Destination Tea: Smith-Byrd House

Where: Prattville, Alabama
Style:  Victorian teahouse
Tea Selection:  150+ loose leaf teas!!!
Teatimes: Wednesday to Saturday, 10 to 4; Private parties; Scone and Tea-Tasting Classes
Reservations:  Requested, same day is sometimes possible
Contact:  334-365-1459
Cost:  $40 Tea for Two; $30 Gluten Free Tea; $27 Queen’s Tea; $24 Princess Tea Plus; $21 Princess Tea; $19 Duchess Tea; $18 Anytime Tea; $16 Baroness Tea; $15 Young Lad or Lady’s Tea; $13 Lunch Tea; $12 Little Prince or Princess Tea
Destination Tea Tips: You order your afternoon tea menu upon arrival. Groups of 6 or more are asked to order the same menu, while smaller parties can choose from the teahouse’s many options, which your server will help you navigate.

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

historic Smith-Byrd House in Prattville, Alabama

Destination Tea Notes: One mark of a great afternoon tea is that it makes instant converts of newcomers. Such was the case when we brought two newbies to Beth and David Melling’s bed and breakfast in historic Prattville, Alabama: Smith-Byrd House, whose first floor they converted into two large tearooms and a gift shop. The couple opened the business in 2007, in a Queen Anne Victorian home, built in the 1880s, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Making their afternoon tea menus from scratch, the Mellings are obviously afternoon tea enthusiasts themselves, treating their guests to one generosity after the next. After welcoming diners with a seasonal iced tea, they encourage you to fully explore their endless tea menu by indulging in bottomless pots. Savvily, they serve perfectly brewed and decanted teas (tea leaves removed) in labeled 2-cup teapots, which both cuts down on waste, and ensures tea can be enjoyed before it cools. David looks at the bottomless pots as a sales technique: allowing guests to sample teas until they find a favorite they’ll want to purchase to enjoy at home. David, Beth and server Suzanna were diligent about checking on us to make sure we were able to order new teas when ready. As for menus, we advise ordering the Queen’s Tea or Tea for Two so that you do not miss the scrumptious first course of savory and salad.

The one major improvement towards impressing guests would be the upkeep of the house and grounds. For example, by clearing miscellaneous items on the wrap-around porch and tidying the landscaping and signage, a picturesque afternoon tea could be served al fresco. Inside, where tables are set with damask linens, crocheted doilies and fine china, replacing rusted floor vents might help freshen the slight old house smell. The Mellings have been renovating the house over the years, so perhaps these items are on the list. Ultimately, we say, it’s worth overlooking these imperfections to enjoy a delightful and very affordable afternoon tea service.