The Art of Afternoon Tea, Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, Katonah, NY, USA

Afternoon Tea is a delicious and elegant art form that invites guests to take time and savor the moment, to sit with friends, converse and perhaps share a bit of gossip. However, Afternoon Tea at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in Katonah, New York is even more spectacular in that it is held in the stunning Rosen House Music Room, where elegance and gracious hospitality are the order of the day. We had Afternoon Tea at Caramoor on Friday, May 22, 2026, and it was such a memorable experience that it deserves more visits during the Summer. Afternoon Tea at Caramoor is seasonal and runs until August 2, 2026.

Rosen House Music Room

We first experienced Caramoor in the evening of early November 2025, when we attended the first Jazz concert of the season featuring The Christie Dashiell Quartet, held in the Music Room, where the owners Walter and Lucie Rosen entertained guests in their grand-scale living room with its intimate and elaborate stage with its pink marble columns imported from Verona, Italy. It was a dazzling evening of music made even more indulgent with its intricately carved ceiling, Renaissance furniture, tapestries, and an abundance of art throughout that gave the large room its grand character and presence.

Rosen House Music Room Stage

We returned to Caramoor on Friday, May 22, 2026, for Afternoon Tea, which was also held in the Music Room, where square tables were double draped with elegant gold cloths and topped with brocade evoking a bygone era, flanked by crimson velvet chairs. Service was elegantly presented with bone china teacups and luncheon plates from around the world. Ours were from Bavaria, Czecho-Slovakia, and France and were stunning in their design and elegance.

Crandberry-Orange Scone

Guests had the opportunity to select from three types of tea and began with a Cranberry-Orange Scone accompanied by traditional Afternoon Tea condiments of crème fraiche and jam. Gracious service continued with three-tier silver servers which held a selection of assorted tea sandwiches and a selection of desserts.

Low background music added to the overall ambience of Afternoon Tea, where couples, multi-generational families, parents with young children, and groups of friends, came to Caramoor to celebrate a time-honored and beloved tradition, and is a memorable way to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and special occasions, as well as “just because” days.

The Afternoon Tea Menu

Teas
Ceylon Sonata Black Tea
Green Rooibos Bonita Tea
Blood Orange Iced Tea caffeine free

On Arrival
Cranberry-Orange Scone
With Crème Fraiche and Jam

Tea Sandwiches
Turkey Salad with Apple and Cranberry in a Phyllo Cup
Roasted Tomato, Ricotta, Basil, on Crostini Toast
Smoked Salmon, Chive Cream Cheese, Capers on Black Bread
oney Tarragon Chicken Salad on a Mini Brioche Bun 

Desserts
Chocolate Covered Strawberry
Flaky Lemon Cookie
Assorted Mini Cheesecakes 

“Inside Lucie’s Wardrobe”

Following Afternoon Tea, we took a self-guided tour through the house to experience not only the sumptuous furnishings and designs of the house, but also to experience “Inside Lucie’s Wardrobe” (runs until September 5, 2026) featuring a selection of elaborate dresses and gowns designed for Lucie by Alan Kramer and Hendi Bendel. Fashionistas as well as designers will especially appreciate the intricate details noted for each of the dresses and gowns.

Sunken Garden

Caramoor is situated on 81-acres, and as it was a perfect late Spring afternoon, we took a leisurely stroll throughout the vast gardens to maximize our visit. A few of the many highlights we experienced strolling the grounds included visiting the Sunken Garden, the Pegasus Gate, the Venetian Theater, the Italian Pavilion, and the Iris and Peony Garden.

Also interesting was the 16-foot double letter C sculpture, part of their Sonic Innovations, entitled “in “C”, 2020” by the artist Trimpin to welcome and greet visitors. What makes the sculpture especially notable is that it features 2-octave vintage chimes suspended at the top of the C, and when guests hit the nearby button, short pre-recorded 1–2-minute pieces play to engage the visual and auditory senses.

Caramoor was Rosens’ Mediterranean country home and was built between 1929 and 1939. Lucie Rosen noted about the house, “We built this home, my husband and I, not to be new or old, just to be beautiful. And we built it for music.”

With the substantial and diverse program of music, dance, cooking classes, yoga, Afternoon Teas, and much more, the legacy of Walter Tower Rosen (1875-1951) and Lucie Bigelow Rosen (1890-1968) lives on at Caramoor. 

Until next time, keep enjoying and supporting the arts!

Afternoon Tea Dates: May 29 through August 2, 2026. (See below, Beyond the Music, Afternoon Tea for dates).

Afternoon Tea Tickets: Adults: $55, Ages 12 and under: $35.

About Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts

“Each year, Caramoor presents an exciting array of concerts across genres—from classical, opera, and chamber music to jazz, American roots, global sounds, and the American songbook. Caramoor’s acclaimed Summer Season brings audiences together for unforgettable outdoor performances from June into August across five distinct settings, while the intimate Rosen House Concert Series runs from October through May in the historic Rosen House, a Mediterranean-style villa filled with treasures from around the world. With a mission to engage audiences of all ages, Caramoor also offers a selection of concerts and programs for families and our youngest listeners. Whether attending a concert under the stars, touring the spectacular Rosen House and its collections, or enjoying a quiet afternoon on the grounds, wandering through the lush gardens, or discovering the collection of sound art, Caramoor offers something for everyone—a place where music, history, and nature come together to create moments of beauty and connection. Caramoor is a 501c3 charitable organization, primarily supported by the tremendous generosity of our community.” 

A Sampling of the Some of the Exciting Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts Programs 2026 

Beyond the Music

Concerts

Cooking Classes 

Sound Art

Tours

Yoga

For more information on Caramoor, see their complete list of upcoming programs, as well as purchase tickets, please visit the website: https://caramoor.org/events/ 

Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts
149 Girdle Ridge Road
Katonah, New York 10536
United States
Telephone: +1-914-232-1252
Email: boxoffice@caramoor.org
Website: https://caramoor.org/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Caramoor
Instagram: www.instagram.com/caramoor @caramoor 

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