Sitting ladylike in her petite chair, dressed in a lace trimmed gown, she watched the pink liquid stream into tiny teacups. Accessorized with costume jewelry and sparky shoes, she was ready for a tea party with her twin sister and a few of their friends.
My four-year-old daughters love a fancy gathering. Sometimes I cut their little sandwiches into tiara or heart shapes with cookie cutters. Both learned how to dab their mouths with mini napkins from a favorite children’s book series called Fancy Nancy, by Jane O’Connor illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser. Although they adore this etiquette infatuated character, they also cherish another fictional heroine that is a bit more mischievous. Eloise!
The impish Eloise lives in New York City’s famous Plaza Hotel and certainly enjoys many adventures. In the book series by Kay Thompson, this spunky little girl orders in room service, walks her pet turtle through the luxurious lobby and treats this landmark building as her personal playground. The charming illustrations by Hilary Knight depict this sprite in all her daily antics.
A couple of months ago I decided to take my kids to the fanciful Eloise Tea at the Plaza’s Palm Court. It was wonderful! After my twins explored, looking for the elusive Eloise, we were seated in the lavish dining area. Surrounded by elegant decor we enjoyed a decadent afternoon tea full of tasty treats. When it was time to leave, one of my daughters asked why we don’t live in The Plaza as well. Now wouldn’t that be fun!
It was the afternoon, and he was so glad to see them that they stayed there until very nearly tea-time…
—A. A. Milne
Manhattan Afternoon Tea Checklist
💗The Palm Court at the Plaza Hotel
768 5th Avenue
💗Lady Mendl’s Tea Salon
56 Irving Place
💗Alice’s Tea Cup Chapter I
102 West 73rd Street
💗Alice’s Tea Cup Chapter II
156 East 64th Street
💗Tea & Sympathy
108 Greenwich Avenue
💗The Russian Tea Room
150 West 57th Street
