Update: Besties was sold in summer 2024 and the new restaurant does not offer afternoon tea.
Where: Alpharetta, Georgia Style: Chic cafe Tea Selection: 7 loose leaf teas Teatimes: Tuesday to Sunday, 2 to 5 Reservations: Reservations required Contact: 678-691-8184 Cost: $42.50 Afternoon Tea Destination Tea Tips: Come hungry, because just when you think the meal is over…your server asks if you are ready for your cake, and this is a slice you want to have room to eat. Besties also has a robust event calendar worth checking out, including tango and flamenco nights – olé!
Destination Tea Notes: Another first for Destination Tea! We were unknowingly the first afternoon tea customers for Besties’ new afternoon tea service, where so many things impressed us. You need to know that this afternoon tea was dreamed up by Besties co-owner, Argentinian Carina Balonchard (a masterful scone maker). She and co-owner Weren De Vliegher have teamed up to serve a menu that spans South American to European favorites, making their own empanadas, waffles and cakes in-house. Therefore, their new afternoon tea includes an array of multicultural flavors, divine pastries and delicious teas. If you’ve never tried the traditional Argentine hot beverage Yerba Mate (Carina instructed us to pronounce it “jher-buh mah-tay”), native to South America, this is the place to have it properly prepared for you. Expertly brewed teas, 6 savories, proper scones, and 4 desserts (one that was jaw-dropping) are offered here for $42.50 per person, which for us makes this a perfect place to treat your friends and family to afternoon tea. We should all be so lucky to have a local tearoom with a delicious afternoon tea that is also affordable, that we can happily revisit throughout the year.
Bright orange, gold and yellow accents offset dove grey walls and chairs
A classy lunch and dinner spot, with tables dressed up in lacy white for afternoon tea
Tea Selection
Pink lemonades garnished with fresh strawberries come to the table as we pour over our choices for tea. We go with the Black Currant Tea and later add a pot of Argentine Yerba Mate.
We appreciate that these teas are steeped and decanted in back and served piping hot.
The tea napkins are so pretty with their delicate lace trim.
Yerba Mate has a golden color. Remember that this caffeinated plant is unrelated to the tea plant, so it has its own distinct flavor, which we very much enjoyed.
Scones & Spreads, Savories and Sweets
The ever lovely Angela Kang Cole of Nabi millinery and tea party caterer Valerie Barendregt of The Cheeky Teacup were both pleased with this afternoon tea presentation.
We all three agreed the “Buffalo chicken” tea sandwich was our favorite (made with chicken, carrots, dijon and paprika). Chopped Ham with Whole Grain Mustard and (very creamy) Cucumber Cream Cheese and Dill finger sandwiches are served on soft bread. Three puff pastry canapés round out this savory course: Artichoke and black olive (just like Trader Joe’s Artichoke Antipasto)…
Creamed spinach, and “Caprese” bites. Our server Natasha took excellent care of us without making us feel rushed, and was gracious in inviting feedback. We recommended doing fewer puff pastry savories and substituting in another savory – but perhaps you would welcome more and more of these tasty bites?
Flaky scones are perfectly done and served two per person.
Rather than clotted cream, a thick but spreadable cream cheese is served with scones, along with a homemade orange confiture (aka orange preserves).
Chocolate cake balls, shortbread hearts drizzled with chocolate and twin merengues with chocolate center (Angela’s favorite) are perfectly sized sweet bites.
And then this happened!! At the end of the meal, when we confirmed we were ready, we were each served a slice of freshly made cake, this one soft, with an almond flavor, fresh whipped cream and kiwis. It was the kind of cake that makes you feel like a kid again.
Such a cheerful tearoom decor! And I can tell that part of the tea adventure is writing about it! Delicious for the eye and wonderful to read. Thank you.
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Another beautiful tea room! The tea treats look delicious!
The cake at the end was like a dream!
Such a cheerful tearoom decor! And I can tell that part of the tea adventure is writing about it! Delicious for the eye and wonderful to read. Thank you.
Yes, some tearooms photograph well with little help from the camerawoman :). I’m happy to hear you are enjoying following our tearoom adventures!