Pinkies Up! Where to Enjoy Afternoon Tea Around DC

Like with brunch, DC takes afternoon tea very seriously. According to legend, Anna Maria Russell, Duchess of Bedford, popularized afternoon tea time in the 19th century because she got hungry between meals. The practice really became fashionable among England’s upper classes during that same century. Today, many hotels and restaurants cater to afternoon tea lovers with seasonal menus and traditional service year-round.

Here are 16 places around D.C. to find spreads of sumptuous scones, exquisite pastries, and finger sandwiches served with steaming pots of tea (and a glass of bubbly, if you wish!).