This Charming Illinois Tea House Feels Like A Storybook Retreat Worth Visiting
I am not someone who plans their afternoon around tea. That changed the moment I found this place.
Illinois has a talent for hiding genuinely beautiful experiences behind ordinary-looking streets, and this one might be the most charming surprise the state has ever pulled off. The moment you arrive, something slows down.
The flowers, the lace, the smell of fresh scones coming from somewhere inside, it all adds up to a feeling that is hard to name but impossible to forget. This is the kind of place you tell your friends about in a hushed voice, like sharing a secret.
Illinois does not lack for things to do, but experiences this quiet and this lovely are rare anywhere. Come hungry, come curious, and clear your afternoon.
A Victorian Setting That Stops You Cold
Some buildings just have a personality that pulls you in before you even open the door. This one sits like a proper Victorian home, dressed up with detail and quiet charm.
The moment you step inside, the antique decor hits you all at once.
Ornate chandeliers hang overhead. Sterling silver teapots line the shelves.
Fine china cups sit in mismatched pairs, which somehow makes the whole room feel more whimsical and alive.
Every table is set with care. Flowers, layered linens, and delicate silverware make each seat feel like a small event in itself.
Nothing feels mass-produced or rushed.
High Tea With Gerri at 144 Old McHenry Rd, Long Grove, IL 60047 earns its storybook reputation the second you lay eyes on the room. The owner trained in London and brought that refined sensibility straight to Illinois.
It shows in every corner of this place.
The Menu That Makes You Want To Try Everything
Choosing what to order here feels like the best kind of problem to have. The menu is built around classic British high tea traditions, and every course has a clear purpose.
Nothing is filler.
The Four Course Traditional Tea comes in at sixty dollars per person. It includes soup, crustless finger sandwiches, Irish raisin scones, and a selection of petit fours and pastries.
That is a full afternoon packed into one sitting.
The sandwiches rotate through flavors like cucumber, egg salad, roast beef, and turkey. Each one arrives neat and fresh, with just enough filling to satisfy without overwhelming.
The scones are baked on-site, and the aroma greets you at the door.
Clotted cream, lemon curd, and strawberry jam come alongside every scone order. The combination is simple and completely satisfying.
For weekday visitors, the Five Course Emperors Tea at forty-eight dollars per person offers even more variety at a slightly lower price point.
The Scones That Guests Keep Talking About
Every great tea experience has one item that people cannot stop mentioning on the way home. Here, it is the Irish raisin scones.
They arrive warm, with a golden crust and a soft, slightly dense interior that holds together beautifully with the accompaniments.
Clotted cream, lemon curd, and strawberry jam come alongside every order. The combination of all three on a single bite is layered, rich, and genuinely satisfying.
It is the kind of food that makes conversation pause for a moment.
The scones are baked fresh, and the smell of them actually greets you when you walk through the front door. That detail alone sets a warm, welcoming tone before you even sit down.
Freshness is something you can taste, and these deliver on that every time.
The Irish influence here is no accident. The owner originally comes from Ireland and received culinary training in London, which means the scone recipe carries real cultural weight.
This is not a generic bakery version. It is the kind of scone that earns its place at the center of the whole experience.
Private Events And Celebrations Done Right
Some places do private events as an afterthought. This one clearly treats them as a specialty.
Bridal showers, birthday parties, and milestone gatherings happen here regularly, and the setup for each one is genuinely impressive.
Both dining rooms can be booked for larger groups. The space fills beautifully with flowers, fine china, and layered table settings that require zero effort from the host.
Everything is arranged before guests arrive. You walk in and it is already done.
The staff handles coat check, tea service, and food pacing throughout the event. For a group of twenty or more, that kind of attentiveness keeps the energy relaxed and the host free to actually enjoy the party.
That is a rare thing to find.
Groups ranging from intimate birthday tables to full bridal parties have used this space. The phone number to inquire is plus one eight four seven nine four eight one seven two four for direct booking questions.
Tea To-Go For Days You Cannot Stay Long
Not everyone can linger over a two-hour tea service, and this place understands that completely. The Tea To-Go option is a three-course menu priced at fifty-five dollars per person.
It brings the full experience home without requiring a reservation window.
The package includes finger sandwiches, an Irish scone with preserves, petite desserts, and the signature loose-leaf tea blend. Everything is packaged with the same care you would expect from a sit-down visit.
It travels well and feels special even outside the dining room setting.
This option works beautifully for gift-giving, office celebrations, or a quiet afternoon at home when the mood calls for something elevated. It is also a smart choice for anyone who wants to try the menu before committing to a full dine-in reservation.
Think of it as a preview with all the flavor.
The Tea To-Go option is a practical addition that expands what this place can offer beyond its dining room walls. It keeps the quality consistent and the price point reasonable.
For anyone who loves the idea but struggles with scheduling, this is a genuinely smart solution worth knowing about.
That Signature Tea Blend You Will Not Forget
Not every tea room takes its tea seriously, but this spot absolutely does. The signature blend is a mix of English Breakfast and Earl Grey, brewed fresh and served from antique silver teapots.
It sounds simple, but the result is genuinely impressive.
The flavor lands somewhere between bold and floral, with enough body to feel warming without being bitter. I did not reach for sugar or cream once, which says a lot.
A good tea blend should stand on its own.
The tea arrives hot and stays that way through refills. Staff move through the room with teapots and check in regularly, so your cup is rarely empty for long.
That kind of attentiveness is easy to appreciate mid-conversation.
For anyone who loves tea as more than just a warm beverage, this blend will satisfy. It is the kind of cup that makes you slow down and actually taste what you are drinking.
Pair it with a warm scone and you have a genuinely perfect bite-and-sip moment.
Booking A Table And What To Know First
Showing up without a reservation here is a gamble not worth taking. This spot runs on bookings, and tables fill up fast, especially on weekends.
Planning ahead is the move.
The tea house is open Wednesday through Friday from ten-thirty in the morning until three in the afternoon. Saturday and Sunday hours run from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Mondays and Tuesdays are closed, so keep that in mind when planning your outing.
The venue is closed on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, December 26, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. Checking the schedule before booking saves a frustrating trip.
The website at highteawithgerri.com has current availability and full menu details.
Payment options are flexible. Credit cards, debit cards, cash, Venmo, and personal checks are all accepted.
American Express is the one exception, so leave that card at home. Parking is available out front, with a larger lot just west of the building next to Kildeer Countryside Elementary School for busier days.
Why This Place Sticks With You Long After You Leave
Some experiences fade by the next morning. This one does not.
There is something about the combination of setting, food, and genuine hospitality that stays with you in a specific way. It is hard to explain until you have sat there yourself.
The attention to detail is consistent from start to finish. The table is set before you arrive.
The tea is hot when it reaches you. The staff move with purpose and warmth at the same time.
Small things add up to a big impression.
The historic Long Grove village setting adds another layer to the whole outing. The area itself has a quiet, almost timeless quality that pairs perfectly with a slow afternoon tea.
It feels like a deliberate escape from the pace of everyday life.
This spot has been operating since 2012, which means over a decade of refining what a great tea experience looks like in Illinois. That kind of consistency is earned, not accidental.
