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Abbey Garden Tea Room the
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 11 am - 4 pm
Sat-Sun 11 am - 4:30 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
9 reviews for Abbey Garden Tea Room the
9 reviews in English
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Review from Kris L.
Seattle, WA
1/21/2010 1 photo
This place is over the top adorable! I felt like I was transported to England to have tea with someone's fancy grandmother. The tea is served in nice china tea cups and the triangle sandwiches are just perfect with the crusts cut off.
Make sure you get a scone - delicious! -
Review from Chantal D.
1/7/2012 5 photos
This place is a cozy tearoom in the downstairs area, and a tearoom/pottery painting workshop upstairs.
Go downstairs if there is room, the atmosphere is much more the quintessential British tea house. The tea cups, like most tea rooms are all mismatched. But that's much more preferable than character-less white cups. Most men may not feel comfortable here, the décor, though mostly blue, is quite feminine. Plus gentlemen might not feel at ease surrounded by little, old ladies.
We had originally come by for lunch, but there wasn't enough on the lunch menu to convince us to stay. We did come back later for afternoon tea, and were pleased with that selection. Different high teas were offered, some with scones and desserts, some with sandwiches, and some very hearty. We chose the Cream tea which comes with tea, a scone and some seasonal fruit.
The tea: I was a little disappointed in the relatively small amount of flavoured black teas. True, a tea house has to cater to more than the black tea lovers and include an assortment of green, white and rooibos teas. But still, if you are to have a visually English style tea house, then it just seems like common sense.
They brought the tea pots out in their own little cozy, which I thought was quite darling.
Upon opening the lid to remove the tea, I was surprised. Instead of a tea ball, teabag, or even loose tea, I found ready to pour steeped tea. This removes all fuss in dealing with tea bags, but I am not sure if I prefer this method.
I know a few people who like their tea strong enough to hold a spoon. And I also have a co-worker who likes her tea very weakly brewed. This ready steeped method would simply not work for them, and perhaps ruin the experience.
I also didn't like the idea of paying for refills (though they cost less than first pot). I am used to having boiling water poured into my empty pot of tea, and the tea leaves re-steeping as much as they can. After all, at that point I usually don't want too much more, just another cup or so. I would have to pay a refill price to have new leaves and a full pot that I most likely wouldn't drink.
The Food: Well the scone was the fluffiest, lightest scone I have ever eaten. But, due to being so light, it was also very crumbly. A fair trade off, I would think. It contained no fruit, but did have a light lemon sugar glaze that just hardened the top slightly. The clotted cream was alright, as was the jam; nothing remarkable there.
Tl;Dr:
You don't have a choice in the strength of your tea, they bring it already steeped. You also pay for refills. Tea list isn't extensive, but the actual tea is fresh. Make sure to have the scones, they are super light and fluffy. Mind your language, there are lots of little old ladies about. -
Review from Nina W.
10/5/2009
A unique space and a great idea for an afternoon with your girls!
This space is a combination tea room and pottery studio (CreativiTea).
Although we arrived a little too late for tea, we purchased some Cream Earl Grey for my sister that smelled absolutely amazing.
Indeed, most of their teas are unique and have a strong variety of characteristics, from sweet, strong, herbal and smoky, there is something for everyone.
Pricing was reasonable for the quality of product presented- 4 ounces of loose tea leaves was 7 dollars.
We will be returning to have tea and paint pottery next month for my sister's birthday, so an update is soon to come!!! -
Review from J C.
Bothell, WA
5/7/2011
Saturday before Mother's Day, Girl Scout Troop plans fall through, called/visited 2 other Tea Rooms to see if they could accommodate 4 moms & 4 girls wanting a special day out...nope!! But then we call Abbey Garden Tea Room and they went OUT IF THEIR WAY to accommodate us sweet & graciously. Thank you for a most wonderful afternoon. We are definitely returning!! -Kirkland Girl Scout Troop
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Review from Brooke E.
Bellingham, WA
3/13/2008
I love this place and have been here to eat numerous times.
Why only 4 stars? Because when I first moved here they had a great chef, who made interesting specials and satisfying food. She has since left and the food doesn't taste as good as it did when she was working there and the only specials are soups.
Love the Paris blend tea. I regularly get either an egg sandwich, cheese plate or a salad that has paprika dressing, jack cheese, fruit and candied walnuts. For dessert, I recommend the chocolate pot de creme or a scone with devonshire cream.
They are friendly with children also. They have highchairs and crayons. No real children's menu but you can order a single tea sandwich, crackers and cheese or fruit for them. They are willing to make almost anything you ask them. -
Review from mallory o.
Bellingham, WA
4/2/2009
Since last Christmas, this place has gone done the crapper. Hello bad review. Food isn't as good, attention to detail is lacking, the only thing that seems to have remained the same in the kitchen is the tea, and it's tea - which has nothing to do with the staff, just the company they order from.
Too bad.
* Take this to heart, I've been going here since I was 13, I am now 25. I'm going to notice any changes. -
Review from Josh L.
San Francisco, CA
3/21/2007
This place is fantastic. The tea sandwiches were amazing!!! The tea menu was quite extensive as well. The individual tea pots, complete with tea cozies were also quite a nice touch. I'd highly recommend this place for lunch or just for the tea.
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Review from lisa w.
San Francisco, CA
3/20/2007
i am quite a fan of tea rooms... i cherish the memories i've made at the various tea spots with the care a british widow might pay her gold-leafed rose-patterned heirloom tea cups and saucers. i've even been caught lost in thought wondering why there aren't more tea rooms around anymore... ah but i digress...
to my utter delight, this afternoon on vacation in bellingham, my boyfriend's grandparents take us to abbey garden tea room for lunch and a spot of tea. upon arrival in this utterly cute tea room we sat at a table that had four different patterned bone china teacups/saucers and a fifth filled with sugar cubes with a sugar tong. i'm already getting excited here, and i was even more thrilled when upon ordering our teas (from a decent sized tea menu) each was served in an individual pot with an individual tea cozy. i had earl grey, it was quite tasty. though i would gladly go on about the cuteness of the teacups and the cozies, i should also mention that abbey garden serves lunch, crumpets, scones, and deserts, and bonafide english tea sandwiches with the crusts cut off. i had a decent candied walnut over butter lettuce salad with my tea, other members of our group had the british tea sandwiches, quiche, and soup. we all enjoyed our lunches. unfortunately i didn't get to taste the deserts thought they sounded great (trifle, fresh pie, etc.)
i would give abbey garden 5 stars for tea and overall cuteness factor, but the food was good but not 5-star quality to me. i'd go back in a heartbeat and just know that the thing to order is one of their tea-plus-scones combos and skip the actual lunch food. -
Review from Rachel P.
Richmond, VA
1/21/2010
i visited fairhaven in 2003 and my friend whom i was visiting sent me home with some queen victoria tea from the abbey garden tea room... ever since, i have been dreaming of this place. i don't know that i have even ever been inside, but i get their tea shipped all the way to virginia whenever possible! ( :
