Destination Tea: Mary Lucille's

Update: Mary Lucille’s closed in October 2024.

Where: Cumming, Georgia
Style: Elegant drawing room
Tea Selection: 12 loose leaf teas
Teatimes: Wednesday to Friday, 11 or 1; Saturday to Sunday 11, 1 or 3; Mommy & Me Teas, 3rd Saturday
Reservations: Reservations required
Contact: Reserve here or 678-341-0054
Cost: $65 Georgia High Society; $55 Southern Lady
Destination Tea Tips: Take a moment to read Mary Lucille’s story, framed near the hostess stand, to learn about this tearoom’s roots. If you opt for the Georgia High Society tea, come very hungry! You may also like to leave time to stroll the boardwalk and trail system, or visit the boutiques in Cumming City Center.

Prices and teatimes are subject to change. Please see our Georgia afternoon tea directory for the latest details.

exterior afternoon tea at Mary Lucille's in Cumming, Georgia

Destination Tea Notes: We entitle this review, “Good Things Come to Those Who Wait.” At Destination Tea’s first Atlanta industry tea party in 2022, we first met owner Jill Harris, who was getting ready to launch her new tearoom in Cumming: Mary Lucille’s, named in tribute to her grandmother and inspiration, Mary Lucille Moore. We are so glad Jill weathered the unforeseen hurdles that came her way over the next two years, so that we could experience her vision come to life:

Join us at Mary Lucille’s where we invite you to savor not just the food, but the enduring warmth and kindness that defined her kitchen table. Let her spirit of unwavering affection and understanding accompany every delectable bite and every heartfelt conversation shared within these walls.”

At the rear of her restaurant, Jill has created a peaceful and picturesque tearoom, where her grandmother is felt, from the monogrammed starched white napkins to the heirloom cutlery stamped with Mary Lucille’s initials. If these sweet touches don’t catch your eye, the sweetest and most triumphant of this afternoon tea experience definitely will: an astounding three tiers of homemade desserts, several of which feature recipes passed down from grandmother Mary Lucille. On both our visits, the service was welcoming and diligent, and only just a little too zealous in the offers to pack up leftovers while we were mid-course. This may be related to the desire to prepare for a second seating in the six-table tearoom, though we were encouraged not to rush. Finally, if you fall in love with your teaset during your teatime, you have the option to buy one for yourself! We love this clever idea: a set including a teapot, sugar bowl and creamer, four teacups with saucers and three-tiered tray can be purchased for $190.

bakery at afternoon tea at Mary Lucille's in Cumming, Georgia — Just in case you fall in love with Mary Lucille’s fresh baked pastries and need to take a batch home.

heading back to the tearoom for afternoon tea at Mary Lucille's in Cumming, Georgia — You will walk through the main dining area to find the quiet tearoom at back.

tearoom at afternoon tea at Mary Lucille's in Cumming, Georgia — Taking in this new tearoom

faux fireplace and shelving in tearoom at afternoon tea at Mary Lucille's in Cumming, Georgia — Proper low afternoon tea setting

seating arrangements at afternoon tea at Mary Lucille's in Cumming, Georgia — The entire room can also be reserved for a private tea.

embroidered napkins at afternoon tea at Mary Lucille's in Cumming, Georgia — Embroidered napkins await each guest.

afternoon tea at Mary Lucille's in Cumming, Georgia — Enjoying pride-of-place seating by the faux fireplace

Tea Selection

table setting and antique tea knives at afternoon tea at Mary Lucille's in Cumming, Georgia — Passed down from grandmother Mary Lucille, these beauties date back to 1941, part of the Wallace Silversmith “Grande Baroque” line of sterling silver cutlery. We love seeing historical touches incorporated into a new tearoom.

peach black tea at afternoon tea at Mary Lucille's in Cumming, Georgia — This beautiful china pattern is for sale.

decanting the teas at afternoon tea at Mary Lucille's in Cumming, Georgia — On our first visit, we mentioned to the server that we would like to remove our tea leaves to prevent oversteeping, and we felt heard when on our second visit, our server came by with a dish to take our tea sachets. Still, to keep the tea table neat and serve the best brews, our preference would be to have teas steeped and decanted before coming to the table.

Scones & Spreads, Savories and Sweets

three tiered tray at afternoon tea at Mary Lucille's in Cumming, Georgia — The first two courses of afternoon tea arrive.

tea from above at afternoon tea at Mary Lucille's in Cumming, Georgia — On soft homemade bread (yum!), tea sandwiches are egg salad, pimiento cheese and chicken salad.

scones and spreads at afternoon tea at Mary Lucille's in Cumming, Georgia — Savory garlic herb cheese scones are served with salted butter, while glazed blueberry scones with fresh blueberries are paired with lemon curd.

garden salad at afternoon tea at Mary Lucille's in Cumming, Georgia — If you opt for the Georgia High Society menu, next a garden salad is served with your choice of dressing, followed by…

veggie quiche at afternoon tea at Mary Lucille's in Cumming, Georgia

sausage quiche at afternoon tea at Mary Lucille's in Cumming, Georgia

…your choice of quiche (we chose veggie and sausage). It may be tempting to eat your delectable personal quiche in its entirety, but we suggest saving room for what comes next.