There is a moment every October when I stop wanting iced coffee and start wanting a proper pot of tea. The light gets lower, the afternoons get shorter and suddenly the idea of a hotel afternoon tea, with warm scones and a long table by the window, sounds like the most civilized plan in the world.

Afternoon tea is one of the easiest ways to enjoy a grand hotel without booking a room. You get the setting, the service and a few hours of slowing down. Here is where I would book this fall, starting at home in Boston and ending in London, where the tradition belongs.

Hotel Afternoon Tea in Boston

Boston does not have London’s long list of tea rooms, but the ones we have are lovely, and they feel especially right once the leaves start to turn.

1. Harbor Tea at Boston Harbor Hotel

For a view, this is my first pick. Boston Harbor Hotel serves Harbor Tea at Rowes Wharf Sea Grille, created with the French tea house Palais des Thés. The savory course leans into New England, with Vermont cheddar gougères and Maine lobster rolls alongside cucumber and mint sandwiches. The hotel lists service Thursday to Sunday in the afternoon, and reservations are through OpenTable. Ask for a table facing the water.

2. Trifecta at Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street

In the Back Bay, Trifecta at Four Seasons One Dalton offers a weekend afternoon tea with a seasonal menu, scones and the option to add caviar. The teas come from J’enwey Tea, a local tea company, and there is even a Dalton Bear Tea Party for children.

3. The Courtyard Tea Room at the Boston Public Library

This is the most Boston tea of all. The Courtyard Tea Room sits inside the library’s McKim Building in Copley Square, overlooking one of the most beautiful courtyards in the city. Expect tea sandwiches, scones and sweets, plus literary cocktails. I would go on a weekday afternoon and give yourself time to walk through the library afterward.

4. Tea-to-Go at Fairmont Copley Plaza

Fairmont Copley Plaza has served tea since the early 1900s, and right now it offers something a little different for overnight guests. Its Tea for Two package delivers MEM Tea and treats from the Courtyard Tea Room to your room, Wednesday to Sunday. You book it with your stay at least five days ahead. For a rainy fall weekend, tea in a robe sounds perfect to me.

5. Worth Watching: The Newbury Boston

The Newbury Boston has served afternoon tea in its Street Bar overlooking the Public Garden, with scones, lemon curd and Devonshire cream. Availability has been seasonal, so check the hotel’s site before you plan around it.

Hotel Afternoon Tea in London

London is where afternoon tea feels like theater. Every grand hotel has its own version, and in the fall, when it gets dark early, a long tea is the best way to spend the hours between a museum and dinner. If you are planning a whole trip, my comprehensive travel guide to London covers the rest.

6. The Ritz London, Palm Court

The classic, and for good reason. Tea at The Ritz is served in the gilded Palm Court with a pianist or harpist, and the hotel is the only one in the UK with a certified Tea Sommelier, according to Visit London. Dress the part and book well in advance.

7. Claridge’s, The Foyer & Reading Room

Claridge’s in Mayfair serves afternoon tea in The Foyer & Reading Room. It is elegant without feeling stiff, and it is the one I would choose for a celebration.

8. The Savoy, Thames Foyer

At The Savoy, tea is served in the Thames Foyer with a resident pianist. It sits close to Covent Garden and the theaters, which makes it easy to pair with a matinee.

9. The Langham, Palm Court

The Langham says guests have been taking afternoon tea there since 1865, which makes it a good choice for anyone who loves a sense of history. It is also convenient to Regent Street and Marylebone.

10. Raffles London at The OWO

For something newer, Raffles London at The OWO serves a “Secrets & Spies” afternoon tea in its Drawing Room, a nod to the building’s past as the Old War Office. You can add Champagne. I wrote more about the hotel itself in my Raffles London story.

11. Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park and The Carlton Tower Jumeirah

In Knightsbridge, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park serves afternoon tea at The Rosebery, and The Carlton Tower Jumeirah also has its own tea service. Both are ideal after a morning at Harrods or a walk in Hyde Park. You can read more in my stories on Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park and The Carlton Tower Jumeirah.

How to Book a Great Hotel Afternoon Tea

• Book early. The best London teas fill up weeks ahead, especially on weekends and in December.
• Ask about the dress code. Some London hotels expect smart dress. In Boston it is more relaxed, but I still think tea deserves a nice outfit.
• Go mid-afternoon on a weekday. It is quieter, and the service feels more personal.
• Plan dinner late or light. A full tea is a meal.
• Mention dietary needs when you book. Most hotels can adapt the menu with notice.

For more ideas on where to eat and drink this season, visit Santé Magazine.