Cute little afternoon tea spot! The sandwiches were good and the scone was delicious. Top tray desserts were a little basic in my opinion. Soup was good, but it was lukewarm. Tea selection really good but one of our candles went out that was keeping it warm.
Dee R.
Environment was great! We had a great mother daughter tea. They had kids option and service was really smooth and timed perfectly. Reservations are required.
Stephanie Bennett Hernandez
This is another amazing afternoon tea! I love that the menu is always changing and the tea is a burst of good flavor! If you want an elegant new experience this is the perfect place! I love the table setting it always matches and the food is so fresh and inventive I love that when you’re done you can go across the street and there is a field you can walk around it feels as if you were in the show Bridgerton lol
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tea Setting, High Tea Tea Sandwiches Quiche Beef Wellington, Creamy Butternut Squash Soup, Mini Beef Wellington, Mousse Au Chocolat, Cream Puff, Table Setting, Tomato Basil Soup
James S.
I never get invited, but according to my wife and her friends ( they meet every two months at Marlene's ) it's a 5 star experience .
Amy P.
Beautiful space for tea time with some gal pals. I had made reservations for about 11 girls a few weeks prior to the day - full payment was required at the time of reservation along with choice of two tea flavors. Reservations are required and two tea times were available to choose from: 11am or 2pm - dining service is 2 hours. The inside space was a lot smaller as I'd imagine - it was a bit tough navigating through the space as they packed in as much as they could. There is also outside seating with overhead coverage available. Each table was beautifully decorated with the plate settings, fresh floral bouquets, and the tea with a warmer below. Tea time first started out with a potato soup, followed by the 3-tiered tray of food. Bottom - two variety of finger sandwiches, chicken pot pie, beef Wellington, and a mushroom quiche. Middle - apple walnut biscuits, whipped cream, and a few bite sized pieces of fresh fruit. Top - assorted desserts. Thoroughly enjoyed the corned beef & cabbage sandwich, apple walnut biscuits (very moist and delicious), and the mushroom quiche. Great service throughout our stay. We ended up having an additional person last minute and the staff was very accommodating to the change. Private parking lot available so there aren't any issues.
Shawn Poston
Excellent food ?, and service. Great place for a tea party!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Suzanne Van Cleve
I’m posting this review because I’ve been to high Tea at several places here in San Diego. And I read the reviews of Marlene’s and I had equally high expectations. The food was exceptional. BUT, The service was really POOR, and really affected our overall experience negatively. Marlene’s makes you pick your tea when you book your reservation, so that it’s on the table when you arrive. Despite giving the waitress my name three times, she insisted that we were seated at the right table. That we had to call her back three times and tell her it was not in the Jasmine tea and have her finally figure out what she set us at the wrong tableWhat was more disappointing, however, was the lack of what I expect in Tea service. Other places will bring you ONE plate at a time, from your savories to your sweets. And they will tell you precisely what you are eating. We had to call our waitress back multiple times to explain to us what was on the tiered plates, because they were dropped off all at once. (The first one of course was the wrong one, because it was meant for the other table.) What was IN the food Items is really important because my friend has food allergies. There is no printed menu to refer to.Anyway, maybe we just had a bad day. But if you’re looking for great tea in San Diego, I recommend Britannia down in Point Loma. The service there is exceptional.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 1
Richard Habib
Best tea in
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hali P.
If I could I would give this place zero stars . I felt so taken advantage of. This is the most over priced food establishment I have ever been. They gave us one tea per person that you pre order , they give you a platter of 5/10 food and desserts and charge you 415.00 for 8 people. I am not kidding . Go to a different place if you want quality service and food. I really feel like it is a scam and I wish I would have known better . It is a cute place but not worth the cost at all! Save your self 100 per person and stay away.
Annie D.
We have a great time at Marlene's for a Sunday Tea service. We went through 4 pots of tea which is unlimited by the way and they were all excellent. The food was a good portion size and the space is adorable. My complaints are there is only one bathroom for all the ladies pounding tea and the tables and chairs pushed up against one another in an effort to maximize guest capacity at the expensive of guest comfort.
I would like to think the pictures I posted say it all! However, they don't tell you about the exquisite taste and exceptional service. Everything from the service, decor, china, tea selections, and food make the entire experience unforgettable. They have inside seating and patio seating, we went on such a beautiful day, which added to the ambiance. Even on a cold and rainy day you can sit on the patio and keep dry with a tent and warm with space heaters. I have been to other afternoon tea establishments from old town San Diego to Beverly Hills, Marlene's Tea & Cakes is one of the best. The recipes are all her own and made in house. You can tell everything is made with love, which is evident in every bite. The only thing that made this experience even better was when Marlene came out to greet us, she is such a beautiful person that makes you feel like you were invited into her home for afternoon tea. I would also like to recognize her staff, I was only able to get the name of one of the ladies, Alma, but all of them were wonderful. This is a treasure to experience in the heart of San Diego, I will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: High Tea Tea Sandwiches Quiche Beef Wellington
Anna L.
Super cute tea spot for high tea! Nestled in a quiet neighborhood up north. I called in the morning on a Sunday and they were able to squeeze me and my family in. The food was pretty good and better than other places I've been to for high tea. I loved the presentation and the soup!! Also really thought the tea was high quality. Our favorite one was one of the oolongs but I forgot that name :(( the other tea was also delicious!
Alexandra B.
Came for my mom's birthday and we had the best time. Beautiful atmosphere and delicious tea and treats!
Marcy Jones
Just Celebrated my 80th Birthday at Marlenes Tea & Cakes. Everything was perfect. The food was like little works of art .Lovely to look at and delicious.Our server was there to take care of all our needs.15 people ..Marlene was a kind & gracious host. Marlenes is by far the best Tea Room in the County.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nadia G.
Tried Marlene's tea and cakes again and it was a delightful experience. The attention to detail and food presentation is incredible. Definitely a lovely way to spend an afternoon with friends
Cute little afternoon tea spot! The sandwiches were good and the scone was delicious. Top tray desserts were a little basic in my opinion. Soup was good, but it was lukewarm. Tea selection really good but one of our candles went out that was keeping it warm.
Environment was great! We had a great mother daughter tea. They had kids option and service was really smooth and timed perfectly. Reservations are required.
This is another amazing afternoon tea! I love that the menu is always changing and the tea is a burst of good flavor! If you want an elegant new experience this is the perfect place! I love the table setting it always matches and the food is so fresh and inventive I love that when you’re done you can go across the street and there is a field you can walk around it feels as if you were in the show Bridgerton lol
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tea Setting, High Tea Tea Sandwiches Quiche Beef Wellington, Creamy Butternut Squash Soup, Mini Beef Wellington, Mousse Au Chocolat, Cream Puff, Table Setting, Tomato Basil Soup
I never get invited, but according to my wife and her friends ( they meet every two months at Marlene's ) it's a 5 star experience .
Beautiful space for tea time with some gal pals. I had made reservations for about 11 girls a few weeks prior to the day - full payment was required at the time of reservation along with choice of two tea flavors. Reservations are required and two tea times were available to choose from: 11am or 2pm - dining service is 2 hours. The inside space was a lot smaller as I'd imagine - it was a bit tough navigating through the space as they packed in as much as they could. There is also outside seating with overhead coverage available. Each table was beautifully decorated with the plate settings, fresh floral bouquets, and the tea with a warmer below. Tea time first started out with a potato soup, followed by the 3-tiered tray of food. Bottom - two variety of finger sandwiches, chicken pot pie, beef Wellington, and a mushroom quiche. Middle - apple walnut biscuits, whipped cream, and a few bite sized pieces of fresh fruit. Top - assorted desserts. Thoroughly enjoyed the corned beef & cabbage sandwich, apple walnut biscuits (very moist and delicious), and the mushroom quiche. Great service throughout our stay. We ended up having an additional person last minute and the staff was very accommodating to the change. Private parking lot available so there aren't any issues.
Excellent food ?, and service. Great place for a tea party!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I’m posting this review because I’ve been to high Tea at several places here in San Diego. And I read the reviews of Marlene’s and I had equally high expectations. The food was exceptional. BUT, The service was really POOR, and really affected our overall experience negatively. Marlene’s makes you pick your tea when you book your reservation, so that it’s on the table when you arrive. Despite giving the waitress my name three times, she insisted that we were seated at the right table. That we had to call her back three times and tell her it was not in the Jasmine tea and have her finally figure out what she set us at the wrong tableWhat was more disappointing, however, was the lack of what I expect in Tea service. Other places will bring you ONE plate at a time, from your savories to your sweets. And they will tell you precisely what you are eating. We had to call our waitress back multiple times to explain to us what was on the tiered plates, because they were dropped off all at once. (The first one of course was the wrong one, because it was meant for the other table.) What was IN the food Items is really important because my friend has food allergies. There is no printed menu to refer to.Anyway, maybe we just had a bad day. But if you’re looking for great tea in San Diego, I recommend Britannia down in Point Loma. The service there is exceptional.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 1
Best tea in
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
If I could I would give this place zero stars . I felt so taken advantage of. This is the most over priced food establishment I have ever been. They gave us one tea per person that you pre order , they give you a platter of 5/10 food and desserts and charge you 415.00 for 8 people. I am not kidding . Go to a different place if you want quality service and food. I really feel like it is a scam and I wish I would have known better . It is a cute place but not worth the cost at all! Save your self 100 per person and stay away.
We have a great time at Marlene's for a Sunday Tea service. We went through 4 pots of tea which is unlimited by the way and they were all excellent. The food was a good portion size and the space is adorable. My complaints are there is only one bathroom for all the ladies pounding tea and the tables and chairs pushed up against one another in an effort to maximize guest capacity at the expensive of guest comfort.
Restaurantji Recommends
I would like to think the pictures I posted say it all! However, they don't tell you about the exquisite taste and exceptional service. Everything from the service, decor, china, tea selections, and food make the entire experience unforgettable. They have inside seating and patio seating, we went on such a beautiful day, which added to the ambiance. Even on a cold and rainy day you can sit on the patio and keep dry with a tent and warm with space heaters. I have been to other afternoon tea establishments from old town San Diego to Beverly Hills, Marlene's Tea & Cakes is one of the best. The recipes are all her own and made in house. You can tell everything is made with love, which is evident in every bite. The only thing that made this experience even better was when Marlene came out to greet us, she is such a beautiful person that makes you feel like you were invited into her home for afternoon tea. I would also like to recognize her staff, I was only able to get the name of one of the ladies, Alma, but all of them were wonderful. This is a treasure to experience in the heart of San Diego, I will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: High Tea Tea Sandwiches Quiche Beef Wellington
Super cute tea spot for high tea! Nestled in a quiet neighborhood up north. I called in the morning on a Sunday and they were able to squeeze me and my family in. The food was pretty good and better than other places I've been to for high tea. I loved the presentation and the soup!! Also really thought the tea was high quality. Our favorite one was one of the oolongs but I forgot that name :(( the other tea was also delicious!
Came for my mom's birthday and we had the best time. Beautiful atmosphere and delicious tea and treats!
Just Celebrated my 80th Birthday at Marlenes Tea & Cakes. Everything was perfect. The food was like little works of art .Lovely to look at and delicious.Our server was there to take care of all our needs.15 people ..Marlene was a kind & gracious host. Marlenes is by far the best Tea Room in the County.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tried Marlene's tea and cakes again and it was a delightful experience. The attention to detail and food presentation is incredible. Definitely a lovely way to spend an afternoon with friends