Some houses in Glendale, Arizona, have been standing since before anyone in town owned a car. One of them now serves tea on mismatched cups, scones with lemon curd, and a three-course spread that sends people home planning to skip breakfast next time.
It has hosted birthday groups, baby showers, and first-timers who had never set foot in a tea room before. The doors open at 11 in the morning and close by 2:30 in the afternoon, so timing matters more than most lunch plans.
Reservations, menus, and a few smart tips all appear below. Stick around, because the details are what make this little Victorian worth the drive.
A Victorian Address in Historic Glendale
Tucked into the historic heart of downtown Glendale sits The Spicery In Our 1895 Home, a tea house at 7141 N 59th Ave, Glendale, AZ 85301, in the United States.
The building is a converted Victorian house, and it has kept its residential character. Guests walk up to what looks like a cozy little bungalow rather than a typical restaurant storefront.
Welcome signs and florals greet arrivals at the front door. Inside, the rooms have been turned into dining spaces dressed with tablecloths and individual place settings.
The concept is straightforward. It serves classic American lunch alongside a full afternoon tea, all under one historic roof.
That combination gives the place a split personality in the best way. A quick weekday lunch and a dressed-up tea party can happen at neighboring tables on the same afternoon.
So the first question becomes simple: how did a house from 1895 end up pouring tea for half of the Valley?
Old Walls With a Story
Very few lunch spots in the Phoenix area can claim a birth year in the nineteenth century. The house itself dates to 1895, and the name proudly says so.
That history is a big part of the appeal. The building tells its own story, and guests often describe the experience as almost like stepping back in time.
Antique touches fill the rooms. The ambiance lands somewhere between elegant and cozy, which suits a house that was clearly built for living rather than dining.
Instead of hiding the old bones, the owners lean into them. Window treatments, decor, and the layout of the rooms all keep that homey, lived-in feeling intact.
For anyone who enjoys a little history with lunch, the setting does a lot of the work before a single cup is poured. The past is basically the house special here.
Next up, a closer look at those charming rooms.
Teacups as Curtain Tiebacks
Small details tend to steal the show at this tea house. One favorite example: coffee cups used as curtain tiebacks beside the window tables.
The tea rooms are cute and well decorated, with quite a few tables set with beautiful tablecloths. Each place setting gets its own attention.
Here is the fun part. Every teacup and teapot is unique, so no two tables look exactly alike.
That mismatched approach keeps things playful rather than stuffy. It feels more like a grandmother’s best china cabinet opened up for company than a formal dining hall.
The seating areas carry a sense of fun too. Guests frequently call out the ambiance as one of the highlights of their visit.
Window seats are worth requesting if available, since they show off the decor nicely. Of course, pretty rooms are only half the reason people book, and the other half arrives on tiered plates.
Scones, Lemon Curd and Chantilly Cream
Scones are the headliner here, and they earn the billing. Even guests who were lukewarm on other parts of their meal single out the scones as a highlight.
They arrive with lemon curd and Chantilly cream, a pairing that comes up again and again among regulars. The trio is the reason many people book in the first place.
At The Spicery, scones and shortbread are served together as their own course. They are not treated as dessert, which means there is still a sweets round to come.
Some guests have also enjoyed their scones warm with clotted cream and jam. Either way, this course tends to be the moment everyone at the table goes quiet.
Shortbread gets plenty of love too, though opinions vary on it. Scones, on the other hand, rarely leave anyone with complaints.
Pace yourself here. Several more courses are still on the way.
Royal, Duchess and Adult Tea Options
Choosing a tea service is the first fun decision of the day. The menu includes several named experiences, with the Royal Tea and the Duchess Tea among the most talked about.
The Duchess service brings tea, sandwiches, scones with lemon curd and Chantilly cream, plus shortbread. The Royal Tea includes sandwiches and baked goods, and some guests treat it as a brunch outing.
There is also a three-course Adult Tea. Guests describe it as plenty of food, and some even plan to skip breakfast before their next visit.
A salad can be added on. One version comes with fresh greens, strawberries, candied nuts, and a light strawberry vinaigrette.
Signature savory bites include a beloved mini quiche and a chicken salad bite that wins over many tables. A daily soup appears as part of the Tea Experience.
Hungry yet? Next comes the drink that gives the whole place its purpose.
A Long List of Teas
Tea lovers, prepare for some friendly indecision. The selection is abundant, and tables typically get to pick two teas to share.
Names on the list lean regal. Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth both have fans, and some guests liked the Queen Elizabeth so much that they bought some to take home.
Fruit-forward blends show up too. Caramel Almond Fruit is a favorite for cooler months, while raspberry hibiscus and fresh brewed berry tea also make appearances.
Iced options exist for warmer Arizona days. Specialty iced teas are offered, and staff happily explain both the hot and iced choices.
Sugar and cream are available on request. The kitchen has even prepared a special decaffeinated tea for a guest who needed one.
It is worth asking servers for suggestions if the list feels overwhelming. With this many options, a return trip practically books itself for the teas left untried.
Lunch Without the Tiers
Not every visit has to be a full tea party. The Spicery also serves a classic American lunch menu for those who want something simpler.
Quiche is the most talked-about item on the entire menu. Daily specials have included creative versions like vegetable feta and chicken taco.
Entrees come with salads and homemade rolls. Those rolls have a loyal following, and some people struggle to stop eating them before dessert.
Soup and salad combinations are another option. A chicken salad sandwich also gets frequent shoutouts from lunch regulars.
Then comes the dessert tray. Servers bring it to the table, and past selections have included banana cream pie, pineapple cake, and a raspberry-topped pound cake.
Popular slices can run out, so earlier arrivals have better odds. For a weekday lunch break, this menu delivers that historic setting without committing to three courses.
Staff Who Seem to Love the Job
Happy staff are hard to fake, and here they seem genuinely glad to be at work. Guests often notice that the team appears to adore their jobs, which adds a lot to the experience.
Servers are described as kind, attentive, and knowledgeable. They check in often, explain the teas, and share the daily specials.
Some servers have even dressed up in costume-style uniforms. It is a playful touch that fits the old-fashioned setting.
Flexibility is another strength. The kitchen has modified menus for dietary needs, including lactose intolerance.
Hosts also mention upcoming events and seasonal specials during the meal. Little gestures stand out too, such as a handmade Christmas bracelet given to a guest as a surprise.
First-timers who have never visited a tea room tend to feel at ease quickly. Friendly guidance takes the guesswork out of all those cups and courses.
Birthdays, Showers and Girls Days Out
Celebrations are practically a house tradition. Birthday parties come up more than almost any other topic connected to this tea house.
Friend groups return year after year to mark special dates. Some gatherings bring together people who share birthdays in the same month.
Private events happen too. The owner and team once came in on their day off to host a baby shower, going well beyond expectations for the occasion.
Families make it a regular outing as well. Mothers bring daughters, grandparents plan trips with grandchildren, and couples book Royal Tea brunches together.
Kids are welcome, with a special children’s menu designed around younger tastes. Guests often call it great fun for all ages.
For a girls day out or a milestone moment, the setting naturally feels special without much extra effort. Holidays bring their own buzz, with past events tied to Mother’s Day and Easter.
Charm Beyond the Front Porch
Lunch does not have to be the end of the outing. Historic downtown Glendale surrounds the tea house with adorable shops and seasonal events.
Turning a tea reservation into a mini adventure is easy. Many guests pair their meal with a stroll through nearby storefronts.
One favorite local activity is the charm bracelet event. During certain events, participating shops hand out a small charm, encouraging people to explore one stop after another.
Street parking near the house is available, and some lucky drivers even snag a spot under a shady tree. In Arizona, that counts as a genuine win.
Busy days can fill the street with cars, though. Arriving close to opening helps with both parking and seating.
Combined with the shops, a visit easily stretches into a relaxed half-day plan. Just remember that the tea house keeps short hours, which brings up the practical stuff.
Hours, Reservations and Smart Timing
Short hours make planning essential. The Spicery is open Monday through Saturday from 11 am to 2:30 pm and closed on Sundays.
Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for the tea services. Tea Experience bookings need to be placed at least two days in advance.
Walk-ins sometimes get lucky for lunch, particularly right after opening. However, tables can fill completely, and a packed house is common.
Calling ahead also helps with special requests. Dietary modifications, children’s menus, and celebration details are easier to handle with notice.
Arriving hungry is wise. The three-course tea is filling, and many guests leave too full for dessert.
Plan around that early closing time when scheduling. A late lunch near 2 pm may feel rushed, while an 11 am start leaves room to linger over a second pot.
With logistics sorted, only one question remains: is it worth it?
A Tea Party Worth Booking
Plenty of restaurants serve lunch, but few make the meal feel like an occasion. This one manages it with an 1895 house, a long tea list, and scones that win nearly everyone over.
Overall sentiment is glowing, with a 4.7-star standing across more than 450 opinions. Most tables leave planning a return trip.
Portions on the small bites may not suit every appetite. Still, the full three-course experience generally leaves people more than satisfied.
The best fit is anyone celebrating something, catching up with friends, or trying a tea room for the first time. Families with kids also find a warm welcome.
Book ahead, arrive near opening, and save room for the scone course. That lemon curd is the whole reason for the headline, after all.
In a city of modern strip malls, a Victorian tea party is a refreshing change of pace.
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