The Queen’s Library Tea Room
221 East Clay Street • Richmond, Virginia 23219
804-215-6568 • queenslibrarytearoom.com
In early 2023, Clarissa and Daniel Luna were presented with an opportunity under difficult circumstances. Their friend Heather Van Cleave—who operated Queen Bee and Co. Tea Room in downtown Richmond—was diagnosed with breast cancer, and the business closed when Heather began chemotherapy. The Lunas decided to buy the tearoom, and the venue’s new chapter began.
The Lunas renamed the business The Queen’s Library Tea Room to pay homage to Heather as well as honor Clarissa’s great-aunt, Lillie M. Kleven, who worked to establish libraries overseas in the 1950s.
“My great-aunt, Lillie, and Heather, our namesake, were both everyday women who did something beautiful—they brought people together,” Clarissa says. “Their stories are full of resilience, love, and the ability to create warmth no matter what they would face. It’s a picture of hope, and that’s something worth sharing.”
While the venue was originally located on West Main Street, Clarissa says they quickly outgrew the space and moved a couple blocks over. Now housed in a historic 100-year-old building in the heart of downtown Richmond’s historic Jackson Ward district, The Queen’s Library Tea Room features antique furnishings and fine china in an English-style setting. Their afternoon tea experience features a Fortnum & Mason tea flight, which aims to introduce guests to the finest teas from around the world. The teas are shipped directly from Fortnum & Mason in London to give patrons a true English tea experience. Guests can also delight in the lavish “Richmond’s Favorites” tea tower, which features an array of treats ranging from British classics to local favorites.
“We wanted to create something that honored classic British tea traditions while also celebrating the incredible flavors we have here in Richmond,” Clarissa says. “Our most requested bite is the goat cheese truffle—something savory that pairs beautifully with our tea selection. We also serve freshly baked scones from Two and a Half Irishmen, a local Irish bakery that makes the closest thing we’ve found to a true British scone. And for something fun, we always include coconut macaroons. Each item on the tea tower is meant to complement the tea flight of four different teas, so guests get to experience different flavors and pairings throughout their visit.”
Afternoon tea pricing is $55 per person and $42 per child under 8 on Tuesdays through Fridays. On Saturdays, the price is $65 per person and $48 per child under 8. Children 2 and under have no additional cost.
In addition to the standard afternoon tea experience, the venue also offers special tea experiences on select dates, such as a Mother’s Day Tea and a Queen Elsa’s Tea for children.
Clarissa says her favorite part about owning The Queen’s Library Tea Room is bringing people together.
“Just this past month, we had a family celebrate their grandmother’s 104th birthday over tea,” Clarissa says. “Another guest shared that her mom’s last outing before she passed was here at the tearoom, and their final picture together was taken at their table. We’ve even had a marriage proposal happen during teatime. It’s those moments—the ones that mark a milestone, honor a memory, or simply bring people together for good conversation—that make this all worth it. We are just here to set the table, but the stories and the people are what make it special. It’s an incredible honor to play even the smallest part in that.”
Clarissa adds that Heather is now cancer-free and doing well.
“We hosted her book signing at the tearoom one year after opening as a celebration of her journey,” Clarissa says. “She’s now a lifetime member of The Queen’s Library Tea Room, and she knows she has a seat at the table anytime she wants. It’s been so special to see her story continue, and to know that this space played even a small role in that.”
The Queen’s Library Tea Room is open Tuesday through Saturday with teatimes Tuesday through Friday at 12 p.m., Friday at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m., and Saturday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Clarissa adds that teatimes are by reservation-only and are designed as a two-hour experience so that guests have plenty of time to enjoy their tea and conversation.
