I’ve been in LA more than 2 years now and while I’ve had many delicious and unique experiences, Afternoon Tea was one that I put off because most of the recommended places were either a bit of a drive or pretty pricey. And if you’re anything like me, you take your time doing extensive research before picking a place! I read reviews, compared menus, compared price points, read as many “Best Afternoon Tea in LA” lists, and so on. Finally, I settled on Garden Tea at The Getty Villa. Reservations book up 3 months in advance but it was worth the wait!
Here are reasons you should book afternoon tea at The Getty Villa:
It’s an intimate experience
The reason reservations book up so fast is because there are only 2 seatings a week – Thursday & Saturday at 1pm. They set-up The Founders Room especially for this tea service and only set-up tables based on the amount of reservations. For our reservation, there were only 4 other tables besides us!
They use fresh ingredients
The menu for the Garden Tea features a seasonal variety of finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, miniature pastries, and other delectable treats. The ingredients they use are inspired by the herbs, vegetables, and fruits that grow in the Villa’s garden and they only use local produce! For example, the carrot cake we were served came with a card with the original recipe written on it but we were informed that even though the recipe includes pineapple, they didn’t use any pineapple because they couldn’t source it locally.
It’s affordable
This isn’t your typical fancy Afternoon Tea experience where you need to dress up. The presentation isn’t anything special and there’s nothing “instagrammable” about the meeting room that they use for this tea service but at $55/pp (+ tax and service fee), it’s worth it! The food is delicious and filling, the service is top-notch, and it’s hard to beat a venue like The Getty Villa.
You can make a day of it
Even if you weren’t going for Afternoon Tea, a visit to The Getty Villa is a must! It’s nestled in the scenic hills of Pacific Palisades and is a beautiful tribute to the ancient cultures of Greece, Rome, and Etruria. Designed in the style of an ancient Roman country house, the Villa is a stunning architectural masterpiece in itself. Before or after your tea service, you can explore the museum and walk around the gardens for free!
Garden Tea at The Getty Villa
17985 Pacific Coast Hwy, Pacific Palisades, CA
Thursdays and Saturdays 1–3 pm
$55 per person, plus tax and 18% service charge
$25 for parking
Reservations are required. Call 1-800-369-3059 or reserve through OpenTable.
Snacks and Slow Jams 
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