Dressy traditional afternoon tea?

Question

Hello!

Four ladies of a certain age are planning a visit to Savannah March 17-21.

Two of my friends have expressed a desire to do a hats/ gloves/ white linen tablecloths sort of tea and I have spent the last hour looking for such a place, and while there are several places that offer great tea blends, I can't seem to find a traditional afternoon tea with tiered plates of scones, sandwiches and sweets served on pretty china. Does such a place exist?

I visited Gryphon years ago and recall having a very nice pot of tea and a scone but don't recall its being "dressy" at all. Am I wrong? It looks as though the Perry Hotel will organize such an event but the cost is $$$ for a larger group. The one other place that looked hopeful is transitioning into a modern hotel if links are to be believed.

I would greatly appreciate any help anyone can offer even if it is simply to tell me to leave the hats and gloves at home. Thanks so much.

Answer

Savannah has a charming selection of tea experiences, but finding a truly dressy, traditional afternoon tea—complete with hats, gloves, white linen tablecloths, and tiered plates of scones, sandwiches, and sweets—can be a bit challenging. Many modern tea spots focus more on casual or contemporary settings, rather than the full Edwardian or Victorian-style experience.

Gryphon Tea Room, which you mentioned, is a lovely spot with excellent tea and scones, but it is more casual and doesn’t usually provide the formal table setting and dressy atmosphere your friends may be envisioning. It’s ideal for a relaxed afternoon but not quite the “high tea” in full traditional style.

For a more formal experience, the options are limited but do exist, often tied to historic hotels or special events:

The Perry Lane Hotel: The hotel can organize a traditional afternoon tea experience, including tiered trays of sweets and savories, served on fine china. This option tends to be more expensive, particularly for private parties or small groups, but it delivers the dressy, formal experience your group is looking for.
Kehoe House or other historic inns: Occasionally, historic inns or boutique hotels in Savannah offer special afternoon teas or can host private teas if booked in advance. These often include dressy table settings and traditional service.
Special seasonal or holiday teas: Some upscale hotels and restaurants in Savannah schedule themed teas around holidays or events (such as St. Patrick’s Day in March). These can provide a more formal experience without a full group booking at the Perry Lane.

If the main goal is the dressy, traditional tea experience, I would recommend contacting the Perry Lane Hotel in advance to see if they can accommodate a small party at a reasonable rate, or ask historic inns if they can arrange a private afternoon tea. Otherwise, casual tea rooms like Gryphon are excellent for quality tea and pastries but won’t provide the hats, gloves, and formal table setting atmosphere.

Book in advance, especially since you’re visiting in mid-March, which may coincide with spring break or other events.
Clarify with the venue whether table linens, tiered trays, and traditional tea service are included, so expectations match the experience.
If cost is a concern, consider visiting a casual tea room and bringing your own “dressy” touch with hats and gloves for fun photos and atmosphere.

In short, a fully traditional, dressy afternoon tea is possible in Savannah, but it usually involves a hotel or historic inn and pre-booking. For casual but high-quality tea, Gryphon remains a solid option, even if the setting is less formal.

Dressy traditional afternoon tea?

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