9 places to find the best afternoon tea in Boston

Tucked inside the cutest little brick building, Beacon Hill Books & Cafe is a tea-lover's paradise. This cozy bookstore and restaurant is outfitted with every element of New England charm: beautiful wooden built-ins, a swath of fireplaces that greet you from room to room, and so many furnished nooks just begging for you to come, sit down and flip through your favorite written work. Once you're done combing the shelves, take a seat at the in-house cafe for afternoon tea, a prix fixe experience where you can enjoy a pot of tea of your preference, a flute of prosecco or sparkling cider, and an array of tea sandwiches, traditional scones and seasonal sweets.

The stunning cocktail lounge located within the skyscraper Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street serves a modern take on afternoon tea every weekend. The prix fixe menu begins with an amuse-bouche of foie gras choux pastry, topped with more foie (in the form of ganache) and caramelized banana, before moving onto a tiered tray of bougie goodies. Savory bites include a petite lobster roll garnished with black truffle and deviled eggs decorated with Regiis Ova Siberian Caviar, while sweet selections feature the likes of pomegranate profiteroles and framboise-laced pistachio macarons. In addition to your J'enway Tea Co. blend of choice, each guest can sip on a glass of Collet champagne and liquor pairing. 

This afternoon tea comes with harbor views as a backdrop to the steaming cups and three-tiered accompaniment that will grace your table. Seasonal sweets and savories include matcha panacotta, an elevated PB&J sandwich that features cashew butter, lingonberry jam, pink peppercorns and Maldon salt, as well as a smoked salmon and black caviar cone dolloped with creme fraiche. This prix fixe experience includes a flute of Veuve Cliquot champagne, but you can always take it up a notch by getting an additional tea-centric cocktail.

This Salem haunt for tealovers offers a high tea every Wednesday through Sunday. The European-inspired experience begins with a glass of iced Tisane tea, which you can sip as you peruse the extensive menu of loose leaf tea. A three-tiered presentation of tea sandwiches, including cucumber, smoked salmon and ham and brie, accompanies lemon scones, French macarons and madeleines, as well as a steaming personal pot of your selection. Want a more intimate tea party? Book the private Salon Room for four to six guests. 

Take a pause for a peaceful afternoon tea retreat right in the heart of busy Boylston Street. The Boston Public Library’s 19th-century original building has an interior garden overlooked by its Courtyard Restaurant. Afternoon tea includes pots of fine loose-leaf teas, and the cake stand’s three tiers are delightfully laden with tiny tea sandwiches, fruit scones with thick whipped cream and lemon curd, and pretty tarts and cakes. Holiday tea is popular, requiring reservations. Embellish your experience with their signature tea-infused cocktails inspired by literary greats.

While this chocolate shop and café is known for its gorgeous cocoa products, fine pots of tea are given just as much attention as the superior hot chocolate. More of an all-day experience than a true afternoon tea, this Back Bay institution lets you choose from green, white, or black selections and pair it with a pretty pastry—like the Earl Grey mousse cake or fragrant hazelnut-orange cake—all of which are made daily. They are also one of the rare places in New England that serves blends from the celebrated French tea company Mariage Frères.

After learning about the historic event at the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, stick around for afternoon tea. You can try the actual tea blends that were thrown overboard and into the harbor during the colonial protest. Named after Abigail Adams, wife of President John Adams, the tearoom has beautiful waterside views. You don’t have to buy a museum ticket in order to enjoy tea. There’s an assortment of pastries and baked goods. Abigail’s Tea Platter includes a pot of Abigail’s blended tea and scones.

Chef Brenden Crocker serves a proper tea at this recently rejuvinated town staple situated inside a stately 1912 building. On Fridays and Saturdays 2:30-4:30pm, guests can indulge in fine tea selections from Harney & Sons. Accompaniments include scones and croissants served with clotted cream, lemon curd and jams, cucumber sandwiches, curry chicken salad, deviled eggs, smoked salmon toast and delicate macarons—all made in house.

Few things are more delicious than a good book paired with a steaming pot of tea. Trident has both. Hang out in this Back Bay bookseller’s café and choose from its excellent, extensive tea selection (treat yourself to the Golden Buds oolong or Organic White Peony). There’s even a hybrid for coffee lovers: the Rooibos Latte. Pair with a sandwich or something sweet, or don’t—tea is sometimes best savored alone.