Afternoon tea, Angelino style

Best picks for afternoon tea throughout Los Angeles and Southern California.

"At the Ritz, you'll sip your tea with the ocean breeze in your hair, gazing at the lovely panoramas of the marina from your table. The Ritz Royal Afternoon Tea is a swanky occasion, where classic fare is transformed with a contemporary twist."

Grande Dane: Danish Delights in Solvang, California

For sweet aficionados this side of the pond, European confectionery delight can be sampled just a hop, skip and a jaunt from Los Angeles. Without having to fly to Denmark to embark on this culinary journey, one can get their pastry fix in Solvang, California, a Danish village located in Santa Barbara county.

Iceland's Wild Culinary Traditions: Hákarl and Brennivín

Hákarl (or kæstur hákarl) is perhaps Iceland's most infamous traditional delicacy. This eye-popping blast to the palate will drive tears to your eyes, and likely cause your gag reflex to flare up at first bite. Most commonly served with toothpicks as bite-sized cubes resembling cheese, these harmless looking babies reveal no hint of the overpowering aroma that awaits adventurous foodies.

Seattle Culinary Vacations: Top Hotels for Foodies

It's no secret that Seattle is a gourmet wonderland for foodies. Emphasizing fresh local ingredients, Pacific Northwest chefs are constantly seeking creative combinations of ingredients. Although you'll fare pretty well in Seattle eating wherever you happen to be once your stomach rumbles, there is definitely something wonderful about staying at a hotel with a restaurant good enough to be a destination itself.

Santa Barbara's True Taste of Italy: Olio Pizzeria

Just an hour drive from Los Angeles, you'll find great Italian cuisine well worth the jaunt out of town. At Olio Pizzeria, which translates to (olive) oil pizzeria, you'll encounter deliciously authentic thin crust pies prepared with abundant portions of olive oil and cooked in traditional wood-burning ovens just like they do back in Italy.

Learning the Art of Moroccan Cooking in Marrakech

Pastilla, or meat pies encased in puff pastry and covered with powdered sugar and cinnamon, savory lamb tajines, and hot mint tea don’t even begin to scratch the surface of this complex culinary culture. Moroccan cooking is an exciting mix of exotic spices and flavorful meats layered upon a foundation that pays homage to the French culinary arts.

Beijing Kitchen: Northern Chinese Cuisine by Way of Macau

Located inside the lobby of the Grand Hyatt, Beijing Kitchen is dedicated to Northern Chinese cuisine, outfitted with sleek, modern design. Not only do the chefs all hail from the northern capital, but the must-try Beijing duck is served three ways here, with the extra special treat of a chef outfitted in a white hat who personally carves your duck in front of you.

Spain's Love Affair with Ham: Museo del Jamon

How Spaniards love their ham! Everywhere you go in Spain you'll encounter windows and ceilings filled with ham hocks and restaurants showcasing full pig legs on a chopping block. In Madrid the Museo del Jamon (Museum of Ham) food chain is the quick and easy place to go for breakfast, bocadillos, cervezas, or a much needed snack after a long day of walking.

Catal Restaurant and Uva Bar: Spanish Cuisine at Downtown Disney

Catal is a must try restaurant serving up Spanish cuisine just steps from Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. Chef Nicholas Weber has been creating mouth-watering meals for Catal, a member of Patina Restaurant Group, since 1997. The menu varies seasonally, but always begins with tapas like Marinated Spanish Olives with pickled guindilla peppers, or Crispy Pork Chicharrónes dusted with chili-limon.

Cuban Desserts in Los Angeles: Porto's Bakery and Cafe

Seeking delicious baked goods with a Cuban twist? Then Porto's Bakery and Cafe in Burbank has you covered. This busy shop is always hopping, a result of its famous pastries, savory lunch specialities, and reasonable prices.

Lola: Unique Greek and North African Eats in Seattle

In Seattle hungry eaters in search of gourmet Mediterranean and North African fusion fare swarm to Lola, where Greek cuisine is reinterpreted with zesty inventiveness. Dishing up sophisticated takes on classic Mediterranean staples, dishes are prepared with fresh local produce, the cornerstone of Pacific Northwest cuisine.

Royal/T: A taste of Japan in Culver City

A purple neon crown glows among the fake ivy that blankets the entire facade of Royal/T, a cafe, shop, and art gallery located steps from downtown Culver City. Royal/T is a Japanese-style cosplay (costume play) café, so the staff wear Japanese lolita maid costumes. Inspired by the meido kissa (maid cafes) of Tokyo, this eclectic art space has an equally eclectic menu that includes great dessert items.