Where: Old Fourth Ward, Atlanta, Georgia Style: Casual modern Tea Selection: 20+ loose leaf teas Teatimes: Tuesday to Sunday, 11 to 2; Private parties by reservation Reservations: 72-hour notice Contact: hello@justaddhoney.net or Reserve Here Cost: $35 Afternoon ParTEA Destination Tea Tips: Because this tea shop is off the Beltline, it would be fun to pair this teatime with a stroll. Also leave time to peruse their line of loose leaf teas.
Destination Tea Notes: Five years after we visited Just Add Honey’s then newly opened tea shop off the Atlanta Beltline, we return to find that the afternoon tea service has been paired down to a simpler menu with a one-hour time limit. If you’ve read our reviews of Just Add Honey’s prior Downtown and West End locations, you know that we are already enamored of owner Brandi Shelton, who not only develops her own teas, but also sources yummy afternoon tea treats from a combination of local caterers and bakers. As usual, the staff is gracious, even if they do dutifully enforce the one-hour teatime (we are invited to take any additional teas to-go). We notice that the shop’s two rooms once populated with relaxing seating arrangements now have high-top and cocktail tables only, surrounded by shelves to shop for teas and teaware. Just Add Honey has made a definite shift from inviting you to while away the hours, to a tea shop where you rest a spell before jumping back on the Beltline. We admire how this local tea business has adapted to remain a thriving ATL tea purveyor, especially because they are a treasure trove of delicious teas and stylish tea gifts.
[2019] Feels so right going to tea in my new skirt from Hello Gorgeous!. We debated, is this late 50s/early 60s style? And…pockets! Also, digging the design elements: pops of yellow, high ceilings, glass globe pendants and honeycomb pattern repeated in the bar wall, chalkboard menu and dining room. Photo Credit: Instagram @jennybellphotography
In 2024, another cashier station now sits in the front room.
[2019] Dunwoody ladies need their in-town ATL teatime! We gathered around this long, beautiful farm table, with burlap runner. Table is set with World Market teacups, plated salads, and tiered stands building anticipation, as they wait to be filled.
[2019] Check out the funky rainbow pattern on our modernist chairs.
In 2024, the long dining table has been swapped out for two 4-top tables with yellow barstools and shelves of loose leaf teas and gifts, giving the room less “stay-a-while” atmosphere.
Tea Service
[2019] We peruse the shelves displaying glass canisters of Just Add Honey’s proprietary line of delicious teas, ultimately choosing Vanilla Chai and Georgia Peaches. Our group’s tea lovers would have liked to be offered a third tea choice with the meal.
[2019] We appreciate that our hostess Aneesha keeps our teapots replenished, and graciously agrees to leave them with us at the table so that we can repour at will.
On our return visit, we appreciate the succinct descriptions of diverse teas, of which each guest may choose one, hot or iced.
Gone are the bottomless pots of tea, each guest now served one 3-cup pot.
Scones & Spreads, Savories and Sweets
[2019] Look at this freshness! We enjoy this arugula salad with cucumbers, crumbled cheese and…no, those are not thinly sliced tomatoes…radishes!
[2019] We pause our conversation to explore the contents of our three tiers as they arrive course by course to fill the curate.
[2019] Full-size sandwiches include cucumber on white and chicken salad croissants.
[2019] A group favorite, these sweet potato scones are not dense as they first appeared, complemented with lemon curd and fig compote. Some in our group expressed a desire for this course to include clotted cream.
[2019] Desserts include lemon bars, donuts, brownies, berry cobbler and chocolate cobbler.
In 2024, the afternoon tea now includes one chicken croissant, one sweet potato scone with Smuckers strawberry jelly, one macaron and one wedding cookie. Everything very tasty, but traditional afternoon tea goers should set their expectations for a light afternoon tea menu.
Beautiful cast iron teapots, local honey and creative tea blends for sale
[2019] Many of the ladies sighed in passing this inviting lounge, a relaxing space to take tea and chat. [2024] This furniture too has been replaced with a few cocktail tables and shelves of tea goods for purchase.
[2019] We’d happily gather on this shaded patio for a casual afternoon tea in fall or spring (people-watching included). Photo Credit: Instagram @jennybellphotography
On our return visit, we find the front patio has been decorated with a wall of flowers and additional seating.
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