Where: The Redlands, Miami, Florida Style: Classic charming teahouse Tea Selection: 24+ loose leaf teas Teatimes: Tuesday to Friday, 11 to 4; Saturday to Sunday, 9 to 5 Reservations: 24-hour notice Contact: info@tearoommiami.com Cost: $33 Royal Tea; $30 High Tea; $30 Vegetarian High Tea; $27 Afternoon Tea; $15 Nursery Tea Destination Tea Tips: Leave time to explore Cauley Square’s cottage shops and galleries, and snap some group portraits in the garden courtyard across the street.
Destination Tea Notes: We say The Tea Room at Cauley Square needs to be on everyone’s destination tea bucket list. What a delightful treat to come to afternoon tea at this quintessential teahouse that checks all our boxes: homemade food that is so yummy, quality teas in many varieties and flavors, top-notch customer service, reasonable pricing, and beautiful china and ambiance. To make us feel even more regal, it’s our first time taking tea surrounded by peacocks!
Originally developed by produce shipper William Cauley in the early 20th century, Cauley Square is a historic railroad village in South Miami-Dade’s agricultural district, “The Redlands.” Devastated by the 1926 Miami Hurricane and following Great Depression, Cauley Square’s buildings were saved from demolition in the ’50s by an interior designer. She began restoring the village cottages and brought in additional handcrafted pioneer houses from the surrounding Redlands area, to house new restaurants and shops. The Tea Room Restaurant opened in 1979, and has since switched hands several times, now owned by Veronica Gobin, who carefully refreshed the furniture, paint, floors and landscaping. You may have to plan several return visits here, not only to experience the various tea menus, but also to take tea in the shaded front garden and each of the themed tea rooms inside.
The front garden seating area is turfed beneath mix-n-match outdoor and upholstered furniture sets.
The peahens and peacocks perched in the trees and watching over our garden teatime at The Tea Room are a fitting addition (a group of peafowl is called a “party”). The wild peafowl population has been growing in southern Florida, but they originally hail from tea nations India and Sri Lanka. A proper tea mascot?
The frilly Wicker Room features lacy curtains and tablecloths, chandeliers and white wrought iron and wicker chairs.
The Pipe Room is decorated to appeal to the gentlemen diners, with black and ivory color scheme.
Lit by delicate chandeliers, the walls in the English Parlor are covered with framed prints and ornate mirrors.
Popular for children’s parties, The Butterfly Room sports a mural running the length of the room, as well as golden brown wicker chairs and dining tables with green sewing table bases.
At front of the teahouse, a few tables are tucked into the Rose Room, which also displays part of The Tea Room’s vast teacup collection.
A teacup collector’s dream. Teapots and teacups at the ready!
Tea Selection
Though it’s always a happy moment when the champagne and bellini arrive, it’s the smile on a dear friend’s face that is the true cause for celebration.
Each guest may choose two teas during their visit, and our server, General Manager Vivian Santamaria is an expert on recommending teas to match our tastes. The Wedding Blend — a white tea flavored with roses and vanilla by Harney & Sons –is fabulous as always. Vivian offers a small dish to hold the steeped tea leaves.
Nina’s Paris Teas are served in large French presses. We try the Des Hiver (winter) black tea blend with rose petals, blue mallow, vanilla, cinnamon and apple.
French presses can be a bit messy at afternoon tea, but this one is sturdy. We still prefer the beauty of a china teapot.
Scones & Spreads, Savories and Sweets
In The Tea Room’s garden oasis, our footed tea table is the perfect size to hold all our afternoon tea treats.
The Royal Tea is the Afternoon Tea tiered tray with the added choice of Sangria, Bellini, Mimosa or Champagne. Afternoon Tea savories are fresh and tasty, including: Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad with Mixed Greens; Cucumber with Cream Cheese and Capers; Prosciutto with Tomato, Kalamata Olive, Swiss Cheese and Pesto; Deviled Egg, and Smoked Salmon with Cream Cheese and Capers.
Served with The Tea Room’s pink clotted cream, these freshly baked blueberry scones are so warm and scrumptious that it’s hard not to gobble them down too quickly. Must save room for dessert!
Perfect miniature desserts allow us to happily explore the homemade goodness of The Tea Room’s Macaron, Key Lime Pie, Carrot Cake, Banana Bread Cupcake and Almond Tea Cookie.
Ornate china tiered trays add another level of elegance to our afternoon tea experience.
Vegetarian diners need plenty of veggie alternatives so they don’t leave hungry, and we happily note that the Vegetarian Afternoon Tea offers two additional savories, plus a soup course to the scone and dessert courses served at the traditional Afternoon Tea. Vegetarian savories include a Caprese Sandwich; Avocado-Tomato with Pesto and Swiss Cheese; Cucumber with Cream Cheese and Capers; Roll with Cucumber, Tomato and Mixed Greens, Deviled Egg…
…plus two hand Spinach-and-Goat-Cheese quiches served with greens. Look at that flaky crust!
The soups of the day are announced and we go with the Lentil Soup (included in the Vegetarian Tea), which is presented in a mini tureen on a china plate. These thoughtful, extra touches make teatime feel special at The Tea Room.
Note in the background: The Tea Room at Cauley Square (which also serves a full breakfast and lunch menu) is popular with the menfolk too.
Vintage jewelry for sale in the teahouse foyer
Children’s teasets and china figurines for sale
Is this ceramic tea jar the famous British Yorkie? Dog lovers, please help.
Across the street you’ll find the Cauley Square courtyard, with lush garden paths that lead to a tiny chapel and shops.
Our quiet stroll passes by hidden fountains.
Beautiful flowering plants make the perfect backdrop for portraits.
One’s imagination runs wild at this sight, a dreamy “tree room” for a children’s tea.
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