Been here multiple times and it's always amazing!!! The tea is quite a high tea and the Food is great. They even accommodate for vegetarian and vegan options! Enjoy your time in a historical library with some friends- highly recommend. read more

You need make reservations, and arrive before 3pm Nice place, nice decaf English breakfast tea read more

Courtyard Tea Room - Boston public library courtyard tea room - Tea Rooms Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Super sad that we rushed through this because it was beautiful! The room as soon as you enter is light and airy. They have a ton of cute little decor touches that ties it in well with the library. Like our menus, that came inside of a book. Those touches really added that oomph to it! The courses they brought out were all tasty and were able to accommodate my husband who is allergic to seafood. Tea was really great and the food items that came with were the perfect amount without feeling uncomfortably full. read more

Everything about this place is an offensive money grab and I'm shocked the people of Boston continue to support this farce. The room itself is bland like an empty hotel convention room space- no glitz or grandeur like at the Plaza in NYC. The service is excellent but what they provide is honestly bad food. The chef sends out vegetable broth to begin the meal (this is what I eat when I'm on a diet.) There is a scone that I would get at Tatte for $5. Then there are a few small sandwiches and desserts. Most of the desserts are very bad- a watermelon macaron tastes like artificial flavors. The chicken sandwich is the most bland item I've ever had - like a vending machine sandwich. I'm so outraged and sad that I wasted so much money on this. Just go to Tatte instead and eat better and much cheaper. read more

What a great tea service! Took my mom as a Mother's Day brunch and she loved it! The tea is great and they have coffee for the non-tea drinkers out there! The sandwiches / pastries were also delicious and they give you so much so it's definitely worth the price! The room is so open and airy so it's gives you such an elegant yet relaxed vibe! One of my favorite things to do in Boston! read more

Courtyard Tea Room - Tea Rooms Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I float around the world to experience exciting high tea experiences, and wow this by far has to be my top 3 - because: 1. The location - Boston Public Library - wow exciting - so historic and so central 2. The tea - so many great options - I went for the Darjeeling (I know a little basic). 3. The tasty food - the freshness of the salmon and goat cheese speaks for itself - definitely. 4. The soup speaks for itself - the squash soup and how amazingly tasty it is! so well made and so delightfully seasoned Be aware - the only two minor downsides of this are: 1. The bathrooms are really far far away from the tea room (the general library public bathrooms - that somehow regularly under cleaning) 2. They have a regimented process - AKA: show up at your designated time This is great for: 1. Reunions 2. Bonding with the parents 3. Girl squad get togethers 4. 3rd dates Bad for: 1. Breaks ups 2. Lots of kids read more

Courtyard Tea Room - Tea Rooms Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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This was the best high tea I've ever had and our servers were wonderful! The room was beautiful and comfortable, I liked the group seating, as it kept everything smooth and no distractions of people coming and going. 5 star experience read more

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This tea was great! The starter was not my favorite but I knew that going in. The rest of the tea: sandwiches, scones, and dessert were great! Lots of food for my two person party! read more

Courtyard Tea Room - Starter for Copley tea, gazpacho and potatoes - Tea Rooms Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I preface this review with the information that we've experienced high tea at the Ritz in Paris, the Empress in Victoria, the Rittenhouse is Philly and many others. And with those places we were there on special occasion, this time our anniversary, and we expect with the price comes perfection. The tea room at the Boston Public Library is simple and elegant and reflects the library. The library books that the menus came in were a nice touch. The service staff were trained well and were welcoming. We felt it odd that we had to wait in a line outside for everyone to be seated at once. The tea menu itself was limited, and quite rudimentary in its selection. Nice that they offered wine and cocktails, but it's a tea room and tea is dried...figure out how to have a larger selection. We were offered only one scone each...it was large and tasted good but covered in sugar. The sandwiches were okay...the tiny lobster roll cute...but most lacked any uniqueness in flavor. The petit four were very good. All in all okay, but not at par with its peers...at this price two tea sandwiches is pathetic. Add to that being from out of town, difficult and very expensive to park nearby...over $40! read more

They are OPEN again! It wasn't too hard to snag a same-week OpenTable reservation for a Friday afternoon, though expect that to change as more people catch on. Afternoon tea in the historic Boston Public Library is an experience I love to bring visiting guests to. The library is beautiful (definitely view the upstairs murals) and the tearoom feels like such a posh post-lunch date. Unlike the neighboring Map Room (which has a bar-like ambiance), the Courtyard Tea Room is beautifully lit and very open. You'll get beautiful pictures here, and waiters are always happy to help with group photos. Prix fixe menus only -- expect around $75 per person for the Copley Tea (which includes soup, salad, and champagne in addition to tea and the bites tower) after tax and tip. Not unreasonable at all compared to other fancy tea options in this city. I've always loved their sandwiches and scones with clotted cream, but the sweet bites can be a hit or miss for me. Someone with a bigger sweet tooth will probably fare better. That's the only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars. read more

Courtyard Tea Room - Tower for 2 - Tea Rooms Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The ambiance is top notch. It's definitely what you pay for given the high price tag ($$$) of the experience. The BPL is beautiful, table setting transports you back in time, and the menu that is brought out in a book just completes the whole meal before it begins! The food itself is nothing crazy to write home about but my highlights were: the lobster, smoked salmon bite, macaron and the scones (those spreads were phenomenal)! I got the Cozy Copley tea which was their monthly special. All of their teas with the menu are high quality so can't really go wrong there. Definitely recommend as a special experience if you're looking for something different! read more

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From the minute we walked in it was as if we were transported to a different time and place. We were in awe of the ambiance, service and of course the tea and food. Scrumptious, filling and guess what they will accommodate food allergies. If I didnt have to get up to use the restroom after drinking my whole pot of tea I would have never left read more

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This place is honestly super cute and a fun spot to go with your girlfriends. The food offerings are quite high-end and the service is great. The tea was good quality and the ambience is perfect for high tea. It doesn't get better than this! read more

Courtyard Tea Room - Farmers Market Vegetable Soup - Tea Rooms Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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What a dream! I had been waiting to come here since it closed due to COVID and so when I found out they had reopened in September, I knew I had to come for high tea. I highly recommend coming during the week, at least for now as we were one of the few tables and received truly outstanding service (Thank you Nelson!) and also price per person is only $45 compared to the weekend. There is a wonderful selection of teas, so truly something for everyone and each person gets their own personal pot of the flavor of their choosing. The tea sandwiches, scones, and petit fours were all fantastic. Each had a very distinct, elegant, and delicious flavor. Finally, overall atmosphere was fabulous. Such a beautiful setting, and again the service was certainly elevated to fit the environment. Every thing here was picture perfect, and so I can't wait to come back! read more

Courtyard Tea Room - Tea Rooms Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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BRIDGERTON VIBES. If you're in Boston, you have to experience this at least once. Admittedly I'm more of a coffee than tea person, but I did it for the aesthetic. The tea and food were great though! The champagne was also a nice touch. I was also surprisingly full after eating all the finger sandwiches, petit fours, pastries, and scones. The small size is deceiving! You will probably be stuffed after. read more

Courtyard Tea Room - Tea Rooms Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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One of the best tea rooms I have ever been to! The decor was so delicate and beautiful. The attention to detail from the staff made the experience so great. From helping with suggested teas and filling the pots with hot water without me having to ask, the staff was phenomenal. I had one of the best seats next to the window overlooking the fountain outside. The food was delicious, and I had the white peony tea which was perfect! It was very light and slightly florally, which was just what I was looking for. read more

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The ambiance is amazing and the staff are friendly, but the food is mediocre/not great for the price. A lot of it is very 'dry' and the few 'good' items aren't stand-out/don't justify the cost. However it would be a good Mother's Day place read more

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For the record, I am a loyal worshipper to the coffee gods. It kick starts my day and keeps the trains running during my inevitable afternoon lull. I have a gold card at Starbucks and you've all seen me post photos on Instagram from Tatte Bakery. However, I recently strayed from my beverage of choice into tea for a very classy afternoon at the Boston Public Library (BPL). It's a flat $39 for adults and $19 for children to enjoy tea and a selection of amazing sandwiches and pastries. They do not skimp on the snacks. The three-tiered tray of scones, cakes and savory bites was more than enough food for all of us. When it came to ordering tea, I went with the Blood Orange Hibiscus, a herbal tea that was delightfully fruity. One of the unique details I love about this experience was the menu. Each person is given a book that contains the food and tea menus. Mine was "The Assault on Reason" by Al Gore. I love that they played on the charm of this unique destination. Get the full inside scoop on the BPL and afternoon tea here: https://heregoesgabbi.com/food-drink/afternoon-tea-boston/ read more

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When we saw we could have tea inside of the Boston Public Library we immediately added this to our itinerary! You can make a reservation 29 days in advance and the process for doing so was easy. I got a voicemail the morning of our reservation saying that the A/C was out in the library so it was closed but that the tea room would be open, thankfully. I had mentioned when making the reservation that it was my mom's birthday and they took care of us! We had the best two top right next to the window overlooking the gardens. Since there was no A/C they had the window open, which enhanced the view even more. We also got complimentary champagne and they had a little "Happy Birthday" on the tea tower. We got a couple rounds of food before the tea snacks tower came. The scone was warm and delicious and the beet salad was surprisingly tasty too! Because if there being no A/C they allowed us to order iced tea, which we opted for just so we didn't get too warm. Besides the food being high quality, the service was unmatched. This is a can't miss experience if you're visiting Boston! read more

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I've loved this tea room for many years, but they recently changed their menu. They once had beautifully presented and delicious small sandwiches, a starter soup and salad, two types of scones, different jams, fabulous desserts, macarons. Now- no soup and salad starter, one bland scone without strawberry jam, an unfortunate selection of sandwiches (salmon mousse on a dry pancake?), no macarons. The entire experience was disappointing. Please bring back to your previous menus. I'm not sure why these changes were made- cost-cutting, new chef/management -but this is not up to the superb standards set by the original Catered Affair caterers. read more

What a delight to find this gem inside the Boston Library. First we took a stroll though the library and looked at the beautiful murals- and then to the tea room. The service from the moment we stepped in was impeccable. The servers and the manager Alex were incredibly polite, and very attentive- I'm fastidious when yelping about service- I abhor bad service. But I'm saving the best to last- the food, and it was absolutely delicious. Now I am from Devon, UK, so to be served Devon clotted cream with the scones and jam was the final perfect touch, and it did not go unnoticed. I absolutely recommend The Courtyard Tea Room- you will not be disappointed. read more

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This place is quite amazing. The staff were wonderful. The tea choices and cocktail choices were great. Food was extensive and very good! Would come again in a heartbeat! read more

The courtyard tea room is truly a hidden gem in town. I'd have to rate this 5 stars for the presentation, ambiance and courteous staff alone. The food, tea and drinks are truly on an amazing level, and wonderfully presented. We arrived early with reservations of course and were seated in one of there best seats in the house, over looking the courtyard. The staff was more than professional and had the presentation that will make you return time and time again. If you are in town, don't forget to visit this amazing spot, it will make you fall in love with beautiful Boston and have you feeling wonderful throughout. read more

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Such a fun spot! So pretty inside and the table decorations/place setting is so fun! The servers were extra gracious and lovely, I went with two other people and we each got a full tea pot to our selves of our choice! My only gripe is that allll of the food was way too sweet, they give you a whole plate of intensely sweet desserts and a whole plate of sweet scones, with one plate for savory sandwiches that I also found to be sweet. At the end of the day I'd go there again though, more for the experience and tea than for the food. read more

Courtyard Tea Room - Tea Rooms Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I'm the type who's always been pretty critical of any meal over $50 per person. That being said, Courtyard tea room is one of those experiences you must try out before you leave Boston, especially if you're a resident. The tea was excellent but the highlight of the show was definitely the variety of sandwiches and desserts. The scones were some of the best I've had as well. Definitely very filling though not necessarily a hearty meal. The environment was lovely and a reservation was booked 1-2 weeks ahead of time. Excellent place to bring your girlfriends read more

Courtyard Tea Room - Tea Rooms Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Three ladies had high tea on Thursday April 25 at 1:30. It was an incredible experience. They gave us a corner window table, felt very regal. The women server could not have been kinder. The food was yummy and plentiful. My favorites include the scones, lobster sandwiches and panna cotta! The setting feels very European, the library is gorgeous, it's a special experience. read more

Courtyard Tea Room - Courtyard - Tea Rooms Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Despite the high price tag, Food is average and not much of it compared to high teas in Europe, if you're looking for a leisurely afternoon this is not it: you're rushed in and out in an hour and a half . The staff hovers to move you along. The tiered serving trays are so high they block your view of your dining companions. Just really disappointed read more

Staff was very welcoming and accommodating. I had requested gluten free option with my reservation. My meal was equally as beautiful and delicious as the rest of my families. It was a lovely experience. read more

Courtyard Tea Room - Tea Rooms Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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10/10 experience and way more filling than I thought. Honestly don't be afraid to arrive on an empty stomach because we didn't even finish everything. If you are lucky you can get a table by the windows with a view of the courtyard. My favorite afternoon tea experience thus far read more

Came to Boston on a work trip, and decided to skip work for a couple of hours to come here for their famous high tea. My colleague and I both got the courtyard afternoon tea. We were impressed that we had the opportunity to dine in at the public library. The tea room was very simple and quite open, but hard to tell that we were in a library. We were given the menu and there was a good selection of tea. I was very pleased with the variety of scones, sweets, and sandwiches that they had. The display on the three-tiered stand was also exactly what I had expected. The price was a bit higher than I had expected for the amount of food that we received, that being said we actually did have a couple of sweet leftovers. I wish we had a few more finger sandwiches and scones and less of the sweets We enjoyed a very pleasant two hours at the library tea room. It was totally worth skipping work for this experience, and I would recommend all tea lovers or those interested in high tea to pay this place a Visit. read more

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Very nice experience! Must book through resy- recommend 30 days before as they book up quickly on the weekends. Library closes at 5, if you're trying to walk around- highly recommended if you haven't before! As of May 2023- set menu for 64$pp, cocktail was 14$. Seasonal starter was burrata and celery soup. Nice atmosphere for a special occasion or event. (Pro tip: Reservations on resy open at midnight) read more

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We spent our last day in Boston enjoying this lovely tea. We made reservations just a few days prior after we strolled through the library, so happy my daughter suggested we try this out. Everything was delicious and I especially enjoyed the salmon spread, scone (best ever), butters and the nice assortment of desserts. They boxed up the tiny bit we had leftover as well. Service was perfect and we never felt rushed. Perfect place for a mother-daughter or best friend get together. read more

Courtyard Tea Room - Tea Rooms Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Second time here for high tea, $68/person set menu. Missed the asparagus soup and lemon poppy seed scones from last spring menu. They were better than this holiday's apple ginger soup and cinnamon scones. read more

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My husband took me here for afternoon tea on Mother's Day. The restaurant is located in the historic Boston Public Library located in Copley Square Boston. It's very easy to get to via public transportation, green line, Copley stop. There is very limited street parking so be sure to give yourself plenty of time if you plan on driving in. You can also pay a little more and park in the Copley mall parking lot and walk over to the library which is directly across the street. You can make a small purchase to get your ticket validated or pay the full price. Be sure to make a reservation to guarantee a seat. My experience was very pleasant and I definitely recommend this to my friends. The staff is very attentive and will guide you through the tea selections although there is description of each tea in the menu as well. The afternoon tea scones, desserts, and sandwiches are a set menu so there is little to do but select your tea. My recommendation is the earl grey tea. If you arrive early you can wait in the beautiful courtyard and/or explore the library with all its charm. It's such a beautiful and iconic location. read more

Courtyard Tea Room - Afternoon Tea for Two - Tea Rooms Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Who knew this place was hidden inside the Boston Public Library! I've walked past the entrance of the map room so many times, but I thought it was just a very casual cafe for coffee. My boyfriend only found out about the courtyard tea room behind the map room when he was looking online for afternoon tea places to surprise me with. Although the food at the map room and the courtyard are the same (I think), I personally like the courtyard side better because it's brightly lit with natural light and elegant decor. I never dined in the map room side, but it's pretty dark. The style is also more rustic and historical. We got the "Copley Tea" set the first time I came here, and I enjoyed it so much we came again for Christmas eve tea. They added some Christmas decorations to the place, but the menu was pretty much the same. They may have switched out a few of the pastries for some themed ones, but that's it. I still think it was worth it though, and they gave out little goody bags at the end with some Christmas treats. The menus are always prix fixe. You only have to pick what kind of tea you want, and each person gets their own pot. There was a soup and salad to start, and everything else were bite-sized and came out on the tiered platter. It was surprisingly filling though and can definitely be treated as a full meal. I thought the savory bites were better than the sweet pastries. However, I wouldn't say the food was spectacular or super high quality; but the specialty of the place was that it was hidden inside the library, it was historical and central, and it was very cute. The menus are made from old books, and they tastefully added small touches of book themed decor everywhere. It's also very decently priced, $54/person on the weekend and the Christmas eve one was slightly more. I'd say it's very wroth it for the amount of food, service, and experience. Hotels that do tea sets usually charge $75/person. It may be more grand, but it's not unique like this! It was very full both times we came here, and they only sat people with reservations. Also, try getting a table by the window; it was so nice facing the library's outdoor courtyard. The one downside was that EVERYONE who walked by peered inside, but it was actually kind of funny. They all looked surprise to see that there was a tea room inside. As for the dress code, I don't think they have one. People who came here for birthday parties and bachelorette parties were dressed up and on-theme, but something cute and semi-casual is fine. read more

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Lotsa history here! Hi tea service was impeccable but the bread for the sandwiches and mini lobster roll was dry and stale - a definite let down esp when Courtyards has such a great rep. I would expect Courtyards to have fresh bread every day Also, the manager had to transfer us to the Maproom bar area becos we went overtime. Unfortunately we had 2 little ones with us and i understand thar MA law that kids are not allowed at the bar. However the bartender was so rude and condescending when she spoke to us that I was literally taken about and was very offended. She needs to go back to customer service 101. We did not choose to go the bar, we were asked to do so. The manager did make it right by giving us an unreserved table in Courtyards again but that negative attitude left an extremely bad taste in our mouths. read more

Afternoon tea at The Courtyard Tea Room in the Boston Public Library is a lovely experience. I try to visit at least once every year. The space is great for groups and individuals. Today, I took a staycation day away from work and reserved a table for one and brought a good book. They kindly sat me at the best table by the window looking out at the beautiful courtyard. The food was tasty ~ I especially enjoyed the chilled roasted beets and micro-greens salad paired with warm Asparagus soup and the selection of savory finger sandwiches. The peppermint tea (decaf) was comforting and refreshing. Service was consistently warm and attentive. The Courtyard Tea Room is a gem in the heart of Boston, an oasis where I can enjoy a good meal and a bit of calm and relaxation. read more

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This mixes some of my favorite things (and cue the Sound Of Music song in my head). Books, tea, scones and clotted cream. Oh! To have it in a library is extra special. "Free*to*All" is the slogan and mission statement of this library. This High tea compliments the library and literary experience! The pair well together. Yes! It is like pairing food and wine where each bit accentuates each sip. RTÉ, each turn of phrase is complimented by each bite of lemon custard covered scone. Each literary metaphor is complimented by each sip of Earl Grey black tea with a healthy hint of milk. read more

Amazing people, ambience, food, service, and overall experience at the Courtyard Tea Room. Make sure to call ahead to make a reservation!

**Pinkies Up** We meandered our way through the gorgeous outdoor courtyard of BPL on our way to afternoon tea; a lovely start to the meal. We were seated promptly and shown the menu: on the weekends it's mandatory to choose a soup or salad (during the weekdays you can opt out and save $6). With that said, the salad was fresh and tasty, although I'd probably pass if it was an option. The tea selection was plentiful and presented in a charming little book (a nice nod to the library location). Regarding the food selection, the bottom tier was savory finger sandwiches, the middle, desserts, and the top was scones with lemon curd, clotted cream, and jam. The finger sandwiches were OK. The ingredients were fresh enough but two of the sandwiches were egg salad and chicken salad, which just tasted bland and cheap. The lobster and salmon were lovely and the cucumber sandwich was nice as well. The ham sandwich was tasty for what it was. For the price, I think they could elevate the "salad" sandwiches to something better. There was a nice distribution of fruity and chocolatey desserts, a little something for everyone. And the scones were nice but nothing memorable--I appreciated the authenticity of the curd and clotted cream (not a quick condiment to make). Overall, the cuteness factor makes it worth trying if you're into pretending to be fancy. I know I am. **pinkies up** read more

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