Best Seattle-Area Spots for a Sweet Afternoon Tea Outing With Kids

Afternoon tea in Seattle: A perfect way to connect

After a long school day, the last thing my daughter wants is to be quizzed about everything that happened. But the cozy, intimate setting of a one-on-one afternoon tea seems to spark conversation, so I try to schedule a regular tea date for us to catch up.

If you’re hoping to get your kids to spill the (figurative) tea, read on for a roundup of Seattle afternoon tea spots where you can partake in this classic connection or special-occasion ritual. 

Tips for making your afternoon tea outing a success:

• Read the rules ahead of time. Some tea services have age limits or etiquette guidelines, while others request that you preorder your tea service. Given the labor required to assemble all of those crustless sandwiches and tiny cookies, a stricter cancellation policy than normal may apply (such as a fee for cancellation with less than 24–72 hours’ notice).
• Take the opportunity to dress up if you want. Teatime tends to be a fancier affair, especially at hotel destinations. This is a great occasion to get more wear out of your fanciest attire!
• Bring some themed entertainment. Whether it’s tea at home or tea out on the town, we like to bring along picture books as they make for relatively quiet distractions while we wait for snacks to arrive. Here’s a list of favorites, courtesy of The Seattle Public Library.

Browse through each tea room or skip straight to the one you just have to try first:

• The Queen Mary, Seattle
• Panama Hotel and Tea House, Seattle
• Paisley’s Tea Room, Issaquah
• The Lodge at Saint Edward, Kenmore
• The Crumpet Shop, Seattle and Edmonds
• Secret Garden Tea Room, Sumner
• Seattle Japanese Tea Garden Ceremony, Seattle
• Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Seattle

First tea stop: The Queen Mary

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in 2022 and updated most recently on Jan. 28, 2026, by ParentMap’s family fun editor, Meredith Charaba, with a thorough fact-check and new details for Seattle-area tea outings.

Queen Mary Tea Room

Seattle’s Queen Mary Tea Room serves up a classic afternoon tea experience; its intimate venue has attracted devotees (devo-teas?) since 1988. Both of my baby showers were hosted here, and I have treated each of my kids to special one-on-one teatimes at the Queen Mary as well. This tea room doesn’t have high chairs or booster seats (or a changing table), but ask for a booth if you’re worried about wiggly kids, since the booths give them a bit more room to move.

See if you can spot all of the fun decorative touches that make this spot unique (such as the child-size nutcracker in the hallway or the mosaic of broken teacups embedded in the pavement outside). The rainbow of sorbet palate cleansers and the lavender puff of cotton candy on the children’s tea tray were big crowd-pleasers for my kids. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available.

Location: 2912 N.E. 55th St., Seattle, near University Village

Hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday); reservations available through OpenTable or by phone (206-527-2770). Walk-ins are accepted for tea and dessert when space is available.

Cost: Afternoon tea on a weekday costs $64 per adult and $30 per child ages 10 and younger ($75 and $36 on weekends), and includes a tiered tray of savory and sweet goodies. À la carte brunch and lunch entrées range from $20 to $35.

Next cup: Panama Hotel and Tea House

Panama Hotel and Tea House

The Panama Hotel and Tea House offers a unique cultural afternoon tea experience that’s informal enough to be toddler-friendly. Order one of the many teas and sweets at the counter (Tokara delivers gorgeous and tasty Japanese treats on Mondays and Thursdays) and take them downstairs. There you’ll find a small kids’ play area stocked with toys and books.

Learn about local Japanese American history by perusing the photos, newspaper clippings and dolls lining the walls. You can even peek through a glass section of the floor to see the basement of this historic hotel, where many Japanese Americans stored their possessions before being incarcerated during World War II. Gluten- and dairy-free treats are available.

When your visit is over, head across the street to the Danny Woo Community Garden to feed the chickens some dandelion greens. 

Location: 605 S. Main St., Seattle, in Seattle’s Chinatown–International District

Hours: 9 a.m.–4 p.m. daily. No reservations needed.

Cost: You’ll spend around $15–$20 for a bottomless pot of tea and a pastry or two.

Next cup: Paisley’s Tea Room

Paisley’s Tea Room

Make a reservation for afternoon tea at charming Paisley’s Tea Room and delight in creative tea sandwiches, scones and delicate sweets alongside fresh fruit. Pastries are baked in-house daily (and smell divine). Plus, every guest is sure to find just the right pot with a delightful selection of teas, ranging from vanilla coconut to a color-changing butterfly pea flower.

This is also the perfect spot for kids who may prefer hot chocolate for their afternoon tea. My kids’ eyes grew wide when they saw the mini pot of hot chocolate festooned with gobs of whipped cream and sprinkles. The floral teacups added to the magic. Further proof that the Gilman Village shop really knows its audience: The tea sandwiches are curated for kids, with favorites like Nutella or jam on heart-shaped bread.

Paint your own cup and saucer for at-home tea at Mudhouse Pottery Painting, located just around the corner.

Location: 317 N.W. Gilman Blvd. No. 49, Issaquah

Hours: Open daily: Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Reservations for afternoon tea can be made online; walk-ins are accepted based on availability.

Cost: Afternoon tea is $62 per adult, $34 per child. The tea room also has an expanded café and tea menu, and bakery treats that can be purchased à la carte.

Next cup: The Lodge at St. Edward

The Lodge at St. Edward

A mini foodie staycation is what you’ll find during afternoon tea at The Lodge at St. Edward. Of all of the teas we’ve attended, this is the most gourmet. Hosted in the lodge’s Cedar + Elm dining room, the afternoon tea boasts tea trays piled high with savory offerings, such as beet-marinated deviled eggs and shaved cucumber tea sandwiches with herbed mascarpone. We even enjoyed entertainment provided by a classical guitarist.

Sweet offerings include lemon bars and carrot cakes. My 6-year-old was delighted by the multiple flavors of macarons. This would be the perfect pre-check-in activity before a food-coma-induced nap in one of the swanky lodge’s comfy beds — followed by an energetic session at the amazing wooden playground, of course.

Location: 14477 Juanita Dr. N.E., Kenmore, inside Saint Edward State Park. Yes, you can stay in the lodge.

Hours: Thursdays and Fridays, 2:30–4:30 p.m. Make reservations for the St. Edward afternoon tea online.

Cost: $72 per person. There is no children’s menu or pricing, but call ahead if you’re bringing kids and staff may be able to alter some items to make them more kid-friendly.

Next cup: The Crumpet Shop

The Crumpet Shop

The Crumpet Shop is one of the few places in the Greater Seattle area where you can nosh a freshly made crumpet, and now there are two locations to choose from. (Think of a crumpet as a cross between an English muffin and a hearty pancake.) You can even watch them sizzle on the griddle through the windows at Pike Place Market! We love crumpets slathered in lemon curd or maple butter, or topped with egg and cheese.

The house-made chai might not be a traditional afternoon tea choice, but you’ll be comforted by its gingery spice during a stroll through Pike Place Market on a rainy day. Pick up a to-go bag of crumpets to enjoy during your at-home tea. 

Most crumpet toppings are vegetarian and several are vegan, if you specify no butter.

Seattle location: 1503 First Ave., Seattle (in Pike Place Market)
Edmonds location: 550 Main Street, Suite 102, Edmonds

Hours: Open daily; Seattle hours are 7 a.m.–4 p.m.; Edmonds hours are 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. No reservations needed.

Cost: Crumpets cost about $5–$12, depending on toppings.

Next cup: Secret Garden Tea Room

Secret Garden Tea Room

The lovely Secret Garden Tea Room in Sumner is a private club that offers afternoon tea reservations in a beautiful Victorian house. While tea club members can book up to six weeks in advance, the tea room offers unbooked tables to the general public one week in advance. The tea room also offers its tea service for pickup, for members and the public alike.

The takeaway tea service is ideal for a teatime picnic, and it’s not just a scone in a bag. Staff will package up your afternoon tea selections in a beautiful tray box, complete with fingertip towels to wipe those lifted pinkies! You can also choose to have your treats served on a silver platter or a tiered stand.

We took our treats to the beach for a low-tide picnic, but Seibenthaler Park is located within walking distance, and Loyalty Park’s impressive accessible playground is just a few minutes’ drive away. The Devonshire cream added the perfect tang when spread on my scone, and my son loved his sweet treat.

Location: 1711 Elm St. E., Sumner

Hours: Pick-up tea service is available on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Call ahead to reserve a pickup time (253-826-4479). The tea room is open by reservation, Friday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Cost: Pick-up tea service costs $35–$50 per adult, $25–$30 per child. Afternoon tea on-site is $81 for adults, and $61 for children ages 5–11 (the tea room cannot accommodate younger children).

Next cup: Seattle Japanese Garden Tea Ceremony

Seattle Japanese Garden Tea Ceremony

Seattle Japanese Garden Tea Ceremony offers a glimpse at a beautiful Japanese tradition. The art and ritual of chanoyu (tea ceremony) has been practiced for hundreds of years, and an individual tea ceremony can last as long as four hours. During this much shorter 40-minute presentation, a host shares the ceremony’s history and symbolism.

As many as 10 guests then shed their shoes and kneel on tatami mats for a Japanese sweet, which is followed by a bowl of freshly prepared matcha (finely ground green tea). What makes this unique experience extra special? You finally get to sit inside the Shoseian Teahouse, which is typically off-limits to garden visitors!

Location: 1075 E. Lake Washington Blvd., Seattle, at the south end of Washington Park Arboretum. If you need to get the wiggles out prior to the tea ceremony, make a stop at the playground at adjacent Washington Park Playfield.

Hours: The 2026 schedule has not yet been released, but the tea ceremony is typically offered seasonally on select weekends, April through October.

Cost: $15 per person, in addition to garden admission ($10 per adult, $6 per youth); tickets can be purchased online. The garden requests that attendees be at least 6 years old.

Next cup: Fairmont Olympic

Fairmont Olympic Hotel

The Fairmont Olympic Hotel offers an afternoon tea that makes for a very fancy downtown Seattle outing. Formerly held in The Georgian Restaurant before it became The George, the Fairmont’s classic afternoon tea now takes place in the Olympic Lobby Lounge. (See if you can spot the hidden entrance to the speakeasy-style bar.) This setting makes for excellent people-watching; to entertain ourselves, we’ve been known to make up stories about the other people wandering through.

The adult tea includes items such as egg salad on crispy crostini and roasted New York strip sandwiches, while kids enjoy turkey sandwiches and strawberry cream cheese tartines, alongside chocolate chip scones and chocolate caramel cupcakes. Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available. 

Location: 411 University St., Seattle

Hours: Fridays, 1–3:30 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Reservations are available through OpenTable or by phone (206-621-1700).

Cost: $79 per adult, $45 per child ages 12 and younger