Tipple + Rose Tea Parlor and Apothecary

The tea selection is amazing. The atmosphere takes you to a different time. I could spend hours looking around. I just had a watermelon Oolong Tea the other day that was delicious and everything I’ve ever eaten there was made in-​house. The two women who own the parlor are wonderful. You have to reserve high tea 24 hours in advance but it makes sense to me with the amount of careful detail and preparation that goes into their service.

I so want to give Tipple + Rose four stars — I really, really do – but I just can’t. They’re in a hip location, the place is beautifully decorated and the tea/​food is great, but Doria really needs to work on her customer service skills. I used to think customer service was a dying art, but after the string of experiences I’ve had lately, I’m convinced it’s straight up dead and gone. Read on if you’re bored and want to hear the whole story.
My saga began on a Sunday when I called two weeks in advance to schedule a high tea. Doria said they were in the middle of prep for two tea parties and asked if I’d email them my information so they could follow up later.
STRIKE ONE. It takes all of five minutes (max) to make a reservation, but even if you really didn’t have five minutes to spare, the better response would’ve been, «Thank you so much for calling! We’re actually a bit short-​staffed right now, but let me get your name and number and I’LL CALL YOU back within 24 – 48 hours.» You don’t put the responsibility on the customer and essentially ask them to chase you down. What if I’d decided it was too much trouble to email after calling? That’s a customer you just lost unnecessarily!
But, being the glutton for punishment that I am, I emailed anyway. I forgot to include my phone number, which Doria asked for on Tuesday. I promptly responded, but didn’t hear anything the rest of the week. I finally email her on Saturday around 7:30 AM (not expecting a response that early, just getting it out of the way) asking if someone would please follow up. Her response (verbatim) around 10 AM: Hi Nicole, I’ll get back to you later today or Sunday.
STRIKE TWO. No urgency. Just I’ll get back to you WHEN I HAVE TIME BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT IMPORTANT, YOU RANDOM PERSON TRYING TO SUPPORT MY BUSINESS. That’s essentially what you’re telling me, Doria. You should’ve just called, apologized profusely and all would’ve been well. My response: Thanks but no thanks. It shouldn’t take a week to make a reservation!
Doria emailed back and said one of her employees had a death in the family, so she’d been busy on the floor instead of in her office accepting reservations. Issues like these come up and she hopes I’ll understand. I tell her she’s absolutely right: Issues do arise, but she still could’ve handled the entire situation better from the beginning. However, because I’m — say it with me – A GLUTTON FOR PUNISHMENT — we’ll agree to disagree. Reservation for three, please. She says she’ll call on Tuesday to get my credit card info because they’re closed on Monday.
STRIKE THREE. At this point, why are you are still emailing? These are conversations that should be taking place over the phone. Actually, they shouldn’t be taking place at all but whatevs. My sincere condolences to the employee, but you have a business to run. Please join OpenTable or something.
I won’t even get into the ridiculous confirmation email, which details how they’re going to punish you for being late/​cancellations of any kind. We arrive and, true to other reviews, the vibe is cold and generally not welcoming. At first I thought it was because Doria knew who I was, but it appears that’s just her personality. She’s very aloof. I told her my friends and I have never done high tea. Does she say, «Great! I’m a tea fanatic — let me tell you all about it!» or something to that effect? Nope. Just, «They’re split up by types on the menu. Pick two.» That was pretty much the extent of our conversation. Sigh. I don’t need you to hover, but I do need you to act like you’re happy we’re here. The chef and the other employee were more hospitable, but too much had occurred for it to have a positive impact. My friends said they enjoyed the tea and food, but were put off by Doria’s attitude as well and won’t return.
Doria is beautiful and her hair is fabulous (I couldn’t end this review without complimenting her in some way, even if unrelated), but that won’t ensure repeat customers. Only exceptional customer service can do that. Unfortunately, that’s the area in which Tipple + Rose is most lacking.

This is best tea shop in Atlanta, by far. Beautiful vintage furniture, relaxing atmosphere, knowledgeable staff, and delightful sweets are tucked away in this Poncey-​Highland jewel. If you’re looking for a place to put your feet up and treat like your living room, it’s not the place. Take that to ABC coffeeshop. The owner takes her business (and her tea) seriously. AND IT PAYS OFF! I’ll always go back!

I went back to Tipple and Rose recently, and all things considered, felt obliged to update my rating based on my experience. The owner and the servers were still cold as ice, and my group was (again) scolded several times for things like moving dishware, but since I was fully expecting it and had prepared my friends in advance (all first-​timers), we all just laughed it off and had a great time. The food truly is so incredible, and the tea so amazing, including the «sniffing bar,» that I can’t let my previous one-​star review stand.
If you come here, gird your loins for the poor service and be prepared to have a good time despite it. For an idea of what to expect, my boyfriend now calls this place the Soup Nazi (in reference to Seinfeld), because the fare is incredible if you’re willing to have a thick skin while you’re consuming it.

We planned a High Tea at Tipple and Rose this weekend. The décor was so darling and the food was amazing. I would love to give it 5 stars, but can’t because the owner’s vibe put not only me, but everyone in my party off. She was very serious and never smiled. Even when our food was served, not even one welcoming smile. Our experience would have been superb had the service been done with a smile. Being warm, friendly, feminine, and nurturing is just as important as being in «work mode» when it comes to success in business. I had actually wanted to purchase some soaps and candles from the apothecary section, but changed my mind, because I felt so unwelcome and like I was a bother. I really want to tell others to go there, because the food and tea is awesome,…if you can ignore the lack of warmth, then definitely go…

My friend decided that he wanted to have High Tea for his birthday so we ended up going with Tipple & Rose. We were super excited about his idea!
We had a cancellation so I emailed the owner the day before and she never responded — I was worried we would be charged for the cancellation. I asked the owner (Doria) about it when we arrived and asked if she could waive the fee, she said ‘if i did that for you, I’d have to do it for everyone.’ Well, actually, no-​one would know if you made me the exception. She never even acknowledged my email (she told me to contact her via email if I had any questions. In this day and age people expect responses to emails!).
There was a strict start time of 2pm. We got there around 1:45pm, Doria was cordial but not really inviting. Our friends were a little late because of traffic so we had to pick teas and start without them. The reason given was so that we would receive ‘undivided attention’ for the first half hour before her other reservations came in. She told us to pick three teas then walked off. There was no explanation of the teas, and we weren’t really sure what to pick. The owner came back about 10 minutes later and asked if we picked anything out. We asked her to explain the teas (she gave a vague description and didn’t seem like she was interested in talking to us at all.). There was a list of about 10 black teas, but most of them were fruity, I asked for a non fruity black tea and she said that they had 115 varieties of tea, but these were the recommended teas. A full menu of all the teas available would have been nice. At this point, we were a bit scared to ask any questions and we’re a group that is not afraid to ask!
We picked two black teas and one green tea. The green tea — jasmine lychee — was delicious. Great taste the first time around (it was steeped too long the second time — I’m a former barista and bit of a tea snob). We got the Lady Lavender Earl Grey which I did not try as I despise Earl Grey. My friend really liked that one. To me, the English Breakfast was weak and we were not given any milk (I’m English and Indian and we love milk in our tea). I also noticed that the spouts on the teapots had water marks in them, ie get a brush and clean them!
The filling in the sandwiches were dry and the bread was dry. Almost like they had been made about an hour in advance and then not covered. The saving grace was the cucumber one, that was delicious. Prob because of the boursin cheese that gave it some creaminess.
The scones are definately the American version of a scone. Nothing like the English kind at all.
They were really good though. I also enjoyed the clotted cream — again nothing like actual English clotted cream, but good. I really liked the fig jam and lemon curds. The sweets were also delicious — macarons and mini tarts. The blackberries were probably the best I’ve ever tasted, so juicy.
I enjoyed the digestiv — kombucha and the gelato.
We had our food boxed up and the owner told me that even though I had a cancellation, she still gave us enough food for 7 people (6 of us showed up) and that we still had enough to take home. The way she said this was kind of condescending, and seemed curt. If the place was busy and there were no seats available, then I would understand the charge. If the food was such that it had to be prepared well in advance then I would understand. But we had sandwiches, I’m assuming it wouldn’t be that big of a deal to make sandwiches for 6 instead of 7 on the day of the event. But that’s just me.
TL;DR
PROs:
* The jasmine lychee green tea was perfect — fruity, tasty and light.
* The space is really nice — bright, airy, exposed brick.
* The «scones», sweets, and digestiv were really good
* The cucumber sandwich was delicious, the boursin spread was a great compliment.
* Best blackberries I’ve ever tasted.
CONS:
* Service was terrible, sure our water was filled and we got re-​steeps on the tea but no type of engaging or excitement about the teas. No-​one asked if we needed anything else. Like the other reviews state, it seems like they don’t want you there, or you are just an inconvenience. I’ve worked in customer service in all sorts of jobs for the past 20 years, it’s not that hard. However, the one server — she has hand tattoos — was nice, inviting and actually smiled. They should make her the main contact point.
* It’s $ 25 for an hour and half tea service. Definately not worth it. If the experience was there, it would be, but you won’t get it here.

This place is like a lesson in how not to run a business. I wanted to take my mother there for the Mother’s Day tea they advertised on Facebook. I followed the instructions provided and emailed my request. A few days later, I hadn’t even received a reply indicating my email had been received. I decided to call to check. I was told she would get back to me by the end of the day. I heard nothing. A few days later, I sent a follow-​up email inquiring about my reservation. I got an incredibly rude email response back essentially accusing me of being unreasonable. Needless to say, I made reservations elsewhere. I called and was able to make a reservation right then and there. You know, how normal businesses run.
I can’t speak about the food or tea because I’ll never be going there because of the horrible treatment I have received from the owner.

Place is nice but the owner wasn’t. I went in there today with my mom and son ordered a scone sat down to eat it for a while she’s watching us the whole time I’m not sure if kids are actually allowed in there because she wouldn’t take her eyes off of us even though other ppl were in there not going back.

This place is super cute and has potential to survive if the service was friendlier. I have to agree with the others that the woman who «created the tea wall,» presumably the owner, is super unfriendly and a bit snarky. The vibes were so offputting that I almost felt guilty being in there. If you can’t be nice to your guests in cute little neighborhood shop, then hire someone who can or you’re not going to survive. Hearts and stars!

I really enjoyed the food here, and it’s in an area with a lot of parking, but the vibe felt weird and almost like they didn’t want us there. I saw some tables getting checked on regularly, but my partner and I sat at the only spot left (the couch by the door) and after one of the staff brought us napkins, it was the end of any interaction. The only truly pleasant person there was the person with the sides of their head shaved, looked punk rock. The rest of them were dressed nicely, but the attitude was a little condescending, particularly when there’s very little signage about offerings or even prices.
On top of that, you can’t order only a cup if you’re staying in, only a pot, and while we were informed that the pot was for one person, it held four cups of tea — could have easily been split between two. They sell soaps, bath salts, and tinctures, as well, but appear to have a pretty limited selection of less perfumed toiletries (the soap section was especially strong smelling.) I didn’t see any price signage on the products for sale, either, which gives them the appearance of decorations, or makes me think they’re overpriced.
I went around 4:30 PM on a Saturday, and it was very busy, but they also seemed a little overstaffed for the level of service being provided (four people in a very small area behind the bar). The payment scheme is set up like a traditional restaurant, where you pay after you eat/​drink, but given the structure, the less people have to come up to the front, the better. Between the order section, where there were three or four people lined up, and the pay section, where we were the third checkout in line, there were probably seven people crowding the bar, and it makes what should be an otherwise calm and focused area very hectic.
I might go back again if I’m in the Highlands, but it’s not a part of town I frequent, and this café really wasn’t a draw for me when I have other options that are closer and less jumbled.

This place is lovely — I brought my mom, sister, aunt, and one year old to have an afternoon tea and snack. I was sad to learn that high tea must be reserved 24 hours in advance but I’ll do that next time. There were two ladies enjoying high tea and it looked delicious. The décor is simple yet cozy. There are ample tables and places to sit.
They have 121 teas to choose from and you are able to smell a sample before you buy. They have a large assortment of treats like truffles, scones, macarons, cake, as well as lunch food like quiche and soup/​sandwiches. We chose the gingerbread black tea– it was excellent, the macha with milk, along with assorted sweets– all delicious! I’m not sure if all are homemade but I know at least the scones are.
They bring out the tea service on a platter with a little hourglass specific to the type of tea (a black one for black tea, etc). Although they were slightly busy and even with my toddler, we had great service! They were very sweet. Next time I plan to come for high tea and preferably leave the toddler at home.

I really want to give a 5 star review for Tipple+ Rose because they have an amazing selection of teas, the décor is creative and inviting, and their products are unique. The food? The duck sandwich is PERFECT!
So why the one star review? The service is the worst. I have been several times to try to give them another chance (and another chance and another), and I finally gave up when I was chastised for using the simple syrup to sweeten my tea, when according to the staff «it was only to be used in ice tea». I completely understand if there are other intentions for the sweetener, but it’s more about how the message was conveyed to a customer, who is an adult. The same staff person never smiles, never greets customers, and acts as if it is a bother for people to give them business.
In speaking to a friend who visited, we compared notes and she had similar experiences. Neither one of us will be returning.
I also shared my experiences and opinion with one of the owners to hopefully offer constructive feedback because they have a great business if they treat their customers better and with respect. Maybe the owners are reading the Unilocal reviews and realize that great or poor customer service can make or break a business.

Cutest place ever visually. Tea and food were glorious. Worst customer service and general vibe I’ve ever felt and I eat out in town several nights a week. So beyond disappointing. Telling everyone I know about how strange the experience was from beginning to end.

The scones here (made by hand by the owner) will CHANGE YOUR LIFE. If you thought you knew what a scone was supposed to be like, let me tell you, fuck that. This scone is THE TRUTH.
Now that that’s out of the way, I want to address something else. There are lots of reviews that say that the customer service is shit. I had the opposite experience. My server, Calavino, was warm, friendly, checked on us regularly, and encouraged me to stay as long as I liked while I lingered over my teapot and wrote for a few hours.
The owner, Doria, a lovely woman with beautiful black hair, is the person that gives people tips on what to drink/​how to drink it. Some reviewers thought she was terse, and I can see how they thought that. What I saw was a person with a passion for the art of tea who wanted her customers to have the best experience they could. When I left, she gave me a sunny smile — and I was glad to learn from her what I did about the tea experience.
The facts: Dozens and dozens of teas, breakfast and lunch foods, and sweets. Also tea porn for sale all over the parlor: Strainers, tea sets, tea bags. They also carry a beautifully curated selection of hand care products (Love seeing locally-​made Revive here!).
So come. Have high tea. Eat delicious things and get to know the women who put this labor of love together. I just left and I can’t wait to go back.

Came here with a friend a few days ago. Great find in the area to hang out during a rainy afternoon. We spent three hours catching up over two teas, a piece of cake, and a piece of quiche. Overall a lovely afternoon.
TEA
Of the two teas we ordered (one ginger lemon and one black), both were wonderful. The teas come with adorable hourglass timers for how long to steep, and the women behind the counter explained which tea bag had to be taken out and which one could be kept in.
FOOD
Chocolate cake slice was enormous and very rich. Quiche was also delicious and reheated for us, and it also comes with a side salad!
SERVICE
A few other Unilocalers have complained about the distasteful and unsmiling staff. We had a perfectly fine experience. No one worshipped the ground we walked on, but no one threw things at us either. I’m not sure what kind of service people are expecting. Both women behind the counter answered our questions about the teas, brought us food in a timely manner, offered us additional hot water, and explained how to pay at the counter once we were done. They get the job done!
OTHER
Roughly three tables had been dressed up (tablecloth, nice china, place settings) for high tea which you have to call ahead for. The groups that came in for high tea did seem to be enjoying themselves, but I wouldn’t sweat coming in as a regular Josephine.
The shop itself is well decorated with interactive tea samples to smell and an assortment of high-​end kitchen supplies and bath salts to purchase.

Sorry to be «that» reviewer, but I think I owe it to those thinking about going AND to the owners.
First off, I read the reviews before going, so I knew others had had issues with customer service. But, I decided to remain objective.
Two friends and I went to Tipple and Rose on a Sunday afternoon around 2pm. We wanted high tea, but that requires 24 hour advance notice (I called to check beforehand). No problem.
The space is cute and well-​appointed. There was only one other table occupied when we arrived. To order non-​afternoon tea service, you order at the register. They have a TON a teas. THe selection is HUGE, which is an awesome highlight. BUT, it takes some time to go through all the options. They had only four tea menus, and I didn’t want to share with my two friends, so I went to ask for another menu. As I was asking, two young women walked in, and I was basically told I could not have one of the two menus on the counter if the newly arrived ladies were going to order tea. What!?! What about first come first served? I didn’t say anything, but patiently waited until it was clear they did not need a menu. They were «just looking».
I smiled and took the menu back to my table and my friends and I chose our teas — and discussed how BOTH ladies behind the counter were not very «nice». It was a funky vibe we all felt. Finally, we went back to the front to place our order at the counter. When I said I wanted a certain tea, they said «We recommend you smell the tea you want.». I said, «Oh, that’s okay. I think I’m fine.» Almost in unison, they literally chastised me and said «Oh, you REALLY need to smell the teas. People don’t realize they won’t like the tea if they don’t like its smell, and lots of people send teas back.» And their posture was as if they wouldn’t take my order until I put my nose into one of the small tins of tea. Note: I’m a 43 year old woman who drinks loose tea most days of the week. To be talked to like a child who can’t read and discern from the menu description what I will and won’t like is ridiculous. We should’ve left, but…
My friends and I ordered three teas. All were AWESOME. Lady Londenderry, Bangalore Chai, and Marzipan something were really great. We sat and talked… and watched as the waitresses/​servers broke out smiles only for the two tables that had ordered high tea. I get that they won’t make much of a tip from serving us, but why make it so darn obvious. C’mon!
After finishing my tea, I decided to buy some loose teas. I asked one of the servers (doesn’t matter which because they oddly shared the «I-really-don’t-want-to-serve-you» attitude). I asked if they blended the teas themselves, because they tasted fresh and well thought out. I was legitimately interested. In response, I got a flat-​faced «no». No smile, no nothing, no explanation, no discussion of the tea’s origins. I repeat… no nothing. I ordered the teas anyway.
Two purposes for this review: 1. to forewarn others about the service (and the really good teas) and 2. hoping the owner reads that I will not be returning, in spite the fact that I really enjoyed their tea and appreciate their vision of Tipple and Rose.
P. S. Also to those who DO visit: the milk, sugar, etc… is to the left of the register against the wall. No one told us so we assumed they had none.

Tipple+Rose opened about 3 months ago so I’ve had this tea parlor bookmarked for a few months, just waiting for the right time to go with a bunch of girl friends. I called in to make reservations and just had a bunch of questions especially after reading some initial reviews on here. Shortly, I realized, most of their information is on their Facebook page now, so definitely check that out:
All honesty here. I think our experience was good here because we followed the rules:
— High Tea requires reservations in advance along with a credit card on hold ($ 25/​person)
— Cancellations must be done 48 hours in advanced, otherwise, you will still get charged for any missing members in your party
— High recommendations to arrive 15 minutes before your reservation to pick out teas
Pros:
— Cute shop which carries a lot of locally made products whether it’s for grooming or eating
— Bright, open space with booths
— Tea sniffing bar! This definitely sets them apart from the other tea houses. I can see that they must be doing their own tea blends in-​house from seeing the loose teas.
— Delicious, high quality of food for High Tea
Cons:
— Portions of tea were kind of small. Maybe it’s because my friends and I are heavy tea drinkers. Our party of 5 was permitted to choose 3 different teas. I believe each teapot is meant to serve 2 people. Even though we get refills of tea or added hot water, I still felt thirsty for more tea.
–Service can feel a little cold at first, but in the end, great.
Overall, I really liked Tipple + Rose. Specialized blends of teas, the food was good, and they really delivered a nice, relaxing experience for me and my friends. I’d come back to try the other things on their menu and have a pot of tea to myself.

The food and tea are a ⁵⁄₅. If only they had better customer service and great music, this spot would be a gem.
I’ve visited Tipple + Rose on several occasions — alone to study and even a few times to have a meal with friends and co-​workers. While the shop itself is beautiful and the tea selection is amazing, the service leaves very little to be desired. It’s horrendous.
I was super excited about this place when I first learned that it was opening and was even sure to visit during the week of the soft-​opening. The first time was exciting. Each other time, the customer service was so-​so, at best. I’m not a customer who needs you to wait on her hand and foot but a little friendliness goes a long way. Maybe ask what brings me in or wish me a good day when I’m leaving. You know, the basics.
I’m all for supporting local businesses and with my love of tea parlors and coffee shops, I very much intended to be a long-​term customer to Tipple + Rose. After my most recent experience, however, I’m definitely reconsidering going back. As much as I love tea and am grateful to have a teashop so close by, I will settle for mediocre tea and great customer service at a local coffeeshop before I continue to subject myself to terrible service.
Plus, the prices aren’t the cheapest, so I do expect a bit more in terms of overall experience. I’m not saying I’ll never visit again, but I definitely intend to take a break from the Tipple + Rose for a minute.

Came here and drove quite a distance to have our very first high tea in Atlanta. But was disappointed. Stars for the décor, kombucha n sorbet. I agree with the other reviewer who commented about the service. Our server was Unfriendly and lacked warmth. It was so difficult to see her smile (even when telling us about our tea and food! And she was barely audible!) except for once, the whole time we were there. When asked to take some pics for us (so we could help them promote the place) she was so reluctant I could see her frown!!!
And I’m sorry if we were there for slightly longer than 2 hrs. We were enjoying each other’s company so much, we lost track of time. You could’ve at least politely let us know that there were customers waiting to be seated at our table, instead of rudely clearing our table and taking the table cover while we were still seated. So much for professionalism.
Will we return? Highly unlikely. Will we recommend this to our friends? Nope.

I was very excited about Tipple + Rose so I had to stop by during their soft opening weekend. Tipple + Rose did not disappoint; everything was wonderful. I absolutely love the décor & products at T+R. The prices are pretty reasonable. There’s a huge tea list & corresponding samples for you to sniff & choose from. In addition to tea & baked goods, T+R also offers locally sourced desserts, bath, beauty, & bar products.
High tea service will start on ⁸⁄₁₈. (24-​hr in advance reservation is required). Street parking.