Mary Cassatt Tea Room Reviews

Very posh high tea. The service was excellent. Waitress was very knowledgeable about different teas. The food was delicious. The harp player added a fun a classy touch, playing Led Zeppelin and other classic hits. We dressed up for the occasion but some were more casual. The price was high, but well worth it. A very nice way to spend the afternoon.

Great place to go for a treat with your mom; gardens are beautiful, service is great, and the tea selection is terrific!

My mom and I always take my kids to high tea to celebrate for all our birthdays. We heard really good things so we decided to try Mary Cassatt at the Rittenhouse Hotel. What a a pretty place. Very elegant! The service was fantastic and the food was very fancy. I am talking about sandwiches that had caviar, crab and salmon on them. Not your ordinary egg and tuna tea sandwiches. I was able to get pressed coffee and my daughter was able to get hot chocolate instead of tea. Although,I love high tea, I will take a cup of coffee over tea any day. All was going well, until my daughter decided to share her caviar with me and accidentally dumped it into my coffee. Oops! Needless to say , the food was a little too fancy for my teenagers but my mom and I are really enjoyed all the sweet and savory treats. The only negative was that it is really expensive at $50.00 a person plus philly tax and philly parking, $30.00 at the hotel, it was a very expensive lunch. I would say a must go for a different experience.

We had a wonderful experience enjoying tea at the Rittenhouse for our Anniversary. We had high tea at one of the best locations in London for our last anniversary and I gotta say that Cassat was better in every way. The tea selection is incredible and you can smell each blend before choosing. The sandwiches were excellent and covered in caviar. The fresh baked scones were delicious with clotted cream and fresh preserves. And just when you think that can't be topped, they bring out a tower of impeccable desserts and petit fours. By the end we were very full! Apart from the food and tea, the service was excellent and the room matches the elegance of it all. We will certainly return for this unique and worldly experience.

I have been to the Mary Cassatt Tea Room before and I've had "Tea" in London a few times. I was not disappointed. Afternoon Tea was served with Prince Albert china in a beautifully appointed room with excellent service. I was in town during the holidays and invited a girlfriend who had never been to an Afternoon Tea, so it was a very enjoyable experience. The offerings were delicious, nothing over the top, but much better than most. Another area hotel serves their tea with restaurant grade white dishes and below average offerings for a much higher price. The only thing missing was music. I would have liked some classical or piano music in the background. I will definitely return in the Spring for the garden experience.

We are afternoon tea lovers and we really enjoyed our time here. There is a harpist who was excellent. The tea is very unusual and very tasty. My friend enjoys the special flower tea that "blooms" in the pot before your eyes (it is extra cost). The staff was very accommodating of my food requests and was able to add more of certain sandwiches and skip ones I couldn't eat. We spent a delightful afternoon with our friends sipping tea, champagne and nibbling. We look forward to returning any time we are in town.

I came here for tea when I visited my Father's best friend, when I was in an emergency during the summer after 9/11. I had Tea Sandwiches and went swimming in the pool daily, at the Rittenhouse Hotel. They Have the best service in Philadelphia Much Prefer Boston, a city that was mine, But the tea sandwiches at the Mary Cassatt room won me over. I am an Art Dealer/Art Critic,based in New York City and I have had the privilege of selling Mary Cassatt's Work, in the past. She is an artist that captures your heart because of her tenderness. There is an Art to making a Tea Sandwich That most people don't understand. It's the making of them that is the art form. Simplicity at its finest/like the Japanese. You will love this place-

Having been a high tea enthusiast for years,mainly in NYC,I can say this visit was a wonderful experience. I invited my friend for her birthday to a 2pm tea. The room and mood were lovely. Kidist is an extraordinary greeter,server and all things tea. Her non intrusive manner and knowledge of tea was refreshing. We ordered a delicious blend and it was followed by savories,with our dietary restrictions, as well as a plentiful sweets tray. A magical afternoon and we would return. Valet parking at a discount as well.

I waited a long time before writing this review because I wanted the experience to be so great I thought maybe my expectations were unreasonable. After a couple of weeks of thought I decided to post. I think the tea room is probably just right for a lot of people. It didn't work for me so let me share with you some details. The room is lovely and elegant and at Christmas was decorated very tastefully. It is not very large and so understandable that they penalize no shows. The crowd was a mixture of older ladies and family groups. Everyone was conversing and seemingly having a good time. So what's my beef? There are three-ish courses. Small sandwiches, elegant pastries and some cookies that are mostly for take home. Each person can select their own pot of tea and the choices are largely what I think of as girly teas (floral or fruit) but they have a pretty wide selection including more standard teas. We sat for about 30 minutes before anyone even came over. This is meant to be a genteel experience so I understand they don't want anyone to feel rushed but other tables had their orders placed and their tea served before our waiter came over. I eventually went to the desk and asked for our waiter. The sandwiches were just ok. I thought the bread was dry and the fillings ok but others in the party liked them. The elegant little pastries were delicious but very rich. The tea was scrumptious for each and every person. So- the food was a mixed bag but the tea was a hit. I was disappointed that I had requested they acknowledge the the birthday of one of our members. Nothing ever came. Finally- at the three hour mark and waiting for 20 minutes for a check, I went up to the front desk and said we simply had to go and could I pay the bill. It was another ten minutes. Our tea service was markedly slower than other peoples at adjacent tables. I think for some folks this could have been a genteel and gracious tea but we actually had to get back to work and so the service was an issue for us. I ended up giving just three stars but recognize in other circumstances the same experience could be perceived more favorably. I thought the slow service was problematic, I was disappointed that after I requested a birthday event they didn't do anything and the tea sandwiches and scones were nothing special at all. I do give them high marks for tea and desserts.

Food and service both outstanding. A nice setting with floor to ceiling glass windows. Highly recommend for receptions, parties.

Why fly to London it is here at the Rittenhouse a very romantic fun place its a dream come true...... lovely lovely lovely

We attended a wedding here in January and we were very impressed. The service was excellent, the food mostly good and the ambiance great. I highly recommend dropping by.

A beautifully decorated room with outdoor garden and attentive staff. But, though the food looked pretty, portion sizes were so small (intricately put together) that one could hardly rate the taste due to small portion sizes--most sandwiches, desserts could be downed with one bite! The smoked salmon sandwich should not have even been considered as one of the "sandwiches." It was a 2-inch straw width piece of zucchini with a drizzle of salmon paste down the middle and 1 caviar egg at each end. Since the price of the full tea has almost been doubled recently, we thought that perhaps we would leave the restaurant at least feeling like we had had lunch. Too many small desserts and not enough (or large enough) tea sandwiches. The half-dollar sized scones, cheddar biscuit, and blueberry biscuit were very good--but, once again--too small to really enjoy. If you are going out with friends and enjoy a beautiful atmosphere and don't mind paying a high price for it, then go here. If you are going out with friends and are hungry for a great lunch, then go elsewhere.

English high tea. What more needs to be said? How often do you find class and ritual like this? This is the first time for me.

We made a reservation for tea at three. Any table in this lovely room would be a perfect spot. We opted for the standard aperitif, not the premium – and we were perfectly happy with our choice. I had the Queen's Garden tea and drank the entire fragrant pot. It was just irresistible The finger sandwiches and savories were pretty and delicious. I loved them more than the desserts, but the desserts were picture perfect, too. Good, unobtrusive service. Pricey, but what a treat!

I know it's expensive for most but if you are a foodie it's worth doing at least once. You are not going to be able to reproduce this at home. you really need a big team or experience people to get all of this right. Even something as simple as the strawberry jam was amazing. a lot of restaurants are sadly uninspired but this is not the case. Even the white bread tea sandwiches were great. The service made me feel comfortable. I'm not used to that kind of formality but our servers were super low key and friendly.

Wonderful service and staff. Someone was playing the harp in the background. They somehow found out we were also staying at the hotel to celebrate our anniversary and surprised us with a small cake with "Happy Anniversary' written in chocolate. Who doesn't love that?

On the ground floor of The Rittenhouse Hotel this tea room is one of the few places in Philadelphia to have Afternoon Tea. Very stylish

Several friends and I spent a lovely afternoon having tea at the Rittenhouse's Mary Cassatt tea room. The selection of teas was amazing... They even have a coffee lovers tea that looks and tastes like coffee. Everything was perfect.

Locted off the lobby in The Rittenhouse, a Five Star Hotel on Rittenhouse Square, this is a lovely setting for afternoon tea

What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon at the Mary Cassatt Team Room overlooking the small garden at the Rittenhouse Hotel. Starting with a glass of Cava, choosing from among the amazing tea collection, enjoy some of the best scones in Philadelphia along with classic tea sandwiches. Just when you think you're almost done the 2nd half with desserts appear along with chocolates which i challenge you to finish. Just amazing spot to enjoy an afternoon.

I took my daughter and 4 year old granddaughter to tea here. The room is elegant with linens, china and crystal. They had a harp playing in the foyer which was wonderful. The selection of teas was different than I had seen at other teas. I choose the Wild Woman which was just to my liking. The waiter was patient and wanted to make sure I chose something I would like so he took extra time to explain what each tea would taste like, The service included a plate of tea sandwiches, scones and sweets. We shared our items with my granddaughter. Everything we had was delicious. My granddaughter really liked the egg salad sandwiches with caviar. Included in the signature tea is a glass of sparkling wine. They brought a bottle of sparkling cider for my granddaughter for her champagne glass. The three scones range from sweet to savory. My favorite with the blueberry. We had a great experience. It's not cheap but worth it to carry on the tradition I started with my daughter when she was little and to now share with her daughter.

Located in the Rittenhouse Hotel, this is an outside patio with a fountain. Iliked it a lot, although my husband found it annoying that there was piped in jazz competing with the pleasant sound of the falling water.

Overview I planned a bridal shower at the Mary Cassatt Tea Room for a group of approximately 20 and had a wonderful experience working with the Rittenhouse. The Tea Room balances a clean, upscale and inviting environment with unpretentious staff that excels at customer service. One major advantage was that unlike some other venues in the Philadelphia area, the Mary Cassatt Tea Room did not require a space rental fee and we just needed to meet a minimum charge based on our guest count. Event Planning/Event Space Danielle from Special Events was my main contact. She was very accessible and responsive throughout the event planning process. Since I was planning the shower from out-of-town, she offered to take pictures of the event space and e-mail them to me. Upon Danielle's suggestion, we reserved the back corner of the Tea Room that had both a view of the main seating area and a window that overlooked the courtyard. Initially, I was concerned that the space would be not be private enough, but the high counters dividing the event space provided a sense of privacy. There was a baby shower occurring at the same time in the section next to us, but it was not obstructive to our event at all and we still felt like we had our own space. There was plenty of room for our group and couches/chairs, tables and counter space for the gift opening. Service When I arrived at the Rittenhouse, Bruce and Danielle were on-site to answer some last questions and helped with some final preparations. We had a dedicated server for the entire time and Bruce checked in on us midway through the event, even helping to take pictures for the guests in attendance. The customer service was impeccable throughout and I appreciated the follow-through. Food/Event Close-Out The food was tasty, with a good combination of savory and sweet options. One of our guests was on a gluten-free diet and because we let the Tea Room know in advance, they were able to provide her with a specialized menu that she enjoyed. Anytime our sandwiches ran low, the server would provide a new plate. At the end of the shower, the staff did not rush us out and we appreciated the chance to have a soft close to the event. Also, the staff was very discreet about the final bill, tastefully sending it to me after the event rather than having me sign in front of the guests. Loading the car after the party was straightforward because the Rittenhouse had a driveway and the staff helped us. Summary I would highly recommend the Mary Cassatt Tea Room as an intimate setting for special occasion such as a bridal or baby shower. It is an ideal space for smaller groups (20 people and under). The larger space is also available for bigger groups and is also very nice as long as you don't mind being in the main seating area. I will definitely be back for afternoon tea in the near future.

We went to the Mary Cassatt Tea Room to celebrate my daughter's birthday, and it was such a great experience that we can't wait to go again. The room was splendid; and the tea sandwiches, scones, and pastries were delicious. I made a reservation for 4 o'clock, and everything was punctual. Our server was delightful and extremely helpful as we choose which teas we wanted. We thoroughly enjoyed every moment. The only thing that would have added to our great experience would have been having the piano played during our tea. (I only noticed because of other teas we've been to; but I don't think the rest of our party noticed.)

Despite a number of trips to London and Bermuda, we had never experienced high tea, so why not try it right here in our home town of Philadelphia? We picked a wonderfully elegant place to start here at the Rittenhouse Hotel. Everything was first class from the time I called to make a reservation. The hostess was personable, polite and attentive and our server was the same and also was exceptionally knowledgeable about the food and the coffee and teas. My wife is a coffee drinker and said the La Colombe French press was the best she's ever had. I am the team drinker and had the "Duchess' First Love," described as a "creamy Earl; Grey blended with rooibos that magically creates a nose reminiscent of caramel." Turned out to be an excellent choice. The teapot had about five full cups - more than I could drink. The food was magnificent: five small (one or two bite) tea sandwiches including turkey, crab salad in cucumber, egg salad with caviar and salmon; three small scones and six mini-desserts including chocolate mousse and various cookies. Also included was a glass of sparkling wine. None of the food items alone would be filling but everything combined made for a satisfying meal. As if the food and service weren't enough, the setting tops it off: a pleasant room overlooking a garden and outdoor seating area (too hot to sit outside today) and pleasant music that was loud enough to hear and soft enough to not drown out conversation. High tea here is very expensive, but a very worthwhile experience. The Rittenhouse Hotel is on Philadelphia's most upscale square and on days when it is less than the 95 when we were there it is a good place for a stroll, or to sit and people watch.

The room at the Rittenhouse Hotel is lovely and quiet, and the service is excellent. The offerings for high tea are just average, but the experience is still a good one.

It was a wonderful experience to have high tea at Mary Cassatt Tea Room. Four of us were seated promptly and the afternoon high tea started with wine/sparkling apple cider followed by sandwiches, scones, desserts etc. The sandwiches were small and different and for vegetarians, they were very accommodating. Scones were not very sweet and the desserts were mouth watering and we carried a doggie bag as indulgence in calories needs to be limited to working adults. The sitting area is pretty quiet for a business meeting and our guest left happy and pleased. Next time I am taking my wife out to high tea at Rittenhouse hotel. Happy experience here. The high tea s $55 per person. Naren Mehta

Beautiful setting, delicious morsels, impeccable service, icy champagne -- need I say more?

It's such a wondrous and blissful afternoon tea experience at the upscale Mary Cassatt Tea Room at The Rittenhouse. Mary Cassatt Tea Room is named after the renowned American painter, Mary Stevenson Cassatt. She is one of the most influential and inspiring artists of the Impressionist Movement in the late nineteenth century. Three of her original sketches are displayed at the lobby, adding an artistic feeling to the surrounding. There's a spacious, chic setting outdoor area as well. Guests can soak up the sun while enjoying a cup of nice tea. La Belle Epogue Tea USD$80 This glamorous afternoon tea set features an array of delicate savouries, scones and sweet bites. For a little deluxe extra, the set paired with a bottle of bubbling Juve & Camps Cinta Purpura Reserva. The clear golden colour is appealing. It has a rich ripe fruit aromas with a light floral flavour. The crisp acidity is very refreshing. For the tea selections, we picked the Rittenhouse Signature Tea, Persian Rose, and Duchess' First Love. This interesting blend of Ceylon bergamot, rose petals, cardamom and borages is very special as the taste will change upon time. While the floral flavour is more outstanding at the beginning, the taste from the tea leaves and other ingredients gets richer gradually. Duchess' First Love is a creamy Earl Grey blended with rooibos, which magically creates a very pleasant caramel aroma. It tastes like sweet milk tea with its own unique characteristic The tempting savouries are absolutely mouthwatering. Along with the mini tea sandwiches are some exquisite canapes. I'm particularly in love with the Cucumber Cup, which is filled with Peekytoe crab salad, and the Avocado Sandwich with prosciutto, onion jam and pumpernickel. The freshly-baked trio scones are truly special. Other than the normal buttery version, there are two other rasin and savoury scones. The savoury one is my favourite as it is mixed with herbs and sea salt, it is so tasty! There are served with delicious strawberry jam, Devonshire clotted cream and lemon curd, definitely won our hearts! Sweet bites includes a collection of petits desserts. The Dark Chocolate Panna Cotta and Honey Lemon Cheesecake are heavenly. Followed by some mignardises, our afternoon experience is perfectly completed. I must say, this is a one of a kind experience that you'd love to have in the City of Brotherly Love.

My daughter and I have attended afternoon or high tea at a number of locations over the years. The Mary Cassatt experience was worth it, despite the hefty price tag. The three tiers of sandwiches, scones and pastries/treats was delightful, and way too much for 2 people. We were there during the winter, and views were still beautiful. Theharpist played current songs and happy birthday! I recommend for special occasions. The patio looked amazing if you visit during the summer. Reservations are a must, the place was not very big. Limited tables …

A group of 7 girls visited the tea room as part of a bachelorette party weekend. It was SO MUCH FUN! The food was delicious, and we were surprised that we each had our own tea pot. I am a new tea drinker, but the wait staff was knowledgeable to help me choose a tea that I would like. I recommend this for any and all occasions!

I went to the special event advertised as the “Downton Abbey tearoom takeover” to celebrate the release of the third and final movie of the series. For the other two movies, the tearoom created a special menu. For this occasion, all they did was rename a few drinks after characters which the wait staff said were always on the regular menu. I was charged the usual price for afternoon tea rather than the surcharge for the special tea. At least the management realized that it would not be appropriate to bill me extra for the same old thing they serve every day. This tearoom is living off its past reputation. If you want a very average tea experience at an expensive hotel, you won’t be disappointed. I always make an effort to discuss with staff before writing a negative review but despite many attempts on my part, I never received this opportunity.

My husband and I treated my mom to Afternoon Tea this Easter. We absolutely loved the atmosphere. Very elegant, quiet and in a cosy setting with a beautiful view of the outside terrace whilst a harpist played away ever so quietly in the background. The waitstaff was very friendly and attentive. The tea selection was numerous and the sandwiches tasty. My only criticism is the desserts. Very dry otherwise...simply lovely.

To be honest this was my first time doing afternoon tea and I was not disappointed. I am not a tea connoisseur but this was hands down the best tea I have ever had. The tea sandwiches were just okay but there were also scones, desserts and a glass of sparkling wine so overall it was a success to me and something that I would do here again. The service here is also really awesome and special. They make you feel like their personal guest.

Had a wonderful May tea with friends here. Highly recommend the elegant nibbles, the champagne , and the flower tea that blooms in the pot.Good selection of teas from floral Jasmines , Imperial oolong, Organic peppermint and Chamomile. Kudos to Chef John Cichon- Lacroix. Friends race about the Marry Me Again and the Duchess.

I thought it would be a nice experience to take the girls of my family here for tea for my daughters 4th birthday. It proved to be a very mediocre experience when it came to the actual tea and service. The Mary Cassatt tea room itself is absolutely stunning, as well as the garden. I was here once before for a baby shower, which was excellent but a very different experience in itself. We had a table outside, in the garden. The garden is lovely, however looking back, I think I would have preferred to sit indoors instead. We started off with playing musical chairs with our chairs as half of them had one of the legs shorter than the other three and wobbled terribly. The chairs were metal and quite heavy and we received minimal assistance with moving. The tea selection was very mediocre. We ordered two tastings and at $49.99 they were quite lacking. The sandwiches proved to be very blah and although some of the pastries were actually excellent, everything was so tiny that it was barely enough for one person. The scones and lemon curd were quite excellent. Probably the best delicacy was the tiny macaron, which was equivalent to that of Piere Herme one. Props to the chef. What upset me the most was the service. I envisioned going for an experience of tea that would include pampering from the wait staff. Quite the opposite. In fact when our waitress brought out the tea and promised to come back a few minutes later to pour it, she never actually did at all. In fact we saw very little of her in general. I had to flag her down to ask for a pot of hot water. Since she never poured the tea, it ended up being quite over brewed and overwhelmingly strong. In the end my daughter was surprised with a miniature cake with a candle for her birthday. It was a sweet gesture.

The Mary Cassatt Tea Room at the Rittenhouse was outstanding. The tea room was gorgeous and boasted a beautiful garden you could sit at outside. Our server was courteous and helpful. All of the food was delicious and well-presented. However, one piece of advice is to not come expecting an abundance of food. The portions are thoughtfully small, as it is a multi-course tea. If you are looking to enjoy an elegant tea, I highly recommend going to the Mary Cassatt Tea Room. I will certainly be back soon!

I went here on a Saturday with my mother, and we had a wonderful time! We were seated by the window overlooking a pretty garden. I'll have to return in the spring/summer for tea out there. I am a tea lover, but have never had the fancy types of tea that were available here. All of the specialty teas were thoroughly explained to us by our lovely server Kidest and once we ordered, we sipped sparkling wine while we waited for our tea and sandwiches. They offer a variety of "savories", all delicious. My favorite was the egg salad topped with caviar. You also get different types of scones with butters. The tea was amazing, we kept going from that to the champagne because both were so good. Then they bring you the "sweets", a plate of mini-desserts that are all dainty and yummy. By that time, we were SO full but were sure to take at least a bite of every dessert because they were irresistible. Also a bonus was the harp player, it wasn't too distracting or loud but enough to hear and enjoy as a background. And you are not rushed at all, we really enjoyed relaxing and talking for 2 hours or so. The Rittenhouse is a beautiful hotel with excellent service, and this tea experience fits right in with the elegance of the hotel. Strongly recommended!

26 women had a private room for High Tea at The Rittenhouse. The service was perfect...room, table settings, food, etc. was just the best...What a treat for all of us...Thanks to Abbey and Paul for making this happen.

The setting is just wonderful. Tea in the afternoon is so peaceful. You can sit and enjoy a comfy chair inside or go outside and enjoy the sound of the fountain. Just beautiful!

We had a quiet afternoon high tea at the Mary Cassatt Tea Room in The Rittenhouse Hotel. The tea room is currently decorated with more modern furnishings. The room was a bit small, but it was a very quiet and relaxed atmosphere. We spent about 2 hours there without being rushed in any way. The set tea service was reasonably priced at $49 per person, which included a glass of sparkling wine (Spanish cava). The food was generous and artistic, and if you asked nicely you could even have seconds on both the bubbly and the pastries. What made my day was that the desserts included canelé de Bordeaux. I lit up as soon it was brought out after the savory course. This was my first and only high tea in both the States and abroad that included canelé de Bordeaux. Of course, they provided additional canelés for me upon request. We also purchased some tea (Duchess' First Love) to bring home. All in all we had a nice time.

A few girlfriends got together for afternoon tea during a bachelorette weekend and I thought the $49 deal was amazing. All three food tiers, plus tea, plus a very tall glass of champagne, and an extremely nice waiter made my experience an excellent one. The view of the outside terrace on a sunny afternoon made you feel like you were in a secret garden, and definitely not in the midst of the hustle and bustle of Rittenhouse Square in the spring! I would highly recommend that anyone looking to do tea here does the $49 signature selection instead of trying to do the a la carte, as the a la cartes seemed to come with much less food and ended up costing just as much in the end (the a la carte choosers also each got a glass of champagne, so that helped up their pricing).

I was very impressed with the service, the tea, the food, and the atmosphere. The harpist was a nice touch as well. It was comparable to the memorable High Tea I had in London's Mayfair district, and I love that it's right in Rittenhouse Square! Will definitely be back!

The place is inside the Hotel, with a lovely winter garden. Very nice environment, china, flowers and music: a harpist was playing there !!!! I loved this part. Tea was good, but the cakes look better than taste..and are too small..I am glad that I was not hungry...really overpriced.

I had promised my 14 year old niece to take her to tea so we went to the Mary Cassatt Tea Room. We were the first to be seated. The room itself is lovely with a beautiful table setting. Our server came with menus, which were fairly self-explanatory so we did not have any questions. Our server called me by name and she was so attentive. We ordered the standard tea service. Our tea was an infusion, which was what they had in decaffinated. Our canapés and sandwiches arrived, with 6 different ones for each of us. I dislike egg salad immensely, but this little sandwich,topped with caviar, was very tasty. There were 3 scones each with the obligatory and very tasty clotted cream, jam and lemon curd. Yum! Then came the desserts. What a wonderful selection-chocolate, of course, shortbread and a type of jelly squares. We sat there for almost two hours. We were not rushed and after all the food, despite its small size, we could barely move! It was a great experience and my niece and I had a wonderful time.

Great place on a cold winter afternoon. Wonderful food and service and since I am a person of few words I am straining to reach 100 characters in order to satisfy trip advisor!