Where do you book December tea in Center City when the room that served it since 1989 has closed? On Sunday, November 15, the Mary Cassatt Tea Room at The Rittenhouse served its last afternoon tea. Its manager told World Tea News the tea room had been running since the hotel opened that year. It kept a regular schedule almost to the end, with seatings Thursday through Sunday from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at $70 per person and a harpist in the room, according to Billy Penn's October tea guide.
That regular schedule is what Center City lost. Tea is still available downtown this season, but there is no longer a room overlooking the square with a fixed weekly schedule. What's left is a few Saturdays in a hotel lobby, a weekday window at a pub, one daily tea house near Chinatown, and pop-ups that show up when they show up. Holiday tea this year has to be planned by the date.
What closed at 210 W. Rittenhouse Square, and what replaces it
The hotel describes the work as "an extensive reimagining of its public spaces." The Library Bar closed October 31, and the tea room followed two weeks later. Lacroix is still open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails. Construction runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and overnight stays continue as usual.
The biggest new piece is Ruxton Steakhouse from Baltimore-based Atlas Restaurant Group. Billy Penn reported it will have 220 seats, three private dining rooms, two bars and a seasonal patio overlooking the square, plus an intimate new bar. The hotel says the first of the new spaces will be revealed in late spring 2027. The plans center on steak, cocktails and lounge space. In its statement to Billy Penn, the hotel described the direction this way:
"We're thinking more intentionally about how guests can interact with the bar, lounge, and courtyard space to make them more accessible for events and socializing."
The timing is what hurts in December. The tea room was known for its seasonal programming, including a Teddy Bear Tea that the hotel ran as a recurring December event. This is the first holiday season since 1989 without that room.
The dated option: Saturday Boozy Tea in the Ritz-Carlton lobby
The closest thing to a hotel holiday tea with set dates is at Aqimero, Chef Richard Sandoval's restaurant in the lobby of The Ritz-Carlton at 10 Avenue of the Arts. Its Boozy Tea runs from noon to 2 p.m. on three Saturdays left this year.
- Saturday, November 21
- Saturday, December 5
- Saturday, December 19
Reservations are required. The price is $95++ per adult and $45++ for kids 10 and under, and the format suits groups of two to six. Billy Penn describes it as a "teapot-sized cocktail" paired with a four-course tasting menu meant for sharing.
With three seatings left before New Year's and a cap of six per party, those Saturdays will be the hardest tea tables to get in Center City this season. The November 21 date falls two days after this post goes up.
The other hotel tea is coming back after a pause
Sofitel Philadelphia, at 120 S. 17th St., ran weekly afternoon tea for years when its restaurant was Chez Colette, then paused it, Billy Penn reported. The restaurant is now Liberté Restobar, and its experiences page says afternoon tea "returns to Liberté this December for a special festive edition," with seasonal flavors and festive touches. Reservation details will be posted on that page.
Liberté's festive edition is a December event, not a return to the weekly service of the Chez Colette years. That matches the pattern across Center City. Hotels are offering tea as a seasonal occasion instead of something on the menu four days a week.
The weekday option, three blocks from the square
The tea that runs most like the old tea room's schedule is in a British pub. The Dandelion, at 124 S. 18th St., serves afternoon tea Monday through Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. Each tier is designed for two people:
- Who Stole the Tarts, $20: two tiers of housemade pastries and tarts
- Down the Rabbit Hole, $30: two tiers of petite sandwiches
- A Royal Occasion, $60: three tiers of sandwiches and pastries with a four-cup pot of tea
A glass of house Champagne or a rosé mimosa adds $8. At $60 for two, the full tier costs less than one seat did at the Mary Cassatt Tea Room. The trade-off is timing. The Dandelion's tea is weekdays only, so a Saturday holiday tea near Rittenhouse Square would mean Aqimero or Liberté.
The no-reservation option near Chinatown
Prince Tea House, at 203 N. 9th St., is the only afternoon tea in Billy Penn's guide served daily with no reservation. It costs $60 for two or $90 for three, and the menu includes finger sandwiches such as pastrami with Swiss, crab with garlic aioli, and wasabi deviled egg. It is open noon to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Two blocks away, A La Mousse at 145 N. 11th St. has a dessert-only tea menu of fruit-inspired cakes, chocolates, cookies and pastries. Between them, these are the only two places in this guide where you can decide on tea the same afternoon.
The pop-ups: join the list before the date is posted
The rest of Center City's tea happens on irregular dates, and you usually learn about them through a mailing list.
- FRIEDA, 320 Walnut St.: The community cafe and gallery holds BYOB teas at 3:30 p.m. on select Sundays, usually $48 per person plus tax and a 20% service charge. Reservations are taken by email only, so getting on the mailing list is how you find out about dates, per Billy Penn.
- The Rosenbach, 2008–2010 Delancey Place: The museum has hosted a Jane Austen tea, a Vampyre Tea, and tea parties with Fishtown's Elwood. Its programs page is where new ones appear.
- Carpenters' Hall, 320 Chestnut St.: The hall started afternoon tea in 2025 with re-creations of Dolley Madison's tea parties and has since run other themed teas, with prices that vary by event. Its events page lists a Carpenters' Company Holiday Open House on Wednesday, December 16, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
- Bloomsday, 414 S. 2nd St.: The Headhouse Square wine bar runs a monthly "Bloomsday and Friends High Tea" featuring a different local bakery each time, at $80 plus tax per person. New dates are posted on its experiences calendar.
Putting a December tea on the calendar
| Venue | Address | When | Price | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aqimero Boozy Tea | 10 Avenue of the Arts | Sat. Nov. 21, Dec. 5, Dec. 19, noon–2 p.m. | $95++ adult, $45++ child 10 and under | Required |
| Liberté Restobar | 120 S. 17th St. | Festive edition in December | See Liberté's experiences page | See Liberté's experiences page |
| The Dandelion | 124 S. 18th St. | Mon.–Fri., 3–5 p.m. | $20–$60, each tier for two | Contact the pub |
| Prince Tea House | 203 N. 9th St. | Daily | $60 for two, $90 for three | Not required |
| FRIEDA | 320 Walnut St. | Select Sundays, 3:30 p.m. | About $48 plus tax and service |
Aqimero's December 5 seating can pair with another event the next day. On Sunday, December 6, Center City District's holiday edition of Open Streets: West Walnut closes Walnut Street to cars from Broad to 19th, and 18th Street from Chestnut to Locust, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The program includes Santa from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., carolers from 1 to 2 p.m., and a live ice piano performance at 1:30 p.m. The Dandelion and Sofitel are both on or just off that route. For the rest of what's running downtown this season, our guide to what Center City kept after the 250th covers the holiday calendar.
The Rittenhouse plans to reveal the first of its new spaces in late spring 2027, and Steven will be watching what Ruxton and the new bar mean for life on the square. If you live near Rittenhouse Square and are thinking about how changes like these affect your home's value, Dream Home by Steven can talk it through over coffee or tea. Request a Free Market Valuation and get a clear picture of where your home stands.
