The Rialto Theatre's new tea room in Tampa Heights has been quietly pouring its first afternoon-service teas this month and is already lining up a reason to dress to the nines: a Kentucky Derby watch party on Saturday, May 2. The Derby gathering is set to include a hat contest, signature sips and live race viewing, with tickets priced at $55 per person. Alongside the big day, the tea program features a sit-down Afternoon Tea Experience and a walk-in Cream Tea as the space eases into a regular reservation routine.
Derby Day Details
According to Creative Loafing Tampa, the Derby watch party runs from 12 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 2 and will pair live race viewing with a hat contest, appetizers and signature drinks. For Tampa Heights neighbors curious about the new reservation-focused room, the party doubles as an early look at the space wrapped inside a festive afternoon.
Afternoon Tea Service
Per the Rialto Theatre, the Afternoon Tea Experience runs $59 per guest and includes an unlimited pot of the tea of the day alongside a traditional three-tier stand of scones, finger sandwiches and pastries. Full tea services require reservations, while a Cream Tea - a pot of tea or coffee served with a scone, devonshire cream and jam - is available for walk-ins. Seating is planned Tuesday through Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., and the venue notes a 48-hour cancellation policy plus a child policy that welcomes well-behaved children ages five and older.
Space And History
The tea room leans into an English-inspired look, with crystal chandeliers, gold-framed paintings, cherry-blossom trees and even a telephone booth, a style that nods to the building's period roots, as Creative Loafing Tampa notes. The University of North Florida's digital archive traces the Rialto back to the 1920s and records that the theater was later repurposed before a 2013 renovation by 8-Count Creative turned the roughly 10,500-square-foot building into a mixed-use arts and event venue. Those historic touches now frame the tea room as it opens daytime service to a neighborhood that has watched the building change roles for decades.
Reservations And Practicals
Ticketing for the Derby party and reservations for tea service are handled through the Rialto Theatre, where contact information for the tea room is also listed. The venue encourages guests to monitor its updates for seating availability and future ticketed events as the new tea program settles into a steady schedule.
