By the Teashore is an Un/Traditional Afternoon Tea Restaurant located at 724 Main Street in the charming coastal town of Half Moon Bay, CA.
Afternoon Tea served on 3-tiered platters is offered Wednesday-Sunday, 11am-3pm.
Our lovely 1903 Victorian house-turned-restaurant has some design elements you would expect, but some surprises (hint: we love Art Deco). Please join us to dine in a stunning space, but know that we’re completely unpretentious! Everyone is Welcome By the Teashore!
Reservations highly recommended on Resy.
Marianne Schroeder
By the Teashore is a gem nearby down town Half Moon Bay. The owner has done a beautiful job adding charm and whimsy to a historic building for the purpose of a tea house. We gathered here for afternoon tea to celebrate a friend’s Mother Blessing. We rented the teashop for a private event. Communication with Angela the owner leading up to the event was prompt, clear, and helpful in guiding me to the best order for my group. We enjoyed homemade scones of strawberry and white chocolate, earl grey and lemon, cranberry pistachio rosemary, and blueberry orange. The clotted cream is homemade – an extensive 12 hour cooking process to make! The sandwiches included roast beef with horseradish, curried chicken, egg salad, and cucumber cream cheese. Plus a great kale salad. The teashop is lovely. The decorations over Valentine’s Day weekend were so festive and fun. I plan on returning just for fun to spend time with my loved ones here over tea! What a great activity for everyone!
… moreAnne Heit
I loved the personal touches that were added to this place. This was the best tea house I have ever been to and should be added as a destination place in Half Moon Bay. Meeting the owner and hearing her story of how she started her business was very inspiring. The food and tea selections were amazing and I highly recommend coming here.
… moreMichelle Barnes
My mom and I made a reservation on Resy for the Sunday of their opening weekend at 11:30am. At the time their website stated tea service would begin at 11:30am. If I had known that was not the case, I would’ve changed my reservation to a different weekend. Upon arriving, we had to wait about 5 mins before being seated and were then told that tea service began at 12pm and they would not be taking any tea set orders until that time. We came specifically for their tea service, so decided to order our tea (which is separate from the tea tower) and wait to order our food. We shared a pot of the Breakfast at Tiffany’s, which was quite good!
At 12pm we both ordered the Maverick tea, which is advertised as coming with 2 sandwiches, 2 scones with jams and clotted cream, a small salad, fresh fruit, mini quiche, macaron, lavender tea cookie, and wave treat. We received the tea over 1 hour after ordering it and were confused at what we received in comparison to what was on their menu. There was one scone looking item for each of us rather than 2 and upon tasting it both of us were pretty sure we’d received the early gray scone only although they had a second scone flavor: blueberry orange. There was no lavender tea cookie, clotted cream, mini quiche, or wave dessert, which had instead been replaced with one chocolate piece. After we asked our server about the missing items, the owner came over apologizing profusely and very kindly comped both of our teas. Though we felt bad as this is a brand new small business and did end up paying for one of our teas. Clearly, the owner is putting a lot of effort in, and I hope she’s able to find more staff and work out some of the kinks in the months since.
… moreHaley Chin
Too often, tea spots get one thing right and miss the other: beautiful surroundings with forgettable food, or great menus in uninspired spaces. By the Teashore delivers perfection on both fronts, and at a price that makes it surprisingly affordable.
Every element here feels so carefully considered, from the colors and decor to each table setting. (Even the bathroom is pretty!) The food is outstanding (special shout out to the chicken curry sandwiches and earl grey & lemon scones) and the service matches it.
A big part of the magic comes from Angela, the owner. She personally manages the details that make the experience so special, and her passion is clear in everything from the atmosphere to the menu. Talking with her was a reminder that this isn’t just a business, it’s a labor of love, a place where she’s created space for people to escape for lunch during their work week or linger over a weekend celebration.
If you’re looking for a tea experience that’s as much about the atmosphere as it is about the food, By the Teashore is one of those rare places that gets it absolutely right, and makes it accessible enough to enjoy often. 10/10 recommend!
… moreLori Holmlund
By the Teashore is an absolute gem! The owner has done an amazing job transforming a charming older home into the perfect spot for high tea. Every detail was thoughtfully chosen, from the beautiful paint colors inside and out to the unique wall art, including a stunning display of vintage hand-held mirrors. The atmosphere is both elegant and welcoming, and you can tell so much care went into creating it.
The food is outstanding. We loved all the tea sandwiches, especially the curried chicken, and the cucumber cream cheese and egg salad were fantastic too. The scones were wonderful (I had blueberry orange, and my daughter had Earl Grey and lemon), and the macarons were absolutely superb.
The service was warm and attentive without ever being overbearing, and the prices were lower than we expected, an incredible value for such a special experience. This place is truly exceptional and well worth the drive if you’re not nearby. Highly, highly recommend to anyone who loves high tea or just wants a delightful and memorable outing!
… moreMaddy
I came here with my friends for my birthday and we had such a wonderful time! All the staff was very attentive even though we were a large group of seven people. The food was phenomenal and the tea blends were top notch! We will absolutely be coming back. My only criticism is that we wished we could control the steep time of our teas. One green tea came out a bit over steeped, but otherwise everything was great. It was definitely worth the hike from Napa county!! I’ll be thinking about those scones forever!
… moreLily Lee
Brought my friend here for her birthday. What a lovely ambiance this tea shop has. Displayed is a well- curated collection of antiques and tea cups and plates that accent the brightly painted blue and white walls. It instantly transports you into a time when things were finer and daintier. The food was scrumptious. We had egg salad sandwiches, the orange and blueberry scones. The scone were a true delight. Fluffy, golden small batch made. The staff were pleasant and welcoming.
A definite wonderful way to start a day in Halfmoon Bay. It’s a charming, memorable experience.
Angela, thank you for the attentive service and the touching story about your motivation for this By the Teashore. We love it !
PS – best looking vintage bathroom in Halfmoon Bay!
12/2025 update –
Another memorable visit to By The Teashore. Brought my sister this time. She loved the experience! We might have a new Christmas tradition 🙂
The Christmas vibe was so charming. The snowflake project such a simple, delightful, and mindful activity. The Christmas specials were quite tasty. I enjoyed the potato corn soup flavors. Who knew that quinoa and cranberries could taste so good. The little tower desert was almost too pretty to eat. scrumptious! Thanks for the excellent service and memories made.
… moreVictoria Santana
I’ve never been a fan of tea, I’ve always been a coffee person but came for the afternoon tea experience and ended up drinking at least three cups of tea because it was just so so so so good. Unfortunately my friends and I came too early for the afternoon tea tier platter they serve but honestly it’s all the more reason to come again! The owner was so sweet, she’ll make some small talk with the customers which personally I LOVE, makes your time here feel all the more welcoming. We ended up learning that the french toast is a personal recipe she makes for her family on Christmas morning so it was so sweet to know she was willing to share that with other people. The place is lovely with very charming decor and the staff is very nice. My table ordered their feeling peachy tea, the oatmeal, and a the french toast.
… moreAlex Diaz-Tous
I took my decades-long friend here for a belated birthday outing this morning. I cannot overstate what an amazing experience it was. From speaking with the owner over the phone to make reservations, to the way we were greeted at the door, to the absolutely charming venue—that art deco bathroom is a must-see—the personalized, attentive service, and of course the food itself, By the Teashore is an absolute gem, and they deserve every bit of success that is coming their way. My friend is already planning to contact them for future catered events. Don’t even think, just go. You’ll be so very glad that you did!
… moreSteve A
As a guy, I don’t get invited to many tea times so when I went to By The Teashore I wasn’t sure what to expect. It was an experience that I’ll never forget. From the friendly greeting from the owner Angela. To the outstanding service provided by the staff. Delivery of yummy treats, spectacular visual, delectables, and wide discernment of teas I was blown away. Highly recommended to anyone be they a group of friends. Or for a romantic date. This jam and half Moon Bay is not to be missed. I’d rate 10 stars if I could.
… more