A bit of civili-tea

Afternoon tea is a low-pressure ticket to turning your budding foodie on to the delights of fine dining. Caffeine-free herbal blends, freshly baked cookies and tiny sandwiches can keep even picky eaters in their chairs, engaging them in a meal that’s more well heeled than their usual bowl of mac and cheese served with a juice box. Here are our picks for places to engage all manners of tiny taste buds in the art—and fun—of sipping a proper cup.

Dream About Tea
(1011 Davis St, Evanston, 847-864-7464. Open Tue–Sat 11am–6pm; Sun noon–6pm. Most teas $2.25–$6.) You’d swear you were in China—not around the corner from the Davis Street El stop—at this husband-and-wife–run spot where dozens of teas crowd the counter, and a well-curated selection of authentic Chinese teapots line the shelves. Owner Hong Wu will teach your kids a few Mandarin words if you ask, and little ones will get a kick out of trying “blossoming” tea—walnut-size orbs of hand-tied jasmine leaves that unfold when they’re immersed in hot water.

Hotel Sofitel Chicago
(20 E Chestnut St, 312-324-4000. Tea service Fri, Sat 2–4:30pm. $19, including dessert buffet.) Kids get a kick out of this futuristic glass building, designed by French architect Jean Paul Viguier. But they’ll really stare when they pass the mammoth all-you-can-eat dessert table, laden with éclairs and other French pastries, at the café entrance.

The Peninsula Hotel
(108 E Superior St, 312-337-2888. Tea service Mon–Fri 3–5pm; Sat seatings at 2:30, 4:30pm; Sun 4–6pm. $32, kids $17.) This family-friendly hotel offers teatime treats for junior like miniburgers and Jell-O in a smooth, urban atmosphere complete with a string duo serenading you from a balcony. For an extra $7, your child can share his tea with a plush Peninsula teddy bear and then take him home.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel
(160 E Pearson St, 312-266-1000. Tea service 2:30–5pm daily. $27, kids $18.) If your little mademoiselle acts as if she were born with a silver spoon in her mouth, she’ll adore afternoon tea at the Ritz. The Greenhouse is a plush girly paradise—from cushy sofas to delicate china to palm trees grazing the glass atrium roof—with a kiddie menu including crustless PB&J, apples with caramel sauce, and cider and hot chocolate as alternative drink options.

Seasons Restaurant at the Four Seasons
(120 E Delaware Pl, 312-280-8800. Tea service 3–5pm daily. $25, kids $15.) The lounge at Seasons is hands down the coziest, clubbiest tea spot in town. Kids get special treatment with tea blends like wild blossom–and–berry served to them in colorful ceramic pots, along with goodies from the special kids’ menu like Rice Krispies treats and Gummi bears. For adults, there’s also a champagne menu. Special Easter storytelling teas ($40), featuring a visit from Peter Rabbit, are planned for April 6 and 7 at 3pm (April 7 is already sold out, but you can add your name to a waiting list); call 312-649-2352
for reservations.

Urban Tea Lounge
(838 W Montrose Ave, 773-907-8726. Open 10am–10pm daily.Teas and sandwiches $2–$5.) The fact that the co-owner of this Uptown tea shop also owns the nearby Tattoo Factory has a certain appeal to budding hipsters. But it’s the friendly welcome—and house-made peppermint brownies—that make it a popular, all-ages neighborhood hangout. The cozy back room of the café is stocked with games and toys to keep little ones busy when they’re not enjoying à la carte treats and kid-friendly tea blends, like the vanilla, chocolate and mint–infused “Once Upon a Tea.” The staff also offers children’s birthday parties and excellent high teas (call ahead to reserve). And if your kid wants a mom rocks tattoo, you can find good advice here.