Rose Garden Tea Room
(16 reviews)1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA 91108, USA 626-683-8131 Website Suggest Changes
A day spent enjoying the cultural treasures of The Huntington---home to masterpieces such as Thomas Gainsborough’s 'The Blue Boy' and 150 acres of gardens---wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the Rose Garden Tea Room. Overlooking three acres of roses, the Tea Room is the perfect setting for a memorable repast. A pot of brewed tea and a basket of freshly baked scones are served at each table. From a central buffet, guests may choose from an array of savory finger sandwiches, including cucumber and mint, watercress with horseradish, smoked salmon, chicken walnut tarragon, black olive, carrot with ginger, and cheddar cheese with spinach and scallions. Also available from the buffet are strawberries and cream, fresh seasonal fruit, imported cheeses and crackers, and freshly baked miniature pastries including fresh fruit tartlets, homemade shortbread cookies, walnut tarts, assorted sliced cakes, and chocolate cups with lemon curd and whipped cream. Best of all, you can return to the buffet as often as you like. Limitless refills of tea and scones are served upon request. There is no dress code in the Tea Room: shorts and t-shirts or dresses and suits are equally acceptable. Children are welcome. Private rooms are not available; for groups of 6 or more, please call the Tea Room for information.
Recent reviews
-
TT
Juliet
The high tea room at the Huntington Gardens and Library is a destination. It is the capper to a perfect afternoon of wandering the beautiful grounds with a parasol and viewing the numerous paintings. Finger sandwiches and pastries are served buffet style, the chicken salad is my particular favorite.
Reservations are strongly recommended as it books out often.
-
TT
MK
I have been going to this Tea House since I was a baby. I am now married with a baby. I LOVE this Tea House. Its such an experience. Beautifully decorated & best of all the food will never disappoint you. The scones & cream will melt in your mouth. It is a lil $$ but you also get the benefit of the Rose Garden/Library. I love The Hunington Library Tea House. When I am having a bad day or want to get out for some R&R. The Hunington Library Tea House comes to mind. My Hubby even enjoyed it too!
-
TT
d
This our favorite spot for a wonderful meal with delicious food, lovely service, and good atmosphere. Yes, it can be busy on the weekends, but the outstanding fare more than makes up for an occasional crowd. Each and every item is delicious, and you can choose from an ample variety of cheese, salad, fruit, dessert, and sandwich options. Not Victorian, but elegant.
-
TT
Barbara McLean
This is an all-you-can-eat-buffet-style tea so ambiance is clearly lacking. It is a very noisy and congested ambiance with folks from the adjoining cafe wandering through with strollers, etc. Only two choices of tea and the scones were bite-size - several varieties of scones in the basket including a chocolate chip scone which was not expected as that would be very untraditional and more for dessert. The food was tasty but they frequently ran out of items and it took as long as 20 minutes to replenish. There are two rooms and in the back room where we got seating only one server for about 10 tables. Very noisy and 'touristy' - although the nearby Rose Garden was beautiful you can't see it from the Tea Room unless you have a window seat in the front room - it too is very crowded. For the price we paid I was very disappointed.
-
TT
Cathy
I'm not impressed. The tea is served in stainless steel pots, not china. The waitress brought us our scones and said, 'here's a pile of scones'. The self-serve buffet style food offering lends itself to dried out sandwiches. It's definitely a pretty setting but not a true tea service
-
TT
carole
i loved going the huntington tea room. they usually only offer a couple choices of tea, but the teas are high quality and well prepared, so it has always worked out for me. hot scones and jams are served at the table. then there is a buffet of delicious tea sandwiches, cheeses, fruit, and little desserts for you to choose from.
RSVP ahead of time to make sure you can get in. it does get busy on weekends. also, plan on paying admission into the gardens. it's a great break if you make it a day at the gardens, which are well worth a visit. i went so often that i became a member ;)
-
TT
John
I like this tea room. The Huntington Library And Gardens where this tea room is located is usually not over flowing with people. Except for that one day a month where it's free. For that particular day, reservations fill up fast. So if you plan on going on the free admission day, be prepared to walk against a mob of people, and eat in a crowded tea room. If you go on another day, you have to pay the admission to get into the tea room. This could be a problem for those of you who budget for the price of the meal only.
Other than all this, the tea room itself is great. There is usually two choices of tea, along with iced tea, coffee, lemonade (I think), two choices of scones, plenty of butter to go around, and a wide variety of sandwiches and fruits. It's all you can eat which makes it great for people with large appetites.
-
TT
N. ,from Toluca lake,Ca
Great service and selection at this place! FYI the first thurs. of the month admission to the Huntington Rose garden is free.It is crowded and noisy on those days but the self serve sandwiches can't be beat.Still dreaming about the carrot ginger sandwich...Not a high tea but a casual afternoon tea place and kids are welcome.
-
TT
Cathy
This team room is excellent. I've been to a lot of tea rooms in many states here in the US and Canada and this is easily one of my favorites. They use loose leaf tea (though it's true there is not a wide variety), and the tea buffet has an enormous variety of sandwiches, desserts, cold salads, cheeses and fruits, which you may serve yourself from as many times as you like, they bring you fresh baked demi-scones (usually in 2 or 3 flavors) which they are happy to refill. Of course, the location, cannot be beat. You are overlooking one of the most beautiful rose and herb gardens and mansions (turned museums) in the country (and being in Southern California) the weather is near perfect year round. They do get very busy, so be certain to make reservations. Also, I agree with the other reviewer that earlier in the day may be better. However, they let you sit there for practically as long as you like and will refill your silver tea service as often as you like. Definitely worth the price.
-
TT
Heather
I LOVE their buffet and scones. Tea choice is limited and simple but good. Price of tea is excellent at $12.95, but you must pay the regular admission price of $15 to get on the grounds in the first place so your total becomes $27.95!! If you've got all day to walk around, you'll get your money's worth, but if you just want tea, you're paying top dollar.