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The 5 Best Places for Afternoon Tea in Indianapolis

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Tea Experience & Menu: We evaluated the inclusion of classic high tea elements like warm scones with cream and delicate pastries. A wide, high-quality tea selection was also mandatory to ensure a truly traditional tasting experience.

Ambiance & Setting: Atmosphere plays a huge role in how memorable your midday outing feels. We looked at whether the venue provided an upscale hotel setting or a cozy independent tea house vibe.

Pricing & Value: Balancing cost with the quality of food and service was a top priority for our assessments. We compared the range of pricing across casual local tea rooms and premium boutique experiences.

Service Quality: The level of hospitality and attentiveness from the staff can easily make or break a special celebratory outing. We prioritized locations that deliver top-tier guest experiences paired with knowledgeable servers.

Location & Accessibility: Convenience matters, especially for tourists or anyone organizing a group outing. We considered how easy the venues are to reach and whether the location adds to the overall experience.

Finding the best afternoon tea in Indianapolis gets a lot easier once you know which spots actually deliver the full experience. I looked for places with warm scones, good tea, thoughtful service, and a setting that makes the whole outing feel special.

Whether you are planning a birthday, catching up with friends, or just want a slower afternoon, these are the places I would keep on my list.

How much does afternoon tea cost in Indianapolis?

Afternoon tea in Indianapolis usually costs about $30 to $65 per person for full service, while themed or luxury experiences can go past $120 and children’s options are often priced lower.

Experience TypeEstimated Cost
Casual & Traditional Tea Rooms$30 – $45 per person
Luxury & Boutique High Tea$55 – $95+ per person
Children’s Tea$15 – $45 per child

1. Cheeky Bastards Restaurant

cheeky-bastards-restaurant-logo

Website: https://www.cbindy.com

Address: 11210 Fall Creek Rd

Contact: (317) 288-9739

Hours: Wednesday-Thursday, 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Friday, 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Saturday, 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Craving a slice of British dining without the transatlantic flight? Cheeky Bastards Restaurant leans hard into that charm, with warm scones, English crumpets, and a setting that feels cozy instead of overly formal.

We stopped in recently and really liked the intimate dining spaces. The table settings also made the whole experience feel a little more special without turning it into something stuffy.

The staff was attentive and easy to talk to, which matters when you want a slower afternoon instead of a rushed meal. 

The only drawback is the schedule. They are closed Sunday through Tuesday, so this is not the easiest place for a spontaneous weekday tea plan.

Pros

  • Hard-to-find authentic British baked goods
  • Private and intimate dining spaces
  • Visually aesthetic table settings
  • Attentive and knowledgeable staff

Cons

  • Closed three days a week
  • Limited availability for spontaneous visits

10/10 would recommend

We had the afternoon tea and I will be back. Several different tea selections. The sandwiches were generous portions to other teas I have had. The scones with clotted creme and jam were excellent and the desserts we amazing. 10/10 would recommend

Afternoon tea, more than we expected

Great service, by the owners made us feel appreciated. Last tea we had had been in London, this surpassed in flavor, variety and presentation Cozy and comfortable, noise level was such we could carry on a nice conversation. The interior offered small rooms, pleasant ambiance. Looking forward to have dinner or brunch soon. Visit order and enjoy.

2. Twigs & Tea

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Website: http://www.twigsandtea.com

Address: 11399 Lantern Road, Fishers

Contact: (317) 288-4329

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Twigs & Tea is a nice fit if you want your afternoon tea to feel relaxed and local. The tea room sits beside a boutique, so it is easy to turn the outing into a slow afternoon of tea and browsing.

What stood out to us most is the quieter setup. Because they keep dedicated tea room hours, the experience feels focused instead of crowded or distracted.

We also appreciate the community feel here. It really adds to the overall charm of the space.

The downside is that the tea room closes by 3:00 PM, which makes it a lot harder to visit if you are hoping for a late-afternoon treat.

Pros

  • Dedicated hours for a quiet environment
  • Locally owned with a personalized feel
  • Conveniently located near trailways
  • Attached boutique for browsing

Cons

  • Inaccessible for late afternoon schedules

The afternoon tea experience is incredible

Love this place! The afternoon tea experience is incredible. Each tier is superbly balanced – base is sandwiches and mini savory bites, middle is scones with clotted cream, and the top is an assortment of petite desserts. Each person also gets a half pot of their preferred tea blend, which I heartily recommend the Paris. While it is not cheap ($32 per person), it is a fantastic way to spend an afternoon enjoying delicious treats and conversation.

Such a charming little Parisian tea shop.

Such a charming little parisian tea shop, it reminds me of my Grandma’s house. You definitely need to make a reservation for this place. My favorites are the Croque Monsier (when they have it), the Paris tea, and do not skip on the chocolate scone with clotted cream!

3. Rustic Root Tea Room

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Website: https://www.tearoomofrusticroot.com

Address: 626 Main Street, Beech Grove

Contact: (317) 591-9497

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Rustic Root Tea Room feels built for people who want the atmosphere to be part of the fun. The themed dining spaces and vintage china make the whole experience feel playful and memorable without losing the traditional tea-room feel.

We also like that the menu rotates often. It adds a little variety to returning visits. 

They also offer a children’s tea, which makes this one of the easier places to consider for family celebrations.

Another detail we appreciate is how easy it is to build a full day around it, especially if you plan to grab dinner at one of the top japanese restaurants in Indianapolis later on. 

The tradeoff is you’re never sure if your favorite afternoon tea treats are available on your visit. 

Pros

  • Meals served on authentic vintage China
  • Themed spaces for varying atmospheres
  • Exclusive Princess Tea for children
  • Fresh, daily-rotating dessert options

Cons

  • No assurance that your favorite food items will be served
  • No flexibility for spontaneous walk-ins

An afternoon tea lunch is a lovely and fun thing to do.

How fabulous. Always wanted to do a High Tra. This was wonderful. The server was an excellent guide through their menu, making fantastic recommendations for a couple of first-timers. An afternoon tea lunch is a lovely and fun thing to do. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

The atmosphere was great

Celebrated Valentines day a day early with some friends and had a wonderful day. Food was so good. I had the chicken salad and it was delish! We all did the Petite Tea for $22 you get a  salad or soup, sandwich, tea and a scone and 3 other sweet treats all presented on a tower. It was beautiful. The atmosphere was great and afterward we had little time to shop!

4. Serliana

serliana-logo

Website: https://www.serlianaindy.com

Address: 17 West Market Street, 2nd Floor

Contact: (463) 303-0380 | [email protected]

Hours: Daily, 6:30 AM – 10:00 PM

Serliana is the one I would pick for a more dressed-up afternoon tea. The French-inspired hotel setting, polished service, and Palais des Thés selection make it feel like a real occasion from the start.

We were especially impressed by the chef-driven pairings, which gave the tea service a more refined edge than the usual pastry-heavy spread. 

The downtown location near Monument Circle also makes it an easy add-on for a day out in the city.

The catch is timing. Their formal afternoon tea service is limited to Saturdays, so this is not the kind of place you can count on for a casual weekday visit.

Pros

  • Premium Palais des Thés selections
  • Upscale Calacatta marble interiors
  • Chef-driven culinary food pairings
  • Central downtown location

Cons

  • Formal service limited strictly to Saturdays
  • Unavailable for weekday afternoon bookings

Such a lovely afternoon tea option!

Thrilled Indianapolis has such a lovely afternoon tea option! Serliana hosts tea on Saturdays at 2 pm. We made reservations online (you do pay and include gratuity in advance with this option). The tea and food selections were wonderful. Favorite thing was the chocolate passion fruit mousse. Mackenzie was our server and very knowledgeable and attentive. They do change up the desserts so we are excited to see what they will have next time.

5. The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers

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Website: https://thecakebakeshop.com/

Address: 6515 Carrollton Ave.

Contact: (317) 257-2253 ext. 103

Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM; Friday-Saturday, 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Sunday, 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM. Afternoon Tea: Monday-Sunday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

The Cake Bake Shop is the most whimsical option on this list. Between the chandeliers, floral details, and towering desserts, the whole place feels like stepping into a storybook version of afternoon tea.

We understand why it works so well for birthdays, family outings, and other celebrations where the setting itself carries much of the experience.

The service also helps keep everything feeling polished from start to finish, which adds to the overall sense of occasion.

The one drawback is that the cakes and icings run very rich, so guests who prefer lighter pastries may find the menu a little heavy.

Pros

  • Whimsical, highly decorated interior
  • Top-tier, attentive table service
  • Accommodates larger family parties
  • Large-portioned signature cakes

Cons

  • Signature cakes are extremely heavy

Who can beat a tea date with a friend!

Came here to shoot some laid back maternity pictures because it’s just so cute and who can beat a tea date with a friend! Carrot cake and carmel apple macaroons were amazing! So was the fruit infusion tea! Can’t wait to bring my 3 year old daughter here, she’ll love it!

Would love to come back for high tea.

Adorable place!  We had no idea what it was and popped in for a coffee and pastry and was blown away!  So fancy. Would love to come back for high tea. Cocktails, champagne, coffee. The cake was amazing!!!