I had a lovely afternoon tea at The Book & Bee last year (2025), so I would give this place four to five stars for that experience alone. I tried to go back this year, and am so appalled by the customer service (or lack thereof) that I will now give it 0 stars, so settled for two since I can't do two and a half. Yes, the food and ambiance were wonderful in 2025. I tried to book another afternoon tea party and called a month and a half in advance. This was to celebrate multiple birthdays with a group of busy moms so wanted to get it on the calendar. No one called me back despite the voicemail saying that we would hear back "promptly." I left two more messages in a span of two, three weeks and still nothing. I even emailed, no response. Finally, a friend stopped by in person and was told that the cafe would be short staffed the weekend we wanted the reservation for so the manager needs to see if there are enough people working before confirming. Okay....but why wouldn't you call back to tell me that? Our requested reservation is tomorrow and I still have not heard back from anyone. This is abysmal customer service. As mentioned, food was good but not good enough to treat potential customers like this. Hard pass from now on and will not go back or recommend. *Editing to respond to Victoria -- those were the dates I called and left voicemails. Perhaps there was a phone issue on your end, but I did not even get a missed call. My friend who stopped by in person spoke to a manager. She had to go by twice due to the manager not being available the first time. I also did not get an email response. read more

I came here to say with my sister because we grew up with a tea cafe and missed the aesthetic and wow was I SHOCKED in the best possible way. Not only was the decor and aesthetic inviting and so detailed but the food was delicious and the service amazing (Jade). We went all out with cauliflower bisque, two different teas and scones (The Hobbit and The Highlander teas), a blueberry cobbler cheesecake and a limoncello. Every part of the meal was delicious. We absolutely will be back and can't wait to try the other teas. We also were able to take the leftovers for our tea pots and this makes me so excited! So many great bookish references -- it made my nerd heart happy read more

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This is such a cute little café, and if you love hot tea, it's truly the place to be. My friend and I went for lunch--her first visit, though I've been several times. The food is always delicious and the ambiance is wonderful. I'm giving a 4-star rating only because the service could have been better. No accommodations were offered, even when my friend asked to substitute sourdough bread for white on the pot roast sandwich. It seemed like an easy request since the pot roast is served on top of the bread. Overall, it's definitely worth a visit. Give it a try--I don't think you'll be disappointed! read more

Terrible..the scones were more like a tiny triangle of cake. Which was the first disappointment. My cottage shepherds pie was cold and certainly was not baked as described. Tasteless. They did microwave it to boiling point. The atmosphere was nice. But most uncomfortable, was the waitress she was surly and rude. Didn't know how to smile. She did not belong in a cute tea room. Will never return. Go to Pisgah Bake House if you want an amazing scone! read more

This place is so cute. The food and drinks are amazing. Staff were all so sweet. Was there on vacation but can't wait to go back! read more

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My husband and I went to Hendersonville for a day trip and were recommended this place. We thought it was a book store but were pleasantly surprised to learn it's a cafe! Our sandwiches were delicious. Loved the sourdough bread. They had a literature-themed menu that was enjoyable to read and make selections from. Our server was kind and our food came out quickly. This would be a great spot for a mommy-daughter date. Highly recommend! read more

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First of all to time eating at tea time is outrageous! Also some servers are rude ! Your prices are insane. The sandwiches just ok, nothing special. Will never return & tell friends & family to not bother giving this establishment any business. The ambiance is ok. Sorry but the owners need to change their way of providing good service. read more

The Gatsby tea is delicious! The waitstaff was great with a 5yr Olds birthday party. All the girls had a great time! read more

The Book & Bee - Lillyanne s party - Cafes Near Me - Hendersonville, North Carolina

Love love love this place! We have been several times now and each time has been wonderful. The people are so friendly and inviting. Love the themed rooms. The tea selection is great and so good. The food is very fresh and delicious. You can tell they use only fresh quality ingredients. We have tried several things from the sandwiches and salads. The scones are so good with the lemon curd/cream/jam. We travel over an hour and don't regret it. Will definitely be back many more times. read more

What a lovely afternoon. The restaurant is cozy. Everyone was very friendly. Michelle was very attentive and professional. They have several options in addition to afternoon tea (which requires a reservation) The beef chili was super delish. The ham broccoli cheddar quiche was ok. The meatloaf was the star of the bunch instead of mash went for the sweet potato - all I can say is I can't wait to go back!!! Great place to bring tea drinkers and out of town guest for a unique experience. read more

We went and did afternoon tea on a Thursday, which comes with the tiered treat dishes and two kettles of tea per your choosing. There was so much food and tea we had to get a box to take some home! Which was pretty awesome with how filling everything was despite how dainty and cutesy the food was. We got the dessert tea and the chai, and they were both just so good. My only complaints are on how tiny the table was that we were sat at. In the picture, you can see the things we received were really tight together. The other would be on the size of the room we were in. A lot of times we had to lean closer because it just got so LOUD with how many people were in the smaller room with us while also trying to talk amongst themselves. And a bathroom entrance. Overall it was a fun experience, and I would like to go back sometime. Just probably not in the England room lol read more

The Book & Bee - Afternoon tea set up with chai and dessert teas - Cafes Near Me - Hendersonville, North Carolina

Delightful lunch with dessert there today. Delicious soup, salad and sandwiches. We loved the cinnamon tea! The desserts were the best EVA! Coconut cake was yummy! Blueberry cheesecake was delish. And the peanut butter landslide pie was very good, too. What makes this place an experience is the beautiful decor and the sweet vibe. Highly recommend! read more

The Book & Bee - Coconut cake with cinnamon tea. - Cafes Near Me - Hendersonville, North Carolina

Absolutely wonderful food and many options of tea. This feels like it came straight out of London... Stafford incredibly nice and very helpful... The ambience is set with different themes for different rooms. I really love this place... The bangers and mash are awesome. read more

The Book & Bee - Cafes Near Me - Hendersonville, North Carolina

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Had a lovely brunch here. The setting is fantastical and whimsy. Very Instagram worthy with a cute outfit. Enjoyed a pot of The Hobbit with a few lumps of brown sugar. The quiche was delicious and filling and the side of seasonal fruit was perfect in terms of color, ripeness, and taste. The white chocolate and blueberry crumble cheesecake is great way to round off the meal. It sweet, light and if you're not full with your meal; this will fill you up. The service was quick and responsive to diners needs. Pricing is decent given the location and whimsy of the place. I over indulged myself and spent less than $35 tea, another pot of tea, an entree and dessert. My price also included a tip. read more

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We have eaten here several times with great enjoyment. Very nice veranda and pleasant inside. Pots of tea served with a warming base to keep them warm, simply excellent rotating choices of daily soup, sandwiches hearty and delicious, daily entrees wonderful, and very good quiche. A unique restaurant experience, you will keep coming back for more. read more

I am a huge tea person and have mostly been disappointed in the offerings here since I moved to NC. I am so glad that I found Book & Bee! This is the best tea house I have found here and I don't care that it is two hours from my house, I plan to come here as often as possible. The tea selection is amazing, the food SOOOO good (and cute) and the service is nice as well. The entire place is decorated really pretty and has great a great feel throughout. I can't wait to come back here again. read more

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This fun and interesting restaurant can get busy. We like having lunch here on Tuesday late morning. The atmosphere, ambiance and service is wonderful. Just enough of the tea room experience without getting stuffy. The Reuben, chicken salad Waldorf and mad hatter sandwiches are delicious. The side of pea/onion or green salad are tasty and generous. Servers are friendly and helpful. Transactions can be paid for at the table. Don't forget to add a wrapped surprise book for an extra couple bucks. Makes a nice gift for readers. read more

The Book & Bee - Mad hatter sandwich with side salad tea and chicken salad Waldorf sandwich not in picture - Cafes Near Me - Hendersonville, North Carolina

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Well, enjoying this area I was very lucky to have a chance to eat at this classic café. Such good foods to enjoy and freshness and quality is all included. Someone in our party ordered the Steinbach chicken salad, I saw Agatha's meatloaf and mashed potatoes, was also on the menu. The Hobbits Shepard pie was delish!! Food that tastes good & such wonderful presentation. I'm amazed I've never heard of this cafe before. read more

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The quality, flavor and ingenuity of the dishes was impressive. The service was superb. And the ambiance, from the exterior of the building to the quaint, lovely rooms was unique. An A+ rating! read more

Sweet and unique ambiance. A different, adorable literary decor theme for each room of this quaint tea house. Loved the books and bee paraphernalia mounted all over the walls. Good service. The lunch sandwiches were good. Scones were a little too muffin-y and not quite scone-y, and the stingy little plop of jam and Devonshire cream were teeny-tiny and barely covered my muffin-y scone. Couldn't even call it a dollop. But overall, a very cute place for a special ladies' (maybe some gents') lunch. I hope to be back! read more

I went today to treat my grandmother to a good lunch. It was both our first time here. My grandmother loved both the chicken salad sandwich and the pea salad. The panini I got was delicious and the Mac and cheese was some of the best I've ever had. I'm not much of a tea person but our tea was so good. Service was wonderful, Jade created a memorable experience for my grandmother and I. The decor was really cute!! One thing is that make sure you park in the back if you have mobility issues. They have a sign but we didn't see it in time. The stairs can be hard for mobility. read more

The Book & Bee - Peach oolong tea and "Pan's Panini" with Mac and Cheese as a side. - Cafes Near Me - Hendersonville, North Carolina

W were there in October last year. It is a darling little place. I believe there are 3 rooms and all are decorated with a tea theme. There's a Christmas tree with tea cups and pots. Everyone gets their own beautiful bone chine cup and a cute little tea pot with a warmer under so your tea is always perfect temperature. My friend had the Poppins tea and if I remember correctly,the meatloaf sandwich. I had the Sherlock which is similar to earl grey. W both loved the tea and have purchased more since then. We live in western pa, but I'd go back in a heartbeat! We also had the sweetest lady who was a frequent customer at the table beside us. She was a wealth of info! She donated many of the tea cups & pots ! Say hi to Helene if you're lucky enough to meet her! read more

The food was very tasty except the egg salad tea sandwich was very plain. It could have used some curry or Dijon mustard to give it some flavor. We had enough sandwiches and pastries to have for lunch the next day. The atmosphere was charming and the service was excellent! I can't wait to go back again, but I don't live in the area. read more

Shocked by the RUDE behavior of the host. No one in the restaurant and we were asked if we'd be done and out of the restaurant by a certain time. We were only wanting lunch and only 3 of us. Got there at 10:20 . We WILL NOT GO BACK!! read more

Absolutely adorable. Quaint. Lovely location. Tea options amazing. Flavor 100% on point. I can't visit this place enough read more

Stopped in for lunch today and absolutely loved this spot! The Book and Bee is perfect for a breakfast or lunch with friends, tea time, or even a quick bite! My husband and I got the chicken salad sandwich and the meatloaf sandwich to split. Both were fantastic but I was drawn in to the meatloaf the most. The mashed potatoes and gravy were amazing! For desert we split the strawberry cheesecake which was just incredible. Equally amazing to the food was the decor. The individual rooms are all so cute and definitely worth a walk around regardless of where you are seated. There is so much thought that went into every decoration and it's a beautiful spot! The book nerd in me absolutely loved all of the bookish references. There are plenty of seating options for any occasion and even a large amount of shady outdoor seating. Our waitress was fantastic and very sweet. My one regret is not living closer so I could visit this place more often!! read more

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My friends and I were looking forward to eating here for the first time last week. Unfortunately, one of us got stuck in bad traffic and was going to be late. The other two of us were hungry and one had to get back to work so we wanted to be seated so we could order our food, and our friend would order when she arrived. The hostess stated that their policy was not seat incomplete parties...which I totally understand from working in restaurants for many years. However, there were many open tables and no one waiting so I explained that we would be ordering right away...not sitting taking up a table for an unknown period of time. She refused and stated the policy again...like I didn't hear or understand the first time. I even told her that if our friend was really late she would just get her food to go and not take up the table any longer than if we had all been together. Again she refused. I understand policies and that there are times and reasons for them. But I also know that there are times when they don't apply or need to be enforced. I'm guessing that one of the servers would have been happy to have the extra tip...too bad we won't ever return. read more

Wowzers!!! This place is fantabulous. My bestie and I had a great lunch. This place is so adorable, we sat in the Library Room across from the Jubilee Room. Bestie and I had the Paddington's Bangers and Mash - delicious, the bangers had a great flavor and texture, mashed potatoes were creamy, and the onion gravy was perfect. They offer an extensive tea list so we ordered the Mary Poppins and Weasley (decaf), I opted for the Cream Tea with blueberry scones, lemon curd, and jam. The staff was friendly and very knowledgeable. They have a large parking lot with handicapped parking behind the restaurant. read more

The Book & Bee - Jubilee Room - Cafes Near Me - Hendersonville, North Carolina

Went with a large group of ladies and can't wait to go back. I got a salad and it was absolutely delicious and the tea is worth writing home about. Highly recommend to anyone that likes tea or hot coffee. read more

An awesome restaurant. Fantastic food. Very pretty. No reservations. The desserts are especially a treat.

Such a charming place. The decor is so beautiful and the tea selection was fantastic. We enjoyed The Hobbit tea tremendously. My only negative was the lady that greeted us as we walked in. It was our first time there so we were in awe and asked a few questions and she sighed and was visibly frustrated with us. It was disappointing, but from that point on everyone else we encountered was very helpful and friendly. read more

Absolutely one of my favorite experiences! Make sure to make a reservation for afternoon Tea. They gave us each tea pots, we could each try a different tea flavor and share around the table. Each person was given a tea treat tray filled with delicious homemade treats. It was absolutely delicious and I loved every second of the experience. read more

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Very quaint little tea shop, good food, but a little pricey. 3.50$ for a slice of bread is a little much. But it is a quaint little place. Will plan to return. read more

Nice place. Some great tasting options and some made too well in advance. Was disappointed with the scotch eggs as they were cold and dry. Service was friendly. So good and not so good for me. Price ok. read more

Visited on Saturday 24 Feb 2024 for the first time as a favor to the two book worms I was with at around 1330 eastern; and it was a wonderful surprise. The staff was great, the food just fine, and the portions and pricing were very reasonable. The grilled cheese, chicken salad, pea salad, and pasta salad were all quite yummy. Been driving past it regularly on my way to the recycling center; and didn't realize they will do a to-go order off their menu as well. Definitely going back. read more

Super unique restaurant. Service is outstanding and everyone is very friendly. All the rooms are decorated differently. Can be busy with not much space for waiting. Offers tea trays as well. read more

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The Book and Bee is, from all outside promotion, a pretentious fru-fru "tea house. I consider myself a real he-man looking for a real restaurant with real food. But, I also consider myself a real smart man; What's-her-name wanted to eat lunch there at least once, and so we did. This restaurant is a repurposed residence and a little off the beaten track. The interior decor lives up to the theme and the hype. We were promptly led to a small room and seated at a table for two among only two other tables. The volume of piped-in music was set to "gentle background" rather than "stun" or "kill" as in too many other restaurants. In response, no one in the room shouted or screamed to be heard. We clearly understood waitress' suggestions upon her first recital. Then my best friend and I enjoyed our discussion of current events during lunch. After admitting to being an illiterate Luddite, I Googled the word "Gandalf," and then ordered "Gandalf's Fancy Grilled Cheese" on marbled rye. It and the mashed potato side were, in my opinion, outstanding; real food! She liked her "Steinbeck's Chicken Salad" sandwich. The desserts were tempting but we both managed better judgement. All-in-all, The Book and Bee proved to be a quiet pleasant experience rarely found at other restaurants. We will return whenever we're in the neighborhood. read more

Such a beautiful little tea shop! Wonderful customer service! Definitely a must visit when passing through !

What a great find. A friend suggested this place and it is fabulous. The tea is great and the food is delicious. We had lunch but have already made a reservation for an afternoon tea. read more

3 words. Mushroom brie soup. I have thought about this soup countless times since, it's that good. I wish I didn't live 3+ hours away Super quaint tea shop with adorable decor, friendly service and wonderful food. Highly recommend! read more