A three-tiered tray arrives with finger sandwiches, savory tarts, a fresh scone, and bite-sized pastries. Your own pot of loose-leaf tea comes alongside it.
That sounds like afternoon tea in London, but the setting is a centuries-old Maryland tavern.
The scone comes with cream and strawberry preserves, and there are different ways to make the occasion your own. One tea service even begins with cream of crab soup or quiche.
Downstairs, the original stone cellar has a huge fireplace and now houses a pub, a reminder that the building has welcomed guests since colonial times.
What catches my attention is the contrast between the careful little sandwiches and that enormous amount of history under one roof. Taking an afternoon to enjoy a proper tea service feels wonderfully indulgent when your surroundings have stories older than the country itself.
A Hat Shop Started This Whole Tea Party
Back in 1747, a hatter named William Reynolds opened a business called The Beaver and Lac’d Hat. Today we know it as Reynolds Tavern and 1747 Pub, and the name change was probably a smart move.
Reynolds leased the land from St. Anne’s Church. He ran a hat shop and an ordinary, which was the colonial word for a tavern offering food and lodging.
Farmers, merchants, gentlemen, and soldiers all gathered here. Even the Corporation of the City of Annapolis and the Mayor’s Court met here regularly.
Over the centuries, the building wore many hats of its own. It served as a boarding house, a bank, and the Annapolis Public Library from 1935 to 1974.
Things nearly ended badly in 1935. There was a plan to tear it down for a gas station, which sounds unthinkable now.
Thankfully, the building survived. The National Trust for Historic Preservation took ownership in the mid-1970s, and it joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
In 2000, Jill and Andrew Petit bought it and brought back the tavern spirit. Sally Boyett now runs it as Reynolds Tavern and Historic Inn.
It’s known as the oldest tavern in Annapolis and one of the oldest in the country.
Three Tiers of Tiny Treats Await Your Table
Scones arrive warm, with clotted cream and preserves ready for spreading. That alone makes a strong opening argument for afternoon tea here.
The menu offers several levels of tea service. Lighter choices include the Cream Tea, Savory Tea, and Sweet Tea, each served on a single plate.
Hungrier guests can climb the ladder to three-tiered services. Options include the Afternoon Tea, Colonial High Tea, Princess Tea, and Queen Anne Tea.
The Queen Anne Tea goes all out. It brings an artisanal cheese plate, savory finger sandwiches, tarts, and those homemade scones.
Then come the sweets, and they’re seriously tempting. Think lemon bars, vanilla caramel pound cake, pecan shortbread, hummingbird cake, and bakewell cake.
Citrus-infused white chocolate truffles round things out nicely. Good luck saving room for dinner afterward.
A princess-themed option makes this a fun pick for young tea fans, too. It’s a sweet way to introduce kids to a classic British ritual.
Reservations are recommended for afternoon tea, so plan ahead. Showing up with a growling stomach and no booking would be a sad little plot twist.
The tea runs Tuesday through Sunday. Mondays are a day off for the whole tavern, so mark your calendar wisely.
Forty Teas and a Rainbow of Teapots
Choosing just one tea might be the hardest decision of your afternoon. Reynolds Tavern and 1747 Pub offers over 40 flavors of loose-leaf tea.
That’s a lot of options for one pot. You could visit many times and still find something new to sip.
The teapots deserve a shout-out of their own. They come in cheerful, multicolored shades that brighten every table in the room.
Then there’s the china. Each setting comes from a mix-and-match collection, so your cup may look nothing like your friend’s.
I love that detail because it feels personal. It’s like having tea at a stylish grandmother’s house where nothing matches on purpose.
Sugar shows up in neat cubes with little sugar tongs. Using them makes you feel instantly more refined, even if you’re wearing sneakers.
Here’s a helpful tip for first-timers. Ask your server for a suggestion if the long tea list feels overwhelming.
Pair a bold tea with the savory sandwiches, then switch your thinking for the sweets. A lighter, fruity choice can balance rich cakes and shortbread nicely.
Either way, refills of conversation are free. The pace here encourages lingering, which is exactly how tea time should feel.
You’ll Sip in Rooms Older Than America
Few tearooms can claim they were around before the Declaration of Independence. The first-floor dining rooms here largely keep their 1747 appearance.
That makes this one of the few places in Maryland to enjoy proper tea in a room older than the nation. It’s quite a bragging right for a cup of tea.
Look down and you’ll see wide-plank floors. Look around and you’ll spot original fireplaces that once warmed colonial guests.
The woodwork has a famous maker behind it. Celebrated Annapolis cabinetmaker John Shaw crafted the woodwork in these rooms.
Historic staircases, plasterwork, and trim also remain inside. They create a direct link to the 18th century without any velvet ropes.
Here’s a fun fact for history buffs. The original stairwell is noted as dating to 1737, even older than the building’s 1747 date.
The parlor feels elegant, with period furnishings and candlelight setting the mood. It’s designed to feel like a trip back in time.
Remember that diners are enjoying their meals in these rooms. The tavern is a working restaurant, so book a table rather than dropping by just to tour.
Trust me, sitting down is the better way to soak it all in anyway.
Head Downstairs to a Stone Cellar With Serious Character
Below street level, the mood changes completely. The 1747 Pub sits in the original stone cellar, where William Reynolds once kept his kitchen and hat shop.
Exposed stone walls surround you. Brick floors sit underfoot, and the ceilings hang low enough to feel snug.
The star of the room is a walk-in fireplace. It still holds its 18th-century Rumford Broiler, a real piece of cooking history.
Picture the hats once made down here, then look at the menu now. Casual pub fare has taken over, and it’s a fair trade.
The pub runs Tuesday through Sunday. No reservations are needed, which is great news for spontaneous plans.
Live music often fills the cellar on selected evenings from Wednesday to Saturday. Stone walls and live tunes make a cozy combination.
This space works well when you want something more relaxed than tea. It feels casual, warm, and a little bit hidden from the busy streets above.
I like that one building offers two totally different moods. Fancy parlor upstairs, rustic cellar downstairs.
It’s like getting two historic spots for the price of one walk through the door.
Candlelight Turns Dinner Into an Occasion
When evening rolls in, the tea stands step aside. Those same first-floor rooms switch over to fine dining by candlelight.
The cooking is described as seasonal fine dining rooted in Chesapeake traditions. It also leans into colonial cuisine, which fits the setting perfectly.
That Chesapeake link matters here in Maryland. The region’s waters shape so much of the state’s food identity.
The rooms are small and intimate. That scale makes them a natural pick for romantic dinners, anniversaries, and special celebrations.
Imagine the glow of candles on wide-plank floors and old fireplaces. Actually, don’t imagine it, just book a table and see.
Reservations are recommended for dinner, too. With rooms this cozy, seats can fill up quickly.
Fine dining runs Tuesday through Sunday, matching the tea schedule. Monday is still the day the tavern rests.
Dressing up a bit could add to the fun. You don’t need a powdered wig, but the room certainly rewards a little effort.
Here’s a practical idea for a full day. Book tea for a friend outing, then return another evening for a candlelit dinner with someone special.
Same rooms, completely different experience.
Spend the Night Upstairs Among the Antiques
Tea at four, bedtime upstairs. The tavern offers three guest rooms and suites on the second floor for overnight stays.
They go by the Washington Suite, the Jefferson Suite, and the Mary Reynolds Room. Each is furnished with antiques and period pieces.
Oriental rugs rest on the original wooden floors. It’s period comfort without giving up a good night’s sleep.
The Jefferson Suite is the roomiest of the bunch. It’s a two-room suite with views of Church Circle and a California King pediment bed.
It also includes a separate sitting room with a sofa bed. That’s handy if you’re bringing an extra traveler along.
Every stay includes a full breakfast each morning in the dining room. Waking up and eating in a 1747 dining room beats a hotel lobby buffet.
Staying overnight also means you can explore Annapolis on foot. Your bed is right in the middle of the historic district.
With only three rooms, availability is limited. Booking early is the smart move, especially around holidays and special weekends.
Honestly, sleeping above a historic tavern sounds like a story you’ll tell for years.
String Lights and Open Sky Make Summer Evenings Easy
Warm weather opens up another side of Reynolds Tavern and 1747 Pub. A courtyard and terrace sit open to the Annapolis sky.
During the warmer months, the courtyard glows with string lights. It serves pub fare and often feels like a relaxed backyard party.
Some folks call it the Beer Garden. Whatever you call it, it’s a breezy change from the indoor rooms.
The courtyard hosts live music on some evenings. It also holds outdoor film nights, which sound perfect for a summer date.
Movies under the stars behind a 1747 building? That’s a combo you won’t find at the multiplex.
Exciting updates are also in the works. A national grant supports plans for better exterior lighting and historically appropriate signage.
The plans include upgraded terrace and café seating. A custom pergola is also planned to shade outdoor diners.
That’s welcome news for anyone who wilts in summer heat. Shade plus snacks is a winning formula.
Accessibility is covered, too. A lift runs from the loading area to the back terrace and into the colonial dining rooms.
Steps From the State House and the Naval Academy
Location doesn’t get much better than this corner. The tavern sits at 7 Church Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401, where Church Circle meets Franklin Street.
It faces St. Anne’s Church directly. That’s fitting, since the church once leased this land to William Reynolds.
The spot puts you right in the heart of the Annapolis Historic District. Many of Maryland’s best-known landmarks sit a short walk away.
The Maryland State House is close by. So are the U.S.
Naval Academy, City Dock, and plenty of shops and galleries.
That makes tea a perfect break in a sightseeing day. Walk the town, rest your feet, and refuel with scones.
The building itself is worth admiring from the sidewalk. It’s a two-and-a-half-story Georgian brick building, five bays wide, with a gambrel roof.
Look closely at the main front wall. The bricks are laid in an all-header bond, showing only their short ends.
It’s considered one of the finest Georgian buildings in Annapolis. Parking is easy, too, with the Gott’s Court garage nearby and a discount card for guests.
Close your visit with a final cup. London can wait.
