The Flagler Museum: Railcar No. 91 and Afternoon Tea at the Flagler Kenan Pavillion

Afternoon tea at the Flagler Kenan Pavillion

How does one cap off a long-awaited tour of a Palm Beach Gilded Age mansion? Optimally with afternoon tea and - bonus (!) - a visit to a luxury rail car from 1886. 

And, that's exactly what we did. 

The pavilion also houses Flager's private, luxury, train cars.

In January of this year, my husband, Chris, and I ventured to Palm Beach and paid a visit to the Flagler Museum, the onetime Gilded Age home of Henry Flagler, a co-fournder of Standard Oil, and his third wife, Mary Lily Kenan (for more on that, see our post, "The Flagler Museum: A Gilded Age mansion"). After a rewarding walk about the manse, we headed to the Flagler Kenan Pavillion for afternoon tea.

Entrance to tea venue

Beautiful views of the water

The Flagler Kenan Pavillion was built in 2005, in the Beaux Arts style, with floor to ceiling windows that showcase impressive views of the water and West Palm Beach. It's a perfect setting for tea time.

Entrance to the "palace on wheels"

Chris inside Railcar No. 91

But, before we sat down to pink lemonade and a pot of earl grey, we hopped on board Railcar No. 91, the "palace on wheels" built in 1886 for Henry Flagler. The cars provided the comforts of home with a master bedroom, bath and salon. Flagler used this until 1912, a year before his death, to survey work on his railway to Key West. 

The train car had all the comforts of home: tea kettle. .

...private bath

The private cars were impressive, but the tea could use a bit of work.

The "Railcar No. 91" tea room has much to recommend. The views are spectacular and the venue is pretty - open, bright and expansive. Once seated, we were served pink lemonade that was both a refreshing drink as well as a colorful accent to the table. 

Tea room features floor to ceiling windows

Small portions, but delicious tea

However, after that, the service slowed down and turned a little uneven. We waited a long time before we were served tea, but the table next to us had to wait even longer.  Sweets and savories came eventually, but they were exceedingly small and nothing beyond ordinary. 

Afternoon tea at Railcar No. 91 tea venue

Our servers were pushed on this particular day and it may have been we hit the tearoom on a perfect storm of unfortunate events. When we went to the gift shop, we remarked how the customer service rep at the counter was at the tea room just a few minutes earlier, waiting tables. She disclosed that she was called to "pinch hit" for afternoon tea service as they were short staffed.

Harney Whitehall tea, a delicious blend, served at home in Biltmore china

Overall, it didn't take away too much from our afternoon at the Flagler Museum and, on the plus side we truly liked the "Whitehall Tea" that was served. It's a delicious blend of black and oolong teas from Harney and we picked up a tin in the gift shop.

Gold tea service made by Tiffany for Mary Lily. Her initials are engraved on the set.

Another tea highlight of the Flagler Museum experience was viewing the family's collection of fine china and luxury serving ware, including a showstopper of "Gilded Age elegance" - an 18 karat gold tea service made by Tiffany & Co. exclusively for Mary Lily. In fact, the set is engraved with her initials. 

Tea, trains and gold in a Gilded Age: much to enjoy and, perhaps, just a little to polish up.

Whilst we do not have a gold tea service for today's (at home) Whitehall Tea brew, we are pouring it into our reproduction Severes china cup (purchased at another Gilded Age manse, Biltmore).