Guests of The Huntington’s Rose Garden Tea Room may feel like they’re in the English countryside when they sip tea and nibble on finger sandwiches, scones and mini desserts while gazing out upon the three acres of the Rose Garden.
Dining at the Myron Hunt-designed structure has long been a popular activity for visitors to The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino.
“The Rose Garden Tea Room is a historic Myron Hunt building,” said Laurie Sowd, vice president for operations at The Huntington. “Myron Hunt was the original architect of The Huntington. He built Henry and Arabella’s home, which later became the Huntington Art Gallery. He designed the Library.”
She said Hunt also designed a carriage house that’s now the Boone Gallery.
Diners at the tea room will receive a basket of fresh scones and choose from a selection of specialty teas, coffee or other beverages. They can then head to the central buffet for finger sandwiches, fresh fruit, imported and domestic cheeses, crackers, seasonal salads and desserts.
Emma Petievich, director of catering at The Huntington, said English Teas that are buffet-style are not very common.
“It makes us very different,” she said.
The Rose Garden Tea Room is now decorated for the holidays.
“We have a holiday tree and holiday décor,” Petievich said.
“It looks very festive,” Sowd added.
The Rose Garden Tea Room building was designed by Hunt and Elmer Grey in August 1909 as a bowling alley and billiard parlor at the west of the Huntington house, according to Jennifer Allan Goldman, institutional archivist at The Huntington. It was completed in April of 1910. The bowling alley was converted into a lunch and tea room in response to the public demand for refreshment options when The Huntington was open to the public, Goldman said, citing The Huntington’s Second Annual Report 1928-29. She said that the Rose Arbor Tea Room was hosting luncheons and teas from 1-4 p.m. by the summer of 1941.
“The tea room is very much associated with The Huntington,” Sowd said. “It’s a long-standing tradition. The tea room is very beloved and most people know about it.”
Reservations are necessary for the Rose Garden Tea Room and should be requested two weeks in advance. They can be made by calling (626) 683-8131 or by visiting https://www.reserveit.net/guest/Huntington. Admission to The Huntington is a separate additional cost. There is not a dress code for the tea room.
Hours of operation of the Rose Garden Tea Room are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from noon to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The last seating for all days is at 3:30 p.m. The tea room is closed on Tuesdays.
