Keep Calm and Sip On: A Guide to Tea Rooms in Orlando

We might be over 4,000 miles from the United Kingdom, but there are still plenty of tea rooms in Orlando serving up a lovely tea service.

With Mother’s Day on May 13th and the royal wedding between Prince Harry and American Meghan Markle on May 19th, there has never been a better time to enjoy the unique charm of tea, pastries, and miniature sandwiches. Luckily, there are a few tea rooms in Orlando that are well worth the visit.

Sitting down for wine and cheese is a common evening practice in the United States, but it’s difficult to find a morning or afternoon equivalent beyond the usual brunch. Options for a late-morning or mid-afternoon snack are limited to individual pastries or cups of coffee, and it’s tough to find an opportunity to enjoy an entire selection of bite-sized food items with paired drinks.

Enter: the tea service.

Exact items in a tea service vary between locations, but they typically include a pot of freshly-brewed tea, scones, pastries, and sandwiches (usually miniature in size). Because the service is meant to be enjoyed over 1-2 hours (again, varies by location), a tea service is commonly served at specific times throughout the day. At some tea rooms, customers can also order à la carte menu items if they’d like to skip the more formal tea service while still enjoying some of the experience.

Tea rooms in Orlando offer an opportunity to enjoy a taste of England right in the heart of the Sunshine State, and they’re also creative event venues for birthday parties, wedding or baby showers, and book club meetings, to name a few. A number of tea rooms in Orlando also host their own events like “Tea Party with a Princess” for the youngest tea drinkers.

Whether you’re celebrating this month’s royal wedding, looking for a unique Mother’s Day idea, or just interested in new experiences, these tea rooms in Orlando are sure to impress.

The Tea Room Experience

Recipient of OpenTable.com’s “Diner’s Choice Award” for 2018, The Tea Room Experience is located in downtown Orlando and is run by a mother-daughter team. The menu for loose leaf tea is hand selected seasonally by a Certified Tea Sommelier, and one the walls in the space includes a whimsical and romantic collection of assorted teacups and saucers that lends itself perfectly to the airy, romantic feel of afternoon high tea. The Tea Room Experience provides catering services and is also available for bridal and baby showers, private events, and more.

The Garden View Tea Room at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

For those who don’t mind spending additional money and who are looking for a more family-centered tea service, the The Garden View Tea Room at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa provides the type of elaborate experience that one comes to expect from Walt Disney World. Guests can enjoy high tea while overlooking the resort’s garden and pool, with a menu that includes pastries, international teas, scones, and finger sandwiches.

For parents interested in giving their little ones the absolute fairy-tale princess experience, The Garden View Tea Room also offers Perfectly Princess Tea Party. Children are encouraged to dress as their favorite Disney character for this morning of storytelling, music, dancing, and more that includes a surprise visit from Princess Aurora as well as an abundance of gifts and keepsakes for the young guests to take home (like an 18-inch Princess Aurora doll.) Admission for this event starts at $333+ for one child (ages 3-9) and one guest (ages 10+) and advanced reservations are recommended, so plan accordingly.