Where to find afternoon tea in Philly: A local guide – Billy Penn at WHYY

Where to find afternoon tea in Philly: A local guide  Billy Penn at WHYY

Explore afternoon tea in Philadelphia, from classic scones and finger sandwiches to Indonesian snacks, Southern favorites and seasonal pop-ups. Banchan. Tapas. Charcuterie boards. People love small bites and variety, but also love a dining experience that is about community, not just food. That is why afternoon tea’s appeal continues to grow beyond its origins in upper crust 19th-century English society – being given twists that reflect their new homes around the world. Philly is no exception. We may be losing the classic afternoon tea experience at the Mary Cassatt Tea Room in the Rittenhouse Hotel as of Nov. 15, but the city is not without delicious and innovative options elsewhere!

We’ve collected – and visited – as many Philly-based afternoon teas as we could find below, but more keep popping up, so let us know if you’ve heard of one we missed! The latest addition to the scene is an Indonesian afternoon tea at Rice & Sambal, which launched this month and kicks off what owners Diana Widjojo and Jennifer Cowden hope will be a regular series, maybe every other month, highlighting the street snacks common in Indonesian and Southeast Asian markets and homes. “I love tea time. I love the concept of little sandwiches. For me, whenever I go out to eat, I love having variety. Whenever I order