🫖 Scones, trays & clotted cream
SoCal afternoon & high tea
Curated by Simir Shah
15 spots within 60 miles of 92692
The Tea House on Los Rios
San Juan Capistrano
Set in a restored 1911 cottage steps from Mission San Juan Capistrano, with award-winning warm scones, tea sandwiches and petit fours. Picturesque and family-friendly — reserve on weekends.
🗓️ Reservations recommended · daily
💵 $$ per person
Visit site →Montage Laguna Beach (Lobby Lounge)
Laguna Beach
Oceanfront luxury-resort afternoon tea in the Lobby Lounge with sweeping Pacific views and seasonal 'Tea with a Twist' menus. A polished special-occasion experience — reserve ahead.
🗓️ Reservations · select days
💵 $$$ hotel afternoon tea
Visit site →Morning Lavender Cafe
Tustin
A photogenic, floral-styled cafe serving weekend afternoon tea with a pot of tea, scone, sandwiches and petite desserts. Trendy, Instagram-friendly, with a kids' price.
🗓️ Reservations only · Sat–Sun seatings
💵 $$ (~$39 adult / $29 child)
Visit site →Grand Tradition Estate — Signature Tea
Fallbrook
An elevated three-course tea in the estate's Beverly Mansion ballroom with live music, set among lush gardens and waterfalls. An occasion-only event tea — dates release seasonally.
🗓️ Reservations · seasonal dates
💵 $$$ (special event)
Visit site →The Empressa
Temecula
A pretty Temecula tea room serving fine teas, scones, finger sandwiches and pastries plus themed events (Bridgerton, Marie Antoinette). Charming and event-friendly — call to reserve.
🗓️ Reservations · most days exc. Wednesday
💵 $$ per person
Visit site →Afternoon Tea at The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa
Riverside
Afternoon tea in the historic Mission Inn's Spanish patio with tiered trays of finger sandwiches, scones and pastries and live courtyard music. A romantic landmark setting.
🗓️ Reservations · select days
💵 $$$ hotel afternoon tea
Visit site →McKenna's Tea Cottage
Seal Beach
A quaint Main Street tea cottage in Old Town Seal Beach with 37+ teas, tea sandwiches, scones and a 'Little Duchess' children's tea. Cozy and family-friendly — reservations required.
🗓️ Reservations required · daily
💵 $$ per person
Visit site →The Olde Magnolia Tea Room
Upland
A traditional British sit-down tea in a 1900s brick building in Old Town Upland, with tea, soup, salad, scone, sandwiches and desserts. Cozy and authentic — reserve ahead with a deposit.
🗓️ Reservations (48h) · Fri–Sun
💵 $$ per person
Visit site →Rose Garden Tea Room at The Huntington
San Marino
Refined tea with garden and rose views on the grounds of The Huntington; a dedicated children's tea makes it family-friendly. Library admission separate; weekends book months out.
🗓️ Reservations · daily exc. Tuesday
💵 $$$ (~$65; children's tea ~$29)
Visit site →The Grand Tea Room
Escondido
A cozy North County tearoom in downtown Escondido with full tiered teas, 40+ loose-leaf teas and freshly baked desserts. Warm and traditional — two-hour seatings.
🗓️ Reservations recommended · Tue–Sat
💵 $$ (~$36–40)
Visit site →The Langham Huntington, Pasadena
Pasadena
Classic grand-hotel afternoon tea with tiered trays, warm scones with clotted cream and a live pianist/harpist on weekends. A special-occasion favorite — reserve well ahead.
🗓️ Reservations · Thu–Sun seatings
💵 $$$ hotel afternoon tea (~$89+)
Visit site →Chado Tea Room (Little Tokyo)
Los Angeles
A casual, well-loved tea room serving 200+ teas with a three-tiered rack of sandwiches, scone, macarons and cookies. Approachable and affordable; vegan/gluten-free options.
🗓️ Walk-in or reservations · Tue–Sun
💵 $$ (~$29)
Visit site →Rendezvous Court at the Millennium Biltmore
Los Angeles
Opulent afternoon tea under soaring Moorish-Revival ceilings with gold leaf and a marble fountain in the historic Biltmore lobby. Grand, formal, special-occasion — reservations required.
🗓️ Reservations · Sat–Sun 2–5pm
💵 $$$ hotel afternoon tea
Visit site →Rose Tree Cottage
Pasadena
A quintessentially English cozy cottage where a uniformed butler oversees a three-course set with famous scones, beef Wellington and sticky toffee pudding. Phone reservations only.
🗓️ Reservations only · weekend seatings
💵 $$$ (~$55+)
Visit site →Tea Rose Garden
Pasadena
A charming Old Town Pasadena flower-shop-and-tea-garden serving individually designed afternoon tea trays. Relaxed and pretty for a casual special outing.
🗓️ Walk-in or reservations · daily
💵 $$ per person
Visit site →Get more special-occasion ideas near you
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Before you book:afternoon tea is almost always by reservation, often only on certain days, and seatings at the grand hotels (and The Huntington) can fill weeks ahead — book early, especially around Mother's Day and the holidays. Several offer a children's tea, perfect for a little celebration.
Frequently asked questions
Where can you have afternoon tea in Orange County?
OC favorites include The Tea House on Los Rios in San Juan Capistrano, McKenna's Tea Cottage in Seal Beach, Morning Lavender in Tustin, and the oceanfront Montage Laguna Beach. Most take reservations.
What's the difference between afternoon tea and high tea?
Afternoon tea is the lighter, classic spread — scones, finger sandwiches and sweets on a tiered tray, usually mid-afternoon. 'High tea' was historically a heartier early-evening meal, though today most places use the terms interchangeably.
Do you need a reservation for high tea?
Almost always, yes. Afternoon tea is usually by reservation and often only on certain days; the grand-hotel teas (The Langham, the Westgate, The Huntington's Rose Garden Tea Room) book up weeks ahead, especially around Mother's Day and the holidays.
Is afternoon tea kid-friendly?
Many spots offer a dedicated children's tea, which makes it a lovely birthday or special-occasion outing for little ones. Cozy tea cottages tend to be the most relaxed with kids.