High Tea in San Francisco

i've been to high tea at the fairmont in san jose, not san francisco. i enjoyed it quite a bit. great sandwiches, nice selection of teas, good atmosphere.

Ritz was nice, but a bit overpriced and hoi-polloi for me.

For tea in San Francisco, I reccomend that you skip the hotels and go to Lovejoy's Tea Room.

http://www.lovejoystearoom.com/

As an expatriate Brit, I give this place the thumbs-up to being very close to an old-fashioned tea house. The menu is excellent - cute little sandwiches, set teas *and* heartier fare for hungrier people - as is the selection of tea, and the locale is very appealing without being *too* twee.

The set teas are good value - the "high tea" for $16 will leave you stuffed, and the scones are light-and-yummy English-style creations, not the rather dense/heavy scone that most American bakeries produce.

The only drawback to the place is that it's very much a traditional place for wedding showers and ladies-who-lunch, so if that crowd makes you break out in hives, keep your visit to the weekdays. If you go on a weekend, expect to see not a few hats, and make a reservation in advance.

As you can tell, I'm rather keen on the place.

I did tea at the St. Francis when they still offered it and was *deeply* underwhelmed, so avoid that if you happen to find it on offer.

Mmmm, I love Lovejoy's! I also went to tea at Michael Minna's in the St Francis, and it was very beautiful, but Lovejoy's in the only place that I'd want to keep coming back to. I kinda wish I was there right now. :(

Lovejoy's is my favorite place for high tea. If it's a fancy venue you're looking for, go to the fancy hotels. However, if you want a truly wonderful high tea, Lovejoy's is THE place.

i've been to the tea at the Palace Hotel several times. it's fanatastic, mostly because of the location. you sit in the glass-roofed atrium full of light and greenery. the scene is very grand. the sandwiches, sweets and tea are all very good, though the price is a tad high. but it's a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. i highly recommend it.

I've enjoyed the Ritz.

thanks for all your suggestions, however i need some place fancier than love joys and the secret garden. i've been to the palace hotel in nyc for there high tea, it's good but i wonder what it's like for the one in sf. anyhow..thanks for all your responses!

have you considered the rotunda at neiman marcus?

i had a fancy tea party there for my birthday last year. really lovely, and great views.

I've never been to high tea at the Palace Hotel, but I have been there for brunch and their service and the food was phenomenal. Expensive, but worth it.

had girls' day out at the ritz for high tea. it was fun.

tea at the ritz

I've never been to The Ritz in SF but I would assume standards in such a prestigious hotel chain would be closely monitored and as such I think it would be safe to assume tea at The Ritz anywhere in the world would be of the same high standard as that in London.