Queen of Hearts Royal Tea

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is bringing back the Queen of Hearts Royal Tea on Sunday, October 25, as part of its fall season. It's a themed afternoon tea set inside the glasshouse, and this year it's tied to the Phipps Fall Flower Show, Alice's Adventures in Autumn. If you've been following the show, the tea is basically the edible version of it.

There are two seatings that day: 11:30 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 3:30 PM. The tea service is handled by Oh So Frilly Events, and the food comes from Big Burrito catering. You'll get tea sandwiches, mini quiches, and seasonal sweet treats—the kind of spread that fits right in with the Alice theme. The price is $70 per person for members and $75 for nonmembers, and that covers the full menu and your admission to Phipps, so you can wander through the gardens before or after you eat.

Since the tea is tied to the Fall Flower Show, it makes sense to pair the two. The show itself is Alice's Adventures in Autumn, and the tea is built around that same Wonderland inspiration. It's one of those events that works best if you're already planning to spend the day at the conservatory.

Reservations are required, and seating is assigned, so you'll want to book your spot ahead of time rather than hoping to walk in. Between the two seatings, you've got your choice of a late morning or a mid-afternoon slot on Sunday, October 25, at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh.