A New York tea shop named after Alice in Wonderland has built its whole personality around scones, and it is far from the only café taking these little pastries seriously. Across the country, bakers fold in fresh berries, grate in cold butter, and test flavors you might never expect.
I love that a good scone is simple on paper but tricky to get right. Too dry and it crumbles into dust, too soft and it turns into a muffin.
The cafés below range from English tea rooms to busy city bakeries. Which one will become your new morning stop?
1. Alice’s Tea Cup
Alice in Wonderland inspired the look and the menu at this Upper West Side tea shop. Scones sit right at the heart of its identity, served alongside pots of loose-leaf tea.
The shop has rotated a long list of scone flavors over the years, from classic buttermilk to fruit and seasonal options. You can order them on their own or as part of a larger tea service with sandwiches and sweets.
Tea service here is a real event, so plan for a sit-down visit instead of a quick grab-and-go. Families often book it for birthdays, and the playful décor makes kids feel like they’ve wandered down the rabbit hole.
The owners even published a cookbook with scone recipes, so fans can try baking at home. That’s a nice bonus if you want to impress friends at your next brunch.
Arrive with a flexible plan, since weekends can be busy and seating is limited in the small dining room. A pot of tea split between two people goes a long way.
Address: 102 W 73rd St, New York, NY 10023
2. Flour Bakery + Cafe
Joanne Chang left a career in management consulting to bake pastries, and Boston has been better fed ever since. Her first Flour location opened in the South End in 2000.
Scones appear in the pastry case alongside the famous sticky buns and cookies. Chang has shared scone recipes in her cookbooks, which shows how much care the bakery puts into these breakfast staples.
Flavors change with the seasons, so a fall visit may look different from a summer one. Ask the counter staff what came out of the oven that morning, since the selection can shift by the day.
The café side serves sandwiches, salads, and coffee drinks too. That makes it easy to turn a scone stop into a full lunch if you’re exploring the neighborhood.
Flour has grown into several locations around Boston and Cambridge. The Washington Street shop is the original, which gives it a little extra history for curious bakers.
Grab a seat near the window and pair your scone with a hot tea or latte. It’s a small, satisfying way to start a city walk.
Address: 1595 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118
3. Rose Tree Cottage
Would you expect a slice of England in Southern California? Pasadena has one, tucked behind a garden gate on South Pasadena Avenue.
Rose Tree Cottage serves traditional afternoon tea in a setting styled after a British home. Scones arrive with the classic toppings of clotted cream and jam, just as they would in an English tea room.
Tea here follows a set menu with sandwiches, scones, and sweets, so you won’t spend much time deciding. That structure makes it a relaxing choice for birthdays, bridal showers, or a slow afternoon with a parent.
Reservations are strongly recommended, because seatings are scheduled. Check the cottage’s booking details before you go, since walk-ins may not be possible.
The property also has a small shop selling British teas and treats. Browsing after your meal is a fun way to take a little of the experience home.
Dress is a bit more polished here than at a typical café. Nobody expects a ball gown, but a nice outfit fits the mood of fine china and lace.
Address: 801 S Pasadena Ave, Pasadena, CA 91105
4. Tartine Bakery
Chad Robertson and Elisabeth Prueitt turned a corner in the Mission District into one of America’s most talked-about bakeries. Their cookbook, Tartine, includes the bakery’s scone recipe for home bakers.
The pastry case often features scones next to the famous morning buns and croissants. Pastry selections can change, so don’t panic if your favorite flavor isn’t there on a given day.
Lines on the sidewalk are part of the Tartine story, so give yourself extra time. Going earlier in the morning usually means more choices in the case.
Seating inside is limited, and many people carry their pastries to nearby Dolores Park. A sunny bench and a scone make a pretty great San Francisco breakfast.
The bakery also sells its well-known country bread later in the day. If you’re a bread lover, ask about timing so you can grab a loaf too.
Bring a friend and split a few items. Tasting a scone, a bun, and a slice of cake together lets you sample the bakery’s range without overdoing it.
Address: 600 Guerrero St, San Francisco, CA 94110
5. Macrina Bakery
Leslie Mackie opened Macrina in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood in 1993. The bakery has since grown into several cafés, but the First Avenue shop is where it began.
Scones are a regular part of the pastry lineup, alongside muffins, morning rolls, and cakes. Mackie has published cookbooks with Macrina recipes, giving home bakers a peek behind the counter.
Bread is a big deal here too, and loaves line the shelves near the register. Grabbing a scone for now and a loaf for later is a smart Seattle move.
The café also serves breakfast and lunch plates. On a rainy day, a hot meal plus a pastry beats sprinting between coffee shops.
Macrina breads show up at local grocery stores and restaurants. If you fall for the bakery, you may spot its name again around the city.
Belltown sits close to Pike Place Market, so Macrina works well as a stop before or after sightseeing. Fuel up with a scone, then walk down to see the famous fish throwers.
Address: 2408 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
6. Sarabeth’s
Sarabeth Levine started with a family recipe for orange-apricot marmalade, and that jam became the seed of a whole restaurant business. Her spreads still sit on tables and store shelves today.
Scones and other baked goods are a natural partner for those famous preserves. Breakfast and brunch menus at Sarabeth’s have long featured pastries, so you can pair a scone with a jar-fresh topping.
The Central Park South location sits steps from the park itself. A morning stroll followed by brunch is a classic New York plan.
Menus here include eggs, pancakes, and lunch options too. That variety helps if not everyone at your table is in a pastry mood.
Weekend brunch can fill up, so making a reservation is a wise idea. Weekdays tend to be easier for a relaxed meal.
Sarabeth also wrote a baking cookbook that won a James Beard Award. If you leave inspired, you can practice those recipes at home and buy her jams to go with them.
Address: 40 Central Park S, New York, NY 10019
7. Zingerman’s Bakehouse
Ann Arbor’s famous deli needed great bread, so in 1992 Zingerman’s opened its own bakehouse. It now supplies the deli and runs a busy retail shop of its own.
Scones are part of the pastry selection, along with coffee cakes, brownies, and loaves of bread. The bakehouse has shared scone recipes in its cookbook, so the craft is clearly a point of pride.
Hands-on baking classes happen at BAKE!, the bakehouse’s teaching kitchen. Taking a class is a fun way to learn the folding and mixing tricks behind tender pastries.
The shop is located in an industrial area south of downtown. Plan to drive, since it’s not right next to the main campus streets.
Zingerman’s also ships baked goods around the country. Out-of-state fans can order treats for holidays or birthdays.
Pick up a few scones for the car ride home. They make a great surprise for anyone who couldn’t come along on the trip.
Address: 3711 Plaza Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48108
8. Tea & Sympathy
British expat Nicky Perry opened this Greenwich Village spot in 1990, and it still feels like a tiny London tearoom. Mismatched teapots and English comfort food fill the small dining room.
Scones come with clotted cream and jam in the traditional style. You can order them with a pot of tea or as part of a bigger afternoon tea spread.
The menu goes well beyond scones, with British favorites like shepherd’s pie and beans on toast. It’s a fun place to try dishes many Americans only know from movies.
Next door, the shop sells British snacks, teas, and groceries. Homesick Brits and curious New Yorkers can stock up on biscuits and candy bars that are hard to find elsewhere.
Tables are close together, so this isn’t the spot for a big group. Two or three people will feel right at home.
The café has a reputation for friendly but firm house rules, which adds to the fun. Read any posted signs before you sit down, and enjoy the little dose of London manners.
Address: 108 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10011
9. Huckleberry Bakery & Cafe
Pastry chef Zoe Nathan and her husband Josh Loeb opened Huckleberry in Santa Monica in 2009. The bakery quickly became known for its long, colorful pastry counter.
Scones are part of that lineup, often with seasonal fruit. Nathan’s cookbook, Huckleberry, shares many of the café’s baking recipes, so you can try a version at home.
Ordering happens at the counter, and then you find a table. Breakfast plates and sandwiches round out the menu if you want more than a pastry.
Santa Monica’s beach and pier are a short drive away. Starting the day here before heading to the ocean is an easy plan.
The café puts a focus on seasonal and organic ingredients. That’s why the pastry case can look different from one month to the next.
Weekend mornings may bring a crowd, so a weekday visit can feel calmer. Either way, take a moment to scan the whole counter before you order, because choosing just one treat is harder than it sounds.
Address: 1014 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
10. Baked & Wired
Cupcakes may grab the headlines at this Georgetown shop, but the morning pastry case deserves attention too. Baked & Wired sits close to the C&O Canal in Washington, D.C.
Scones join cookies, bars, and other baked goods on the counter. The coffee bar is a key part of the business, which explains the wired half of the name.
Georgetown is a great walking neighborhood, with shops, waterfront paths, and historic streets. Grab a scone and a coffee, then head out to explore on foot.
The shop has a playful, quirky style that sets it apart from fancier bakeries. It feels like a place to linger, chat, and enjoy a snack without fuss.
Flavors and offerings can change, so ask what’s fresh that day. The staff can point you toward something new to try.
Picking up a box of treats for coworkers is a smart move too. A mix of scones and cupcakes covers both breakfast fans and sweet tooths.
Address: 1052 Thomas Jefferson St NW, Washington, DC 20007
11. Bread Furst
Mark Furstenberg won the James Beard Award for Outstanding Baker in 2017, and his bakery is the reason. Bread Furst opened on Connecticut Avenue in Van Ness in 2014.
Furstenberg had already made his mark in D.C. by founding Marvelous Market decades earlier. Coming out of retirement to start another bakery shows serious devotion to dough.
Scones are part of the pastry offerings, alongside croissants and seasonal treats. The bakery also sells sandwiches and prepared foods, which makes it a handy lunch spot.
Bread remains the headliner, with many loaves made daily. Pick up a baguette to go with your scone, and dinner is halfway solved.
The shop serves its neighborhood like an old-fashioned corner bakery. Expect a steady flow of people stopping in for breakfast or a loaf on the way home.
The Van Ness Metro station on the Red Line is nearby. That makes it easy to reach without a car, even if you’re visiting the city.
Address: 4434 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
12. Ovenly
Two friends from a book club, Agatha Kulaga and Erin Patinkin, launched Ovenly in Brooklyn in 2010. Their Greenpoint bakery became known for bold flavor twists on classic treats.
Scones are part of that playful approach, often with savory or unexpected pairings. The duo’s cookbook includes scone recipes that mix familiar ingredients in surprising ways.
Ovenly is also famous for its salted peanut butter cookies. Grabbing one alongside a scone is a tasty way to sample both sides of the menu.
The bakery has opened additional locations over the years. The Greenpoint Avenue shop is the original home base.
Greenpoint is a laid-back neighborhood with parks and views of the Manhattan skyline. After a snack, walk toward the waterfront for photos of the city.
Ask what’s new in the pastry case, since flavors rotate. If something sounds a little odd, give it a try, because unusual combinations are what this bakery does well.
Address: 31 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222
13. Grand Central Bakery
Pioneer Square’s historic Grand Central Arcade gave this Seattle bakery its name back in 1989. Today Grand Central runs cafés across Seattle and Portland.
Scones are a staple of the pastry lineup, often made with Northwest fruit like marionberries when in season. The bakery also bakes hand pies, cookies, and well-known artisan breads.
The brick building in Pioneer Square is part of one of Seattle’s oldest neighborhoods. History fans can pair breakfast with a walk around the old streets.
Grand Central focuses on regional ingredients from Pacific Northwest farms. That connection shows up in the seasonal treats that come and go through the year.
Many locations serve breakfast sandwiches and soups too. A scone for dessert after a bowl of soup makes a cozy rainy-day lunch.
The bakery sells take-and-bake options at some cafés. Baking a fresh pastry in your own oven is a fun weekend project for kids and adults alike.
Address: 214 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104
14. Seven Stars Bakery
Providence has a bakery named after the night sky, and it started small on Hope Street in 2001. Seven Stars has since grown into several locations around Rhode Island.
Scones sit in the pastry case beside croissants, muffins, and cookies. Bread is a major focus too, with crusty loaves baked fresh for the neighborhood.
The Hope Street café is close to Brown University’s east side neighborhoods. Students, families, and early risers make it a natural morning stop.
Coffee drinks round out the menu, so you can settle in with a book. Small tables make it a pleasant place for a quick chat with a friend.
Seven Stars breads appear at some local markets and restaurants. If you enjoy a loaf at home, you’ll likely spot the name again.
Rhode Island may be the smallest state, but it has plenty of good food. Adding a scone stop to a Providence day trip is an easy, tasty choice.
Address: 820 Hope St, Providence, RI 02906
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