Around the world, as both a beverage and a pastime, tea is steeped in history and ritual. From the casual to the ceremonial, tea is a throughline for many cultures, and now, it’s enjoying a renewed interest from beverage pros who are drawn to tea’s unique flavor characteristics, health benefits, and cultural connections. Recently, two Virginia tea rooms have begun to put their own spin on the storied tradition of taking tea.
Floris at VMFA
215 N. Sheppard St., Richmond
Debuting in winter 2023, Floris is a tea room located in the Pauley Center parlor at the
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, a former private event space overlooking VMFA’s Sculpture Garden. For months after its opening, it was impossible to score a reservation. The neoclassical building, the former Home for Confederate Women, has been meticulously updated by interior designer Marie Fedowitz of Abode in Richmond to reflect not only the elegant architecture, but also of tea culture
“When you think of tea, you think of England,” says Fedowitz. “But the team at Floris were really drawn towards international tea, so the color story they gave me was very bright and influenced by Morocco.” With that in mind, Fedowitz brought in a gradient finish on the walls that transitions subtly from white dove to a Tiffany box blue, and added subtle hints of pink to reflect the pink marble of the original fireplace. To offset the feminine color palette, Fedowitz used neutral linens, and to bring light into the space, she positioned an antique mirror opposite the fireplace. The effect is bright and inviting, the perfect setting for enjoying a spot of afternoon tea.
In the kitchen at Floris, you’ll find Executive Chef Chainey Kuykendall. The 29-year-old chef started at VMFA in 2021 and eagerly awaited Floris’ opening, knowing it would be her opportunity to put her culinary talents on display.
Kuykendall says she wants the menu at Floris to strike a balance between traditional afternoon tea and globally inspired flavors that reflect the visiting exhibitions at the museum. Floris’ three-tiered tower, long a symbol of afternoon tea, comes loaded with sweet and savory snacks—a smattering of freshly baked scones with jam and sorghum butter, seasonally inspired finger sandwiches, pinwheels of smoked salmon, and sweet nothings like a rich Sacher torte brightened with passionfruit.
“My goal is to redo the menu regularly so when guests come in multiple times a year, they find something different,” says Kuykendall. “I want them to have the familiarity of a scone but then discover a whole new tier with different delights so they’ll be wowed.”
Guests enjoying tea at Floris can nibble on the tower’s delights while sampling a selection of teas from local vendors like Purceville’s Dominion Tea, who makes a signature VMFA blend that boasts notes of vanilla and smoky spice, as well as Richmond-based Roots Tea Blends and Savory Blends Tea Co. The staff at Floris are meticulous about tea preparation, making sure the water reaches the appropriate temperature for each variety of tea and diligently pouring for guests.
In addition to afternoon tea, Floris offers an à la carte menu and a selection of wine, beer, and cider. The tearoom is open Saturday through Wednesday for signature tea service from 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. and à la carte service from 2:30–4 p.m. VMFA.museum
Floris’ three-tiered tower filled with delightful bites. Below: Chef Chainey Kuykendall (right), and the bright tea room (far right) in the gorgeously renovated Home for Confederate Women, now part of VMFA.
Ethos Wine & Tea
817 W. Main St., Charlottesville
Ethos Wine & Tea, a bright and cozy gathering place in Charlottesville, imagines tea (and wine) as a conduit for connection. Co-owners Tiffany Nguyen and Kylie Britt opened the small shop in late summer 2024 with a mission to bring people together over a bottle of wine or cup of tea.
“We believe cultivating community is possible through fellowship in a common space—allowing people to establish and grow authentic connections,” says Nguyen. “We want to offer a place for people from all parts of the community to find a sense of belonging.”
A nine-seat bar serves as the focal point and hub of Ethos. It’s the perfect place for the kind of camaraderie Nguyen and Britt envisioned. From the bar, covered patio, or one of the small window-facing tables, guests can select from over a dozen loose-leaf teas. The tea menu is organized by type—herbal, black, and green/white/oolong, with evocative tasting notes, reminiscent of those found on wine or cocktail menus, designed to give guests an idea of what they might enjoy.
This isn’t the kind of pinkies-out high tea you might be accustomed to. Rather, Ethos sources organic, loose-leaf teas meant to be enjoyed in a casual, convivial environment. For first-time guests to Ethos, Nguyen says taking a relaxed approach is key: “Come in, find a seat, settle in. Peruse our plethora of tea options and scan our tasting notes to see where you land, or simply ask our staff to guide you based on sharing a few words that describe your mood.”
Nguyen says she was inspired to pursue brick-and-mortar business ownership by her experience with Charlottesville’s wine community, in which she’s been an active participant for the last few years. But, she says, she knew she needed a non-alcoholic offering to make the space truly inclusive. “I reflected on my own story growing up—tea was always around—and how I welcome people into my home—it was often with tea options. I quickly realized the similarities of how structure, taste, notes, and where tea is grown impacts the final product, much like wine,” says Nguyen. “It didn’t take long for me to realize that these two could be parallel offerings that match each other in complexity.”
To complement the selection of teas and wine, Ethos offers a small menu of paninis, like the Sweet and Salty, which marries earthy prosciutto with fig jam and gooey provolone, as well as little nibbles like marinated gigante beans and their addicting crunchy snack mix with furikake and roasted chickpeas. Nguyen says the team at Ethos is excited to collaborate with producers to offer tea cuppings, tastings, and educational events around tea as their community grows. EthosWineAndTea.com
Ethos Wine & Tea owners Kylie Britt and Tiffany Nguyen with their guests.
Find a Spot of Tea Near You
Six tea offerings around the Commonwealth.
The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond offers a traditional and very fancy afternoon tea with options that includes a Children’s Tea, Chocolate Lover’s Tea, and Southern Afternoon Tea. Reservations are mandatory and available online only. JeffersonHotel.com
At The Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach, guests can enjoy afternoon tea in the Raleigh Room. Friday–Sunday from 1–3 p.m. CavalierResortVB.com
The Queen’s Library Tearoom in Richmond offers a traditional English tea service as well as themed tea experiences in a lovely historic setting. QueensLibraryTearoom.com
Heritage Bakery & Cafe in Harrisonburg. offers adorable and well-stocked picnic baskets that include a full tea set, a scone, three sweets, and a tea sandwich. HeritageBakes.com
With locations in Berryville and Winchester, The Tea Cart is a fabulous destination for traditional tea services, themed tea experiences, and private tea parties. The Tea Cart has two daily tea times—one for adults only, and one that’s kid-friendly. TheTeaCartVa.com
At Cake Bloom, a sister-owned bakery in Charlottesville, guests can enjoy afternoon tea with a selection of tea sandwiches, scones, and cookies every Thursday, plus special themed tea services throughout the year. CakeBloom.com
Click here for more tea houses throughout the Commonwealth.
This article originally appeared in the June 2025 issue.
