News Release - Countdown Begins for the Reopening of The Huntington’s Historic Tea Room

A large garden fountain stands in front of an open pavilion dining area.

Patrons dining inside a room with upscale decor and eggshell walls.

A restaurant foyer with high ceilings and complimentary wood floor and wood ceiling.

Interior view of a tea room with refined decor, eggshell walls, and seating in front of a fireplace.

The exterior of a restored 1910s building stands among a garden.

The side exterior of a restored 1910s building stands among a garden.

A selection of small finger foods are laid out on a table.

Three rows of small dessert finger foods is set out in a grid pattern on a table.

Close-up of a multi-tiered stand with petite desserts finger foods.

A multi-tiered stand with petite desserts and sandwiches surrounded by champagne, tea, and baked goods..

Aerial view of the renovation project shows the front entrance and the new pavilion opening onto the Shakespeare Garden. Photo: Architectural Resource Group (ARG)

An early view of the Rose Garden and bowling alley (now the tea room), circa 1911.

Henry E. Huntington and his personal secretary, Robert Varnum

View of the south entrance to the bowling alley (now the tea room), flanked on either side by a stone lion statue, circa 1918.

View of the Shakespeare Pavilion at the Rose Garden Tea Room. Photo: Joshua White / JWPictures.com. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Rose Garden Tea Room. Photo: Joshua White / JWPictures.com. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

West-facing interior view of the lobby (circulation spine). Photo: Joshua White / JWPictures.com. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

View of the Tea Room and fireplace. Photo: Joshua White / JWPictures.com. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Exterior view of the renovated Rose Garden Tea Room Photo: Joshua White / JWPictures.com. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.  

East-facing view of the Herb Room Terrace. Photo: Joshua White / JWPictures.com. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Savory offerings in the Rose Garden Tea Room. Photo: Jose Lopez. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Sweet offerings in the Rose Garden Tea Room. Photo: Jose Lopez. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Tier of sweet and savory offerings in the Rose Garden Tea Room. Photo: Jose Lopez. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Tea service in the newly renovated Rose Garden Tea Room. Photo: Jose Lopez. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Aerial rendering of The Huntington’s Rose Garden Tea Room shows the front entrance and the new pavilion opening onto the Shakespeare Garden. Photo: Architectural Resources Group (ARG).

An early view of the Rose Garden and bowling alley (now the Tea Room), circa 1911. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Henry E. Huntington (left) and his personal secretary, Robert Varnum, in front of the, at the time, billiard building (now the Tea Room) on the Huntington grounds, circa 1915. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens

View of the south entrance to the bowling alley (now the Tea Room), flanked on either side by a stone lion statue, circa 1918. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

Posted on Thu., April 20, 2023

Press Preview on April 24. Opens to the public on May 24.

News Release | Fact Sheet | Architecture | Menu | Huntington Dining Options

SAN MARINO, Calif.—The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens is set to reopen its iconic, historic Rose Garden Tea Room to the public on May 24, 2023, following a three-year closure. Dining reservations can be made beginning May 10 through OpenTable.

The Rose Garden Tea Room closed in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and then it underwent a major 18-month renovation.

Building renovations include the restoration of the front of the original 1911 building; a sweeping new outdoor dining area on the east side, facing the Shakespeare Garden; and the improvement of functionality in its service areas. Additionally, on the west side of the building, the room that faces the Herb Garden has been renovated and will be made available for private rentals. At capacity, the entire space can serve 164 people, including the front room known as the Tea Room, the Herb Room on the building’s west side, and the outdoor Shakespeare Pavilion on the building’s east side. The project was developed by The Huntington with Architectural Resources Group.

The Rose Garden Tea Room will continue its elegant tea service with a selection of teas, seasonal house-made scones, and a variety of savory and sweet offerings, including smoked salmon with dill cream cheese and caviar; banoffee tart with dulce de leche, banana jam, and caramel crunch; and buckwheat financier with lemon pistachio glaze. A higher-end option includes champagne and such items as lobster salad in phyllo with Maldon sea salt and shaved black truffles.

The $11.2 million project broke ground in late 2021 and has been funded entirely through philanthropic gifts.

“This renovation celebrates one of our most beloved historic structures, acknowledging what has been one of the area’s most iconic dining destinations since it first opened to the public many decades ago,” said Huntington President Karen R. Lawrence. “These innovative upgrades will make for an extraordinary tea experience. The Shakespeare Pavilion expands our capacity and creates a fluid space between indoors and outdoors that our visitors will love.”

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News Release - Countdown Begins for the Reopening of The Huntington’s Historic Tea Room

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