5 of the Most Enchanting Afternoon Tea Services at US Hotels This Fall

Hotels are decking out afternoon tea services with themes and curated offerings.

Assorted afternoon tea finger foods including croissants with egg topping and toast with garnished salmon roe on a tray — Savory bites at The Rosewood Washington, D.C.Credit: Courtesy of Hannah Fleming

Afternoon tea has evolved throughout the years, ditching its formerly floral’ed and formal look for a fresh, fun remix that has attracted a new generation of tea lovers. Tea menus now come with tasting notes, and the food pairings often include tiers of artistic flavor expressions. Tea societies(#societeas) have even started popping up around the country, hosting monthly meetups at the hottest local tea houses and offering insider tips on scoring reservations at the most popular afternoon tea destinations.

Despite its new appeal, afternoon tea has always been, and will always be, about the experience. It’s still a chance to dress up, to gather for the occasion, and to enjoy good conversation and delicious food until the tea pot is fully drained. When it comes to afternoon tea, the experience is everything, and lately, themed events and limited-run collaborations add to the creative, chef-driven menus and curated tea services at hotels around the country.

From a Beverly Hills fashion-forward reservation that includes an actual red carpet to a recurring perfume collaboration in Washington, D.C., these are the most exciting ways to experience afternoon tea this fall.

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Waldorf Astoria New York (New York City)

Yoshoku — Courtesy of Waldorf Astoria New York

According to the Waldorf Astoria, it’s very okay that the modern afternoon tea skews a bit earlier, which is why this flagship hotel is starting its new service at 11 a.m. Called Elevenses, it’s served in Peacock Alley around the same time when a traditional hunting party would gather for a light bite and some tea after returning from a morning ride. The tea is the showstopper, presented like fine jewels from a customized Tealeaves humidor box and served with delicate petit fours. Sparkling tea is also available. The hotel’s Japanese-inspired restaurant, Yoshoku, relaunched its storied afternoon tea service a year ago and continues to pour Japanese influence (namely kaiseki) into the tradition. This fall, the loose-leaf teas will come from Brooklyn-based Kettl Tea, paired with treats like warm matcha cherry scones, mugicha bahibe verrine, smoked salmon onigiri, and an optional caviar service.

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The Hermitage Hotel (Nashville)

Afternoon tea setup with pastries decorations and tableware in a luxurious setting — Courtesy of The Hermitage

Between Oct. 30 and Nov. 8, the Grand Lobby and Veranda of The Hermitage Hotel will be decked out in diyas and marigolds for a limited-run (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only) afternoon chai in celebration of Diwali. Freshly brewed masala chai, petite mithai (Indian sweets), and a few special savory creations will give a nod to managing director Dee Patel’s childhood memories celebrating the Festival of Light. Guests can continue to wear their best Indian couture the rest of the season, even after the weekends resort back to the downtown hotel’s Southern roots with the fall edition of Spillin’ Tea with Draper James in collaboration with Reese Witherspoon’s Nashville lifestyle brand, Draper James. Each menu item will play off Witherspoon’s recipes in her cookbook Whiskey in a Teacup, with the chance to actually splash a bit of Tennessee gold into your tea of choice.

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The Pfister Hotel (Milwaukee)

People enjoying an afternoon tea spread with various dishes and beverages on a table with white tableware — Courtesy of The Pfister

Aside from holiday-themed fall tea experiences for Halloween and Thanksgiving, this circa-1893 property hosts one of the most immersive afternoon tea services in the country from the 23rd floor of The Pfister Hotel. Guests can choose from four separate menus — ranging from the caviar-laden Luxe menu to the genuinely exciting gluten-free menu (think: pancetta crisps with goat cheese and fig or sundried tomato cups with pesto goat cheese and fried basil) — and the most exciting part comes when the tea butler arrives with the tea cart. The hotel partners with locally headquartered Rishi Tea, and the dedicated tea butler discusses each tea variety, detailing each origin and flavor profile before offering samples and the chance to create your own blend from the trolly of teas.

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The Rosewood Washington, D.C. (Washington D.C.)

A table setup with an elegant afternoon tea service featuring a variety of pastries and appetizers on stands — Courtesy of Hannah Fleming

The increasingly creative tea services at The Rosewood Washington, D.C., have drawn attention lately, especially the recurring collaboration with Diptyque. The culinary team at CUT Bar and Lounge partners with the French brand for its fragrance line launches, and this fall created an experiential afternoon tea menu based on each scent in the new Les Rituels de Soin collection. Ginger mint tea started the experience, which ended with a very fragrant smoked sage and chamomile tea served on a stone grill with burning embers. Until the next Diptyque launch, the regular fall menu will continue as a fragrant experience, with a Brazilian approach, pulling from executive pastry chef Ligia Barros’ Brazilian background, featuring jewelry boxes filled with smoked brigadeiro s’mores and a pastry tower of fragrant spiced cachaça canneles, pão de queijo, and guava scones.

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The Maybourne Beverly Hills (Beverly Hills, California)

A tray with decorative pastries shaped like items teapot and champagne in the background — Courtesy of The Maybourne Beverly Hills

Inspired by real red carpet looks from the Academy Awards, the Emmys, the Golden Globes, and the Grammy Awards, the afternoon tea at The Maybourne Beverly Hills puts an even more glamorous spin on what has always been one of the most fashionable reservations in Beverly Hills. The Prêt-à-Portea: The Red Carpet Collection takes place in the Terrace Tea Room, where an actual red carpet ushers diners in every Friday through Saturday from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Although the six couture pastries — including an Italian meringue pastry filled with tart cherry compote that’s reminiscent of Taylor Swift’s 2025 Grammy Awards dress — and savory bites definitely stand out, it’s the rare tea offerings that put the experience fully over the top. Guests can choose their personal pot from a menu of hand-crafted teas, including a rare green tea harvested and fired in a wok in the Fujian Mountains of China, an herbal fusion of Sri Lankan lemongrass and ginger from the Himalayan region of Sikkim in India, and a white tea that was once the preserve of the Chinese Imperial family.