Callisto Tea House — Restaurant in Altadena

Callisto Tea House has been a favorite of mine for at least a year, yet I haven't shared until now. I've been selfish, trying to keep the place my little secret. But that's not fair. Callisto deserves the praise and to reap the accolades of embodying exactly what a teahouse should be.

Any place can sell a decent cup of tea, or have a clever interior with relatable artwork, but the true spirit of tea is in the experience. A teahouse should be welcoming, offering hospitality with an unassuming and gentle aesthetic. A place for a kind conversation, and for thoughtfulness. That is a teahouse, and that is exactly what Callisto offers. Each time I walk through the door, I can feel tension leave my shoulders. Sometimes I stop by for a quick visit, sometimes I linger for hours, but long stay or short, I enjoy every minute.

The tea is top notch, and expertly prepared. The crew knows how to represent each variety to guide you towards exactly what you're looking for. I'm partial to hot tea, but Callisto brings an excellent iced tea preparation and cold brews that stand tall on 100-degree days. The tea list is updated periodically, as it should be, as certain options are seasonal. And if you're looking to bring a piece home with you, they have loose leaf and teaware for sale.

There is an assortment of light bites that pair seamlessly with the tea. I love the scones, generally savory. And they have mini toasts with toppings ranged from local marmalades, roasted red pepper spread with walnut, cucumber with herbed cashew cream cheese, and more. Plus a few baked goods appropriate for those who like something a bit sweet. The scones, the sourdough for the toasts, the cookies, it's all baked in house, and it's all delicious.

Callisto is always a little busy without being too busy. It's a place to read, catch up with a pal, or get some work done. It's the little things that take this shop to the next level, and I think they get that. I'm a fan of how they always ask if I would like to choose my own teacup from their collection. I generally ask them to surprise me. And when they bring me a particular cup because it's their favorite and they want to tell me about it, I can see the chat as the genuine gesture of connection that it is.

If you need a cup of tea, yes. If you want to learn about tea, yes. If you're a tea veteran and have been looking for a local place to kick back and recharge, yes. I've chatted with the owners and they are lovely people, you can tell that this teahouse is a work of passion for them. And that positivity really shines through in their work and the establishment as a whole. I've had a handful of favorite teahouses over the years, but it had been a while. I am very lucky to have Callisto in the...

Ooooo la la! I found a hidden gem in Pasadena/Altadena/SGV area!

Came here for the afternoon tea (RSVP in advance) and it was so delightful. it is not the traditional english tea where you can get elsewhere. the afternoon tea has a modern twist, and has more unique choices of tea.

ordered the First Snow Jasmine and Hummingbird. The jasmine was so fragrant. you could smell it from the moment it was poured and it continued to my taste buds, it was just so perfect. hummingbird was different than other black tea I've tried, it has a warming aftertaste. neither of the tea has the typical bitterness; you know the tea is brewed to perfection.

the afternoon tea menu: the 3 little toasts, scone and the cupcakes were served in the perfect portion. everything was absolutely delicious. I usually don't care for cupcakes BUT these are so moist and light. worth every calories! my favorite was the red pepper toast, I need to come back for more of them, and get more of the first snow jasmine or try their other goodies.

they also have cold brewed tea, i think it would be so refreshing on a hot day. they let you smell the loose tea before you decide if this is something you want to try.

you can tell the owners are very passionate about tea. everything in the store, from the tea, goodies down to the decor and display, reflect their hard work, and how much they want to share this with the community.

Please do yourself a favor and come check...

Really kind customer service- offered to set up a table for us outside so we could enjoy our experience with my friend's dog. It was a bit chilly so we declined, but we appreciated the gesture.

I was a bit indecisive, but they were patient, describing the teas and letting me smell them. I ended up ordering the Snow Mountain Sheng Pu'er gong fu service and the tea snacks. I was a bit skeptical about the tea snack quantity, but it looked interesting.

The first brew started out clean with a crystal sugar sweetness with a light floral. While it had a slightly astrigent mouthfeel, there was no bitterness at all. The vegetal aftertaste morphed into an incense flavor. In subsequent brews, the smoky flavor is the predominant flavor, but maybe around the 6th steeping the sweetness returns to the forefront. We shared the tea between 3 people and probably did somewhere between 8-10 steepings.

The snacks were very good accompaniments! The dried hawthorne berries had a carmel flavor that really complemented the tea. The snacks were also gluten and dairy free so my friend could eat it! It looks small, but it lasted a while between 2 people and was very satisfying. I thought of it as nibble treats that enhance the...