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    Coral Tree Tea House

    4.1 (367 reviews)
    ModerateTea Rooms
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    Recommended Reviews - Coral Tree Tea House

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    The Coral Tree Tea House, located in the historic McConnaughy House in Old Town San Diego, offers a truly charming and memorable experience. The beautifully decorated and meticulously maintained home provides the perfect setting for a relaxing and inviting afternoon. When making your reservation, you'll have the opportunity to select your lunch items in advance, making the experience seamless from the start. Upon arrival, you're served the house specialty tea, which is absolutely delicious. Shortly thereafter, the beautifully presented three-tiered platter arrives, filled with an assortment of treats that easily exceed expectations. Our second tea selection, chosen from the extensive variety available, was equally wonderful. Throughout our visit, the staff were knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely friendly, enhancing the experience even further. Every aspect of our visit was delightful, from the elegant setting to the exceptional food, tea, and service. We look forward to returning and highly recommend The Coral Tree Tea House to anyone seeking a special afternoon tea experience.

    Cozy&Vintage atmosphere

    This charming cafe is only open Friday through Sunday from 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Reservations can only be made by phone, and each table is allotted 1.5 hours. We enjoyed a lovely selection of both sweet and savory bites, along with three different teas. The food was delicious, and our favorite tea was the Coral Tree Tea. The decor makes you feel as if you've stepped back in time, creating a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. I absolutely loved it. The staff were incredibly friendly, welcoming, and attentive. I highly recommend this place.

    Place settings for afternoon tea!
    Cheryl G.

    The home is gorgeous and the ladies who run the tea service were wonderful to us. They took extra time to talk to us about the resident spirit in the home, Mary. They also paid a lot of attention to us during the tea service and made sure that our cups were always full and to check on us to see if we needed anything else. We started out with a chocolate and coconut black tea, that's the house tea and it is superb. They have little bags of it for sale upfront, so I did pick a bag up to bring home. After that, we chose another black tea that was crème brûlée and then a green tea that was a raspberry hibiscus. Both were also really tasty. All of the sweet and savory items on the tower were very good. My favorites were a little meatball crustini, a delicious toffee scone and some sort of incredible cheesecake custard situation that had a little bit of chocolate, caramel and nuts. Making a reservation is kind of a clunky experience. I left a voicemail and somebody called me back two weeks later, but I was able to book our reservation easily on the phone at that time. They don't have the ability to reach them by email and the policy is you have to cancel at least 48 hours in advance. Fortunately, I didn't have to cancel, but I was worried that if something came up and I called and left a voicemail and they didn't receive it in time that we may have been penalized.

    Paris tea for me
    KayAnna S.

    I have always loved coming to here over the years! They have such fun holiday teas and a great selection for their year round afternoon teas too. You do have to call ahead to make a reservation as they have limited space and a busy schedule. The staff is incredibly kind and welcoming and any server I've had has always been very attentive and sweet. During my most recent visit, I had their Paris and creme brûlée teas. Both were great but the creme brûlée was fantastic. No add ins necessary as it was perfect on its own. For our afternoon tea tower, i especially loved their open face and cucumber sandwiches and double scones (sweet and regular scones). Their desserts to end our tea with were delectable! I really love that they give you a tea cookie in the beginning to pair with your tea. Great attention to detail in the tea house itself and the spread on their tea tower. Definitely worth it for the entire tea experience and to visit the historic site!

    Fantastic everything. The staff, food, and ambiance are amazing. Fourth or fifth time here, sitting on the porch. I like that they accommodate one person. I will be back.

    Snack time
    Lin Q.

    I've been here a couple of times and I will continue to come back here. I love bringing people here, too. They love it! The staff is super sweet. I didn't expect them to give a gift to our birthday friend and they sang a beautiful happy birthday song to her. The tea and treats were so good. The first tea severed is their specialty, a chocolate and coconut tea. We got the mango passion fruit and pumpkin tea! So goooooood! It's delicious! Their whole shop in and out is super cute! It's a perfect place to take pictures, after sipping tea and snacking on finger food.

    Ally G.

    This tea house is a cute concept, but doesn't execute well. I came here for a friend's birthday party. After reading through some other reviews, it seems that my bad experience isn't unique. First, I had some difficulty finding parking in Old Town and no one answered the phone when I called to ask for help. I eventually found the dedicated lot reserved for the historic buildings in the area. The women who work there were quite hostile. I don't think this tea house caters to large parties and would not recommend for large groups. We were 12 people. They sat our party at separate tables and made inappropriate comments to my friend about last-minute adjustments to our party size. After the initial unwelcome greeting, every question we had was handled rudely. When the food came out someone asked which of the sandwiches were vegetarian to which the staff shouted out that no one requested a vegetarian menu. 2 of the 3 sandwiches were in fact vegetarian so I'm not sure why the staff's response was so combative. We were also constantly reminded that our reservation had a time limit, which suggested to me that the staff just wanted us to leave. The teas were nice, but I found it odd that we weren't offered anything else to drink like water. The food was okay, but nothing special. Also, it was so hot in there. Not sure if the had AC or just wanted us to suffer?

    I came here on a Saturday morning with my family to celebrate birthdays. We had a great experience and REALLY enjoyed the food and tea. We ordered the Afternoon Tea which was more than enough food. (I took some of my desserts home with me because I couldn't finish them all.) My favorite savory item was the spinach pie, which they recommended we eat first while it was warm. And my favorite sweet item was the toffee scone with cream. My sister is a vegetarian and they substituted the chicken salad sandwich for a goat cheese sandwich, which she really enjoyed. You do need to let them know ahead of time if you need vegetarian substitutions. There was plenty of parking available in the free parking lot by the tea house when we arrived. However, the lot was full when we left the tea house at 1pm. So something to keep in mind if you're visiting on a weekend. We had a wonderful time interacting with the ladies who run this place and it added to the overall experience. I have visited multiple tea houses (in California and elsewhere) and love how different each one is. I will definitely return to this tea house due to it's cozy atmosphere, delicious food/tea, and excellent service.

    I would highly recommend Coral Tree Tea House. They went above and beyond to make us feel warm and welcome- from the little note on the table saying "lady kate" to the thorough explanations of tea and treats! The tea selection was amazing and you get a great amount of tea to share! The food was delicious and freshly baked. It surprised me how good it was! The women working there were very kind and gracious. The whole experience felt authentic and fun! We truly felt like traditional tea goers with the decor and set up in there! Can't wait to come back!

    One of the best tea houses in town.  Book soon,  it fills up.
    Arlene P.

    These ladies care about their patrons. They care about preserving good things. Their tea is delicious and we really like their signature Coraltree. I have their Lucy tea at home. Named for one of their grand daughters. Blanche and Pam are great. Always having a story to share. Amber describes the tea treats so well. The house is a Victorian home and always decorated for the season. If you can't climb stairs there is a ramp in the back.

    Natalie V.

    Coral Tree Tea House is an absolute gem worth discovering. It's located in a park near Old Town San Diego and there are parking spots nearby. I recently visited for the Queens HighTea experience, it was an exquisite 1-hour and 30-minute affair. The interiors are perfectly designed for tea parties, and were very cozy. The array of delicacies served during the Queens High Tea was beyond compare. From the apple salad to the divine assortment of Tea and Savory Sandwiches, and the delectable homemade pastries and petite desserts. They had good service and dedication to accommodating dietary restrictions without compromising on taste or quality. They take their tea, food, and service seriously, ensuring every guest has a delightful experience. We enjoyed engaging in a delightful conversation about the history, business, and inspirations behind their offerings with the delightful ladies managing the place adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the visit. Reservations are a must, and they're made via phone call only.

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    Had tea there with my Red Hat group. The space is very charming and elegant. The tea was very nicely served and delicious!

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    Page 1 of 10

    Ask the Community - Coral Tree Tea House

    How do I make reservations? The answering machine does not accept messages.

    Call on a day when they are open.

    Is this business open? Trying to call to make a reservation, and, it's ringing busy.

    Not sure. I have not returned.

    Is there outdoor seating?

    When I went in May there wasn't any outdoor seating and inside it was really small and crowded

    Is the Tea House open? We stopped by there yesterday (3/20/21) and the the sign indicated you were not open yet. If not, when do you plan to reopen?

    It's open since April 10th. I went there last week with my friend. It is reservation only. Please call them to reserve a table.

    Are the sandwiches/scones/etc refillable? Or unlimited in a sense.

    No. There's one of each thing per person.

    Is this place reservation only?

    Hi Edward, yes it is.

    Are babies allowed?

    It's not a good venue for babies. There isn't room for highchairs, people are dressed up, and there's too much possibility for hot tea to spill on a baby. Maybe if you got the one outdoor table and sat farthest in, would be safest for the baby.

    What are your gluten free options?

    Yes, but they are not a certified gluten free kitchen

    Are there vegetarian options for afternoon tea?

    Yes.

    Do they offer gift cards/certificates?

    Yes they do!

    View All 12 Questions

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    If there is better gelato in San Diego, I have not tried it…read more They have more than gelato here but gelato is all we tried. It was later in the day so they were out of or running low on some flavors. Nevertheless, the two flavors we tried were incredibly rich and flavorful. A little goes a very long way. Parking is incredibly tough in Little Italy but it is worth it for gelato this good.

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    Inside
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    Portal Coffee

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    If the portal - in portal coffee - is passing through the threshold to a land where cortados are…read moremade with punchy, fruity, flavorful espresso beans, close the gate like demogorgons are about to break through and leave me here for the rest of my days. Unfortunately, I couldn't stay for long but would have loved to explore the dimensions of this coffee shop with a good book and possibly a second (or third) cup of espresso perfectly mixed with just a few ounces of steamed milk.

    -- Some Places Serve Coffee. This Place Serves Community. I…read morewalked into Portal Café looking for nothing more than a simple, honest cup of coffee. What I got was that -- and a whole lot more. Hannah and Jessica were working, and from the moment I walked in, the vibe was just right. I'm a straightforward guy -- black coffee with a splash of cream, print newspaper, no frills. When I mentioned I was old school, Hannah gave me exactly the kind of response that makes you feel seen rather than teased. These two have a gift for reading their customers and making everyone feel like a regular, even on a first visit. I asked Hannah for just a splash of cream -- I told her I wanted it the color of my skin. She nailed it on the first try. That might sound like a small thing, but it isn't. It means she was actually listening. I mentioned I was still reading a print newspaper -- an increasingly rare habit, apparently -- and Jessica didn't miss a beat. She told me they needed more of that, and invited me to sit down and read the paper and tell them what was good in it. I had somewhere to be, so I took my coffee to go -- but I genuinely wanted to stay. That kind of warmth isn't something you can fake or train for. It's just who they are. When I tried to leave a tip on the way out, Jessica looked at me and said I had great energy. I took that with me along with my coffee. The coffee itself? Excellent. Clean, well-made, perfectly calibrated -- in more ways than one. I came back later in the day. They were closing up, short-staffed and winding down. I left a tip then too, and they told me I was "extra." I told them if that's extra, the world needs more of it. They laughed. I meant every word. Here's the real tip though -- and I'm leaving it for you, the reader: just go. Go in, order something simple, and pay attention. Hannah and Jessica are putting something genuinely good into the universe, one cup at a time. You'll feel it the moment you walk through the door. Don't walk past this place.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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    4.0
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