Looking for afternoon tea in Seattle?
It can be a little hard to find, but it does exist! We rounded up the best options for afternoon tea in Seattle as well as the nearby region (don’t worry: you won’t have to drive further than 30 minutes!). The list includes historic hotels, charming teahouses, and even an Edwardian houseboat on Lake Union.
Note: Most tea rooms don’t have a strict dress code but you may want to dress up for the occasion regardless—it’s part of the fun!
Here are our favorite places for the best afternoon tea in Seattle and the surrounding region:
1. Smith Tower, Pioneer Square
New: Starting on April 19, 2025, Seattle’s Smith Tower in Pioneer Square will offer an Elevated Afternoon Tea on Saturdays and Sundays. There are two time slots at 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. and it costs $65 per person. It’s quite literally an elevated afternoon tea, since you’ll be seated on the 35th floor of Smith Tower. You can make your reservation here.
📍 506 2nd Ave
2. Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Downtown Seattle
A sophisticated afternoon tea is served every Saturday and Sunday in the Olympic Bar at the historic Fairmont Olympic Hotel in downtown Seattle. You can make your reservation on the Fairmont website.
Planning to go for afternoon tea in December? The Fairmont serves a festive Holiday Tea on Fridays through Sundays during December 1 to 14 in the Olympic Bar Lounge and daily with live music during December 15 to 30 in The George. Make your Holiday Tea reservation here.
📍411 University St, Seattle, WA
3. Queen Mary Tea Room, Ravenna
The Queen Mary Tea Room in Seattle’s Ravenna neighborhood is the oldest independently-owned tea room in America. They serve lunch, brunch, and afternoon tea for all ages. There is no dress code. Walk-ins are welcome, or you can make a reservation on the Queen Mary Tea Room website.
📍2912 NE 55th St, Seattle, WA
4. Panama Hotel Tea House, Chinatown-International District
The Panama Hotel Tea House at this historic hotel serves 40 tea varieties from around the world in addition to coffee, cocktails, and light food. This option is a little different from the others on this list since it’s a more casual experience, but you could book a private room for a tea party if you’d like. According to their website, they are open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
📍605 South Main St, Seattle, WA
5. M/V Lotus, South Lake Union
The M/V Lotus is a 1909 Edwardian houseboat that serves afternoon tea on the second Sunday of every month. There is no dress code but hats are encouraged! Reservations are required via the MV Lotus website.
📍Lake Union Park, 860 Terry Ave N, Seattle, WA
6. Paisley’s Tea Room, Issaquah
Located a 20-minute drive from Seattle in nearby Issaquah, Paisley’s Tea Room is a cozy tea cottage is open daily for afternoon tea service. You can make a reservation on the Paisley Parlour website in advance or walk in if they have availability. They also offer the space for private parties of six or more.
📍317 NW Gilman Blvd #49, Issaquah, WA
7. Cedar + Elm, Kenmore
Located within The Lodge at St. Edward State Park in Kenmore, the afternoon tea at Cedar + Elm is worth the half-hour drive from Seattle. The Lodge is a landmark hotel inside a 326-acre forest: a lovely destination for a weekend getaway. Cedar + Elm serves afternoon tea along with live music on Thursdays and Fridays from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. The cost is $72 per person. There is no mention of a dress code but they do say the occasion is “worthy of dressing up.” You can make a reservation on The Lodge’s website.
📍14477 Juanita Dr NE, Kenmore, WA
Bonus: Seattle Japanese Garden, Madison Park
If you love tea and want to experience it in a different way, you can visit the Seattle Japanese Garden to partake in their traditional tea ceremony. Tickets for this 40-minute tea ceremony are $15 per person and can be purchased on the Seattle Japanese Garden website. Note that availability is seasonal as the Seattle Japanese Garden is not open year-round.
📍1075 E Lk Washington Blvd, Seattle