I made a reservation while visiting the castle here and this Chinese Tea House caught me off guard of how delicious their food was. They are 3 course meals and you get to pick the dishes for the set price I like the appetizers and main course (Salmon). Their desserts are extremely sweet, not my cup of Tea. If you go in the summer time, I highly recommend take outside table for the amazing breeze that the ocean offers. read more

Chinese Tea House - Tea Rooms Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

The Marble House and Chinese Tea House are absolutely gorgeous, and the setting alone makes for a memorable visit. Unfortunately, the $65 prix-fixe dining experience was a major disappointment. To dine at the Tea House, you're required to purchase admission to Marble House (around $25), which made the experience feel unnecessarily expensive. Adding to that frustration, a credit card processing fee was added to the bill without any clear disclosure until it was time to pay. There was also an upcharge for one of the entrées that was not clearly disclosed on the menu, making the pricing feel less transparent than it should have been. The service was excellent, and I have no complaints about the staff. The problem was the food. The sandwiches, scones, and deviled eggs all tasted as though they had been prepared well in advance and lacked flavor. The hummus served with the endive was especially disappointing; it was watery and unappetizing. A different accompaniment would be a significant improvement. As for the entrées, the salmon was decent, but the short rib was surprisingly bland and underseasoned. Given the total cost of the experience, I expected food that matched the beauty and prestige of the venue. To make matters worse, there were numerous flies and bees hovering around our table and food throughout the meal, which further detracted from the experience. While the location, atmosphere, and service were wonderful, the quality of the meal and the lack of pricing transparency simply did not justify the price. read more

Chinese Tea House - Dessert: macarons, cinnamon coffee cake, fresh fruit with pudding (?) - Tea Rooms Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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Beautiful setting with friendly service! The history of the tea room is super interesting and I love that it was a pivotal meeting point for the suffrage movement. Unfortunately I didn't love the afternoon tea itself. The lemon lavender spritz was a nice start! The sandwiches were okay, but we weren't big fans of the deviled egg. I did like the biscuit, but missed clotted cream. The chicken was okay that came as the entree. And the dessert were tasty, but not really what you'd expect with afternoon tea. I think if you want to come in, I'd order a la cart of keep it open minded that the afternoon tea may not be what you expect. You do need tickets to Marble House to go to tea which is also an added expense, but the house is beautiful and worth checking out. read more

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After exploring Marble House, my friend and I had afternoon tea service in the iconic Chinese Tea House on Saturday, April 12th at 11:45am. I had made a reservation through Stoneacre's Resy reservations page. The Chinese Tea House is located on the grounds of Marble House above the historic Cliff Walk overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Alva Vanderbilt became actively involved in the women's suffrage movement and remained a loyal supporter of the National Women's Party. The Chinese Tea House was used for her suffrage teas and rallies. The plates has the inscription, "Votes for Women." The prix fixe menu ($65.00) includes a welcome beverage (alcoholic or non-alcoholic), a tea tower complete with savories and sweets, pot of tea, and an entree. We both chose a glass of cava as our welcome beverage. I really enjoyed the tea tower with savories and sweets. Some items that really stood out were the vegetable crudite, cucumber sandwich, pimento cheese sandwich, and the lavender panna cotta. I love lavender and panna cotta so this absolutely spoke to me and I wish I could have more of it. Everything on the tea tower came in pairs so it was very easy to share between my friend and I. For entree, I had the roasted salmon. This was very yummy. It was also nice that not everything came out at the same time giving a little time in between each: savories tea tower came first, then entree, then sweet tea tower. My friend and I had a wonderful time at The Chinese Tea House and we were so full. This experience was definitely worth it!!! Service was wonderful and friendly. I saw some guests with blankets across their legs and I asked our waitress about them. Soon after, they brought us blankets as well. It was a very soft fleece blanket and so cozy. It is so impressive that The Chinese Tea House has so much history and I had the opportunity to enjoy afternoon tea service here. You're literally in the room where it happens. read more

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By the time my boyfriend and I finished our Marble House tour, we were starving and pleasantly surprised to find that this part of the self guided tour offered a full high tea experience. We visited on a Saturday around 3 PM without a reservation. My boyfriend asked for outdoor seating by the water, and we were seated within five minutes. The view was stunning and added so much to the overall experience. Our server was attentive and kind, We started with a drink of our choice, the lavender spritz mocktail was refreshing and delicious. Then came a personal pot of tea, savory tea sandwiches, croissants/coffee cake, and hummus. It was a lovely spread with just the right amount of food before the entrée. I had the roasted chicken and my boyfriend had the salmon. Both mains were flavorful, though the rice & small veggies was a bit lackluster. We ended with dessert, which was perfect, I only wish I had tried the coffee to pair with it! Overall, between the food, service, and that gorgeous water view, this was such a lovely and unexpected highlight of our day. (I'm giving 4 stars purely on account of the lacking entree as it was supposed to be the highlight of the meal.) read more

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The Chinese Tea House at the Marble House is a must! When you purchase a ticket to the Marble House, you can also visit the Tea House and it's so worth it. My friend found an amazing deal with Stoneacre's $65 prix fixe Afternoon Tea, which included a welcome drink, sparkling wine or a lavender spritz, a full tea tower, and an entrée. The cinnamon coffee cake was so good, and the whole experience felt so special. The staff were amazing friendly, attentive, and always checked in to make sure we were enjoying everything. They were even kind enough to take a photo of me and my friend, which made the moment extra memorable. Beautiful views, cozy blankets, delicious food, and top notch service can't wait to go back! read more

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This was so disappointing. The marble house is a breathtaking museum and story of the Vanderbilt's. We were very excited to have lunch at the Chinese tea house with a gorgeous view. The rating is based purely on the food. The service was great, friendly, professional and kind. The tea house is beautiful with a great view of the ocean. The food is cafeteria style and not worth $65 a person. You can tell everything is store bought and premade. You are welcomed with kava or a lavender spritz, great way to start lunch. The tea was great. We choose Lavender mint. The tea sandwiches: the coffee cake and biscuit were good, very basic and taste like little Debbie's coffee cake from krogers The cucumber sandwich was ok. The pimento was dry and stale. The hummus was tasteful, enjoyed the presentation. I chose the quiche, bad decision. It was definitely zapped in a microwave. Loved the salad. Dessert was a joke. The lemon macaron was great, the coffee cake/ bread pudding (have no idea what it actually was) was cold and didn't move. The custard was sour with 3 blueberries on top. You're paying $65 for the experience and not the food so you have to decide if it's worth it for you. I don't know if I would do the experience for $65 read more

Chinese Tea House - Dessert - Tea Rooms Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

A beautiful afternoon! Tea at the Chinese tea house is such a unique experience! The small cottage located right on the water is gorgeous and historic! You must buy a ticket to the mansion in order to dine here but we spent an hour in the mansion first which added to the historical significance of the tea. The service was phenomenal and all bites were delicious! The $65 experience included a glass of champagne, sandwich tower, and entree and dessert tray. You could only select your entree which all looked delicious. This is a great place to celebrate or enjoy a beautiful afternoon! read more

Chinese Tea House - Replicas of Alva Vanderbilt's Vote for Women China from the suffrage movement - Tea Rooms Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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Excellent view of the water in a charming location at the Marble House! They have both indoor and outdoor seating. The full table service is only indoors but you can get a la carte items outdoors. Not very conducive to dietary restrictions so keep that in mind if you'd like to visit (although I appreciate greatly how much they tried to accommodate the one vegan in our group!) The food is exceptional quality, definitely come hungry if you're planning on doing the full service! read more

Chinese Tea House - Tea Rooms Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

This was the highlight of my stay in Rhode Island. From the start, the service was outstanding -- our waiter was attentive and made sure we were well taken care of throughout the entire meal. Even when we were unexpectedly dealing with bees (haha), they went out of their way to move some of the food to help keep them away. That level of care really stood out. Now, onto the food -- everything we ordered was absolutely worth the price. The chicken salad croissant was delicious. Since I'm lactose intolerant, the waiter also offered great alternative options to accommodate my dietary needs, which I truly appreciated. The tea was fantastic -- herbal, flavorful, and soothing. The desserts (macarons, brownie, etc.) were perfectly sweet without being overwhelming. The salmon and chicken with rice were both juicy and packed with flavor. Beyond the great food, it was the excellent service that really made the experience special. I'd definitely recommend this place to others! read more

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I had an Amazing time here! The staff was absolutely sweet. I had the most friendly server in the world. He was absolutely great. They gave me a nice seat outside where I can enjoy the view so what they do is they do you like five courses total about $65. and the experience was worth it. I enjoyed everything they serve me. The view was breathtaking and I suggest if you are in the area that you go in here and check it out for yourself you will not be disappointed. The (Photo) speak for itself until we eat again bon appétit and enjoy read more

Chinese Tea House - Earl Grey - Tea Rooms Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

I love this tea house! It's right on the water so before and after your tea, you can enjoy the ocean breeze. Amazing service from everyone there I felt like a VIP, and it was just so much fun with all of the ladies in there with their fascinators. Everyone was dressed nicely and it had fun vibes all around! I highly recommend you make reservations and stop in for some delicious food and drinks! read more

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Aww inspiring. The work that Alva Vanderbilt did in this house for women to be able to vote! The history that this house has! It is open to the public they serve tea n sandwiches but you cannot enter if you don't buy entry to marble house. Next time I want you to make a reservation do I can have tea. read more

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The food here was good. The service was outstanding. The ambience was very beautiful, of course. read more

Chinese Tea House - Tea Rooms Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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A fun concept! Beautiful atmosphere. Parking is across the street for the mansion and tea house. The first course is a platter of snacks and bites. These items were okay, but not anything to write home about. The entrees were very good. We ordered the chicken and salmon and both were delicious. A fun concept, but expensive for what you order! read more

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Our friend had made a reservation for us to have an early lunch at the Chinese Tea House, with a full tea service. Reserved tea services will get you a seat inside or around the terrace of the tea house. They also sell light snacks like pastries and sandwiches, if you're just looking for a light snack while touring the Marble House. I think the cost was about $65 per person and you get a full tea tour with scones, pastries, and tea sandwiches. You also get an entree of your choice and a pot of tea of your choice. Each tea service comes with a welcome drink of champagne or a non-alcoholic lavendar spritz, which we all partook. It was really good! I had a sort-of green tea, which was lovely. The tea service was great. The entrees, I think, are a bit lackluster. I had the tomato bisque and it was very watery. I think that was the only low point of the meal. Service was great - they checked up on us often and we felt very well taken care of. The views are spectacular and we really enjoyed the nice meal. read more

Such a cute place for a light snack or high tea after touring the Marble House. We had scones, biscuits, coffee, cookies, and macaroons. Everything was perfect. read more

Chinese Tea House - Tiny cute macaroon. Delish! - Tea Rooms Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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While the marble house is opulent, the afternoon tea on the property at the tea house was a huge disappointment. Our server forgot about us and lost our ticket so we placed our order twice. I get mistakes happen but she completely ignored us. Once we received our tower, all the sandwiches and desserts were very dry and stale, you also get an entree and my salmon was very salty and rice was undercooked. I do not recommend this place, everything is seriously out of a box. read more

Surprisingly good! I thought the food would be touristy and overpriced, but it was actually very enjoyable. And what a gorgeous location and view! The cafe closes an hour before the Marblehouse does, so be sure to leave ample time if you're trying to include a bite here on your itinerary. Though you can see the Tea House from the Cliff Walk, there is no direct entrance! So factor that into your timing. The iced tea was so refreshing! It's made in house and unsweetened. The lemonade is also made in house. It's tangy and sweet, but not too sweet. Just right! The honey butter biscuits with jam were doughy goodness. The butter was difficult to spread, so be sure to grab a set of utensils. There are outdoor tables and umbrellas so you can order your food to-do. Dining inside the tea house requires a prix fixe afternoon tea ($35) menu. read more

Chinese Tea House - two people sitting at a table - Tea Rooms Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

The tea house is a little pricey however it's in a beautiful spot or ocean Drive behind the marble house. The original was built by the owner of the home at the time Alva Vanderbilt. She originally invited over people from China and they all dressed like Chinese for a party. It may have been involved in some of her suffragette parties and meetings that she had at her home in the yard of this beautiful mansion. read more

Stoneacre Tea House located on the grounds of the Marble House in Newport is a cute little historical tea house where much wheeling and dealing was done by progressive ladies in the days of the women's suffrage movement. Present day, it serves as a place to stop for refreshments after a tour of the gilded Marble House. Beautiful grounds, the cliff walk just below, and iced tea/snacks with a view! read more

Chinese Tea House - a green and red building - Tea Rooms Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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First off, the location and space itself are lovely: overlooking the ocean on the grounds of Marble House, beautifully appointed, nice ambience. And the service was impeccable: server listened attentively to my companion with food allergies, and altered the menu accordingly (and then adjusted the overall price). HOWEVER, there were four entrees listed and apparently one of them (which we both chose) had an upcharge that I didn't know about until the bill came. Also, they charge a fee for using a credit card (and who doesn't pay with a card when the tea itself is $65 a person??). The law requires that the fee be disclosed before paying, but putting it on the bill itself IN A PARAGRAPH BELOW THE TALLY is not really calling it out enough. This info, both the upcharge and the fee for paying with credit, should honestly be included on the menu, so people know before ordering. I shouldn't have to be vigilant or ask specific questions in order to know what I will be paying at the end of the meal. read more

Absolutely wonderful and a must to grab lunch after visiting the marble house to continue the day's theme of the gilded age. The tea house is so adorable, we were lucky to walk in and get a table right away, but reservations are recommended. The tea and sandwiches is around $35 which is very reasonable. Absolutely loooooved the scones, the sandwiches were just ok, and the desserts were excellent. They did have a vegetarian option for the sandwiches which was great! Just a great little spot! read more

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Stopped by here for a quick bite while visiting the marble house. The building itself is quite cute. It has a great view and perfect location. I cannot comment about the food that comes when you are served sitting there at a table as we did not partake in that. We simply did their grab and go sandwiches and that I will say we were highly disappointed with for a $15 6 inch grinder. The meat looked like it was Oscar Myers deli meat that they pulled out of a prepackage. I bit into one part and got a rubbery bit. That was quite disturbing. The bread is also very cheap and flavorless and extremely dry. Save your money and do lunch elsewhere for a quick meal. read more

We dined here for a special holiday tea put on by Stone Acre. It was FANTASTIC. The detail of this historic place was amazing. Loved reading about the reason why it was built and what it was used for: I did think the space was on the warm side. read more

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The best thing about the Tea House is the fabulous design on the outside. I've been to many afternoon teas. Not only was this the most expensive (at $65.) but it was the weirdest and most disappointing. I've never been served afternoon tea in anything but a fine china tea cup with saucer and plate. This place gives you a very rough textured, handle-less mug and clunky plate, The tea was not brought to the table in a delicate tea pot but in one of those heavy, cast-iron tea pots. I am quite certain that this is not how Mrs. Vanderbilt would have done it. We were offered a glass of champagne (or non-alcoholic drink) then given a menu to choose what we would like for our savory meal (?). The 3-tier plate was brought. At the very top was hummus sprinkled with pomegranate seeds and endive leaves instead of crackers. Huh? On the lower tiers were little sandwiches and a half a scone for each. Then we were brought our meals (mine was salmon with yellow rice and root vegetables). The meal was good, but I was already full (and confused). Overall, I cannot recommend their afternoon tea. read more

I just reached out to them based on the reviews here, and it looks like policies have changed. I wanted to post, in case anyone else is reading the available reviews. It appears that now tea service has been taken over by a third party, "Stoneacre Hospitality." Tea service is only available on weekends. To make a reservation requires a ticket to enter the grounds ($25/person) and also a tea service prix fixe ($65/person), for a total of $90/person. This price is much higher than what's quoted elsewhere, so I wanted to give folks a heads up. Star ratings are required to post; please take into account that I have not purchased the tea service so I am choosing the midpoint. read more

Loved everything! First time there, can't wait to go back. The view was stunning. Loved learning the history from our server. read more

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The two stars is for the ambiance. Although on a hot day it would be very warm inside. We were told no option but to do the $35 tea per person which is fine, but the food on it is not very good. Stroop waffles, store bought macarons are some of the items on the tray. When leaving we realized there is another a la carte menu but you have to sit outside which we would have done rather than pay $170 for store bought items. read more

Great way to end tour. Staff was attentive. Views are perfect. And tower plentiful and delicious.

The tea Is served on a three plate pedestal that makes it impossible to see your companion across the table. The water for the tea is served from an old coffee maker that taints the tea with a stale coffee taste. The scones were dense and heavy. The sandwiches were all served on white bread triangles that were not delicious and quite tiny. The desserts were the most disappointing! Not a home made petit four in the entire assortment. I will never go back and will discourage others from going. read more