Happiness is tea at Lady Camelia by the Waterfront.
If you enjoy tea, fancy tea service, and waterfront views, you will absolutely love Lady Camelia Tea House. Situated in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, the tea room is parallel to the Potomac River at 229 Strand Street. Previously located in the Georgetown area of Washington, D.C., the new location is cozy, elegant and inviting.
If you’re like me, you can enjoy tea spring, summer, fall and winter. But sipping warm tea in a luxurious setting is top tier. I wouldn’t exactly say that I am snobbish, but I do love the finer things in life. And I must admit, Lady Camelia boasted all the accoutrements of fine dining and better living.
Beautiful Waterfront Location
Interestingly enough, I discovered Lady Camelia by accident. I was walking along the waterfront near the Potomac and was in search of Ada’s on the River. The establishment was completely booked and I decided to walk down to Virtue Feed and Grain. But on the way, I spotted the tea room. With seeming wall-to-ceiling glass windows encasing its beauty, the business was hard to miss, let alone forget.
I hurried across the street, determined to find out whether the business was as inviting as it looked. As I was walking into the business, a private baby shower was just concluding. One of the participants kindly offered me a party favor – a flower in a petite glass vase. As I was on personal travel, and would be returning the very next day, I graciously declined. And anyway, I was on a mission to make reservations. To my surprise, I was able to book an afternoon tea service for my daughter and I, the very next day. While the service, at $59 for adults and $40 for children on the weekends, was pricier than some of the other tea room’s I’ve frequented; it was money well spent. An investment I’ll never forget.
Elegant Establishment
From the dishware to the tables, chairs and stunning chandeliers, the ambience is perfect. The teacup sets are elegant and unique; rather than a uniform set of tea cups and plates, many of them boasted different designs.
While I enjoy full-bodied black teas, I love enjoying my favorite black teas (English Breakfast and Earl Grey) in different settings. The selection at Lady Camelia was plentiful, and included lavender, earl grey, English breakfast, and even a strawberry white tea. (They also offer stronger drinks such as Prosecco, Mimosas and Wine.) For the full list of teas, see their menu. In short, their tea service includes scones and other pastries, a tea or other drink of your choice, and tea sandwiches.
Speaking of sandwiches, I was expecting bite-size sandwiches whose flavor made up for the tiny size. However, this gem boasted full sandwiches, neatly cut in half. My tea service included chicken salad sandwiches and apple and Brie sandwiches. For dessert, I enjoyed miniature crème brûlée and chocolate brownies. While Lady Camelia had a host of scones, I opted for the colorful, Funfetti one.
What’s Special About This Place?
If you are local to Alexandria, Lady Camelia delivers. You may also order online and enjoy your tea and treats to go. If you are looking to host an intimate and meaningful event, Lady Camelia caters private events. If you’re like me, and want to expose your children to the finer things in life, this business is for you.
If you’d like to read about some of our other favorite bakeries and tea houses, be sure to check out our blog
