This High Tea Alternative Fuses Booze and Elegance in Baltimore

Mother’s Day activities are typically centered on self-care or something to celebrate the daily sacrifices and commitments mothers make to care for their children. Most women are okay with having a kid-free day and catching up on rest, while others use their mommy coupon for something a bit more luxurious. Scanning across social media this year, I saw my mommy friends counting down to the big day. 

One of my close friends opted for a staycation in a local hotel in her hometown of North Jersey without her husband and children. She built an itinerary on all things she adored: spa treatment, dinner at the steakhouse, and crafted cocktails. A few of my friends had brunch plans in their local towns. While I searched for something to do to honor myself for the day, weeks before, I was invited by The Pendry Baltimore, a 5-star hotel, to participate in their Boozy Mommy & Me Tea. It sounded delightful: a variation of teas infused with liquor paired with sweet treats. It’s a spin on the typical afternoon tea, and I’d never heard of or tried it previously, so I figured Mother’s Day was the perfect time for a new experience. 

I, along with my mother, two sisters, and 2-year old daughter took the trip from the suburbs of Baltimore to the Fell’s Point area of Baltimore in our milk-maid floral dresses for the occasion. It was a beautiful day, nearly 80 degrees, and we were seated in their outdoor courtyard, surrounded by greenery and sunshine. 

As later explained by Pendry Baltimore's Director of Marketing & Communications, Devin Smith, Boozy Tea first originated at Pendry Washington DC - The Wharf. The experience launched at Pendry Baltimore in February 2025 after seeing strong success and guest interest in Washington, D.C. The team wanted to expand the experience to additional properties, including Pendry Baltimore and Pendry Natirar. 

Afternoon tea was first popularized around 1840 in England by Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford. She created the custom to offset hunger between her midday lunch and evening dinner, which, at that time, wasn't served until 8:00 or 9:00 PM. 

It took a few years, until around 1847, for the custom to spread to America. Afternoon tea has long been a staple within luxury hospitality, at premiere destinations such as The Plaza in New York City and The Peabody in Memphis, TN. I myself have experienced high tea in hotels around the world, even in London, but The Pendry is a standout. But The Pendry’s elevated twist on the classic experience, which was a collaborative team idea, was created to offer a more casual approach to the traditional service with Pendry's signature touch. 

The Pendry’s Boozy Tea features a three-tiered selection of sweet and savory bites paired with three tea-inspired cocktails. The menu changes seasonally. For the Mother’s Day experience, the menu was perfect for the season. For the teas, there were two hot options, and one iced, the latter was a pleasant surprise as the alcohol in the heat can get you a bit boozy rather quickly. 

The first tea served was the Summer Vacation, which featured Mango sticky rice tea, rum, banana liquor demerera, and lemon. For the second serving, the First Step, a shenandoah black tea was infused with nonino quintessencia. The final tea served, Grass Satins, the iced version, was a ginger peach green tea infused with yuzu sake. While I enjoyed them all, my favorite was the Grass Stains, because it was so unexpected. I also loved the Summer Vacation as the banana gave it a good kick. Of course, there were sweets, biscuits, sandwiches, and scones. 

The food menu for Boozy Tea is curated by Executive Chef Michael Grande, and the tea cocktails by Restaurant General Manager, Maxwell Armstrong. The tea sets have been acquired via antique stores in Baltimore and the surrounding area, bringing a new life to forgotten family heirlooms, and setting the experience apart from other high teas in the country. 

A little over a year into the experience, Smith says the overall reception has been very positive. Guests enjoy that it is a unique offering in the city. And its guests are diverse. It has become a gathering space for groups of girlfriends to go out and be themselves, or a multi-generational experience as I chose to do with my mom, sisters, and daughters. One of the best parts of the experience for Smith to see is how guests will come dressed up to the nines and really lean into the experience.