You deserve a break. Step out of the hustle and bustle of modern life and treat yourself to quality time with friends and family over tea at The Quail & Thistle Tea Room at Glen Alba Gardens.
Indulge in a three-course “California Country Tea” with soup of the day, tea sandwiches with scones and savories and closing with a dessert plate of variety of baked sweets and fruit. Choose from a full spectrum of teas including several varieties of black, green, and white teas, tisanes such as rooibos, peppermint, and herbal blends, and chocolate or coconut chais. We serve certified organic whole-leaf teas as well as popular brands and blends such as Twinings, PG Tips and others.
For the lighter palate we offer a quiche lunch with soup, salad, and a dessert plate of scones and baked sweets. If you’d just like a little snack to nibble on with your tea, we have a simple tea of scones and baked sweets.
We serve our teas on original antique English bone china collected from all over the world. Which is to say, teacups and teapots always seem to follow us home where ever we travel! China that is not currently in service is on display throughout the tea room.
We are kid friendly, mother approved! All our breakables are enclosed in cabinets or out of reach of little fingers. We have fruit juices and milk available for junior beverages. We also have high-chairs available.
The Quail & Thistle Tea Room is located in a century-old lodge/cabin at Glen Alba Gardens, a small family farm in the mountains between Santa Cruz and San Jose, California. The property includes an apple and pear orchard established by settlers in the late 1800′s and a motley crew of chickens, goats, dogs, and barn cats established more recently.
We make jams from the fruit of our orchard and from neighboring organic farms. We serve these jams with scones in the tea room. Our jams and our fresh organic eggs are available for purchase in the tea room.
Goat-guided tours of the redwoods are available, subject to favorable weather and staff availability (varies seasonally). Ask about the goat walk or farm tour when you call to make your tea room reservation. Tours are free to tea room customers.
We are open 11am to 4pm most Saturdays and Sundays. Reservations at least one day in advance are required as we occasionally close for private functions or farm operations. If you happen to be driving by and see our “open” sign is out, come on in! Walk ins are welcome. We just can’t guarantee we’ll be open and have food prepared unless you call in your reservation. Check our news feed for updates or call us at (831) 272-ALBA (2522) to reserve your table.
Fair weather or foul, it’s always a pleasure to sip your favorite tea next to a roaring fire. Catch up with friends, spend quality time with loved ones, or just invest in some “me” time. Take a little drive into the redwoods and join us for a California Country Tea at The Quail & Thistle Tea Room!
