Where: Duluth, Georgia Style: Traditional Tea Selection: 8 loose leaf teas, 12+ bagged teas, 12+ botanical blend-ins Teatimes: Wednesday to Sunday, 10 to 2:30 Reservations: 24-hour notice Contact: 770-476-2202 Cost: $38 Afternoon Tea Destination Tea Tips: Afternoon tea is served in a spacious dining room that seats up to 75, making this a great choice for large parties. Though we find this to be a very filling afternoon tea menu, this would be a good place to bring friends who wanted to order from the lunch menu instead. Enter the property on Main Street and come up the drive in front of the house to find parking.
Destination Tea Notes: In 1998, the very first tearoom to open on this historic estate was inside the restored 1873 Payne-Corley House. The business soon closed the tearoom and switched to an events venue. Then in 2006, the building pictured above was added to the property, where in 2013, they reopened their tearoom, The Cottage on Main, offering homemade Southern favorites for lunch, and an annual holiday tea. In 2022, the business switched hands, and new chef-owner Jin Hee Kim wanted to bring a full afternoon tea service to the renamed Magnolia Cottage. Last year, her plans came to fruition, and alongside the teahouse’s regular lunch service, she began offering a very generous afternoon tea menu at an intentionally reasonable price. Former owner and Ritz-Carlton chef Michael Ganley remains involved with the business, kindly presenting the afternoon tea and history of the Payne-Corley House, while lauding Jin’s pastry skills and vision for this afternoon tea experience. With a beautifully set table, choose-your-own tea blending bar, and a staggering number of desserts, the Magnolia Cottage makes you feel as if someone has thrown you an elaborate tea party. We say it’s worth a visit!
Sunlight pours into the front room, where a variety of antiques make the perfect backdrop for a retro photo shoot.
The Atlanta Afternoon Tea Society met for afternoon tea, and member Bridgette dressed the part beautifully, looking right at home in this vintage scene. [Photo Credit: Bridgette Wilson]
One side of the room seats lunch diners.
Long tables are set for afternoon tea with beautiful china and fresh flowers.
Hello to the ladies of AATS! [Photo Credit: Elena Wittman, ArtofHats Studio]
Tea Selection
Playing our favorite game: Find My Favorite Teacup
Although we are sure many will have fun creating their own tea blends using the variety of provided loose leaf and bagged teas, spices and botanicals, this is not our preferred tea service, for three reasons: 1. it requires guests to interrupt their afternoon tea as they are ready for more tea; 2. large teapots of hot water brought to table quickly lose their temperature, resulting in weak brews; 3. guests who are not familiar with tea steeping methods may not know how to make themselves a good cup of tea.
Fun peering through all the offered botanicals
Scones & Spreads, Savories and Sweets
Served first, these freshly baked yummy buttery breads with crispy exterior did not have the texture of a scone, but we enjoyed them nonetheless.
Scones are served with homemade blueberry preserves and marmalade butter (both fabulous). We like the delicate demitasse cups and butter dishes used to present the condiments.
The Southern tearoom roots of Magnolia Cottage are on full display in the satisfying savory course, which includes Pimiento Cheese Stuffed Cucumbers, Pecan Chicken Salad on Croissant, Egg Salad on soft White and Vegetarian Broccoli Pasta Salad with Sweet Onion Vinaigrette.
Magnolia Cottage was just finishing their Valentine’s menu when we visited. We counted an astounding 11 desserts per person, all homemade.
Homemade confections included (top to bottom) Strawberry Mousse with Chocolate Cake, Rose Chocolate Dipped Strawberry, Raspberry Macaron, Marshmallow Slice, Mini Red Velvet Cookie, Cheesecake with Blueberry Compote, Pink Chocolate Heart with Pistachios, White Chocolate Truffle with Coconut and Chocolate Mousse, Brownie Chocolate Truffle, Lemon-Glazed Madeleine and Granola Honey Bite. If these had to be reduced to a more modest number, we say the outstanding keepers were: Strawberry Mousse with Chocolate Cake, Marshmallow Slice (with embedded cookies), the rich Brownie Chocolate Truffle and the surprise bite of the White Chocolate Truffle with chocolate mousse inside.
Hello from Angela (wearing one of her favorite tea hats by Elena Wittman of ArtofHats Studio in Marietta, Georgia, as well as one of her favorite necklaces by Anna Balkan in Norcross, Georgia) [Photo Credit: Elena Wittman, ArtofHats Studio]
Grateful to Sharon Allen Lord and Elena Wittman (at left) who organize AATS, bringing new tea friends together.
Hello!
This tea establishment looks fabulous! The pictures of the food served look so wonderful and beautiful, they must have been luscious to enjoy. I live in California, but i hope to visit either Georgia or South Carolina to have tea. LOL!
Thank You for all Your wonderful information.
Veronica
Veronica, thank you for your kind comments! California being the top state for afternoon tea in the U.S., you have so many teas to explore. If you find a favorite, please let us know! And if you are looking for a Georgia or South Carolina recommendation when you visit, email us (angela@destinationtea.com) and we are happy to share some suggestions.
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.
Hello!
This tea establishment looks fabulous! The pictures of the food served look so wonderful and beautiful, they must have been luscious to enjoy. I live in California, but i hope to visit either Georgia or South Carolina to have tea. LOL!
Thank You for all Your wonderful information.
Veronica
Veronica, thank you for your kind comments! California being the top state for afternoon tea in the U.S., you have so many teas to explore. If you find a favorite, please let us know! And if you are looking for a Georgia or South Carolina recommendation when you visit, email us (angela@destinationtea.com) and we are happy to share some suggestions.