Destination Tea: Magnolia Tea Room

Where: Historic McDonough, Georgia
Style: Wedding banquet
Tea Selection: 16+ loose leaf teas
Teatimes: Tuesday to Thursday, 11 to 5 (last seating); Friday 11 to 7:30 (last seating); Saturday to Sunday 10:30 to 5 (last seating); Private parties by reservation
Reservations: Recommended, walk-ins welcome
Contact: 470-278-1336 or reserve here
Cost: $45 Afternoon Tea (ages 5 and up only)
Destination Tea Tips: On-street parking is available, and you may want to leave time to explore the shops in the historic square, which include bookstore Story on the Square.

Prices and teatimes are subject to change. Please see our Georgia Afternoon Tea Directory for the latest details.

Destination Tea Notes: In early 2025, Marsha E. Simon opened Magnolia Tea Room one block off the historic square in McDonough, in memory of her grandmother, mother and sister. The tearoom “celebrates family and tradition” through a handcrafted menu and elegant afternoon tea service. We recommend a visit, especially if fabulous scones and real clotted cream are a requirement for you. We also discovered several yummy new tea blends here. Our server was kind and gracious as we happily enjoyed an unrushed teatime before heading out to explore the shops in the square. Local shop owners told us how much they love having Magnolia Tea Room as a scrumptious meeting place, and given how affordable this homemade afternoon tea is, we expect the event room at back will become very popular for private parties. All in all, a wonderful and fitting addition to McDonough Square, whose buildings date back to Victorian times.

event room Magnolia Tea Room in McDonough, Georgia — Bright white linen is accented with satin runners and chair bows.

event room at Magnolia Tea Room in McDonough, Georgia — At the back of the tearoom, an event room can accommodate private parties.

chandelier at Magnolia Tea Room in McDonough, Georgia — Chandeliers softly light the space.

Tea Selection

tea list at afternoon tea at Magnolia Tea Room in McDonough, Georgia — Each guest is offered a pot of tea, and we agreed the table favorite was the Pineapple Lime green tea.

tea station at afternoon tea at Magnolia Tea Room in McDonough, Georgia — A tea-brewing station is separate from the kitchen at back.

teapot at Magnolia Tea Room in McDonough, Georgia — We’ve seen these teasets before, very dramatic with their gold trim.

steeping tea at Magnolia Tea Room in McDonough, Georgia — This is the one area we would recommend a change, because you know we prefer teas are steeped and decanted before teapots come to table. Our tea was still steeping when served, and a tea timer was set out. To prevent oversteeping, we removed our infusers to one of our tea plates and requested another plate (see the next photo). Especially given this tearoom’s separate tea station, we would love to see teas properly steeped behind the counter, infusers removed and set aside for a second infusion.

Scones & Spreads, Savories and Sweets

afternoon tea at Magnolia Tea Room in McDonough, Georgia — Afternoon tea is served!

tea sandwiches at Magnolia Tea Room in McDonough, Georgia — Tea sandwiches were all delicious and plentiful, including tuna, chicken salad, pimiento cheese and cucumber with cream cheese.

scones and clotted cream at afternoon tea at Magnolia Tea Room in McDonough, Georgia — The amply sized almond scone was to die for, the perfect softness and addictive flavor, served with jam and imported clotted cream.

fabulous scones at afternoon tea at Magnolia Tea Room in McDonough, Georgia — We call this heaven. Just look at that crumb.

desserts at afternoon tea at Magnolia Tea Room in McDonough, Georgia — Dessert included a selection of petit fours, madeleines, fresh fruit and our favorite, a locally baked red-white-and-blue macaron. We love a seasonal, freshly made macaron, rather than the commercially made macarons so often served at afternoon teas. You’ll taste the difference.

Destination Tea’s Afternoon Tea Rating

Destination Tea's Afternoon Tea Scorecard for afternoon tea at Magnolia Tea Room in McDonough, Georgia

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2 Comments

It looks delicious! I think they could do better with presentation, however. Jars of jam could go on the table, sandwiches could be arranged a little nicer. But it all looks good.

It looks like they need a bigger tiered servers instead of jamming them all in.
I agree they could put the jams, or those bottle containers in another tray or plate. Presentation could be better I think.

Tea Selection

Scones & Spreads, Savories and Sweets

Destination Tea’s Afternoon Tea Rating

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