The Pink Door Tea House
7153 N. 59th Avenue • Glendale, AZ 85301
480-223-0872 • thepinkdoorteahouse.com
Owning the business next door to the former Kimberly Ann’s Tea House in Glendale, Arizona, was fortuitous and formative for Lupe Encinas’s tea journey. Only being familiar with the herbal teas that she grew up with, Lupe learned about the beautiful world of afternoon tea and the vast selection of blends available from “Miss May,” the owner of the tearoom for 27 years.
“One day, I saw a lot of people walking over to the teahouse, and it turns out that the property was sold to a private investor to turn it into a private residence,” Lupe explains. “I reached out and told them that if the deal didn’t go through to please let me know. And so, they let me know, and we bought the place.” Lupe took everything the previous owner generously taught her about teatime and put her own spin on the beloved tradition when she reopened the business as The Pink Door Tea House in 2021. After an extensive renovation process to make the building more conducive to hosting larger parties and adding a touch of feminine appeal to the aesthetic—hence, the charming pink door and a welcoming garden to take teatime alfresco—the tearoom was back in full force but this time, with a slightly different aesthetic thanks to Lupe’s guidance and a bit of colorful paint.
When visiting The Pink Door Tea House, a lovely choice of four tea services is available, along with a lunch menu that includes delicious salads, soups, sandwiches, and more, for those who wish to stop by for a quick bite. The offerings include the Elegant Tea for $40 per person, the Garden Tea for $35 per person, the Classic Tea for $30 per person, and the Prince & Princess Tea—a favorite for children—costing $20 per person. Whatever service is chosen is sure to delight, with traditional afternoon tea staples, like freshly baked sweet scones served with Devonshire cream and lemon curd, intermingling with unique selections, like delectable stuffed tomatoes and sumptuous white chocolate–dipped strawberries drizzled with milk chocolate. The teas are meticulously sourced from local vendors and from exhibitors at World Tea Expo, with the Pink Door Tea House Blend, the tearoom’s signature fruity infusion of green tea flavored by strawberry and kiwi, being an obvious choice to try.
“When I decided to take this over, I made it my mission to bring back the teahouse to educate everybody on different teas,” Lupe proclaims. “I come from a Hispanic background, and [many of ] these are the teas I grew up with.” She also finds great reward in passing down the knowledge of English-style afternoon tea that she inherited from Miss May. The beauty of teatime isn’t that everyone sips the same cup of tea and exchanges complimentary words in unison, but rather that each person encounters a wonderfully different experience in which they can share with others and, in turn, pass on their stories and new discoveries. A splendid afternoon tea and a gateway to various cultures, ideas, and tastes awaits just behind a pretty pink door.
The Pink Door Tea House is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Reservations are recommended for the weekends.
