Los Angeles - Tea Rooms near Beverly Hills or Santa Monica?

I was wondering is there a upscale Tea Rooms/Shops near/in Beverly Hills or Santa Monica? I just love Green Tea and would like to find and try some limited editions and of course to take home with me.

AAA's Westways magazine just did a review of several Southern California tea rooms in one of their recent issues.

I know that they suggested Chado in Pasadena, definitely not the Beverly Hills/Santa Monica area. https://www.chadotea.com/tr_pasadena.php

There is Royal T in Culver City although I'm not sure it fits your definition of "upscale" but they may have a good selection. http://www.royal-t.org/

Finally, there is always the old stand by, Tudor House, at 2nd and Santa Monica in Santa Monica. There's a British themed shop (Ye Olde Kings Head Shoppe) across the street that may also have some different varieties. http://www.thetudorhouse.com/

Thank you very much!
Do you know is that story also available on the net?

Thank you very much!
Do you know is that story also available on the net?

I tried to link it in my first reply, unfortunately when I Googled it, I can find the article but following the link just takes you to the generic AAA site. Sorry.

Urth Cafe has an outstanding selection of teas and there are several locations. Also, their food is good and pastries are fabulous.
http://www.urthcaffe.com/tea.html
There is an Urth Cafe on South Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills.

I was wondering is there a upscale Tea Rooms/Shops near/in Beverly Hills or Santa Monica? I just love Green Tea and would like to find and try some limited editions and of course to take home with me.

Your desire for an "upscale" tea room made me first think of the several "upscale" hotels that serve an afternoon tea, like the Peninsula and the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, or in Santa Monica, the Shutters On the Beach hotel. But to the best of my knowledge these are all based on the British "Afternoon Tea" service and not necessarily places with special limited editions of green teas, etc, and not places that also sell the tea.

I then thought of Urth Caffé - as a place where great specialty teas are served and sold, but I would not at all consider it upscale. It's extremely Southern Californian casual - but it is really great. The one I frequent is the original one, located in West Hollywood. And I do heartily recommend it, great people watching and wonderful healthy food. If you've seen the show "Entourage" then you just may recognize it. They've used the West Hollywood cafe many, many times as a location.

As obscure2k mentions above, there's also one in BH. But just as an aside, I see on their website that they tout that it's located in the "heart of Beverly Hills". But it's south of Wilshire, not "in the heart". And there's also a location in Santa Monica.

For a place that serves and sells many teas, there's also the chain of "Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf" stores. They're competitors with Starbucks and there are many of them. Extremely casual though.
http://coffeebean.com/

But as to one place that is both upscale and serves/sells the kind of tea you're inquring about - none come to mind unfortunately.

Thanks, sk3 for validating Urth. I started to recommend Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, typed it and deleted it. I think it feels too much like a chain. I really love Urth. My Earth of Choice is on Melrose. There is just something about that place that I can't define. It's quite seductive.

Clementine (http://clementineonline.com/docs/menu_afternoontea) across from the Century City mall does whitetable afternoon tea on Thursdays 3-5. I am not a tea drinker, but went once with a colleague who made a big deal that their teas were loose leaf and came from Intelligentsia (http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/). While the tea was not for me, it was a cool experience. Does look like they have an organic green option.

Another colleague who has three daughters tells me the most expensive afternoon tea in LA is at The American Girl store at the Grove. No idea if they serve actual tea or if it is just pretend :)

I go to Urth often here in Santa Monica. Great place, and a step higher than a coffee shop, but not quite upscale.

Thanks, sk3 for validating Urth. I started to recommend Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, typed it and deleted it. I think it feels too much like a chain. I really love Urth. My Earth of Choice is on Melrose. There is just something about that place that I can't define. It's quite seductive.

The drawback to the Melrose Urth is the parking, right?. (I'm in the area so I walk there). Hey, maybe we've been in line next to each other and never knew a FTer was in our midst! ;)

And I had the same reluctance re Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf - but I looked on their site in their online store and saw a "Limited Edition Taiwan Green Tea"
http://coffeebean.com/Limited-Edition-Taiwan-Green-P836C63.aspx?Page=1 which seems to fit the bill for the OP. It's a characterless chain to us... but maybe not to a non-Californian?

Ooooh, and Clementines(!), I hadn't thought about that place in a couple of years. I used to work downtown and they'd use Clementines alot for catered breakfasts and lunches - I loved their food.

Back to the OP, I just googled "tea room beverly hills" and there does seem to be more options. I imagine you've already done this, but here's the link to the search:
http://www.google.com/search?q=tea+room+beverly+hills&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-Address&ie=&oe=

Thanks guys! ^
Last time I visited at CB&TL, and i felt like i am at the Starbucks :D Next month I'll definitely try Urth.

Here in Helsinki (Finland), there is a few great Tea rooms. You can try and buy everything from a very rare yellow Teas to a special edition white Teas. So, i am mainly looking for a place with good (rare) selection and of course if it comes with upscale atmosphere always better.

Clementine (http://clementineonline.com/docs/menu_afternoontea) across from the Century City mall does whitetable afternoon tea on Thursdays 3-5. I am not a tea drinker, but went once with a colleague who made a big deal that their teas were loose leaf and came from Intelligentsia (http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/). While the tea was not for me, it was a cool experience. Does look like they have an organic green option.

Another colleague who has three daughters tells me the most expensive afternoon tea in LA is at The American Girl store at the Grove. No idea if they serve actual tea or if it is just pretend :)

I go to Urth often here in Santa Monica. Great place, and a step higher than a coffee shop, but not quite upscale.

Clementine has some very tasty breakfast and other snack options also!

Thanks guys! ^
Last time I visited at CB&TL, and i felt like i am at the Starbucks :D Next month I'll definitely try Urth.

Here in Helsinki (Finland), there is a few great Tea rooms. You can try and buy everything from a very rare yellow Teas to a special edition white Teas. So, i am mainly looking for a place with good (rare) selection and of course if it comes with upscale atmosphere always better.

Did you see the listing for the American Tea Room in that google search link? I know nothing about it but what I read online, but it's in BH:

http://www.americantearoom.com/
Here's its "About Us" page: http://www.americantearoom.com/info.html

And here are some reviews:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/american-tea-room-beverly-hills

http://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl=en&sugexp=ldymls&pq=tea+room+beverly+hills&xhr=t&cp=13&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-Address&biw=1419&bih=688&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&wrapid=tlif130670577360610&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=american+tea+room&fb=1&gl=us&hq=american+tea+room&hnear=0x80c2c75ddc27da13:0xe22fdf6f254608f4,Los+An geles,+CA&cid=1494658206898893496&dtab=2&ei=b7_iTc7LNqrPiALayoXMBg&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=result&resnum=2&sqi=2&ved=0CDwQqgUwAQ

Urth Caffé is great, definitely won't be a bad experience - but it's not a "tea room". It's like a European cafe imitation with sidewalk seating but serving really healthy, organic food - and heavenly coffees too (my drug of choice!) They do serve the teas in individual French presses, FWIW.

That American Tea Room also sounds good. I think I'lltake that on my schedule too. I try to remember post my Experience afterwards.

Urth Caffe is a good place but they won't be able to offer your samples and explain to you the info or story behind the teas they serve. You will have a good experience but probably not exactly what you are looking for. It's basically like Coffee Bean but less Corporate and more "earthy" :)

Also, "upsacle" in Los Angeles means you are wearing something over your underwear :D We don't have many stuffy snooty places like you'd find in Paris or even New York.

If you just want to buy tea (and sample some) instead of visiting a sit down "tea room", I also suggest this place: Lupicia Tea located in the Century City Mall... I buy my fancy teas here, both for myself and as gifts. It has hundreds of flavors and variety and the staff is very knowledgeable.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/lupicia-tea-los-angeles

http://www.lupiciausa.com/

I was driving up Robertson and noticed this place for the first time (possibly because of this thread): Paddington's Tea Room (http://www.paddingtonstearoom.com/default.asp)

Looks like they have a tea bar for tastings, do their own blending and private label - perhaps something to look into?

Also, "upsacle" in Los Angeles means you are wearing something over your underwear :D We don't have many stuffy snooty places like you'd find in Paris or even New York.


Hahaha... ^

Maybe in Beverly Hills, though.

Thanks again for the great advices ^

Non of these (three) wasn't actually what I was looking for, but I still had a great time at LA/OC and tested these of course :D Urth Caffe and their morrocon mint Tea + egg sandwich(to share) was awesome combo for a light lunch ^ Also I visited at Lupicia. Store itself was very tiny, but there was a few intresting white teas in their selection, which I've to take home with me.

CB&TL was stlll like a Starbucks :D But Starbucks has a better Iced Tea IMHO.

Thanks again for the great advices ^

Non of these (three) wasn't actually what I was looking for, but I still had a great time at LA/OC and tested these of course :D Urth Caffe and their morrocon mint Tea + egg sandwich(to share) was awesome combo for a light lunch ^ Also I visited at Lupicia. Store itself was very tiny, but there was a few intresting white teas in their selection, which I've to take home with me.

CB&TL was stlll like a Starbucks :D But Starbucks has a better Iced Tea IMHO.

Coffee Bean Lattes and Mochas seem to have more milk and less coffee to me.

I wonder if Bird Pick (http://www.birdpick.com/) might be more like what you're looking for--looks like there's a branch in Santa Monica. I've only been to the Pasadena branch, but it has a very wide selection of green teas. The shop is mostly retailing tea leaves and accessories, but there's a small bar area where you can drink the tea as well.

Hadn't realized that Lupicia had shops in the US--we were so proud of ourselves for getting gifts for our moms there on our last Japan trip, who knew there was a branch at Ala Moana? Their tea is definitely less traditional, more flavored stuff, but I do like the store.

Thanks again for the great advices ^

Non of these (three) wasn't actually what I was looking for, but I still had a great time at LA/OC and tested these of course :D Urth Caffe and their morrocon mint Tea + egg sandwich(to share) was awesome combo for a light lunch ^ Also I visited at Lupicia. Store itself was very tiny, but there was a few intresting white teas in their selection, which I've to take home with me.

CB&TL was stlll like a Starbucks :D But Starbucks has a better Iced Tea IMHO.

Thanks for circling back Kuki! And glad to hear you a had good visit. Yeah, Urth Caffe has been a welcome addition to my neighborhood, happy to hear you liked it - even though it wasn't what you had in mind! (Maybe tea will become more popular here and your next visit will prove more satisfying).