TEA FOR HER 28TH
PUBLISHED AUGUST 2026
01 - THE PARTY
Cocktails, skyline views, and a modern take on afternoon tea.
HOST / Rad FULGIERI · 24 GUESTS · BIRTHDAY · Bar blondeau AT THE WYTHE hotel, WILLIAMSBURG
02 - AESTHETICS
Guests took the L train from Manhattan to Bar Blondeau, where they found floor-to-ceiling windows framing the Manhattan skyline and a room that already felt dressed for the occasion.
Afternoon tea was set in a semi-private space that felt modern but still warm. The room needed almost nothing added: just a few bud vases tucked into the corners, place cards, and conversation starter cards. The restaurant handled the rest.
Two hours of tea, then everyone spilled onto the terrace to continue the party.
Check out more Bar Blondeau afternoon tea pictures on this Wythe hotel website page.
03 - how it came together
The host Rad had done her share of late-night birthday parties and wanted to switch things up. She already loved afternoon tea, and after two great dinners at Bar Blondeau, finding out they hosted tea on Sundays made the decision easy. She was also excited afternoon tea would give everyone an excuse to dress up.
The reservations team was super easy to work with and quick to respond to emails. Rad first reached out seven weeks before the event, which gave her plenty of time to work through the details.
04 - THE SHOPPING LIST
WHAT EVERYTHING COST. AND WHERE IT CAME FROM.
THE VENUE, FOOD + DRINKS / $85 PER PERSON
Bar Blondeau offered a semi-private afternoon tea package for $85 per guest, including the full tea service and a welcome cocktail (or mocktail). Rad covered tax and tip for the group, while any additional drinks could be ordered individually from the regular menu.
At the time of booking, there was also a $65 per person option, plus additional platters and bar packages for anyone looking to add more food or make the afternoon a little boozier.
Prices and packages change, so check Bar Blondeau’s current afternoon tea offering before booking. scroll to the bottom of this page to reach out about a large booking.
THE PAPER GOODS / ~$160
Rad designed place cards and - on theme - “Spill the Tea” conversation starter cards in Canva.
Then she uploaded the designs to Zazzle for printing. The total came to around $160. Rad ordered plenty of extras so she could handwrite guests’ names and conversation starters - and start over when needed. She says if you’re less of a perfectionist, ordering closer to the exact quantity of cards you need, or waiting for one of Zazzle’s frequent sales, could bring the cost down.
Zazzle or Canva Print? Rad says that, in retrospect, she would’ve considered using Canva Print because she designed the cards in Canva in the first place. Exporting designs, uploading them to Zazzle, and realigning everything to fit Zazzle’s templates added unnecessary extra steps. But she also says she experienced no issues with Zazzle and that the prints turned out to be fabulous, on thick, high-quality matte paper.
THE MENUS / Included
The menus were a simple touch that made the afternoon feel more personal. The restaurant handled creating a custom banner and printing personalized menus which Rad reviewed via email beforehand. When Rad arrived at the venue, the menus were already laid out.
Rad also considered…
THE PLAZA
Rad loved the idea of afternoon tea at The Plaza — the quintessential New York tea experience. She’d been before and loved the setting, but For a large group, she was quoted a minimum spend of around $200 per person, which was outside the budget she had in mind for this celebration. If The Plaza is on your list, she recommends calling early: availability was already limited nearly two months out.
BROOKLYN HIGH LOW
Another favorite from the search was Brooklyn High Low, which felt charming and came in a little less expensive than Bar Blondeau.
She had found Brooklyn High Low and other tea spots she browsed in this roundup. She ultimately chose Bar Blondeau for its skyline views, unique aesthetic, and menu that felt closer to a full meal.
ONE PLACE SHE’D ADD TO THE SEARCH NOW: Prince Tea House. With several locations and a more approachable price point, Rad would have looked into it if she were doing the search again.
05 - debrief
WHAT WORKED / Plenty of options on the menu.
The menu balanced savory bites like falafel, salad, Japanese fried chicken, and sandwiches with traditional afternoon tea pastries and scones.
Bar Blondeau swapped out one menu item Rad wasn’t excited about and accommodated dietary restrictions, including a gluten-free guest and a nut allergy. The restaurant also offered delicious mocktails, so Rad could choose two cocktail options and one mocktail option for her welcome drinks.
"Hopefully they never take the mini grilled cheese off the menu.
not a crumb was left."
Another thing that worked well were the conversation starter cards.
While people were still settling in, before they got to yapping, the conversation starter cards turned out to be surprisingly fun. One card asked, “When was the last time you thought, ‘Wow, this is the best day ever’?” The hard-to-beat answer of the afternoon: the day one of the guests got engaged and found out she’d been accepted to her dream MBA program.
WHAT DIDN’T / A tight timeline.
The semi-private room was reserved for just two hours. And, in classic New York fashion, a few friends were running late. If she were to do it again, Rad would either book the space for a little longer or be shameless about the “please be on time” reminders so everyone could get the full afternoon tea experience.
ADVICE / Designate a point person for the staff.
There were a handful of questions throughout the afternoon — Has everyone arrived? Is now a good time to bring out the food? Which guest is gluten-free? Who has the nut allergy? Having a friend field those questions means the host can actually enjoy the party.
And let the restaurant know how you plan to pay before the event. It’s one less logistical detail to sort out when everyone is ready to head to the terrace.
06 - STEAL IT
THE CONVERSATION STARTERS / A few of Rad’s favorites:
When was the last time you thought, "Wow this is the best day ever?"
What’s something you’re weirdly high maintenance about?
Who do you have the strongest parasocial relationship with?
If someone followed you around for a week what would surprise them?
What’s something you would promote without sponsorship?
Your favorite publication is asking you to write an opinion piece. What's it on?
What’s the worst date you’ve been on?
Who was you first non-celebrity crush and what are they up to now?
What’s something you swore you’d never do, but ended up doing anyways?
What’s an opinion you have that would get you booed off stage?
What is the best or worst purchase you’ve made this year?
What’s a hill you’ll die on that noone else cares about?
What’s something out-of-character you’ve done in the past year?
THE DRINK ORDER / The welcome drinks earned their share of compliments. Rad chose a French 75, Bellini, and zero-proof January Spritz as options on her menu.
THE BIRTHDAY DRESS / Rad wore a chocolate-brown Bardot dress for tea. Find the exact dress here.
HOST / RAD FULGIERI · PHOTOGRAPHERS / DANA KIM, SARAH EDINBURGH