Tea at the Jefferson – Marshmallows & Margaritas

You may recall my recent post about tea at the Willard. It was lovely, but I wanted to try at least one other place for tea in Washington before we moved, and Refinery29 happened to have a well-timed slideshow of afternoon tea options right before Toby’s mom came to visit us there.

We decided to check out the Greenhouse at The Jefferson, a gorgeous hotel across the street from the National Education Association. As you can see, the dining area is lit by an arched skylight that dates back to 1923.

We opted for the champagne tea, obviously, and were served this tray of delectable-looking treats as well as some tea sandwiches and scones.

The scones and desserts were good, but not great. I thought the scones were a tad bit dry, as was the lemon pound cake. The fruit preserves and strawberry shortcakes (in the shot glasses) were very good, though. And the service was excellent.

We also enjoyed the tea. I had the Darjeeling Summer Gold, Toby had Gunpowder Mint, and Jane had Green Dragon.

And, of course, it’s always fun to get dressed up and visit a new-to-us historic hotel.

Much like the Willard, I wouldn’t say this was the best afternoon tea I’ve ever had. I think the food and tea selection are better at Reynolds Tavern in Annapolis, and I liked being able to choose from a few selections at The Plaza in NYC. But if you’re looking for an impressive place for afternoon tea in DC, The Jefferson is definitely a good bet.