Tea is not what I reach for first in Louisiana. Coffee usually wins. But these twelve spots changed my mind one cup at a time. The English Tearoom in Covington serves scones so flaky they fall apart before they reach your plate, with clotted cream and jam that makes you wonder why you settled for a drive-through muffin.
Prince Tea House in Metairie leans French and Japanese at the same time, which should not work but somehow does. Hazel’s Tea Parlor in Leesville feels like walking into your grandmother’s living room if your grandmother had impeccable taste and unlimited pastry recipes.
Each house on this list has its own personality. Some are formal. Some are casual. A few serve full meals alongside their tea service. All of them make you slow down in a way Louisiana rarely asks you to. Pick one. Bring a friend. Stay longer than you planned.
The English Tearoom & Eatery
Walking into this Covington favorite feels a little theatrical, but never stiff. At 734 East Rutland Street, Covington, LA 70433, The English Tearoom & Eatery layers British memorabilia, cottage details, patterned china, and a serious tea menu into a setting that feels playful rather than gimmicky.
The official menu goes beyond a pot and pastry. Fresh-baked scones arrive with house-made clotted cream and lemon curd, while fuller options include coronation chicken salad, shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, quiche, crumpets, and several high tea services.
I would choose the Windsor High Tea when the afternoon deserves a proper occasion, since it combines finger sandwiches, mini savories, desserts, strawberries, scones, and a full pot of tea.
Reservations help, especially for larger groups or Saturday visits. The tearoom opens Monday through Saturday and closes Sunday, so spontaneous weekend plans need a little thought.
What keeps me interested is that the theme never overwhelms the food. The room may invite royal jokes, but the hospitality feels sincere.
Come hungry, ask for tea guidance, and leave enough time for another cup before stepping back into ordinary Louisiana traffic with a favorite loose-leaf blend tucked under your arm for the drive home and tomorrow morning as well.
Prince Tea House
Soft lighting, floral details, and polished teaware make this Metairie spot feel ready for a celebration even when the occasion is only Tuesday. Prince Tea House is located at 3012 North Arnoult Road, Suite B, Metairie, LA 70002, and combines Asian-European desserts, brunch dishes, and afternoon tea in one modern room.
The menu works best when the table shares. Mille crêpe cake, macarons, tea-infused sweets, sandwiches, salads, and savory brunch plates create enough variety to keep the visit from becoming one long sugar rush.
I like ordering a pot first, then choosing dessert after seeing what everyone else wants, because the layered cakes are much easier to justify when several forks are involved.
Afternoon tea is the most complete experience, especially for birthdays, showers, or an unhurried catch-up. Reservations are a smart move when the tea set is the main reason for visiting, although the restaurant also welcomes everyday brunch and dessert stops.
The Metairie location currently opens daily, with later hours on Friday and Saturday. That makes it unusually flexible for a tea house.
Come dressed up or completely casual. The room photographs well either way, while the strongest reason to stay remains the combination of tea and conversation.
Hazel’s Tea Parlor
The old-house setting does half the work before anything reaches the table. Hazel’s Tea Parlor sits inside a historic home at 700 South Third Street, Leesville, LA 71446, where the porch, intimate rooms, and seasonal decorations make lunch feel more like visiting someone than entering a standard restaurant.
Tea matters, but I would not overlook the savory menu. Homemade soups, salads, sandwiches, and desserts give the place enough substance for a real midday meal.
Crawfish corn chowder is one of the most talked-about choices, while chicken salad, egg salad, cucumber sandwiches, and rotating sweets keep the experience familiar and relaxed.
The parlor generally keeps daytime lunch hours, so checking the current schedule before driving is sensible. The smaller rooms can fill quickly when groups arrive for birthdays, showers, or family celebrations.
I like this stop because it never seems desperate to perform elegance. China, old furniture, and the quiet setting create charm naturally, while Louisiana dishes keep the menu grounded in Leesville instead of drifting into generic tearoom imitation.
Bring one person you have not seen recently. Order lunch, choose a tea you would not normally try, and let the conversation continue after the final crumbs disappear over another cup.
The ParTEA Room On Main
Downtown Minden already rewards slow walking, and this tea room gives visitors a reason to stop completely. The ParTEA Room on Main is located at 731 Main Street, Minden, LA 71055, surrounded by boutiques, antique shops, and the city’s historic brick streets.
The signature afternoon tea arrives on a three-tier stand. Savory chicken salad, cucumber, and pimento cheese sandwiches fill the first level, followed by fresh scones with Chantilly cream and lemon curd, then miniature desserts.
Endless flavored tea keeps the table lively long after everyone has chosen a favorite sandwich.
This is especially well suited to birthdays, showers, and small celebrations, but it can also turn an ordinary Sunday into something memorable. Special packages include fine china, linens, hosts, photo backdrops, and other event details, while weekday bookings may be available by arrangement.
I would call before making the drive because tea dates and availability can change. The room is designed around reservations and occasions more than casual all-day café traffic.
What I like most is the balance. The setting feels romantic and polished, but the flavors remain comforting and recognizable.
You do not need tea expertise here. You only need enough time to enjoy each tier without rushing.
Sojourn Tea Shop
Not every tea escape needs lace, tiered trays, or a special outfit. Sojourn Tea Shop at 118 West Vermilion Street, Lafayette, LA 70501, takes a quieter, more modern approach, combining a downtown café with a thoughtfully stocked tea shop and mercantile.
The menu makes tea approachable without flattening the subject. House and reserve teas can be ordered hot, iced, by the cup, or by the pot.
Tea lattes offer an easy entry point, while the gongfu cha tray gives curious visitors a hands-on way to prepare several small infusions from the same leaves. Coffee from a local roaster is available for the person who still refuses to convert.
Baked goods include scones, madeleines, macarons, and crème brûlée, so the food supports the tea rather than turning the visit into a heavy lunch. I like coming here when conversation matters more than ceremony, especially during a busy downtown afternoon.
The shop is currently closed Monday and Tuesday, with varying hours from Wednesday through Sunday. Check before making a special trip, since events can extend the schedule.
Browse the loose-leaf collection before leaving. A small bag of tea keeps the slower mood going after Lafayette traffic and ordinary responsibilities return again tomorrow.
Gourmet Girls
Afternoon tea in Baton Rouge becomes a carefully styled event at Gourmet Girls. Located at 1660 Lobdell Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, the business combines catering, pastries, grab-and-go meals, tabletop retail, registries, cooking events, and reserved tea service inside one polished Studio Park space.
This is not a casual walk-in tearoom where you grab any open table. Afternoon tea requires a reservation and is currently offered in ninety-minute sittings on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at noon or 2 p.m.
That structure makes the experience feel intentional, whether the reason is a birthday, a reunion, or simply wanting something more memorable than another lunch.
The service is known for elegant china, savory finger sandwiches, house-made scones with lemon curd and cream, and a final course of pastries and sweets. I would arrive hungry enough to appreciate all three stages, but not so hungry that the first sandwich disappears before anyone has admired it.
The surrounding retail displays add temptation, especially if beautiful tableware is already a weakness. Call ahead to reserve and confirm current availability.
Gourmet Girls works best when you accept the ceremony. Dress however you like, but give the tea, food, and conversation the full afternoon they deserve.