Los Angeles Gals - I need input?

[cocopops]

I am throwing a "Mommy Shower" for my best friend pre her baby shower. I wanted to go to a simple resturant/tea room. A cute place where they have cushions and or couches. So we can sit down have dinner/lunch etc. Any suggestions?

[lisapremiere]

There is a cute little place in Santa Monica that serves tea and is very "English". Huntington Gardens also has a nice Sunday High Tea (I think it's a little on the spendy side.) I can't remember the name of the place in Santa Monica, I will look later and post it if you want the name.

[MLA]

Actually, the Huntington Gardens has tea every day except Monday, I believe, and it's not pricey at all. I love it, but it's not a very good place for a shower. Maybe lisapremiere was thinking of the Ritz Carlton Huntington, which does a tea on Sunday and is, indeed, pricey.

I'm throwing a shower for my best friend at the Scarlet Tea Room in Pasadena. It's this Saturday. I'll report back and let you know how it goes. :)

[cocopops]

As cheap as possible please :)

[Rosebud]

This might be totally off base, but there's this Middle Eastern restaurant called Noura on Melrose (at La Cienega) that we love and have parties at all the time. They have big banquettes with cushions & pillows and really colorful decor. They have a lovely outdoor patio, plus a private room you can rent. It's pretty inexpensive and the food is great. You order at a counter and then your food is brought to you. Photos and menu: Noura (http://www.tellthetruthtravel.com/ThumbsUp_Noura.htm) and More Noura (http://losangeles.citysearch.com/profile/101381/los_angeles_ca/noura.html)

Also, I heard about a new place called Aphrodisiac that is supposed to have some sort of bedroom theme, with lots of pillows and such to sit on. Let me go look for info on it..... Here it is: Aphrodisiac (http://losangeles.citysearch.com/profile/41833103/los_angeles_ca/aphrodisiac.html?)

[dana b]

we've had parties at noura before, it's really nice, but more of a nightime crowd.
in topanga canyon, there's inn of the seventh ray. it's my favorite restaurant and a perfect shower/wedding/anything location. it's a little bit expensive, but when i had my rd there, they were pretty easy to work with when it came to the menu. you could book a small area and just do tea and finger food, it shouldn't be that expensive and it's unbelievably gorgeous.
what area are you thinking? in pasadena, there's a charming little restaurant with small garden - the raymond, also expensive, but they do daytime stuff that's cheaper. i'm actually thinking of doing a bridal shower there.

[la_bride_2004]

http://www.thetudorhouse.com/ (The Tudor House) in Santa Monica has a private room for teas. Almost every weekend that I have been there, there is a bridal or baby shower in progress.

[adamseve]

There's a cute b&b in playa del rey. We live in the area, but spent a few nights there a couple of years back and fell in love with it. They have an adorable/warm living area where hotel guests can read or drink tea. I'm not sure if they typically host showers, but it's worth a shot. They're incredibly nice and make the best pastries!

http://www.innatplayadelrey.com/tour.htm

[Katy]

Chado Tea Room (http://www.chadotea.com/tearooms.asp) is Pasadena does TONS of showers. There's no private room, or private space though, your just crammed in with everyone else. But it is yummy and inexpensive ($15 a person for all the tea and fixin's).

I hear there's also a nice tea room in Sierra Madre. I don't know the name of it, but if you want the info I'm sure I can track it down for you.

Are you focusing on any particular area of LA? That might help with the suggestions.

[MLA]

Actually, the Huntington Gardens has tea every day except Monday, I believe, and it's not pricey at all. I love it, but it's not a very good place for a shower. Maybe lisapremiere was thinking of the Ritz Carlton Huntington, which does a tea on Sunday and is, indeed, pricey.

I'm throwing a shower for my best friend at the Scarlet Tea Room in Pasadena. It's this Saturday. I'll report back and let you know how it goes. :)

My report: The Scarlet Tea Room was awesome! Really some of the best tea sandwiches I've ever had and lots of other good stuff. It's definitely more of a formal tea. Here's a link to the site: http://www.scarlettearoom.com/

The total cost for 18 people was just under $580.00 I don't know if that's out of your range, but it really was great.

[Ade]

Katy the one in Sierra Madre is The Four Seasons. It is quite small, I've never been in, but walk by it all the time.

The Four Seasons Tea Room
75 North Baldwin Avenue
Sierra Madre, California 90277
Tel: (626) 355-0045
Fax: (626) 355-5436
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 11 am to 4 pm
Traditional English Afternoon Tea

The Huntington Gardens tea is $20 per person plus admission to the Gardens which is $15 per person. No private space as well. But, I was just there on Saturday and there were 2 birthdays, 1 wedding shower and 1 baby shower happening at the same time. I think I would recommend somewhere else for a shower considering the cost and lack of privacy. This site lists several tea rooms in CaliforniaThe Tea Caddy (http://www.theteacaddy.com/tearooms.aspx#California)

[jki]

in pasadena, there's a charming little restaurant with small garden - the raymond, also expensive, but they do daytime stuff that's cheaper. i'm actually thinking of doing a bridal shower there.

dana -
Do you have any other information on this restaurant? I google'd it and couldn't find anything. I'm looking for a place for my sister's bridal shower.

[Katy]

Katy the one in Sierra Madre is The Four Seasons. It is quite small, I've never been in, but walk by it all the time. I'm so slow to respond...actually, I don't think the place I was thinking of was the Four Seasons (the hotel?), but I could be wrong since I don't get up there much (and I often get Sierra Madre and Montrose confused - don't ask). Thanks for that site though, I think I might have found me some new tea houses to check out :D

[jki]

Many thanks to the posters in this thread! We're having my sister's bridal shower at the Scarlet Tea Room! :)

Can anyone recommend a nice hotel near there?

[dana b]

jki sorry, i didn't see your post until now. looks like you made a good choice though. for hotels, there's the ritz carlton which is beautiful and in a gorgeous neighborhood. there's also the usual hotels, i can't think of what they are specifically, i'm sure someone else here knows. you should try to do a breakfast or lunch at julienne www.juliennetogo.com while you're here, it's close to the ritz.

[Ade]

Katy, the Four Seasons isn't associated with the Hotel, that's just what it's called. Confusing, I know. My neighbor just went today. She said it is $17.50 for tea, scones and sandwiches and $20 for desserts included. She took her daughters for getting straight As in school and said they had a great time. She said they have the best scones (fresh baked daily) and even sell the frozen dough so you can make your own at home. we're planning on going together as soon as we can pick a time when we can all go!

jki, I know you've already picked a place, but just wanted to weigh in on Raymond. The food is amazing and they have great dinners, if you wanted to go one of the nights you'll be in town. It's a beautiful setting on S. Fair Oaks Ave, right on the edge between Pasadena and South Pasadena. Here's the site The Raymond Restaurant (http://www.theraymond.com/).

For Hotels, the Westin is nice and in a convenient location, near Old Town and the new Colorado Center. The Marriott Cortyard is a nice basic hotel and right in Old Town. The Hilton is also nice and in a good location between Old Town and the Colorado Center. I have to second dana b's recommendation on the Ritz, it is beautiful. However, it is in a bit of an inconvenient location, more in a neighborhood setting, so you would have to drive to get anywhere. It's also a little spendy. My old company used to get $100 per night rates there, man do I miss that!

[jki]

Ade:

Thanks so much for weighing in... turns out the Scarlet Tea Room is a no go. They are booked for the Saturday of the weekend we've chosen and they are not open on Sundays unless it's a party of 30+. Since the people planning the shower are disorganized, they can't guarantee 30. I will definitely pass along the Raymond - it looks absolutely lovely.

The Hilton is charging $135 and the Ritz $295 (and about $400 for a Club room!) over the weekend we're going to be there. Is the Ritz THAT much nicer?

[Ade]

Hi jki, sorry for the delayed response, just finally checked back on this now. No, the Ritz isn't THAT much nicer and it is in an inconvenient location. I would definitely say do the Hilton or the Westin. That way you're closer to the shops, resturants and nightlife. All within walking distance, or an easy cab ride.

Sorry to hear about the Scarlett Tea Room. The Raymond is a great choice. Hope it all works out!

[Amuse Bouche]

The Ritz is super nice but it's far from everything and really just a luxury hotel -- for location and convenience I'd stay at the Westin. The Marriott in Pasadena is pretty new and reasonably nice and often has rates below $100.

[jki]

Just wanted to come back and thank everyone again for their input! :)

Here are some pics of the Scarlet Tea Room in case anyone else is interested:

http://images.costcophotocenter.com/347337763%7Ffp6%3Enu%3D3236%3E73%3A%3E%3A%3C3%3EWS NRCG%3D323258725867%3Anu0mrj

http://images.costcophotocenter.com/347337763%7Ffp4%3Enu%3D3236%3E73%3A%3E%3A%3C3%3EWS NRCG%3D323258725867%3Bnu0mrj

http://images.costcophotocenter.com/347337763%7Ffp6%3Enu%3D3236%3E73%3A%3E%3A%3C3%3EWS NRCG%3D3232587257536nu0mrj

http://images.costcophotocenter.com/347337763%7Ffp4%3Enu%3D3236%3E73%3A%3E%3A%3C3%3EWS NRCG%3D323258725753%3Bnu0mrj

My pictures aren't so great - I'll post again when I get the pictures that my sister took.

We also ended up staying at the Hilton and it was great!

[jki]

Here's a couple more pictures:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/jki/20a208db.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/jki/d87871d2.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/jki/d5ae1c87.jpg