food was absolutely lovely, and there were random servers who were extremely kind and attentive (refilling water, etc.). The waitress actually assigned to our table was pretty rude. She seemed fairly annoyed serving us, but all of the other staff made up for it. Bathroom: The only bathroom I saw in the tea house was an All Gender bathroom (I could be mistaken). The individual stalls are completely closed, you cannot see in, but men and women are in there together. If this makes you uncomfortable there are "traditional" single gender bathrooms in other areas. Personally the bathroom didn't bother me at all. RESERVATION RECOMMENDED- Use the Open Table App. Lastly, note any special occasions. A special, very cute little cake was brought out for my daughter because we were celebrating her birthday.

Dave Hill

Very pleasant "high tea" experience. The finger sandwiches and sweets were nice, the selection of teas broad (and all of them tasty), and the ambiance (both inside the building and looking out at the rose gardens) was fine. The downsides? Service was just okay -- pleasant when there, but nobody every came by to refill water glasses, and the glass of prosecco one of us ordered didn't come until we reminded our waiter (he did fill is quite full as compensation). The experience was also quite pricey for what one got -- and, yes, you are paying for the "experience" as much as the food and drink, but the pricing felt like it was because we were supposed to *expect* it to be expensive, not because it was worth it. If invited back, I'd be okay with going, but I wouldn't make it the centerpiece of my visit to the Huntington.

Hsin-Yi Kao

Our afternoon tea date with the girls had quite a few twists and turns. We only discovered the day before our reservation that tickets for Huntington Library need to be booked separately to access the Tea Room. We had to cancel and rebook, which was a bit of a hassle. Out of all the afternoon tea spots I’ve been to, this one is probably the least decorated. I guess the idea is to have everyone focus on chatting or enjoying the view of the flowers outside? The portion sizes were generous, and we ended up packing most of it to go. The small bites were decent, but the tea itself wasn’t anything special. The tea bags started to taste bitter after just a short steep, and we had to keep pouring it out or adding hot water to make it drinkable. Overall, it was a decent experience, but probably a one-time thing. I don’t think I’ll be coming back.

Ying Liang

The tea room by the Rose garden at Huntington is a beautifully restored historic building that opened up earlier this year serving afternoon tea. Reservations were packed a few months ago but it seems to have settled down some. The traditional tea is pretty steep (get it?) in price per person but includes the standard tiers of sandwiches, scones, and your own teapot. If you choose the Huntington tea you pay more for the same experience plus a little lobster salad bite (very tasty!), a bonbon with pop rocks, and a glass of champagne. The ambiance is lovely and the staff is attentive/helpful. Tea selection is high quality, with unique flavors from floral and fruity to spiced. Most of the sandwiches were quite good (flavorful and moist) as well as the scones (buttery and soft). The dessert tier was terrible. They all tasted the same, just straight sugar. Probably comes from the same vendor that sells desserts in other locations at the Huntington, which I’m not a fan of. Overall it was a nice experience, if overpriced.

Elizabeth Cheng

Finally got a reservation and went to the tearoom for the first time after its renovation! Great new interior design and outdoor sitting, wonderful environment. Servers were friendly, but there is definitely room for improvement on service speed and accuracy. Food, I have to say, was ok, not impressive. Savory sandwiches and scones were much better than the small desserts. Roses are still in bloom, so the views are unbeatable.

Cute tearoom inside of the Huntington Rose Garden. Note that you do need to purchase entry for the Huntington Library separately. Reservations are popular and it’s recommended to try to book out 2-3 months in advance if you’re trying to get a weekend slot. It’s $65 for the traditional tea, which comes with refillable pots of tea, scones, savory and sweet items. The items change seasonally but when we went, I really liked the smoked salmon sandwich and the Hokkaido chocolate tarts. We were very full after this tea and skipped dinner since we had a 2:30 reservation slot. They don’t allow you to get seated earlier and it’s a 15 minute grace period. Indoor and outdoor tables are available. Credit cards accepted.

Shanelle S

Cute tearoom inside of the Huntington Rose Garden. Note that you do need to purchase entry for the Huntington Library separately. Reservations are popular and it’s recommended to try to book out 2-3 months in advance if you’re trying to get a weekend slot. It’s $65 for the traditional tea, which comes with refillable pots of tea, scones, savory and sweet items. The items change seasonally but when we went, I really liked the smoked salmon sandwich and the Hokkaido chocolate tarts. We were very full after this tea and skipped dinner since we had a 2:30 reservation slot. They don’t allow you to get seated earlier and it’s a 15 minute grace period. Indoor and outdoor tables are available. Credit cards accepted.

Nice garden, full of plants and acres of wonderful nature! However, the people working there were bothering me and my group, as they would keep staring at us and following us. We had little kids with us, and they were watching our every move, and even told my sister to get off the soil, even though she wasn’t even touching the bonsai and just taking a quick picture. Very nosy and uncomfortable. I mean, children aren’t going to sit still and be quiet, so what do you expect?? Let them be children.

+6

Great service and ambience, low quality food Pros: amazing service (Angelina was wonderful), unbeatable ambiance, and amazing tea Cons: food is all middling. Wouldn’t do it again because it’s overpriced. You’ll see other reviewers saying the same. Our waitress Angelina was a delight! Always quick to meet any of our needs. We loved the Huntington blend tea, very close to an Earl Grey. It’s such a beautifully decorated space, and you can’t beat the view of the rose garden from your chair. Sadly, the food was just meh. Nothing was amazing, even on the Huntington tea selection. I’d say the best was the curried carrot sandwich, scones and accoutrements, and ginger cake that was barely one bite. I will say, the tea itself was the best part. Delicious! At the end of the day, it was a fun experience, just not at all worth the price based simply on the low food quality. I hope Huntington reads all these reviews and steps it up! I’d love to see them so well.

+2

The tea service was disappointing. The sandwiches in particular were not very tasty. Lobster roll was a nice addition. Tea selection good.

After multiple attempts of trying, we finally secured a reservation at the popular Rose Garden afternoon tea. Unfortunately, the experience didn’t live up to the hype. The renovated room is beautiful and definitely Instagram-worthy, but beyond the aesthetics, the food was underwhelming. Everything felt average at best. The only standout was the lobster roll, and even that came at an extra charge. For the price and the effort it took to get a table, we expected much more. The overall evening was mediocre, not terrible, but definitely not memorable either. If you’re going purely for the photos, maybe it’s worth a visit, but don’t expect a culinary highlight. On a positive note, the service was lovely. We were running about 20 minutes late and tried to call ahead to let them know, but no one picked up. Thankfully, when we arrived, the staff still welcomed us and seated us without issue, which we really appreciated. In the end, while the decor and service were nice, the food just didn’t justify the price or the hassle. There are better high tea experiences out there that offer both charm and substance. Sadly, this one missed the mark.

The ambiance is stellar! Reservations can be hard to secure but I think this is a try at least once place. I have been here a total of 3 times now and I'm pretty sure I need not return. The service we received 8.24.24 was just sad... I think perhaps the Server was new and maybe a bit overwhelmed. The hostess at the podium perhaps was distracted as I had requested to sit some place warmer like on the West side of the room where the sun was coming directly onto the seats but after saying this we were placed on the East side where I continued to shiver. In addition to the Huntington Tea that I ordered I also ordered the soup of the day (which was distasteful I sent it back) as well as the charcuterie - a beautiful presentation and served with buttery Brioche toast points (this is what saved the review). The tea sandwiches bread was dry with the exception of the 'James Beard' Vidalia Onions sandwich. The Petit Fours were fine and the Champagne as well. Lobster roll had a good amount of Lobster it was refreshing and petit. Scones I thought were dry, brittle and crumbly. I wish I had more happy accolades to share for this experience but after three tries... it's not a fluke. Lastly remember if you are bringing children its a limited menu be sure to check the website for selections. Great place for a Wedding/Baby Shower though! just know in advance that you probably aren't going to be wowed with the food. Also the restrooms are COED. Also bring a light sweater if you are going to be seated inside it can be chilly... which is welcome when it is so hot outside. Respectfully Reviewed.

Angela Zhang

After multiple attempts of trying, we finally secured a reservation at the popular Rose Garden afternoon tea. Unfortunately, the experience didn’t live up to the hype. The renovated room is beautiful and definitely Instagram-worthy, but beyond the aesthetics, the food was underwhelming. Everything felt average at best. The only standout was the lobster roll, and even that came at an extra charge. For the price and the effort it took to get a table, we expected much more. The overall evening was mediocre, not terrible, but definitely not memorable either. If you’re going purely for the photos, maybe it’s worth a visit, but don’t expect a culinary highlight. On a positive note, the service was lovely. We were running about 20 minutes late and tried to call ahead to let them know, but no one picked up. Thankfully, when we arrived, the staff still welcomed us and seated us without issue, which we really appreciated. In the end, while the decor and service were nice, the food just didn’t justify the price or the hassle. There are better high tea experiences out there that offer both charm and substance. Sadly, this one missed the mark.

Karen

The tea service was disappointing. The sandwiches in particular were not very tasty. Lobster roll was a nice addition. Tea selection good.

PsBoston7

The ambiance is stellar! Reservations can be hard to secure but I think this is a try at least once place. I have been here a total of 3 times now and I'm pretty sure I need not return. The service we received 8.24.24 was just sad... I think perhaps the Server was new and maybe a bit overwhelmed. The hostess at the podium perhaps was distracted as I had requested to sit some place warmer like on the West side of the room where the sun was coming directly onto the seats but after saying this we were placed on the East side where I continued to shiver. In addition to the Huntington Tea that I ordered I also ordered the soup of the day (which was distasteful I sent it back) as well as the charcuterie - a beautiful presentation and served with buttery Brioche toast points (this is what saved the review). The tea sandwiches bread was dry with the exception of the 'James Beard' Vidalia Onions sandwich. The Petit Fours were fine and the Champagne as well. Lobster roll had a good amount of Lobster it was refreshing and petit. Scones I thought were dry, brittle and crumbly. I wish I had more happy accolades to share for this experience but after three tries... it's not a fluke. Lastly remember if you are bringing children its a limited menu be sure to check the website for selections. Great place for a Wedding/Baby Shower though! just know in advance that you probably aren't going to be wowed with the food. Also the restrooms are COED. Also bring a light sweater if you are going to be seated inside it can be chilly... which is welcome when it is so hot outside. Respectfully Reviewed.

Disappointing. I appreciated that they accommodated our diet and substituted one of the tea menu options. However, some of the bread was stale. It seems like there could be better staff communication/organization. We didn't see our server for over an hour and they thought we hadn't received our food. We had already eaten and were asked after the fact it we were okay with gelatin (not pescatarian). So I guess we ate gelatin? I noticed another party frustrated by wait time. I wouldn't do this again, especially for the price, but it was nice to do it once I guess.

Tea at the Huntington Library. So disappointing. Basic tea set, basic food served on basic plates. Note the doilies are missing from the carriers. Can all be yours for a hefty tag of $91 per guest. Plus $25 entrance and you have to hike to get to the location. And reservations booked several months out. Just 😖 awful.

I agree with others that the ambiance here is stellar. However, given that the menu consists solely of pastries, my expectations were high—but unfortunately, the pastries didn’t live up to their expensive price tags. While the tea was nice, I’ve had better elsewhere, and the scones were slightly tastier than the rest of the menu. It might be worth trying once, but I won’t be returning. To make matters worse, I was charged double for the tip and now need to contact them to resolve this issue, which has made the experience even less pleasant overall.

Irem Yoruk

I agree with others that the ambiance here is stellar. However, given that the menu consists solely of pastries, my expectations were high—but unfortunately, the pastries didn’t live up to their expensive price tags. While the tea was nice, I’ve had better elsewhere, and the scones were slightly tastier than the rest of the menu. It might be worth trying once, but I won’t be returning. To make matters worse, I was charged double for the tip and now need to contact them to resolve this issue, which has made the experience even less pleasant overall.

Bland food and mediocre service. You are definitely paying for the atmosphere and if you ask me 65 a person ain't worth it. Especially since it cost money just to get in. They also charge even if you dont eat. My girlfriend wanted to eat here so I told the server that I'm not eating but I was still charged for two people. Definitely won't be back. First time I left a restaurant without tipping which says a lot since I'm usually a generous tipper.

Joseph Shin

Bland food and mediocre service. You are definitely paying for the atmosphere and if you ask me 65 a person ain't worth it. Especially since it cost money just to get in. They also charge even if you dont eat. My girlfriend wanted to eat here so I told the server that I'm not eating but I was still charged for two people. Definitely won't be back. First time I left a restaurant without tipping which says a lot since I'm usually a generous tipper.

I visit the Huntington 4 times a year to see the gardens in every season. High tea is often part of the treat. I waited a long time for the Huntington Rose Garden Tea Room to reopen for my cherished tradition. Once the newly renovated facility ready, I took a friend along to celebrate a special occasion. Our disappointment is hard to describe. I must begin by saying the service was ok. Everything else was surprisingly sub-par. Making reservations was difficult. Once it was clear calling by phone was impossible, I began working the on-line system. As a software engineer, I quickly realized the site was buggy showing nothing available & then many things available for the same time slot if you logged in & out several times. This is really annoying. On the weekday we arrived, I expected the place to be packed based on my tedious reservation experience. Instead, although we found it eerily empty, we were asked to wait almost 8 minutes while 2 greeters tried to figure out where to seat us. After that we were led to a room with uncomfortable modern tables & chairs that looked out on a blank canvas without a garden view. Gone were the comfy Victorian era style sofas. I saw another room that resembled a Denny’s diner on my way to the bathroom that looked considerably cozier. But it was truly quite ugly. The bathrooms were under repair with tape across unusable sinks. I found the esthetic shocking. The actual tea was bitter. We later discovered that my friend’s choice was artificially flavored. My tea was simply bland. The scones were hard as rocks. The sweet were served in stale pre-made pastry shells. The thin tasteless sandwiches were served on dry bread that tasted as though it had been left out too long. We both refused to eat the wilted greens. The people at the table next to us sent their tea back. The waitress was kind & happy to change it. But we simply smiled through the experience deciding there was no point in complaining. There are so many great laces to have High Tea in Beverly Hills where we live. No reason to ever come back.

Was not worth the price for the exerience. Would make more sense if the seating was in an open air venue with flowers more visible but instead was sat in a room and given tea that i could of made at home. The sandwiches and dessert were premium but this was still a disappointing experience for $60 a person.