About The Royal Tea Room

  My name is Michelle.

I was raised in the suburbs of Chicago, and as an only child, my relationship with my parents was central to my life. As an adult, my mom and I became best friends and adopted the tradition of enjoying afternoon tea for special occasions. 

One of our favorite places to enjoy afternoon tea was The Drake hotel in Chicago where their website boasts “even the Queen and Princess Diana have made their royal visits here.” We’d sip delicious hot tea while listening to the harpist in The Palm Court and have the most wonderful conversations. Throughout the years, we even made our way to the gorgeous Ashford Castle in County Mayo Ireland and enjoyed afternoon tea in a posh hotel in London. 

Afternoon tea has held a special part of my life and my memories for as long as I can remember, not just with my mom, but with family, friends and so many people I have loved through the years. 

My mom passed away in September 2022. As I grieve(d) the loss of my mom, I so often reflected on those times we enjoyed at afternoon tea; how we’d laugh, share stories and sit in enjoyment of one another. 

In January 2024, I left my career as a 911 police dispatcher to open The Royal Tea Room. I wanted to create a space that would allow mothers, daughters, friends, sisters and so many others to make those same forever memories my mom and I so often shared, and offer a place to sit in the enjoyment of one another. 

I hope you find joy and comfort at The Royal Tea Room. I hope it is a place you make incredible memories with the people you enjoy spending time with, and a place you make new friends.