The 8 best spots for afternoon tea in Williamsburg

I give full marks for the food, drinks, and the waiting and hosting staff. I had the surf and turf burger and shared oysters and shrimp cocktails which were delicious—but they took an hour to come out which isn't acceptable. We got complementary shrimp cocktails due to the wait which was appreciated, but time lost is still time lost

We were here for the English Tea. Reservation was for one hour which was sufficient time. We enjoyed most of the items. Atmosphere was great and included harp music during the tea. Parking is paid but online and easy. They handed our onion/garlic allergies very well by changing out the regular sandwiches with ham and cheese. Kind of plain sandwich but added some of the raspberry jam to it and took it to another level. In addition to the tea they provide a glass of champagne. This is really a one time thing but it was a special family occasion in Williamsburg.

We had a reservation, upon arrival the hostess did not acknowledge whether we were on the list or not. She did not seem friendly and had no expression at all. She grabbed the menus and started walking toward the dining room. Our waitress was fantastic. The food and beverages were excellent. I saw a man who appeared to be a "supervisor" talking to our waitress and a waitress who was working outside. He appeared to be scolding them about something. That is very disresptful to your employees and unnecessary for your customers to witness. I recommend more training for your hostess and some ethics training for your "supervisors". "Praise in public, chastise in private."

The Terrace room and the outside bar had fantastic service. At first, I was uncomfortable because it was so fancy, and I did not feel like I belonged. As the evening progressed, we mellowed out and enjoyed the fantastic and historic atmosphere. The charcuterie and cheese appetizer was insane, and the 1937 burger was delicious.

Tea time is a must have here! They served tasteful selections on tiered towers paired with lovely tea and other refreshments… all in a beautiful seemingly Regency style brightly colored room… there was even a live harp player!

Had a 5:45p reservation for the terrace room. We arrived 15 min early and had (quite pricy) drinks in the bar until our table was ready. We were seated about 5:50p and ordered no later than 6:05. At the 6:40 mark, not having seen our waitress in some time, I stopped "Abraham" who appeared to be a supervisor. He said he would immediately check. Having theatere tickets for 730p, we got up and went to the hostess, explained the issue and offered to pay for our water and drinks ordered. Abraham appeared and said our food was coming out We decline and again offered to pay for our drinks, which he comped. Clearly our order was mishandled at some point. Disappointing.

This is a Restaurant in the heart of the Colonial Williamsburg at the Williamsburg Inn, with a long history of serving a variety of Foods, including some period-specific Cuisines. While the atmosphere was wonderful and the Waitstaff professional and courteous... the Food was disappointingly bland & mediocre. My Vegetarian Wife was underwhelmed with her usually well-received the Soup & her Potatoes au Gratin meal, which resembled an Over-microwaved Lasagna. I thought my Brisket & Rib Burger with Bacon & Brie would be outstanding. It wasn't. The best thing out if a $120 Dinner for 2 was the Truffle-Parmesan French Fries. Can't win them all...

Recently went to Aroma before the lunch crowd. Took almost 40 minutes for one hot sandwich to arrived stone cold with only 3 other customers in the restaurant. By the time it arrived and I went to ask them to redo it, lunch crowd line was 8 people deep. I definitely won’t return or get another sandwich again.

Cool place. Pretty busy... Food is slow to come out ... But this is in the south so I have learned to lower my expectations of quick. Quick/fast service was forgotten 200 miles ago. The flow of the place is terrible... You go in and the line forms to the left around the front and the cash register on the front right and then around the side is where you pick up the drinks. Directly on the other side where the line forms is where you pick up the food.. And the bathroom is there. So there is a lot of congestion there as well as the middle of the dining where everyone is coming in. Basically a bustling coffee house with a college vibe. The food is real good. Mocha a bit bitter but was ok... Not on favorite list but on a drinkable list. Chocolate cake icing... Was so light and incredible. Almost maybe like a dense moose. To me it was perfect icing. Sandwich was good.

Cozy café with great attention to detail. The flat white was rich and perfectly balanced, and the pistachio croissant was one of the best I’ve had. Great spot to work or relax, with a calm atmosphere and friendly staff. Definitely one of my go-to coffee spots in Williamsburg.

25 years in business? I moved to VA 10 years ago & have visited Williamsburg many times & didn't know about this gem! I love this place. I ordered a croissant w/egg & cheese. It was so darn good. The croissant was massive, flaky, soft & buttery. I also got the orange freeze. Sooo good! It really hit the spot too since the weather has been close to 100* w/high humidity. I only wish they had on-line ordering b/c I wasnt sure where the line was or who was next in line b/c the place was understandably packed. So if management would please consider having on-line ordering 🥰. I will make this my "must go to place" every time I come to the area...you should too!

This spot is hands down one of the best places in town for breakfast and coffee. The menu has plenty of delicious options that go way beyond the basics and every dish comes out fresh and flavorful. The coffee is rich and smooth, exactly what you want to start your morning, and if you are in the mood to treat yourself their mimosas are the perfect touch. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming and the service is just as great as the food and drinks. Definitely the kind of place you will find yourself coming back to again and again.

Visiting the area with my husband and had a chance to hit a few coffee shops in the area. We both felt Aromas was a little sub par. Cappuccino wasn't the best and my hot chocolate was only about three-quarters full. Baked goods were nothing outstanding and variety was very limited. Was pretty busy and service was okay.

Their bacon breakfast burruto was tasty. It was huge and offered great value at a little over ten dollars. The sausage burrito wasn’t my fovorite though.

Really nice place to eat and relax family and date oriented. Screwed up my burger but my waitress was more on top of it than I was and was extremely Cautious to my food Allergy of Fish oil and shell fish also informed me that they (FRY EVERYTHING IN THE SAME FRYER AND OIL) I think management should consider a second fryer just for patrons with a fish allergy.. other than the burger incident Everything was Absolutely Perfect!! Me and My Daughter will definitely will be returning in the future. Thank You.

Overall an enjoyable experience. We did not have reservations but were promptly offered a table or to be seated at the bar. We opted for the bar as a party of 2. The bar tender, Shannon, was incredible! He is an expert at his craft and also very friendly and personable. The drinks were outstanding. We tried the strawberry basil mule, mango mojito, and the blueberry lemongrass margarita. All wonderful! Mango was a tad on the sweet side for my taste but still very good. The atmosphere is lovely with high end furnishings & decor and dim lighting. Very comfortable seating. My only complaint would be that even the bar area is very "family friendly" and very loud as everyone and their children were talking over one another making it hard to even hear the person sitting next to me. When we got down from our seats at the bar, we literally almost stepped on a baby that was being allowed to crawl on the floor behind us. The food was overall good. He had the catfish and the array of flavors was very good. Was a tad over cooked and the breading didn't stick to the fish. I had the shrimp and grits which had great flavor, and the shrimp were prepared very well. However, the grits were so runny I had to use a spoon and eat it like soup. It was worth it for the great flavor though, just made it messy and difficult not to make a mess of my outfit. We would definitely be back, especially for a good cocktail and plan to add this to our list of must-stops as we visit the Williamsburg area frequently.

I tried the strawberry mule. It was excellent. Yes, it is $15, but Ally made it worth every penny. Great experience, warm vibes. I'll be back to try the food, and I would 💯 recommend it. Interesting exhibits of wigs and clothes/shoes as you walk in as well... very curious. Reminds me of Penny Dreadful collections..

Sweet Tea & Barley – Charming & Dog-Friendly We stopped in for a quick meal while traveling with our golden doodle and were thrilled to find this pet-friendly spot. It’s attached to a charming colonial-style hotel, and the outdoor seating was just as lovely. The burgers were delicious, and our server was sweet and attentive. Great food, great service, and a relaxing, quaint setting — a pleasant experience all around.

We arrived expecting a charming mid-Atlantic evening experience, but instead, we got an eye‑rolling masterclass in poor service. Our waitress was sarcastic, inattentive, and seemed more interested in making unnecessary comments than ensuring we enjoyed our meal. She didn’t ask how we wanted our lamb prepared, blaming the “system” and even took it upon herself to recork our wine, completely missing the point that wine needs to breathe. Her attitude made it feel as if tourists were a nuisance rather than valued guests. Attempting to address the issues with management was frustrating; any action taken felt perfunctory, lacking genuine hospitality restaurants typically uphold. It’s a shame because the food and setting could have been delightful, but one unprofessional staff member made the experience uncomfortable and disappointing. I would not recommend this restaurant if attentive, courteous service is important to you.

Was truly impressed with the ambiance of the restaurant-the furniture had a nice southern feel and the music was wonderful -not quite jazz but almost? We shared a few dishes- biscuits with butter and jam -large and flaky, a southern crab chowder that was nice with a decent amount of crab, and shrimp and grits. They even split our meal into two plates (so you realize these plates are one portion split.) the shrimp were cooked perfectly and the whole dish seasoned well. I had a blood orange margarita which was enjoyed and my daughter had a Warm Flannel with bourbon and apple cider mix.

We visited Sweet Tea and Barley on Thursday evening. The atmosphere was warm and rustic, creating a cozy dining experience that we really enjoyed. Unfortunately, the food itself didn’t quite live up to expectations. I started with the crispy Brussels sprouts, but they weren’t actually crispy and ended up overcooked. The seasoning was spot on, which made it clear that if they had been prepared properly, they could have been excellent. I also ordered the kale and white bean soup with oyster mushrooms. The kale was tasty, but the beans felt as though they had been poured straight from the can rather than cooked down into the broth. They were much too firm for a bean soup. My husband had the catfish and collard greens. The catfish was amazing—flavorful and cooked perfectly. Unfortunately, the collard greens were disappointing, as they hadn’t been cleaned thoroughly before cooking. Overall, while the setting was enjoyable and a few things stood out, the food was inconsistent. I would rate our experience a 3.5 out of 5.

2 / 5 ⭐️ This place was so cute. I just wanted a coffee after dinner. They were 30mins to closing and they were cleaning, so all of the food was taken away already. But the decor was super cute. I just got a salted caramel latte, and that was decent. The service was… not great. There were 3 employees behind the counter, 2 cleaning and one on her personal phone. It seemed like they didn’t want to take our order. I felt bad but then 2 groups of people walked in after us and were helped IMMEDIATELY, they didn’t have to stand at the counter right in front of the employees and wait to be acknowledged. I’ll be honest, The service was bad. The decorations in the restaurant were cute, the coffee was as good as Wawa coffee. If you’ve wanted to try this place go for it. But there are a few other coffee shops in the area that I’ve never tried. I would much rather try a new place, and I might luck out and get better service. Good service is really hard to find now.

We really like the Illy Caffé. The atmosphere is fun, modern and very up beat. Their coffee is very tasty and they have a wide variety of really tasty cookies and pastries. There is ample seating both inside and out. This is a great place to stop for a snack or to relax with a book.

Visited Merchant Square on a very hot day in July and though we'd stop by for some gelato and air condition. Enjoyed the quaint atmosphere and the varying choices of gelato available. All the flavors we got were very good and cooled us down as needed. Also ended up getting a frappe and one of the bakery items. There isn't a substantial amount of seats, but there's enough as long as it's not busy. Overall a wonderful break from a long day of shopping and going through colonial Williamsburg. Will go back.

Delicious croissants and great coffee. One of the best cappuccinos I've ever had: the cinnamon brown sugar cappuccino ☕ The atmosphere was quiet and peaceful.

DEAD FLIES & MILDEW in food cases. This is THE filthiest food service establishment I’ve visited. I was there at 10:30am. The gelato was melted and gooey. There were dead flies in the gelato cooler. There was ALOT of mold inside the sandwich case as well as general funk in the front of the case. I searched for the health inspection grade but it was not posted. I’m trying to find where to post photos with this review. Mold & mildew take time to grow which is a sign of long term filth & not just being busy.

Food is not good and really overpriced. But the worst is the staff working there. (The guy ringing up was nice). I let the two ladies know that my bread tastes old and stale and they gave me balsamic to dip it in saying that then I'll be able to eat it. I couldn't believe it. Definitely won't return. There are other nice places so whoever reads this: DON'T GO HERE.

Terrific experience at this Illy location. Perfect place for a coffee break while shopping in Merchant square. We ordered the affogato (since it was so hot outside!), that is an espresso plus ice cream and both of ours were fantastic. Plenty of seating. There were pastries but we didn’t have them this time. Will get an espresso next visit!

Had a quick stop here to grab an iced latte. The location is decent just downtown. The interior and ambiance is just like a normal coffee shop. Service is great and timely. The latte had a burned bean taste and I couldn't see a proper espresso machine.

The place had a nice video to it and was chill 🥰. The salted jack ice cream was yummy, and the boba 👀 is good. They had my favorite brown sugar boba and it was yummy. Better then kong fu tea 🙂‍↕️

the secret garden cafe had such a welcoming atmosphere! the staff was friendly and helpful, which initially gave me high hopes because my partner and i are big boba fans. we ordered a frozen mango milk tea and an oolong milk tea, both with tapioca bubbles. the presentation was beautiful - the drinks looked picture-perfect! however, upon taking our first sip, we noticed that the tapioca bubbles weren't fully cooked . instead of the usual smooth, chewy texture, they were a bit hard and rough. unfortunately, we weren't satisfied with the drinks and ended up not finishing them. while the experience wasn't ideal, we wouldn't completely write off the secret garden cafe. the positive aspects like the friendly service and beautiful presentation encourage us to give them another chance in the future. however, we'd definitely emphasize the importance of fully cooked tapioca bubbles when ordering again.

We stopped by almost every day we were on vacation in Williamsburg. The service was fantastic, the kids loved the ice-cream, and my husband and I LOVED the brown sugar milk tea with boba. We've tried several places here in Chattanooga, and nothing comes close to Secret Garden.

Nice stop right outside colonial williamsburg, amongst lots of shopping. They have multi iced choices and a large drink menu, which includes bubble teas. They make everything fresh with several options of boba. Wifi is also available.

the honey gren tea was delicious but the tapioca was over 4hrs old, hard, and not cooked properly, whats realy upsetting is they were unwilling to correct the drink by offering to replace the boba, the tapioca was cooked so terribly it has given me a tummy ache. The coconut with mango jelly tasted the best but it wasnt a full scoop of topping , honey citron was realy good, the thai tea was average, Responce to owner - i used the half and halfs i grabed for my tea, bc i couldn't order a milk tea, i am alergic to non dariy creamer, and you wouldn't let me taste the milk cap and i didnt want to take a risk ordering something i realy didnt like when you told me you dont remake stuff, but i wasnt asking for a remake, i wish you had offered to take out the bad tapioca and give me a different topping, or at the very least strain the bad tapioca out of my drink.

It was so spacious, not too many people. Great for studying and talking with friends. The owners are so sweet and nice! There were so many options for milk tea, fruit tea, brewed tea, coffee, and there was ice cream!! i am going to be going back here so much i love it!!!

No way I just dropped $14 on a luke warm chicken with tendons still in the chicken patty. The sandwich was mildly hot with no acidity coming through from the tiny pickle and the tiny sliver of tomato. Why was the bun also cold? The crinkle cut french fries were straight from the grocery store. Also, it says that the sandwich is 1300 calories and that's a complete lie. This is a tiny tasteless sandwich. NOTHING feels house made.$14? C'mon. Now way.

The drinks are very tasty, I would highly recommend them! I had some fries as well and they were very crispy and tasty. I definitely want to try the fried chicken on my next visit.

I wanted to try something different so I got a peach matcha milk tea with grape popping boba. I thought it would be too many flavors but it’s was delicious.

I went here for the first time today. The staff was INCREDIBLE! Unfortunately I didn't get the name of the woman who helped me but she was so nice! I got one of each flavor of the Tiramisu and tried the matcha and oreo flavor and they were absolutely delicious! Oreo was a huge hit with my son! I couldn't decide between two drinks. I bought one and the wonderful lady made an extra of the other drink for me as well! Truly an amazing experience! I will absolutely be going back again! This place deserves 5 stars! 😊

I had sesame matcha milk tea. 🧋 It was great. This is a fun place to come get a boba tea with friends. We came after a dinner of Korean fried chicken. The perfect ending to a perfect day. I adore that they have lactose free options!

My kid and I regularly come here for drinks or chicken. Not only is everything always great, but the people who work here are always friendly and welcoming, often greeting us by nane when we show up. Best KFT in the region by far.

Kung fu tea is an AMAZING boba place. I used to hate boba and I hated the way it tasted when I got it at other restaurants. But as soon as I tasted it here I knew this was the place for me. All of the drinks are delicious, and the huge variety of drinks and toppings allows for endless options. I love the chicken they serve here as well, especially the tenders and sandwiches. All in all, I have to say it’s definitely worth trying at least once, or hundred of times if you’re an addict like me.

As a family of tea drinkers, we were already excited to find a shop dedicated to our addiction instead of the ever-so-common coffee shops. This place was amazing! So many choices of tea - each with such distinct aromas! It took a bit for us all to make a selection and have it brewed at the tea bar. But the satisfied sigh we all exhaled after our first sips exclaimed that it was worth the wait. Friendly staff - amazing selection!

Updated Review 9/25/24: I absolutely love coming to The Spice & Tea Exchange! The quality of their spices is unmatched, and you can really tell the difference. I typically buy turmeric from here, and it’s the best I’ve ever purchased. I’ve also tried a variety of their sugars and salts, and they’ve all been fantastic. During my visit today, I picked up a spice pack for my parents, who were visiting, and the Williamsburg pack was just perfect. This place is a true gem for anyone who loves cooking with top-quality ingredients. Such a great spot to explore and stock up on unique flavors! Old Review 2023: The Spice & Tea Exchange of Williamsburg is a delightful tea shop. Their wide variety of spices is impressive, and the customer service is excellent. The friendly and welcoming atmosphere adds to the overall charm of the place.

Visiting and walking around Merchants Square is a lovely way to spend the day. Popped into The Spice & Tea Exchange and found a larger selection. There are small and medium bags prepared and ready to go out you can go by weight. They also have a tea bar so I was able to get an iced tea to go. I was able to try one of the seasonal special teas " Dragon Fruit Fusion".

Have visited a couple of times and headed back now again! Great variety of spices, all flavors of salts that you could imagine and the tea selection!!! Oh my- a tea lovers dream. Absolutely love the iced Lady Grey a La crème -yes they have a tea bar where you can get hot or cold versions of your favorite tea served by some of the most cheerful people I have met!

My son get me hooked to this store. Every time I have been in the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. We went asked if they had a certain tea, they didn't but they showed what they had that was similar. The smoked salts are wonderful especially in burgers. The last time I was there the customers were helpful also!

Absolutely wonderful! Spices, herbs, teas, salts, and sugars! I love their new location! They have so much more space now! Everyone is super friendly and helpful! We would buy everything in here if we could! Highly recommend!

I've been coming here for years and woke up this morning wondering if I'd ever given you guys the five star review you deserve! I love this shop and I adore the new location, I haven't bought my tea from anywhere else and I've even gotten my in-laws and co-workers hooked! These are pictures of my retired cereal containers full of tea, spices and sugar! Keep up the amazing service and quality product! I'll be stopping by later for some more Coconut Oolong!

Somehow, between Marriott and Colonial Williamsburg, they’ve left the poor staff without a proper espresso machine. Espresso drinks, if they’re even able to make them, take 10 minutes each. The staff are nice and the grab and go is well stocked…but perhaps consider elsewhere if you want an espresso drink.

The menu needs to be updated. Staff was excellent. Cookies were a great choice for a afternoon treat.

Grabbed lunch from here yesterday. Arrived at about 4 minutes past 2, and they said they were closed. They kindly let me in when I asked to grab a sandwich, and for which I am grateful. This is just a grab and go place. The sandwiches did not look that great, so I grabbed a salad. The cherry tomatoes were very bad (old) which I didn’t realize until I ate one, and I fished out a couple of pieces of lettuce that were actually brown and slimy. Fast forward to the evening, and I was sick. Maybe it was a one off, but I do not recommend the salads.

Quick and friendly service. High resort prices, but a better alternative to the cost of breakfast offered next door.