GIRLFRIEND’S GETAWAY: ENJOY AN ELEGANT AFTERNOON TEA IN BOSTON

“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.”
Henry James

A steaming cup of tea in a fine china teacup,

a graceful small teapot,

a tiered stand filled with:

    sweet and savory finger sandwiches,

    fresh scones and clotted cream, and

    tiny delicate petit fours

Poetry in a single meal.

What could be a nicer excuse for a wonderful outing with a good friend? When the world returns to being safe and we can all go out to eat again, afternoon tea is high on my list. If you’re thinking about a memorable Girlfriends Getaway in the future, consider a trip to the capital of Massachusetts. It’s a special treat to Enjoy an Elegant Afternoon Tea in Boston.

The Afternoon Tea Tradition

Although the history of tea can be traced back to ancient China, afternoon tea is most often associated with the British who began the tradition in the late 1800s. Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, began taking a light snack with tea in the afternoon and invited her friends to join her before going out to the fashionable London society promenade in Hyde Park. If you can’t get to the UK, there are a number of places to have tea in Boston. But if you want more than just a tearoom experience, visit the Boston Public Library in Copley Square.

Boston Public Library McKim Building

Afternoon tea in the Boston Public Library seems like an unusual idea until you enter the doors. Built in 1895, this architectural stunner was called “a palace for the people.” In addition to an exhaustive research collection, beautiful art, sweeping marble steps and intricately carved statues of lions, it has a central open air courtyard complete with portico seating and a fountain in the middle. Charles McKim, the architect, drew his inspiration from ornate buildings in France, Italy and Spain.

Weddings at Boston Public Library

To get to the tea room, you have to go through the library, out into the courtyard, and back into the building through another door. The ornate courtyard is rimmed with columns perfectly framed by matching windows. The brown metal railing above the arches serves as a barrier for visitors who venture out on to that upper tier patio. It protects them from falling as they gaze over the sides at the picturesque setting below.

The beautiful inner courtyard is a popular place to tie the knot. The day I visited, a wedding party started gathering around the edges for their rehearsal. There were at least two dozen people including the bride and groom. They seemed pretty relaxed as they practiced walking in pairs around the fountain. The next day, there were blue skies again, so I imagine it was another gorgeous wedding at the the Boston Public Library.

Map Room Tea Lounge

Before you enter the Courtyard Tea Room itself, you pass through the more masculine looking tea-inspired bar and lounge. The Map Room Tea Lounge is adorned with framed historic maps and bookcases lining the walls. The room reminds me of a train station nook. It serves adult beverages and a heartier menu of soups, sandwiches, scones, and petit fours. 

The Courtyard Tea Room 

When you enter the room, you immediately notice the tall ceilings and the elegant ambiance. The Courtyard Tea Room walls are painted a soothing pale grey with black and white photos matted and hung in identical frames. Underneath, comfortable seating is covered in luxurious cream fabric, while white linen tablecloths and a simple vase of white roses adorn each table. Teal cushions, silver rimmed water glasses and sterling silver flatware are the accent pieces providing contrast to all the light colors. 

Menus in Old Books

I loved the experience of being presented with an antique black leather-bound book by the server. Inside, the bookmark is actually the menu. What a clever way to play on the library theme!

A Generous Selection of Teas

Your first decision is what tea you want with your meal. Choices range from loose teas, classic teas, green teas and white teas. This month’s select tea was “The Cozy Copley” which featured Earl Grey with “notes of lavender and vanilla” made into a latte with steamed milk. Who could resist?

Delicious Food and Adult Beverages

Also elegantly presented, the menu details the diverse small servings that accompany your tea. If you want to indulge in an adult liquid refreshment, a selection of wine and beer are also provided by the glass and by the bottle.

Finger Sandwiches, Tasty Scones and Petit Fours – Oh My!

At an afternoon tea, one of the most exciting moments is the presentation of the tiered stand with all the bite-sized food. I love the colors, the textures, the smells and the flavors. Pictured above is a sampling for one so you can clearly see each of the selections. According to tea etiquette, you eat finger sandwiches first, petit fours second and scones last (bottom tray to top). Sometimes, you need to break the rules. 

First Course: Savory Finger Sandwiches

I really enjoyed the delicate flavors of the savory tea sandwiches. Starting with the yellow square on the top right and moving around clockwise, the selections included: egg salad with Dijon mustard and watercress on whole grain bread, Maine lobster with citrus and chives on toasted 12 grain bread, Virginia ham with pimento cheese on dark pumpernickel, smoked salmon with red onion cream cheese and capers on a mini bagel, English cucumber with radish and lemon cream on Pan de Mie, and in the middle, chicken salad Green Goddess on toasted 12 grain bread. Not completely filling but I did enjoy the protein.

Second Course – Buttery Scones

Although I ate it as a second course, scones are traditionally served on the top layer of the tiered stand so they can be covered with a cloth and kept warm. The two scones (plain and currant flavored) were perfectly buttery and flaky. I think the plain scone was sprinkled with sea salt while the currant flavored one was topped with sugar crystals. They were served with blood orange preserves, Devonshire cream and the traditional lemon curd. I thoroughly enjoyed the scones and appreciated the nice citrusy flavored spreads that didn’t overpower them. 

Third Course: Sweet Petit Fours

Sweets are my biggest weakness and so I couldn’t wait to bite into the colorful petit fours. Did you know that although the name roughly translates to “small oven” in French, petit fours actually referred to the heat setting? As you can see by the menu, the selections included (from the top yellow round moving to the right): Lemon thumbprints, strawberry macaron, chocolate Sinclair, blueberry cobbler and in the middle, zucchini cake with orange glaze. All delicious!

Afternoon Tea for a Special Occasion 

Looking around the tea room that day, I saw mothers and daughters, groups and pairs of women friends of varying ages, and at least one large group that was hosting either a baby or a bridal shower. Although seating is limited and it requires an advanced reservation, the Courtyard Tea Room really is a wonderful setting for any occasion. 

People seemed friendly and relaxed and I had a nice conversation with the two women seated to the left of me by the window. They pointed out the wedding rehearsal going on out in the courtyard. We had great fun trying to pick out which couple was the bride and groom, which couple was the maid of honor and best man, and which couple were the parents of the groom vs. parents of the bride. I can now add people watching as another reason to go out for afternoon tea.  

How to Make Reservations at the Courtyard Tea Room

Before the pandemic, a slot for afternoon tea at the Boston Public Library was in high demand. A knowledgable friend recommended having at least three options in mind before you try to sign up. Reservations can be made through the Open Table website for the Courtyard Tea Room and Map Room Lounge.  

When is the Courtyard Tea Room Open?

According to the website, the Courtyard Tea Room is usually open Wednesday through Sunday. There are three seatings on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 11 am, 1pm and 3 pm. On Sunday, there are only two seatings at 1 pm and 3 pm. The Courtyard Tea Room is closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Address for Boston Public Library

The Boston Public Library‘s address is: 700 Boylston Street, Boston MA 02116. It is also referred to as the Central Library in Copley Square. 

Photos Inside the Boston Public Library

On the way out, I had to stop and take a few pictures. In addition to housing vast quantities of books and other important resources, the Boston Public Library is both a  peaceful place to learn and a uniquely beautiful building. This magnificent historical treasure is worth a visit just to gaze at the works of art and amazing architectural details in every direction. 

If you’re looking for a lovely place for a special afternoon Girl’s Getaway, the Courtyard Tea Room is the perfect choice. Housed inside the “people’s palace,” a visit to the Boston Public Library will provide a memorable day you won’t forget.

What’s your favorite place to have afternoon tea? Please share it in the comments below.