Where: Boston, Massachusetts Style: Traditional Tea Selection: 9 loose leaf teas by Palais des Thés Teatimes: Daily, 2:30-4:30 Reservations: 24-hour notice Contact: 617-856-7744 Cost: $60 Champagne Tea; $50 Afternoon Tea Destination Tea Tips: Find Rowes Wharf Sea Grille either by traversing the lobby of the Boston Harbor Hotel, or through the harbor-facing entrance of the hotel, via the waterfront boardwalk.
Destination Tea Notes: Afternoon tea is done very well at Boston Harbor Hotel’s Rowes Wharf Sea Grille, whose deep ocean blue, cream and wood-toned decor creates an ideal environment for a ladies-and-gentlemen tea. Having arrived early for our teatime, we start on the scenic wharf patio where my husband enjoys a pint of craft beer and a bowl of chowder. We then are led to our prepared table inside the quiet restaurant for a relaxed, scrumptious afternoon tea. You might expect a certain stuffiness at a historic luxury hotel such as this, but rather we find the atmosphere and service to be all the things we like in an upper class establishment: attentive, refined and gracious.
Boston’s HarborWalk leads to this harbor entrance for Rowes Wharf Sea Grille.
Loving the view from the outdoor harbor patio
Inside Boston Harbor Hotel, the entrance to Rowes Wharf Sea Grille
Sailboat paintings framed in gold and deep blue overlook navy and ivory houndstooth upholstered chairs. It feels at once masculine and vibrant.
Tea Service
A sweet touch, rose petals on our tea table
So much better than a box of assorted chocolates, this Palais des Thés sampler lets us map flavor descriptions to scents to choose our teas
Each guest chooses a tea, steeped with boiling water brought to the table, then personally strained. For this model, again we suggest choosing a green or herbal tea which is less likely to turn bitter from over-steeping before you have poured out your entire pot. Or if you choose a black or oolong tea, serve that pot around the table first.
Scones & Spreads, Savories and Sweets
Strawberry red plates set off our afternoon tea courses and complete a patriotic color scheme for the room.
“Savory petit sandwiches” include maple smoked salmon and orange goat cheese bocconcini, deconstructed egg salad, deviled ham, mustard and honey salad on checkerboard bread and smoked turkey, avocado and tomato mini club.
The traditional lemon curd is absent; jarred preserves are offered instead, along with cream for the vanilla bean and black currant scones. Also pictured here are the raspberry meringues, which are so very good!
Dessert includes lime macaron, blueberry mousse (our favorite), fresh fruit tart and cocoa nib tea cake. We appreciate the thought that went into the aesthetic of this colorful course.
We love comments! Destination Tea's comment policy shares a guiding principle with afternoon tea etiquette: please be gracious. We welcome honest comments that are not rude or scathing.
Thank you for posting I have an affinity for your pictures and plating!