Hi. I am meeting some old acquaintances in downtown DC this afternoon, Oct. 25, and would like to invite them to a traditional afternoon tea with scones and finger sandwiches, etc. Can someone please recommend a place where we might have an elegant experience? I saw the Willard's Peacock Alley, but also noticed a negative review saying the alley is a busy thoroughfare for pedestrians to a shopping area. That does not sound like the ideal venue. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Sorry about the short time fuze. Thanks!

I am seeing this late, but the Four Seasons is supposed to be fantastic. Hopefully it's not too late for you to go.

Thanks DCAreaMom. I called the Four Seasons, but they have suspended their traditional afternoon tea until "the holiday season". We ended up going to the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel on Connecticut Ave NW near the Whitehouse and had the elegant experience I was looking for. The food was wonderful and plentiful, the tea was perfect, the setting was elegant and the service was refined. The cost was $28 per person and well worth it!

I'm so glad it worked out! I was actually going to suggest teh Mayflower, bc I think they are supposed to do a tea, but I had heard so many fabulous things about Four Seasons.

We've eaten at the Mayflower for dinner a few times and it is definitely very good.