Olive Branch Cafe & Tea Room (Freighthouse Square)

The Olive Branch Cafe moved to Tacoma's historic Freighthouse Square in April 2015 and I recently visited the new location for afternoon tea.  I had visited the previous location on Antique Row and have been anxious to see the new space.

The entrance is on the west end of Freighthouse Square where guests receive a warm welcome before being guided to their table. 

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the tea room has live piano music.  The pianist, Brian, performs a broad range of music from classical to classics.  On several occasions during our visit we found ourselves smiling and even laughing while hearing long-forgotten favorites.

Seating in the Olive Branch Cafe is more than generous and the room is richly decorated with antiques furnishings.  The large space has been broken up with beautiful screens, providing intimate and semi-private settings for small and large groups, including a delightful children's tea room.

The tables are laid out with white linens and formal place settings.  After being shown to their table, guests are then guided to a large tea cabinet where they can choose from a variety of loose leaf teas.

I selected Darjeeling which was prepared and presented with no loose leaves floating in the teapot.  This allowed me to linger over my tea without worrying that it will become too astringent.  Refills are complimentary.

We requested the Queen's Tea, Olive Branch Cafe's most robust afternoon tea option.  Our meal began with scones served with lemon and lime curd and a cool glass of berry lemonade.

For the next course, we had a choice of soup.  I selected the creamy tomato soup which helped to ward off the chill of the rainy winter morning.

Hors d'oeuvres were served between courses, including shrimp and salmon spread.

A raspberry sorbet served as a light and refreshing palate cleanser.

The main course featured a selection of sandwiches, sweets, and fruits served on a 3-tier stand.  

The food was delicous, service was excellent, and Olive Branch Cafe's owner, Terry, visited our table to ensure that everything was to our liking.  

Reservations for afternoon tea should be made in advance.  

Note that gratuity will be added for parties of five or more.

Address: 

2501 East D Street, Tacoma, WA 98421 (West End Of Freighthouse Square)

Hours: 
Monday-Friday 11:00am to 4:00pm
Saturday 11:00am to 7:00pm
Closed Sunday