The Courtyard Tea Room

“Afternoon tea was perfect after going to the MFA. A quick trip on the green line. Reservations required but they were efficient and made you feel special. A little expensive but fantastic for a special occasion. Couldn’t have asked for a better table they paid attention to every detail including our preferences regarding herbal teas and non-alcoholic drinks. The scone was probably my favorite but everything from the amuse to the hazelnut chocolate opera cake was delectable. Cucumber sandwiches were exactly what you would expect. The chicken salad was a surprise favorite among the sandwiches. I think either we had the best server in the tea room or they’re all just really good. And the history of being in such an amazing library with views of the courtyard made me wish I could be a patron. The only issue is that you do have to use the public library bathrooms which are a hike and yes they are probably some of the nicest public library bathrooms in Boston but still;)”

“The afternoon tea is pricey ($72 per person, was $91 with tax and tip for me), but is a ton of food and very delicious. Come hungry! The desserts were more memorable and tasty than the savory items. The scone and sauces were on point. My favorite dessert was the caramel and chocolate tart -- perfection -- but all of the desserts were quite good. While I appreciated having the balance of savory items, none of them were nearly as delicately crafted as the desserts, and it was a lot of bread. Overall it was a great experience and worth trying!”

“Excellent choice for authentic high tea experience with extraordinary service. Meanwhile the food quality dropped over the time. We were here two years ago when we were visiting Boston. We were really impressed by the experience that this year we booked a table in advance when visiting Boston again. However a little disappointed this time. The environment was excellent as before, and the service was extraordinary. The staff explained the tea choices patiently, made sure we all got the right tea, paid extra attention to allergy conditions, and very attentive for the plate charging, water refilling. The food quality dropped from two years ago though. The bottom layer of sandwiches are still delicious and great choices. The top layer of desserts are still decent but multiple tarts has soft soggy bottom, which is a sign of pre made waiting too long so the moisture got into crust. The middle layer of scones are quite disappointing. It's too dry and tough, more like a southern biscuit than a proper English scone.”

“The food was good, but I was somewhat disappointed with the seating arrangement. We were seated at the entrance table next to the bookshelf, which appeared to be the least comfortable table in terms of lighting and atmosphere, even though I noticed an empty two-person table during our reservation time. I may be overthinking it, but the seating choice unfortunately affected the overall dining experience for me.”

“Eh. As expensive as other high teas I’ve been to, but the food is not as tasty or fresh and the digs are not as upscale. The service was nice, and the cocktail and mocktail were well made. The main issue I had was with the tea sandwiches, which felt as though they had been pre-prepared, refrigerated, and then served. The bread on all was not particularly fresh and the fillings were skimpy and truly forgettable. Scones tasted fresh but were too sweet for me, especially with the heavy sugar topping. Mini desserts were also cloying and I only took a small bite of each. For the price, go somewhere else. When I return to enjoy the library and setting, I’ll just go to the bar.”