Update: The Williamsburg Hotel became Arlo Williamsburg in 2023, and discontinued their weekend afternoon tea service, but continues to offer holiday teas.
Where: Brooklyn, New York Style: Hip-luxe industrial Tea Selection: 7 loose leaf teas Teatimes: Saturday to Sunday, 12 to 5 Reservations: Walk-ins welcome Contact: 718-362-8100 or reserve here Cost: $75 Holiday Tea; $65 High Tea Destination Tea Tip: On-the-street parking is free, and there is paid parking within walking distance of the hotel.
Prices and teatimes are subject to change. Please see our NYC Afternoon Tea Directory for the latest details.
Photo Credit: Williamsburg Hotel
Destination Tea Notes: For the Freda Aunts’ first ever afternoon tea, we met at The Williamsburg Hotel in Brooklyn. Angela’s wonderful aunts have been cheering on Destination Tea since the start, so this introduction to afternoon tea was well overdue. How would this British tradition go over with a gathering of Italian-American New Yorkers, themselves accomplished cooks, bakers and hostesses? Once again, Angela took the gamble of inviting afternoon tea newbies to a place she had not yet experienced herself, but happily, she chose well. The Williamsburg Hotel checks several of our afternoon tea preferences at Destination Tea: completely scratchmade, delicious menu; kind service; quality teas decanted before being served; and a beautiful setting. We love the salvaged materials used throughout this neighborhood boutique hotel opened in 2017. Flooring uses repurposed wood from a Kentucky tobacco warehouse, the bar front is made of antique frames, and the brick comes from a demolished building in Queens. To warm the industrial design elements, a sea of glass globes twinkle above the dining area and cherry red banquettes hug the walls. Bottom line, your cool factor goes up just walking through these doors.
You’ll go down to the front lobby, which is actual below street level.
Loving the artistry of the lobby bar design
Live jazz accompanies the weekend tea service.
Our long table under gads of pendant lights, feels like Brooklyn magic
Glad for the addition of potted greenery, and gorgeous floor lamps that are like standing chandeliers.
Teal and red upholstered seating against a swirling tiled floor
Giant brick arches give the effect of windows around two sides of the restaurant.
Tea Selection
The afternoon tea menus change throughout the year. Each guest is invited to select their pot of tea. We were pleased with the Earl Grey and Japanese Sencha.
Some of us begin with bubbly. The servers provide minimal interruptions throughout the tea service, which we very much appreciate because we all get together only once or twice a year. There’s much to say!
Everyone loved showing off their tea-for-one set, each guest’s pattern different from the next. Teas were properly steeped in the kitchen and brought to the table decanted – yes! The one drawback to this serving method is that the teacup is so large, the tea quickly cools as you are drinking it.
Eclectic teaset designs add a punch of color against the wood, metal and brick backdrop in the dining area.
Scones & Spreads, Savories and Sweets
Three generations of Freda ladies at our first afternoon tea together (and Angela is wearing her Grandma Freda’s jewelry, to make it four generations, in spirit). Many thanks to everyone for making the drive to Brooklyn from New Jersey and Long Island so that we could make this tea happen.
Question: how can Smashed Avocado be so amazing? We are avid fans of avocado toast, but never has it been this delicious. In fact, the table agreed that every finger sandwich was a treat, the Camembert & Apple being another favorite. We’d like a less bulky Smoked Salmon, a minor change. What matters most is that all the sandwiches, including the Egg & Mayo, feature fresh ingredients. So yummy!
The Cranberry Scone is baked perfectly, with a bit of white chocolate drizzle, served with preserves. For the aunts’ first afternoon tea, we would have liked the afternoon tea menu to include clotted cream so that they could experience it. Well, that just means we will have to meet for afternoon tea again!
We always appreciate bite-sized desserts that allow us to sample several confections without overindulging. The dessert course included: Panna Cotta with Raspberry Gelée; Pecan Pie Bar; Red Berry & Kiwi Tartlet (again, how did they make this popular tea treat outstanding?); Red Velvet Mini Cupcake, Peppermint Bark and Gingerbread Friend.
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.
those pots of tea look so pretty! love the ambiance too. will have to check it out on my next visit to the city.
Please do and let us know what you think! We didn’t get to experience the weekend jazz, bet that adds to the experience.