Lovejoy’s Tea Room
The Verdict
"Book the Queen's Tea for the full experience. The 1pm weekday seating is the easiest to get. Come hungry, the portions are generous."
What you need to know
Lovejoy’s Tea Room has served traditional afternoon tea on Church Street since 1996. Muna Nash and Gillian Reilley founded it as an Irish-inspired tea room with hotel-style B&B Sunday tea as the model. The format runs traditional English: scones with clotted cream, finger sandwiches cut into triangles, and pots of tea that get refilled as long as you’re sitting. The decor is mismatched china, Union Jacks on the walls, and a cozy clutter that feels like an eccentric aunt’s living room.
The Food
A range of tea services run from cream tea (scones, clotted cream, jam, pot of tea) to the full Queen’s Tea (sandwiches, sweets, scones, bottomless tea). Seatings run two hours, enough time to work through multiple pots. Everything is hand-made.
The Space
Small, warm, deliberately quirky. The mismatched cups and saucers are part of the charm. Not a place for a quick cup. This is a sit-down experience.
Practical Info
Price: Tea services range roughly $20 to $40 per person
Reservations: Recommended, available on Resy
Hours: Last seating is 3pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Address: 1351 Church Street, Noe Valley
Getting there: J-Church Muni stops at Church and 30th. Street parking usually available on Church Street.
📍 Location: This restaurant is in . Explore the neighborhood →