The perfect day date in Wickford starts with tea

A Winter Day Date in Wickford

Instagram foodies dish on the perfect afternoon tea in this historic North Kingstown village

Whether you’re stealing away for a long lunch with your sweetie or grabbing a coffee to spend the morning antiquing around the harbor, Wickford is a dream for the underrated day-date. In the summer, there’s ice cream aplenty, but for a chilly winter adventure? Afternoon tea at Sweet Marie’s Tea Cottage sounded like the perfect retreat to us.

Nestled behind the Wickford Gourmet Kitchen Outlet, a welcoming sign and mint green door invite you to cozy up for tea and treats. The owner, Lindsey Andrews, greeted us as we arrived and took in the ambiance. We immediately felt transported – it’s like stepping back in time and finding yourself in a tiny nook with exposed beams, rustic chic decor, and dainty yet eclectic teacups. Laughter, chatter, and relaxing tunes permeated the 22-seat room during the peak of afternoon tea service.

Included in a reservation is bottomless English Breakfast tea (I took mine with a sugar cube and cream) and a three-tiered tray of almost-too-cute-to-eat bites. Sweet and savory options are plated perfectly, and each person gets to try one of everything. Along with a cuppa, Andrews o ers Gooseneck Vineyards wine and cocktail pairings to complement the menu, all with a tea-flavored twist.

Bottomless tea is a staple of Sweet Marie’s

CUISINE: Italian with steaks, seafood and hand-crafted desserts PRICES: Appetizers: $3.50$18; Entrees: $10-$32; Desserts: $7-$24 ATMOSPHERE: Upscale-casual

A tiered tray of dainty small bites is the centerpiece

When our small bites arrived, we were in awe of the preparation and arrangement. Expertly crafted French macarons are piled high in a teacup, placed between lemon cupcakes and cookie dough truffles. Next is the equally irresistible cheddar chive and cranberry orange scones with a dollop of clotted cream on the side. On the last tier we found perfectly cut and symmetrical tea sandwiches, some with cucumber and chive cream cheese and others with berries and cream. Tiny chicken salad sandwiches made with lemon and tarragon were served inside of mini buttered rolls. And lastly, we discovered what can only be described as a perfect bite: thin sliced prosciutto di parma, fig jam, ginger, whipped goat cheese, and honey served on soft white bread.

In other words, show up to Sweet Marie’s Tea Cottage with an empty stomach. Though we sampled through our fair share of petite sandwiches and sweets the tier tray of delights had to offer, we still left with a to-go box. For couples with an appreciation of the finer things – or if you just want to feel fancy for an afternoon – Sweet Marie’s is a must.

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Sweet Marie’s Tea Cottage

25 W Main Street, Wickford SweetMariesTea.com