Charlotte's Tea Room- One of My Favorite Places when living an Art- full life!
While shopping for my own pocket full of sunshine this past summer, or as Edward would say 'my own personal brand of heroine' (which tea just happens to be for me), I discovered Charlotte's Tea Room in Warwick, NY.
Whenever we visited historic Warwick (which is a around a 40 min drive away for us) we would drive by the big Tea Room sign and I would pine away for my desire to go inside...we were either headed toward the community center for a film, the arts and crafts community Sugar Loaf, Warwick's Drive-in and needing to pick up some late dinner or quaint store-front shopping and we therefore never made it in. Then this summer's issue of Where Women Create (as my readers know, I love that mag!!) actually featured Charlottes Tea Room and I was like "today we are going to Warwick with only the intention of going into that tea house!" And so we did!
Charlotte's is only an hour drive from NYC and it is an award winning Tea shop set inside a gorgeous Victorian home.
The restaurant utilizes three different rooms and a wrap-around porch and each have a different design theme! There is the Blue Willow Room which is laden with blue and white china (I want to sit in there next time), the Library which has an English 'cloak and dagger feel inspired by the board game Clue', and lastly the Garden room which is where I sat on my first visit. In each room the furniture and tableware reflects the theme.
So in the garden room all the tables are white wrought iron, the windows have topiaries and all the tea sets are embellished with flowers.
I was there for lunch and was so impressed not only with the quality of the artistic culinary experience, but also the affordability! I ordered the Queen's tea, there was also the princess tea (and of course wee-tea's for the little ones!) and the menu also offers countless other options. My Queen's tea came with a large pot of tea (more than enough for two), a plate of salad, a large delicious scone, a sandwich of six rectangular cut mini tea-sandwiches AND dessert!! I chose Key-lime pie - yum! All of that was just $13 - Bet you can't beat that lunch fare experience anywhere in NYC!
My husband ordered his own entree, with the intentions of sharing only my tea, but he shared my scone and dessert too!
We have researched recipes from England, Ireland, and our own grandmother's kitchen's to bring you sweets and savories, that will not only please your palate, but will be a delight to your eyes.So if this Labor Day weekend you're looking for a day trip that's really worth it- an experience that will transport you (like when the radio is chiming out the lyrics to the song Pocketful of Sunshine 'Take me away to a sweet escape...' consider a trip out to Warwick NY.
As my loyal readers know, I almost flipped when I saw these fake cupcakes since I'm a big fan and maker of faux, Trompe l'oeil sweetness!
Since Charlotte's Tea Room is so popular on the weekends and is only open Wed thru Sunday its best to call before heading over (so they can save
The tea room has recently been awarded the "Best of the Best" by Hudson Valley Magazine and a "Reader's Choice Award" by the Tea House Times, and Teamap has ranked them #1 in New York State!
So if you love tea, don't say I didn't tell you where to go!-Amarettogirl
Reader Comments (5)
I really love this; I love tea.
It will be one of my missions to go there. :}
It looks lovely. Love the hydrangea lamp. And the NYC price for that type of tea service is at least twice as much which is ridiculous.
Love this tea house, can't wait to go back up there, hopefully soon,...
Nice post. Tea house looks awesome. Very interesting tea house. Hope it will always be alive!
I live in Warwick & love this place but as with most things there are down sides. I took my sister there who was trying to loose weight because they have the best lite fare. The problem was they have no equal, sweet & low or skim milk??? I found that odd. Up side, Best birthday parties for little girls you will ever want.