A grand afternoon tea in stately Beverly Hills just seems like the right thing to do at least once. You can get some of the best tea in L.A. at The Living Room in The Peninsula Hotel (9882 Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310/975-2736, www.peninsula.com, seatings at 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., $18–45). The Peninsula has three restaurants, but for tea head to the elegant Living Room and grab a comfy chair near the fireplace. Sit back and enjoy the delicate harp music while admiring the elegant and tasteful furnishings in this posh space.

If you skipped lunch or plan to miss dinner, go with the heartier Royal Tea or Imperial Tea. Lighter eaters prefer the Full Tea or the Light Tea. All come with tea sandwiches, scones, pastries, and, of course, a pot of tea. The loose-leaf teas are Peninsula originals; many are flavored. For an extra fee, you can add a glass of champagne to complete your high tea experience.

Dress properly for the occasion: Jackets are required even for tea. Ladies have more latitude, but shouldn’t show up in jeans and a T-shirt.