The observation gallery of the Washington National Cathedral offers a high tea with one of the best views in the city. On most Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the room hosts a proper afternoon tea that includes a variety of finger sandwiches, scones, and sweets for $40. A tour of the cathedral is included in the price.

The trendy Adams Morgan hotel offers daily tea service at Brothers and Sisters in the lobby from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The $40 fee includes updated savory finger foods and snacks, plus small baked goods and desserts under the direction of renowned pastry chef Pichet Ong. Reservations recommended.

This dainty, pink-hued Georgetown jewel serves an elegant tea service from morning until early evening every day but Monday. Nestled just off the bustling main commercial drags of M Street and Wisconsin Avenue NW, Lady Camellia has options ranging from an $18 children’s sandwich tea menu to $39 high tea filled with all the usual finger sandwiches and pastries.

Afternoon tea may skew English, but unassuming Ching Ching Cha makes an excellent case for a Chinese experience. Locals and tourists alike enjoy selections from the extensive food and tea menu while busy servers keep cast-iron tea kettles brimming with hot water. A $16 Tea Meal (noon to 7 p.m.) that comes with three vegetables, a soup, and featured entrees like mapo tofu or mustard miso salmon, is a steal.

The St. Regis serves one of the District’s most sumptuous teas. Offered daily in the hotel’s grand lobby, guests indulge in fancy pastries and seasonal tea sandwiches, along with Palais des Thés teas and optional Champagne. Reservations are required, and the price is $55 per person.

Taking afternoon tea in the Willard Hotel’s plush, red-carpeted Peacock Alley is a D.C. tradition. In addition to traditional afternoon tea service — complete with live harp music — the Willard also hosts special seasonal teas. Make a reservation; afternoon tea often sells out far in advance around Christmas and cherry blossom season.

For those needing a break from sightseeing on the National Mall, the Mandarin Oriental offers afternoon tea on weekends (Friday to Sunday) in the Empress Lounge. Choose from a selection of teas from around the world, served with savory bites, scones, and sweets. Advance reservations required.

Ritz-Carlton properties in Pentagon City and Tysons Corner offer afternoon tea every Saturday and Sunday. They serve a selection of premium loose leaf teas designed in collaboration with Dammann Frères, along with seasonal pastries, canapés, and tea sandwiches. There are also scones, of course, served with clotted cream, lemon curd, and fruit preserves.