America's 8 Best Hotels For Afternoon Tea

Taking afternoon tea at a luxurious hotel is quite a posh indulgence. For about hour-and-a-half, you can sit in lavish surroundings, sip fine teas, and nosh on finger foods — all for a relatively nominal fee. In short, it's one of the best ways to spend an afternoon. And that's exactly why you should put "having high tea" on your list of things to do when traveling.

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Lucky for you, these eight picks in hotels across the country impress with their teatimes. Expect high-quality tea, creative small plates, and yes, sometimes even live harpists. Just to sweeten the entire experience, most of the tearooms on this list are so lush you'll feel just like royalty. The Drake Hotel in Chicago has even seen the likes of Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth partake in its Palm Court room. Other tea rooms hold special events, making teatime even more indulgent. Once a month The Jefferson in Richmond, Va., offers a full tea service alongside a chocolate buffet. How's that for something truly decadent? And if you always like being the first to try new things, the Park Hyatt Washington in Washington, D.C. pours some of the rarest teas in the entire country. The hotel even employs a tea expert who can assist in picking out a pot, which range in price from $8 to $300 a pop.

View our top eight picks for hotel tea rooms around the country so you'll know exactly where to go next time you want to feel just like royalty without the sky-high prices that usually accompany it.

Teresa Tobat is the Washington, D.C. Travel city editor for The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @ttobat88. View her website at teresaktobat.com.