Festive Holiday Teas for the Family in Marin and San Francisco

Holiday teas are a fun seasonal treat for children and their parents. Holiday teas are popular and space is limited, so reserve your spot as soon as possible if you plan to go. All of these events do require advance reservations. Here are a few of our favorites in Marin, San Francisco, and the East Bay.

Marin County Holiday Teas

Magic Toy Box Tea at Falkirk

Saturday and Sunday, December 15 & 16, seatings at noon & 3 pm
1408 Mission Avenue at "E" Street, San Rafael
The tea is an old-fashioned tour de force in the elegant Queen Anne Victorian Falkirk Mansion. Homemade tea sandwiches and sweets are served, along with tea, hot chocolate, and other beverages. Features include life-sized toys, a raffle, and plenty of photo opportunities. Make sure you bring your teddy bear or other favorite toy! The Magic Toy Box Tea is hosted by the Cultural Affairs Service League. This extremely popular event is by reservation only and always sells our early! Reserve your spot by calling (800) 838-3006 or online. The cost is $28 for adults and $24 for children or $50 for an adult-and-child combination ticket. Event details

9th Annual Teddy Bear Tea à la Française

Saturday, December 8, 10:30 am–noon
Red Hill Church of San Anselmo
Saturday, December 15, 10:30 am–noon
First Baptist Church, Sonoma
Come for tea and hot cocoa, finger sandwiches, holiday cookies, and fun with Le Petit Jardin! You and your little ones will enjoy tea service, traditional live holiday music, a fireside telling of the story of the first Christmas in English and French, and a professional photo seating! Each child should dress in dapper style and bring his or her own teddy bear pal from home to share tea time with! $19 per seat; space limited. Locations: 921 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, San Anselmo and 542 First Street East, Sonoma. Event details

East Bay Holiday Teas

Holiday Tea at the Claremont

Saturdays, November 24–December 29, noon–4 pm
41 Tunnel Road, Berkeley 94705

Celebrate the holiday season with this grand Claremont tradition made extra special for the holiday season. Enjoy unparalleled views of the Bay, an impressive tea selection, assortments of delicious bites, and a special visit from Oakland Ballet Company's Nutcracker on the 8 and 15. Includes a complimentary glass of Moet Chandon and a children's giveaway. For reservations, call (510) 549-8556 or email CLA.Holidays@fairmont.com. Event details

Dunsmuir Hellman Estate Holiday Tradition High Tea

Sundays, December 9 & 15, 11 am–1 pm
2960 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland 94605

Enjoy a festival holiday high tea at the spectacular Dunsmuir Hellman Estate in Oakland. Tickets: $55. Event details

San Francisco Holiday Tea

Holiday Victorian Teas at the Haas-Lilienthal House

Friday–Sunday, December 7–9, 2–5 pm
2007 Franklin Street, San Francisco 94105

This holiday season, join SF Heritage for their annual Victorian Teas at the Haas-Lilienthal House. Enjoy a full buffet of delicious tea sandwiches, warm scones, and delectable petit fours plus unique tea blends served from silver pots. Docent-led tours of the magnificent mansion will be offered after tea service. Proceeds benefit the continued maintenance and restoration of the Haas-Lilienthal House. Period costumes are always encouraged, but not required. $75 VIP, $60 adults, $30 children 10 and under. Event details

Santa Claus Tea at the Palace Hotel

Thursday, December 6, 13, 20 & 24, 2–4 pm
2 New Montgomery Street (at Market), San Francisco 94105
Celebrate the holidays with the timeless tradition of holiday afternoon tea in the renowned Garden Court at San Francisco's Sheraton Palace Hotel. $95 adults, $65 children 5–12. Last seating at 4 pm. Call (415) 546-5089 for reservations. Event details

Gingerbread Holiday Tea at the Fairmont Hotel

Saturdays & Sunday, November 23–December 12, 1:30 & 3:30 pm
Daily, December 13–January 1, 1:30 & 3:30 pm
600 Stockton Street, San Francisco 94108
At the Fairmont's Gingerbread Holiday Day, children will receive a Nutcracker ornament and a gingerbread cookie to decorate. A Christmas fairy and balloon elf will be on hand to entertain young guests. Cost: $119 adults and $89 children. Includes a glass of sparkling wine or sparking cider. No tea on Christmas Day. Reservations: (415) 772-5204. Event details

Top of the Mark Children’s Magical Tea

Friday & Saturday, November 30, December 1, 7, 8, 14, 20, 21
Thursday, December 20 & Wednesday, December 26, noon & 12:30 pm
999 California Street at Mason, San Francisco 94108
Magical Holiday Tea is open to kids and adults of all ages. Guests will enjoy a cookie decorating station, Santa's sleigh in the lobby, Raul the Master Baloonatic, and face painting by Fire Pixie, Bri the Magical Holiday Character, plus a tea-time buffet. Santa will visit on Saturdays, too! $80 per person; $75 with toy donation to the San Francisco Firefighters Toy Drive. Advance reservations required: (415) 616-6941. Event details

Teddy Bear Tea at the Ritz-Carlton

November 25 & 26, 1 pm
December 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, & 17, 22 & 23, 10 am & 1 pm
December 21, 1 pm
600 Stockton at California Street, San Francisco
An annual holiday tradition, children are invited to gather for Teddy Bear Tea in the festively decorated Terrace Room at the Ritz-Carlton. While children enjoy a special tea experience of hot chocolate, teddy bear sweet treats and assorted sandwiches, they are entertained and engaged with a lively holiday show starring an entertaining elf, his animated sidekick, and a giant teddy bear. Each child will receive a teddy bear gift and photo with the giant teddy bear to take home. $2 per ticket sold will benefit Make-A-Wish® Greater Bay Area. Cost: $130. Event details

Tea Under the Tree at the Sir Francis Drake

Saturdays, November 26–December 30
Daily, December 18–22
11 am–3 pm
450 Powell Street, San Francisco
Crown & Crumpet partners with the Sir Francis Drake Hotel this holiday season to serve a very proper English afternoon tea under the Sir Francis Drake's 20-foot tree display on the lobby mezzanine. Tea includes champagne, a selection of tea sandwiches, warm savories, scones and clotted cream, crumpets, tasty sweets and treats, and a choice of various teas. Last seating at 3 pm. No teas on December 24 and 25. Cost: $125 adults, $85 children 11 and under, gratuity included. Event details