Floris invites you to immerse yourself in a culturally enriching tearoom inspired experience at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Nestled in the beautiful surroundings of the Robins Sculpture Garden, Floris is a community gathering space located in VMFA’s Pauley Center.
Take a mid-day escape and indulge in delightful pleasures for the palate, including expertly crafted blends from guest tea makers. Chef Chainey Kuykendall’s use of fresh ingredients from local vendors and importers further enhances Floris’s celebration of cultures and community.
Dena Cooper
I brought my nieces and nephew to Floris for afternoon tea and we had a wonderful experience. We had a variety of different teas, but the Adirondack Berries was so delicious, we purchased a bag online to make at home. The kids’ little mini tea towers were adorable and they loved trying all the sweet and savory snacks. Our waitress was knowledgable and attentive. I have quite a few dietary restrictions that she was able to work around and offer me a healthy alternative to avoid sugar, dairy, and gluten. We had a wonderful fancy tea time and will be back again in the future.
… moreNancy Welk
Went with a friend and it was a lovely experience. You have to make reservations in order to be seated, we learned that at our first attempt in December. Excellent tea, we were not rushed whatsoever which was fabulous. The food was okay, my friend enjoyed hers more than me. I did not receive my VMFA discount although was asked if I was a member, puts you in an awkward position when reviewing your bill. It is a member benefit and we should not have to ask for it. I didn’t and most likely won’t return as for me this was a one time tea experience. Try it!
… moreAbby Russo
Exceptional food, drinks and service. We loved the atmosphere and everything we ate was better than the last. We particularly loved the collard greens hush puppy and tomato tart. Great selection of teas – we especially enjoyed the pear and raspberry and the strawberry Long Island. Summer was a wonderful server. Thanks all, for the great experience! Will definitely be returning.
… moreTravelinjenna
Lovely setting for afternoon tea. The menu changes seasonally and often coordinates with special exhibits at the museum. We were there when the menu had recently changed from being a riff on the Frida Kahlo exhibit to the Fall menu, which still had echos of the southwestern theme.
Most of the items were very delicious, though some were a bit too vegetable-centric. The braised greens tart didn’t quite hit the mark for us.
The dainty sandwiches and desserts were all visually appealing.
I will definitely return as I would like to try some of their other seasonal tea menus.
I have enjoyed specialty teahouses all over the world and this one rates pretty high up there on my personal lists of favorites, however there were a couple of things that lost a star in my rating.
1) We did not receive milk with our tea. We had to ask. And it took awhile to get our waitress’s attention, even though the restaurant was nearly empty.
2) The waitress was in a hurry to clear our table and removed the jam and butter even though we were still eating our scones.
3) The tables for two seemed a bit too crowded once the food and pots of tea were brought. It was a tight squeeze to fit everything (likely the reason for the aforementioned problem #2)
I know these aren’t major issues, definitely first world problems in the grand scheme of things, but minor details that detracted from an otherwise wonderful experience
… moreEvie King
We had an incredible afternoon tea at Floris. This place has, quite possibly, the best afternoon tea food we’ve ever had. The menu was unique, flavorful and fresh. I think they change their menu seasonally, but I must image they’re all incredible.
The tea options were plentiful and our server was able to provide recommendations, as well. We started with the VMFA & Floris blends, which were both excellent with the bread/scone course. Next, the Blueberry Lavender Kiss. The Asian Pear & Spice blend went wonderfully with the sweets. The chocolate cake (exceptional) brought out the pear flavor & it was lovely. We ended with the Milk Oolong which was recommended & it was such an interesting tea! Definitely smooth & buttery. A hint of popcorn candy flavor, which you wouldn’t think works, but does.
We ended the day going to visit the museums nearby. It was a wonderful experience and I look forward to going back!
… moreSamantha Litchford
Floris is a delightful hidden gem! It merges Southern and European traditions beautifully with its decor and high tea offerings. All the teas were high-quality and expertly brewed. With such a selection, it was hard to pick just two at a time! Can’t wait to see their Spring menu.
… moreVictoria
Floris is always a win for me. I’ve been several different occasions (The holiday menus are always fantastic), and the staff is very accommodating. They have great options for vegetarian and gluten free diets, and take just as much care making sure they taste as great as the ‘normal’ selections. If you can’t finish all your treats, they provide take home boxes as well so you can enjoy them later. They’ve also been very forgiving when I’ve had to adjust reservation changes last minute, so I appreciate the care the staff provides to their patrons!
… moreEvi Farkas
Honestly it was an amazing experience. Basically as much tea as you want. They have some amazing flavors that my table enjoyed very much. Unfortunately, maybe because we came a bit later in the day, they were out of a lot of the tea flavors we wanted to try. They did have of herbal options. The food was very good as well. Good amount to keep you satiated. Could’ve had better desserts at the top of the tower, they were exceptionally sweet. But again the tea helped with that. The gingerbread mousse was phenomenal though. Super pretty venue.
… moreDakota Nolden
This was such a delightful and fancy outing for the day. All of the food tasted so good!
The selection of the teas, along with the full setup, is actually quite impressive.
The ambiance was 10/10.
Unfortunately, it became quite hot inside on a mid summer day. In a historical building, I’m sure they are limited in A/C options.
Despite that, I highly recommend this place for the experience, especially a special occasion with the girlies.
… moreMC Dippenaar
Lovely experience at Floris! Great selection of teas and we liked every single one we tried. The sweet and savoury snacks were all really tasty. Don’t let the size fool you; we were very full towards the end and had to get boxes to go! Will definitely be back.
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