Halekulani Hotel on the Beach at Waikiki, Honolulu, HI

Visited: March, 2008.  Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Teabags. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: We had a lovely tea in this beautiful tearoom. The service was impeccable, after what appeared to be an initial reluctance to seat us a bit late in their hours (we arrived at 4:30 p.m., and waited until 4:50 p.m. to be seated -- they close at 5:30 p.m.). The tea was of high quality and was served with all possible additions (several types of sugar, lemon, honey, and milk). The food was perfectly presented and fresh. Although it was called a "high tea," the food was in less quantity than I've had at other high [sic] teas, yet it was very satisfying. The room itself is beautifully appointed, and overlooks a lovely courtyard. Overall, a wonderful experience!
Would you go back? Hope so, but we don't live nearby.
Reviewer: Dina from Sandy, OR 3/08   Add your review   

Visited: February, 2008.  Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Teabags. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: We had a wonderful time at the Halekulani. The hotel is beautiful and the service we received was excellent from everyone we encountered. The tea was perfect, the sandwiches were beautiful petite bites - just what we wanted. The setting was gorgeous. We had a great time.
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Katy from Portland, OR 2/08   Add your review   

Visited: January, 2005.  Reviewed: April, 2005.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: This hotel is beautiful however the room used for serving tea overlooks an inner courtyard, not the ocean or pool. It is a quiet and serene location. The foods were excellent and the service was excellent. The price was less than the Sheraton Moana, but if I could only go to one of these, I'd choose the Sheraton. Their location is better plus they presented a bit more food. 
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: luana   Add your review   

Visited: May, 2000
Tea: Good.  Food: Fair.  Service: Good.  Appearance: Good.
Comments: This is the oldest hotel on the beach, and the room is lovely ... in addition, since so many Japanese get married at this hotel, there are always several bridal parties walking on the grounds and that is charming, but ... As a tea room nothing special. The dessert items were very good and they did have maybe two unusual teas, but mostly they were teas one could find anywhere with food that was just okay. The tea service was also nothing out of the ordinary. I would say if you have never been to Hawaii and want to visit this hotel, go for a drink in their bar or have lunch on the lanai but have tea somewhere else.
Reviewer: andersons@mindpring.com   Add your review  

Hawaii Prince Hotel in Waikiki , Honolulu, HI

Visited: January, 2009.  Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: We usually stay at the Hawaii Prince twice a year and we always have tea there at least once during our stay. The service is served in the lounge in the main lobby so it is fun to people watch. The price is very reasonable. The service is great and the food is very nice. My Husband rates this as his favorite place for tea and we have visited tearooms all over the world. He thinks it is "healthy" food because they serve chocolate covered strawberries! (Reservations are required 24 hours in advance.)
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: C. Marks 6/09 Add your review     

Sheraton Moana Surfrider, Honolulu, HI

Visited: January, 2008.  Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Fair.  Food: Poor.  Service: Fair.  Appearance: Poor.
Comments: My favorite tea companion moved to the mainland so this was the first time back in three years and what a waste of money! The cushion on my chair was dirty and stained. Our server didn't wear glovesor button his collar. The scones that were once served warm are now served cold and stale. The lemon curd was tasteless. The sandwiches were also ice cold and too heavy tasting for the delicate tea. What happened to the watercress??? Who serves cucumber with mustard?? The sweets were something you could buy at a third rate bakery. The only thing that was done right was we had regular rfulls of hot water for the tea. The Moana had been our favorite tea place for over fifteen years but the quality has evaporated as the prices have gone up. I paid over eighty dollars with tip for two people and I feel I threw my money down the drain. I will never  go back to the Moana again.
Would you go back? Sorry, no.
Reviewer: Former Tea Fan 1/08 Add your review   

Visited: January, 2008.  Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Fair.  Food: Poor.  Service: Poor.  Appearance: Good.
Comments: My daughter and I have been going to the Moana for several years and always considered it the epitome of elegance and was special to us. However, this time we found that the scones were stale as were the pastries. The tea was mediocre and on the whole the afternoon tea was very disappointing to us.
Would you go back? Sorry, no.
Reviewer: greatlars1928 1/08 Add your review   

Visited: Before 2003.  Reviewed: December, 2005.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Preparation: In a teapot.
Tea: Good.  Food: Fair.  Service: Fair.  Appearance: Fair.
Comments: I had tea here with a girlfriend on a special occasion. What a mistake. The food and the tea were mediocre, and the smell of chlorine from the pool was overwhelming. Also, a guest checking in came over to our table, stated, "Oh, it's tea time!" and proceeded to eat our sandwiches. By the time someone from the hotel caught up with her she was at the other end of the veranda and had an entire plate of something in her hand. The management did not offer to compensate us in any way, although they did apologize. I have never been back since; the experience was too much. 
Would you go back? Sorry, no.
Reviewer: Dissatisfied Tea Lover  Add your review  

Visited: January, 2005.  Reviewed: April, 2005.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: The location is simply superb, one of the oldest hotels in Waikiki, looking out over Waikiki Beach. Our server was most wonderful, giving us just the perfect amount of attention without hovering! The food was all fresh, delicious, and beautifully presented.
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: luana  Add your review   

Visited: September, before 2003.  Reviewed: March, 2005.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: We visited the Banyan Veranda twice in the ten days we were there on Oahu. Just the location alone, makes it the best afternoon tea we've ever experienced! It was just so lovely to sit back in the big wicker chairs, sip tea and enjoy the ocean. The service was wonderful, and the selection of teas was huge. We're vegetarians and they were able to accomodate us with different choices on the menu without a problem. This is a 'must-do' in Waikiki .
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Afternoon tea fanatic  Add your review   

Visited: October, 2004.  Reviewed: November, 2004.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Good.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: The Banyan Veranda not only offers an exquisite afternoon tea, but it is surely among the most unusual to be found in the United States. It provides a wonderful marriage of British teatime traditions with unique Hawaiian elements, all provided in an opulent, turn-of-the century hotel located surfside along Waikiki beach under a magnificent Banyan tree. The Hawaiian setting is further enhanced by service that epitomizes the Aloha spirit of hospitality and friendliness. Our waiter, June, was absolutely darling ... and so proper with his solicitous white-glove service. Among the unique aspects of this afternoon tea are the unusual tropical tea selections with names such as Moana Royale, Surfrider Serenade, Moana Sunset, and Veranda Breeze. June helped in our tea selection by describing them, and giving us a sample of each one to examine the aromatic tea leaves. I chose Moana Sunset, a black tea with marigold petals flavored with island fruits. It was refreshingly delicious. Other Hawaiian elements included a wonderful selection of unique jams for the scones: guava, pineapple-coconut, and lilikoi. And the best chocolate macaroon I’ve ever tasted (courtesy of fresher-than-fresh Hawaiian coconut). The finishing touch of Kaffir lime-lemongrass green tea sorbet was absolute perfection. To partake of this excellent repast while lounging in wicker chairs on a veranda open to the ocean breeze was a little piece of heaven on earth. And it didn’t hurt the magical ambiance when a sudden, short downpour of rain arrived ... no problem for us, sitting securely under the veranda sheltered by the ancient Banyan tree. It simply enhanced the gorgeous setting to listen to the rain falling upon tree leaves while sipping tea from china cups. By all means, if you have the opportunity to spend some time in Honolulu, and you love a fine afternoon tea, do yourself a favor and come to the Banyan Veranda.
Reviewer: hsv tea lover  Add your review   

Visited: August, 2002
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Good.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: I went here on a late Saturday afternoon. The appearance was nothing short of spectacular. The tea room was an open veranda with the beach just yards away. The Devonshire cream and lemon curd were particularly tasty, as were the scones. No seconds were offered, but hot water for the tea were constantly refilled and the presentation was excellent. The tea itself was nothing special but the finger sandwiches were delightful! Among them were smoked salmon and avocado sandwiches. The cakes and finger desserts were okay. Pricey. About $26 but worth the experience. 
Reviewer: tea me  Add your review   

Visited: June, 2002
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Good.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: The hotel is, in my opinion, the prettiest one on Waikiki Beach. The colonial style of its furniture and décor can't be compared. Afternoon tea is served on the Banyon veranda, open air with the beach a few yards away. Tea was lovely, and the food was fine, not amazing, but good. The best part is the atmosphere and surroundings, and to sit and have tea with the shade of an ancient banyon tree, next to the beach, was relaxing and incredible. 
Reviewer: Tracy  Add your review   

Visited: May, 2001
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Good.  Service: Good.  Appearance: Good.
Comments: We try to have tea wherever we travel and this one was unique in that it is out on a covered veranda overlooking the beach and ocean at Waikiki. One unique thing that we've never experienced was that our server (white gloves and all) had small "shot glass" sized glasses filled with samples of the various teas they offered (must have been six or seven). She described each tea and passed the "shot glass" around the table for all of us to enjoy the aromas before making our final decisions. The chosen loose tea was then served. I really liked this little touch. Price is up to $20 (no seconds were offered on anything) but I've paid more and gotten less. Enjoy the aromas and the view.
Reviewer: Belle  Add your review   

Visited: January, 2001
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Good.
Comments: While on a business trip to Honolulu and being a tea lecturer for six years, of course I had to have tea. Especially at a turn-of-the-century (1901) establishment. It was a bright sunny Sunday afternoon that my girlfriend and I sat on the "Banyan Veranda" admiring this 180-year old tree while a cool breeze gently took our minds to a not so distant past. The service was "white glove," the house blend tea was superb, the scones and savories were delicious, and the sweets were rich and sinful! Although a bit pricey, we were in Honolulu. I was a bit concerned about the clusters of birds that flew around our table and stopped for a morsel on our tea tray, as we didn't want Devonshire cream of their sort on our scones! I actually took a picture of one on the extra seat at our table. I guess they are accustomed to tea as well! All in all a lovely time shared with a special girlfriend that I hadn't seen in a while. Indeed, it was a ZEN moment!
Reviewer: The Texas Tea Queen  Add your review   

Tea @ 1024, Honolulu, HI

Visited: July, 2009.  Meal: Private adults party. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: Thank you very much for allowing me to host my 50th birthday celebration at your wonderful shop. I highly recommend Tea at 1024 to everyone. The service, cuisine, tea, and the style of Tea at 1024 are exquisite. Everyone felt comfortable and enjoyed your space. We had a lovely time with the hats, boa feathers, and special touch that you shared with us. It was the first time my mother, Billie, had the pleasure of your kind of tea service. She was really thrilled and honored that you remembered her from the ABWA craft fairs.
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Cynthis  7/09 Add your review    

Visited: April, 2008.  Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Teabags. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: This is a great place to take visitors to Honolulu or local friends. The location is marvelous and interesting, ambiance great with quality and variety of art, etc. tea delightfully good and in your own choice of china tea cup, food delicious and ample. Service couldn't be better.
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Pat Ross 6/08 Add your review    

Visited: September, 2007.  Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: I have been a customer of Tea at 1024 for several years now, and have always enjoyed the experience. I have brought friends, family, and business clients to the "full tea" service; it's always excellent. I also love picking my own tea cup before we sit down to tea, and dressing up in beautiful hats and sexy boas. The scones and sandwiches are to die for! The best seat in the House is the "Window".
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Kimberley "Miya" Monserat 6/08 Add your review    

Visited: May, 2008.  Meal: Lunch. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: The first time my friend, Andrea, took to me Tea at 1024, I could not wait to bring my other friends and family to experience high [sic] tea there - it was fabulous! It is a cozy place where you can create your own fun with friends. You can actually get full here - their sandwiches are abundant and delicious and so are their scones and desserts ... and, so are their teas! I am a regular at Tea at 1024 and am always glad to share this wonderful experience with my friends and love to see the delight in their faces! A great place for a bridal shower, baby shower, or, just a place to spend time with your favorite people! Mi
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Mi Kosasa 6/08 Add your review    

Visited: April, 2008.  Meal: Private adults party. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Fair.  Food: Poor. Service: Poor.  Appearance: Poor.
Comments: A HORRIBLE experience! I do NOT recommend this place. Similar to other reviewers, our reservations were not met and the service was terrible. After reserving seating for 12 adults to celebrate a shower, we were shocked to find only two small round tables set aside for us--each table was suited for 2-3 adults. Imagine six grown women fighting for space to set down one's tea cup. I complained twice, but nothing was done until a hot cup of tea spilled on me and unto the floor. The cup was knocked over by a poor friend who had to hold the sugar bowl during the meal due to lack of table space and elbowroom. To top it off, we were promised a "private area" but were jammed in a tiny back room with another party of 10 and another two parties of 2--this was not only a fire hazard but it was clear that the owners were more interested in their profits than the respect and comfort of their clients. The owner gave a slew of excuses, as other reviewers note. Please take your business elsewhere!
Would you go back? Sorry, no.
Reviewer: Horrified Tea-Goer 5/08 Add your review    

Visited: April, 2008.  Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Average.  Food: Average. Service: Good.  Appearance: Average.
Comments: I wanted to try this place out for a possible birthday location for myself. Although it would be great I'm sure for a children's party, not quite what I had in mind for adults. It was very small and a little cramped for my style. The food was average at best and the tea was served warm, not hot! I guess I had some high expectations since it was recommended by a friend. The staff very friendly and the service given was good!
Would you go back? Maybe.
Reviewer: Disappointed birthday girl 4/08 Add your review    

Visited: September, 2007.  Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: We had such a wonderful time here with my husband, my 5-year-old son, and a girlfriend. We were seated promptly and an adde bonus were the feather boas, hats, and scarves that we could wear. We were offered a choice from multiple teas and we started with a delicious, fresh salad, followed by a lovely array of finger sandwiches. I particularly liked the chicken curry. Lovely big high scones and cheesecakes for dessert, with clotted cream. We go back regularly to Honolulu and we're looking forward to visiting again!
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Monica S. Flores 2/08 Add your review    

Visited: February, 2007.  Reviewed: August, 2007.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: I took my daughter, granddaughter, and a friend of my granddaughter's to Tea at 1024 and we had a wonderful experience. It was everything I could hope for in having an authentic English tea. The food was simply delicious. They catered to the children also. We took the whole tea experience and I ordered an extra tray of sandwiches which were just peanut butter and jelly. :-) They made hot chocolate for the girls in their own teapot. We picked out hats, boas and gloves. It was so much fun and made great memories. I have pictures. My daughter and sil are stationed there and my daughter works right around the corner. She truly enjoyed it also. Plenty of food and the food was excellent, simply devine. It was truly an experience I will never forget and one I would do again in a heartbeat. I  would recommend this place to everyone. After our outing to Tea at 1024, I had to go out and buy my daughter her own tea set, lol. 
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait.
Reviewer: Kathy Add your review    

Visited: June, 2007.  Reviewed: August, 2007.
Meal: Private adults' tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: I had my Bridal luncheon there; with my bridesmaids, sisters, mother, and best friend. It was such an enjoyable experience; the entire party of ladies from age 3 to age 70 picked out boas and hats, and laughed as they curled their pinkie fingers perfectly around their selection of fancy tea cups. The food was wonderful and the service was warm and friendly. Our pictures are great and it is one of my favorite memories about my entire wedding experience.
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait.
Reviewer: Lady Gray Add your review    

Visited: May, 2006.  Reviewed: May, 2006.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Fair.  Food: Poor. Service: Fair.  Appearance: Fair.
Comments: We made reservations at 1024 for afternoon tea. Maybe our expectations were too high because we heard great things about the tea service. One thing went wrong after the other starting with being seated 50 minutes after our reservation time. We understood that they were busy, but were told that another party had taken our table because they did not want to be seated outside. We were given a sad story from the hostess and the owner about how difficult the other party had made it for them so we agreed to be seated outside. We had two young girls with us and did not want to wait any longer. When taken to our table, my 5 year old niece leaned gently on the table and the glass slipped right off the legs that held it up. If it weren't for the quick hands of her mother, there would have been shattered glass on the sidewalk. Poor choice of table to serve hot tea in fine china. Someone could have gotten hurt. The party seated on the grass next to us faced the same problem with their table and had comments of their own when their glass slipped off the base. We asked the server if we could remove the table cloth so we could see how close the glass was to falling off the base and had to ask her to wipe the dirty glass before sitting. I couldn't believe she was going to let me sit at a dirty table after everything we had just gone through.
The sidewalk we were seated on was a very narrow sidewalk. There was no room for anything else. On the side of our table seemed to be a storage area, holding broken chairs, tables and other things waiting for trash pick-up... Nice ambiance for afternoon tea - not.  
They allow you to select your own tea cups, which is a nice touch. However, of the tea cups available, 3 out of 6 cups were chipped. 5 of them were stained. HEALTH HAZARD?
The food service started off great with a nice spinach salad, however, it went downhill from that point. We were not given a choice of tea, it was served to us lukewarm. The sandwiches were nothing to brag about either. The curried chicken was fairly good, but the presentation of the sandwiches were sloppy and were served neither cold nor warm as if they had been sitting. The sweets that came were scones, which I thought were too big for tea service. The mini cheesecakes did not match the tea and looked very familiar from a previous trip to Costco. 
The owner came to our table and apologized for the time that we waited to be seated and explained again how the other party "threw off" their reservations. She told us that she would comp the 5 year old. When the bill came, we were charged for 6 adults (our party consisted of 4 adults and 2 children). After that was corrected, we realized that they had told us the wrong pricing over the phone as well.
When we left, I saw the owner sitting at the table with the party that supposedly "stole" our table... Funny how that worked - they knew the owner and took our reservation making us wait 50 minutes.
The final straw that completely turned me off from 1024 was that they ran out of parking validation stickers. To make up for that, they gave us a dollar per parking ticket... CLASSY.
I have been to many tea services around the world. This was by far the worst tea service I have experienced.
Would you go back? Sorry, no.
Reviewer: tea time Add your review  

Visited: May, 2006.  Reviewed: May, 2006.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Poor.  Food: Poor. Service: Poor.  Appearance: Poor.
Comments: We had reservations and was seated one hour later...the owner carried on about a party who had arrived earlier and yadayadayada...thought this was totally unprofessional. We ended up seated outside of the tea room in a backyard that looked like a junkyard...crowded on a piece of concrete slab that could barely accommodate our party.
When we called for reservations, we were told that we would have our choice of tea...no choice was given and we were all served the same tea...4 of us. The tables were makeshift tables...a thick round glass set upon a pedestal that was not made for that piece of glass...very dangerous. Several times, the thick glass top shifted off its based and almost fell...what a disaster that would have been with all the china, etc. on the table. I noticed that another party that was seated on the grassy area also had the same situation and their table actually collapsed on them.
The food was very ill prepared...the tea sandwiches were messy and not cut uniformly...the scones that came with our tea sandwiches looked like something from Costco...it was very out of proportion...then the cubes of cheesecake, I know, were from Costco...I've seen them sold there. The china cups were tea stained and chipped...very unsanitary. 
They quoted a price over the phone but did not keep to that quote...they said there was a child's price but charged the two children that were our guests full adult prices and had the audacity to tack on a 20% gratuity charge, too! This was after the owner came up to us to tell us that one child would be comped (I thought because of our inconvenience). 
The owner tried to apologize but it was obvious that our seating was given to another party that she was familiar with (since we saw her seated with them while they were having their tea!). Bad PR!
I will not go there again and will certainly share my bad experience with friends.
Would you go back? Sorry, no.
Reviewer: jeanne Add your review    

Visited: January, 2006.  Reviewed: March, 2006.
Meal: Lunch. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: This was a delightful oasis we satumbled upon during our 'China Town' walk. A haven. 
Would you go back? Hope so, but we don't live nearby.
Reviewer: Carmen and Dennis Add your review    

Visited: December, 2004.  Reviewed: December, 2005.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Good.  Food: Good. Service: Fair.  Appearance: Good.
Comments: I went here on my birthday last year. The tea and most of the food here was mediocre, and the staff was so harried it was distracting. Also, we were seated very close to another party, and had to keep moving our chairs. The boas, hats, and the beautiful china sort of make up for it. The curried chicken sandwich was amazing, but the other sandwiches were  nothing to write home about. I might go back again for fun, but I think I need to lower my expectations.
Would you go back? Maybe.
Reviewer: nelzmom Add your review    

Visited: May, 2005.  Reviewed: May, 2005.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: I work in downtown Honolulu and first visited Tea at 1024 with a girlfriend of mine on our lunch breaks one friday afternoon. I have been back numerous times since, for the wonderfully relaxing atmosphere as well as owner/hostess Michelle Henry's personal touches that make it such a delight to enjoy a lunch there. Sometimes we do play dress up, sometimes just relax and chat, but we always feel as if we have stepped out of the craziness from the surrounding neighborhoods (right in between chinatown and downtown) and into an oasis of lady-like calm... my favorite sandwhiches are the tomato & cheddar and the chicken curry, and i LOVe the house blend tea with lychee and chrysanthemum. yum! another cute touch: all items including the china you select for your own cup of tea is all available for purchase. so its a perfect gift idea - take a friend or your mother there for lunch, then sneak back later to purchase the cup she chose as a memory of your special day. highly recommended!!
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: michelle henry's #1 fan Add your review    

Visited: January, 2004.  Reviewed: January, 2004.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Fair. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: This is a delightful little tea room/shop. The idea of dressing up in feather boas and hats just makes it more fun and exciting. You can even be seated in the window display. Interesting idea. The merchandise are things from the owners' own creative side of dresses, hats, art work -- most anything you can imagine. A lovely place that I visited many times during my stay in Honolulu.
Reviewer: Josefine Add your review    

Visited: June, 2003
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Good.  Food: Fair. Service: Good.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: This tea room is not like any other I have been to before. It is located between Chinatown and Downtown in Honolulu, Hawaii. Tea @ 1024 is one of those blink and you'll miss it spots. There are about eight or so tables inside. The ambiance was very memorable. The tea room was dimly lit with tiny tables that could seat two or three at the most (one could seat a party of eight). When I walked in I was kindly greeted, and the host gestured at a rack of hats and feather boas, welcoming me to wear it while dining. Guests are allowed to pick their own tea cups from an ample collection. If desired, they can also be purchased. Tea is priced at a very reasonable $12.95 a person. Each tea comes with a choice of two of the four possible sandwiches. I had the chicken curry; very common but always a delight, and the crab and olive with cream cheese, which could use improvement. The sandwiches were neither warm nor cool, but wavered somewhere in between. Each sandwich was cut into four neat triangles. The scones were fantastic, and a generous amount of clotted cream and jam were provided. My tea also came with mini cheesecakes which were decent, and brownies topped with a thick layer of sugary fudge, which seemed rather out of place. Tea @ 1024 would be a nice place to visit for a unique tea experience, although one would have to go for the ambiance, not the food.
Reviewer: tea me Add your review    

The Veranda at Kahala Mandarin Oriental, Honolulu, HI

Visited: May, 2005.  Reviewed: June, 2005.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Fair.  Appearance: Good.
Comments: It was hot in the tea room. If you go try to ask for the tables on the lani where it is cooler and the wind is blowing. Our waiter was kind of snobby and she only came to our table when we would get up and get her. The food and price was excellent.
Would you go back? Maybe.
Reviewer: rere823  Add your review    

Visited: November, 2002
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Good.  Food: Good. Service: Good.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: The Veranda has a gorgeous atmosphere. I was a little disappointed by the quality of the food. Although it looked appetizing, it was less than what I expected. I had coffee in place of tea and that was served in a large mug but only lukewarm. The service was slightly snobby, but I guess the atmosphere made up for it. I went on a Sunday afternoon and it was quite slow. The lemon curd was excellent but light pastries and cake tasted like they had been sitting out for too long. The price is about $18, but I would much rather pay $8 more and have tea at the Moana Surfrider in Waikiki. It was very relaxing though nothing special.
Reviewer: tea me  Add your review    

Visited: February, 2003
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: I've always loved this hotel. It's away from the tourist trap of Waikiki, surrounded by local (albeit millionaires') neighborhoods. The pool outside, with the dolphins, is really fun, and it has a nice stretch of beach. The Veranda is very quiet, peaceful, breezy, beautifully decorated, although I kinda wished I had sat outside, enjoying the view of the ocean. The tea was first rate, as was the food -- yum! The service was very good as well. All in all, it was a very relaxing way to spend an afternoon.
Reviewer: Tracy  Add your review    

Visited: May, 2002
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent. Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: This is a beautiful, peaceful place. If you are looking to escape the busyness of Waikiki, this is an oasis. Excellent selection of rare white teas. The trays are a nice blend of sweets and savory, with clotted cream refills readily provided. The veranda offers light breezes and a relaxing repose. 
Reviewer: P. Weathers-Parry  Add your review  

The Waioli Tea Room, Honolulu, HI

Visited: January, 2008.  Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Pyramid teabag. Served: In a teacup.
Tea: Average.  Food: Average.  Service: Average.  Appearance: Average.
Comments: Been thre many times for tea and lunch. Always expected it to be better, however, disappointed each time. They no longer serve the Wai'oli Carrot cake which was suberp. The biggest drawback is the mosquitos!!!
Would you go back? Sorry, no.
Reviewer: jogger36 2/08  Add your review  

Visited: October, 2006.  Reviewed: May, 2007.
Meal: ? Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Good.  Service: Fair.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: My girlfriends and I went here for my birthday. Even though our server was new and had to read off a paper, we thoroughly enjoyed our tea service. It was everything we expected. The only thing that we could complain about is that there is no air conditioner. Unfortunately we went on a hot, humid day and really felt it. Other than that, we still highly recommend it!
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Mindigo  Add your review  

Visited: March, 2007.  Reviewed: March, 2007.
Meal: Lunch. Type of tea: Loose leaf and teabags. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: I just went to lunch at the Waioli Tea Room with a friend. We really enjoyed ourselves in this really quaint, peaceful, garden setting. It was very laid back and welcoming. The lunch menu and tea were very good without being overpriced. I will definitely be going back.
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Michelle  Add your review  

Visited: December, 2005.  Reviewed: January, 2006.
Comments: I didn't have the tea but I definitely recommend the place for its ambiance. It is a very short distance from Waikiki and easy to get to by car, taxi or bus. It is in the very beautiful Manoa Valley, near the University of Hawaii.
They serve brunch/lunch starting at 10:30 AM. The house blend coffee is quite good. The brunch menu had several veggie options, but a vegan would have a bit of a hard time.
Afternoon tea is in lovely old china pots and tea sandwiches, salads and sweets are available.
The historic building is made of lava stone and is an interesting glimpse into old Hawaii. It is set in a beautiful garden.
Waioli is run by the Salvation Army but there is no overt religious presence of any kind in the tearoom. There is a small gift shop with tea-related and religious items for sale.
A lovely morning or afternoon outing would include the Waioli tea room and a walk through the Arboretum at the end of Manoa Rd.
Reviewer: Carol  Add your review  

Visited: Before 2003.  Reviewed: December, 2005.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Good.  Food: Good.  Service: Good.  Appearance: Good.
Comments: The place was okay, kinda cool since it's been there forever, but my mom wasn't too thrilled with the tea they served, and neither was I. I've had better at the Moana and even the Kahala Mandarin. 
Would you go back? Maybe.
Reviewer: Tracy  Add your review  

Visited: Before 2003.  Reviewed: December, 2005.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Excellent.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Excellent.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: This tea room was fabulous. All the food and the tea was gorgeous and tasty, the staff attentive, and the ambience to die for. The rainforest setting really makes you feel as though you've gotten away, and makes the whole experience extra special. I would go back again in a heartbeat, and recommend it to all my friends.
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: nelzmon  Add your review  

Visited: October, 2005.  Reviewed: October, 2005.
Meal: Lunch. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Good.  Food: Good.  Service: Good.  Appearance: Good.
Comments: We enjoyed the tea room very much. I want to come back for the afternoon tea service. We had lunch after church. The history of the place makes it even more special.
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Nancy living in Hawaii  Add your review  

Visited: January, 2005.  Reviewed: April, 2005.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Good.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Good.  Appearance: Good.
Comments: Waioli Tea Room was built in 1922 as a children's home. It sits on the property of the Salvation Amy in Manoa Valley, amid a lush tropical garden setting. We loved the selection of tea sandwiches, quiches, dessert pastries, and wonderful scones. Lilikoi curd with butterscotch almond scones, chicken salad on guava bread, and cucumber sandwiches on passion fruit bread were just some of the delicious tropical selections presented. We gave the food an excellent rating as the variety of each item is so abundant. The service was a bit slow due to the high volume of people served in the tea house. They mix lunch, tea's, and parties at the same time, causing a bit of "foot traffic" and noise. The lanai is comfortable and pleasant, but the mosquitoes can be a bit overwhelming. Overall, we felt we would go back, but suggest maybe a weekday visit, as Saturday seemed a bit busy. 
Would you go back? Yes, can't wait!
Reviewer: Sweet Tea Ministry  Add your review 

A Cup of Tea, Kailua, HI

Visited: February, 2009.  Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Loose leaf. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Average.  Food: Fair.  Service: Fair.  Appearance: Good.
Comments: Very light on quantity and quality of food. Tuna salad, cucumber and tomato. Tiny scones and had to ask for cream. One small petit-four sized sweet each. Advertised and charged as "complete meal", but my guest and I felt the need to go to lunch afterwards.
Would you go back? Sorry, no.
Reviewer: teatimer@ 4/09  Add your review   

Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, Maui, HI

Visited: September, 2008.  Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Pyramid teabags. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Good.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Good.  Appearance: Excellent.
Comments: I was pleasantly surprised with this tea after reading the previous two reviews. Although not a traditional tea room, the Ritz will arrange (through the Concierge, a minimum of 48 hours in advance) to set up afternoon tea on the lanai overlooking the lawn, pool, and ocean--beautiful views from a high vantage point. We were the only ones there for tea, and the setting was quiet and serene. The tea itself was good, but not exceptional. However, the food was wonderful--beautifully presented, fresh, and delicious, and they accommodated dietary restrictions. The scones were fantastic, and the dessert plate was enormous. The service was friendly and prompt. Given that it seemed to be the only place to have tea in the West Maui region, we had to try it, and I'm glad we did!
Would you go back? Hope so, but we don't live nearby.
Reviewer: Dina from Sandy, OR  9/08  Add your review  . 

Visited: April, 2008.  Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Pyramid teabags. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Average.  Food: Excellent.  Service: Poor.  Appearance: Good.
Comments: Excellent food, average tea, terrible service. The food itself--a lovely selection of open-face sandwiches, followed by flaky cranberry scones with devonshire cream--was delicious. For tea, they offer a passable variety of prewrapped Harney & Sons looseleaf in silk sachets. Our server was friendly, but clearly undertrained. She would disappear for up to 30 minutes at a time, and whenever she did come around, we actually had to prompt her if we wanted more water, food, tea, etc. No final dessert/pastry course: since we never received printed menus or any explanation of the meal, I couldn't tell whether this was just a quirk of this particular tea or another casualty of the server's oversight. At $50 a person, and at a Ritz, we expected much better. If I happened to already be on the Ka'anapali Coast and felt like an expensive midday snack with a view of the ocean, I might consider returning (with lowered expectations). Otherwise, unfortunately, it's not worth the trip or the money.
Would you go back? Maybe.
Reviewer: kal 4/08  Add your review  . 

Visited: March, 2006.  Reviewed: March, 2006.
Meal: Afternoon tea. Type of tea: Teabags. Served: In a teapot.
Tea: Fair.  Food: Good.  Service: Poor.  Appearance: Fair.
Comments: This was a tremendous waste of $50 per person. The service was terrible. The offerings were super laid back with no real table settings or decor. The only saving grace was the fabulous desserts. Think no music, no service, no concept of how tea should properly be served and you get the picture. Highly disappointing!
Would you go back? Sorry, no.
Reviewer: Lady D  Add your review  .