Updated June 24, 2020.
It’s no secret, I love afternoon tea! It’s such a fun foodie experience, and I’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy afternoon tea in many of my travels. This time around, I met up with my friend Andrea for a very fancy tea at the historic and iconic Willard Intercontinental in D.C., and we highly recommend it to you!
Peacock Alley
Peacock Alley is the Willard’s Tea Room, which has been serving traditional afternoon tea since the 1920s, and has even been featured as one of the top 10 places in the world to have afternoon tea like a royal! You can enjoy a variety of tea experiences year round, from Valentine’s Tea to Cherry Blossom Festival Tea to Christmas-inspired Tea. Andrea and I got together for their Winter Afternoon Tea, complete with comfy seats, real silver, and harpist!
The Service
Andrea and I received some of the kindest service I have ever received in the District. From being seated early to the manager offering to take our photo together to the staff letting us keep chatting for over three hours, we couldn’t have been treated better. At one point we ran out of Devonshire Cream (because, who only eats a little bit of that?), and when we asked for more, they brought out a whole tray of fresh condiments! We were pretty happy!
The Tea
The Willard has quite a tea selection! Andrea and I both opted for the Willard Signature Blend. I love that the china is so classic and that they actually use real silver. I’d hate to be the one who polishes it, but I felt so fancy being the one using it!
The Meal
None of those little, bite-sized items look like they’ll fill you up, but put them all together, and you’re full! Or at least we were when we finished! Every item was delicious, but I have to say the strawberry shortbread cookies were perhaps the best part. The presentation was beautiful, the service was kind, and we had so much fun catching up over such a girly experience!
Want more tea time experiences? Check out The Beginner’s Guide to Tea in London, Tea at the Titanic Hotel, Belfast, and Tea at the Trump Hotel, D.C.!
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Did they have any gluten free options?
I believe they can accommodate, but it is worth asking them directly! Tea is usually a set menu and everyone gets the same things, but for allergies restaurants will usually make an exception!