This international tea room and restaurant is in the downtown mall in Charlottesville. Once you step inside, the Bohemian vibe is an unexpected yet inviting surprise. They serve over 50 varieties of teas and herbal infusions in a colorful, eclectic environment that includes hookahs and throw pillows. The restaurant serves an impressive array of vegan and vegetarian-friendly dishes. While the shop is very new-age and laid back, the teas are sourced from several countries and are of a world-class caliber.
The Tea Cart—Berryville
If you’re searching for a decadent menu to go with your traditional tea service, check out the Tea Cart in Berryville. They have an extensive selection of curated teas from around the world, but the unique experience you get at the Tea Cart blends the traditional British Afternoon Tea with the charm and atmosphere of an old-fashioned Southern tea service. They serve heavier British fare like Shepherd’s Pie and an assortment of finger sandwiches if you are in the mood for a light snack. The staff is extremely knowledgeable about the hand-blended loose teas, providing an educational element to the experience of afternoon tea.
Victorian Tea Station—Hampton
Victorian Tea Station has a full afternoon tea available by reservation, and they even put together tea parties to-go, allowing customers to put together an impressive classic tea package that can be served at home. Held in a classic Victorian manor, the Victorian Tea Station gives you the impression that you have stepped back in time into a proper socialite event. The finger sandwiches also have a southern feel, with traditional choices like pimento cheese and chicken salad.
Historic Rosemont Manor—Berryville
The Historic Rosemont Manor’s tea service pulls out all the stops to create a luxury experience. Huge while columns line the front porch of this old-fashioned antebellum home, looking like a home straight out of Gone with the Wind. Only 40 minutes from Washington, D.C. and Alexandria, this 60-acre property also houses an elegant Bed & Breakfast. You’ll find true Southern Hospitality in the same elegant surroundings as Presidents Roosevelt, Kennedy, and Eisenhower did in the past. While Rosemont Manor only has tea services every few months publicly, they allow for private tea parties for groups of ten or more. If your tea party includes more than 20 people, you get a free night’s stay during the week at the B&B. The tea services have a rotating menu, but include finger sandwiches, scones, elegant desserts, and teas to go with each course.
Crest Hill Antiques and Tea Room—The Plains
Photo courtesy of Crest Hill Antiques & Tea Room, The Plains, VA
Crest Hill Antiques and Tea Room is only an hour from D.C., but in the heart of Virginia’s “Horse Country”, it feels like worlds away. In addition to beautiful 19th and 20th century European and American antiques, you’ll find a cozy tea room with lovely fare and beautiful delicate porcelain China. The team room has a warm and welcoming feel, shying away from the typical pretentious environment. They brew over 35 top-quality tea varieties, such as blends of black, herbal, green, white, and rooibos. For food, Crest Hill offers tea sandwiches, fruit plates, and salads, along with scones, cakes, and pastries for dessert. Reservations are recommended at this popular tea room.
Green Leaf and Pebble Tea Spa—Virginia Beach
The Green Leaf and Pebble Tea Spa is a soothing mix of an upscale spa and a classic tea room. Wonderful spa experiences are complemented by the organic and fair trade tea options. In addition to serving teas, they use the tea leaves, oils, and extracts in the products used during the spa treatments, resulting in a luxurious eco-friendly spa treatment that leaves you feeling tranquil and relaxed. There are over 90 varieties of certified organic loose leaf teas available that guests can browse on the "Great Wall of Tea", and the staff can suggest teas to combat allergies, help with a cold, relieve fatigue, or just help you relax.
White Oak Tea Tavern—Salem
This Pub style tea room in Troutville takes you back in time, as it operates in the historic Cloyd House, built in 1783. Read about the fascinating history of the cabin while you sit by the fire and read the paper, all while enjoying a pot of fine tea. The White Oak Tea Tavern is more homey and casual than a traditional English tea room, allowing visitors to focus more on the quality of the tea rather than proper manners and etiquette.
Wholesale Tea Shops:
These places are less about the experience and more about providing tastings and wholesale teas for purchase. They are great options for people who want to serve friends and family at their own house but still need the supplies for a world-class tea experience.
Dominion Tea—Purcellville
Sample nearly 100 loose-leaf teas at Dominion Tea. You can take a bag of your favorite teas to go or sit down for a pot of tea with a few friends. They offer a rotating tea flight so you can try a few different types of teas, enjoying unusual flavors like Bai Hao Silver Needles or Dragon Well. They offer suggestions and information about the teas so you can learn about where the teas originated and the properties of each style.
Quintin’s Tea Emporium—Virginia Beach
The focus at Quintin’s Tea is sampling and selling the finest loose leaf teas available at reasonable prices. There are more than 150 teas in the Virginia Beach store, a small, cozy room where one can enjoy a pot or cup of tea by themselves or with friends. They have all the items one would need to have a proper tea at home, like Demerara sugar, Clotted Cream, and Lemon Curd. Visitors can also purchase biscuits, wafers, and shortbread to eat with their tea.
Carytown Teas—Richmond The owner of Carytown Teas, Patricia Guillouard Adams, was born and raised in Paris, France, and after moving to Richmond in 2005, she noticed a need for a proper tea shop in the area. Her goal was to open a shop that would be similar to the ones she grew up with in France. Her shop partners with small family farms and tea estates worldwide to offer customers over 150 fair trade, organic teas along with many custom medicinal tea blends. These tea rooms are well-versed in the art of brewing fine teas, whether you are looking for a refined experience with Earl Grey, in the mood for a calming cup of Chamomile, or need an energy boost in the form of a high-caffeine black tea. Have you experienced any great tea rooms in Virginia? Let us know if we have missed any local favorite tea spots around the commonwealth!