The Courtyard Tea Room is one of Boston’s most popular afternoon tea experiences, in part because it takes place inside the Boston Public Library. Though on the pricier side ($72 per person for the full service), this classic tea is reliably good and
often hard to book.
The tea menus are pre-set and change seasonally, though they do accommodate vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dietary restrictions. It includes three courses: an amuse bouche, a scone course, and a three-tiered tower of sweet and savory items. Here are a few standout bites from a previous service.
What to order
- The lobster and chive pain de mie fuses a classic French sandwich bread with one of New England’s favorite flavors.
- The Cozy Copley (named for the library’s full city block it occupies in Copley Square) is an Earl Grey latte with lavender and vanilla, served with steamed milk, a swanky upgrade from a traditional pour.
- On the sweet side, the Courtyard Tea Room partners with local bakery Doris’ Peruvian Pastries to serve alfajores, a Latin American cookie stuffed with dulce de leche that strikes the perfect balance between sweet and buttery.
The vibe
The food, provided by popular local catering company the Catered Affair, is perfectly fine. But the real reason this tea experience is worth it is for the ambiance. Hosted in the historic Boston Public Library overlooking the Roman-inspired open-air courtyard, the atmosphere is enchanting. The elegant service plays up this connection with thoughtful details like menus presented in old books.
Insider tip
Don’t sleep on the cocktails here. In fact, the Courtyard Tea Room is adjacent to the Maproom Tea Lounge, a more casual setting for light bites that includes a full bar. Many of the drinks incorporate tea, like the TCA Manhattan, made with bourbon, house-made jasmine and black tea vermouth, and Angostura bitters.
