A mother-daughter team is introducing the formal high tea experience to the Magic Valley, drawing on decades of family tradition to create a gathering place where guests can slow down, dress up, and savor the moment.
Mrs. Fox’s Tea House, operated by Melanie Fox and her daughter Mallory Fox Jones, has been open for just three months — but it is already making a name for itself in the Twin Falls area. Weekend seatings on Fridays and Saturdays are filling up quickly, with regulars booking reservations in advance to secure a spot.
A Family Tradition Turned Business
The roots of Mrs. Fox’s Tea House stretch back generations. Melanie Fox recalled how the custom of gathering for tea began when Mallory was just five years old, with sisters, mothers, and daughters all sharing in the ritual.
“We grew up having tea,” Melanie said. “We started with my sister, myself, my daughter, my mother, who took her two daughters, and we would go to tea.”
That long-standing family practice became the foundation for a business the two women have built together. The tea house offers guests the chance to step into an experience that feels distinctly unhurried — a counterpoint to the pace of everyday life in the Magic Valley.
“It’s a place where you can dress up if you’d like to,” Melanie noted. “We’ve had people put on gloves, a pretty dress — it’s just a lot of fun.” Hats are welcome, though guests are never turned away for coming as they are.
Everything Made from Scratch, Every Day
What sets Mrs. Fox’s apart from a standard café experience is the commitment to handcrafted food. Mallory confirmed that the full menu is prepared from scratch daily, with no shortcuts. Guests can order individual items à la carte or opt for a full afternoon tea service, which brings a curated assortment of small treats alongside the guest’s chosen tea selection — scones and other bite-sized offerings that complement the experience.
“It’s a place to engage in conversation and just experience the tea with a scone and the little treats, and you just enjoy the day,” Melanie said.
The approach mirrors what other local entrepreneurs have found success with in the Magic Valley — a renewed appreciation for craftsmanship and quality in food. Filer’s only bakery, which operates out of a converted 115-year-old garage, has similarly built a following around scratch-made goods and a distinctive, community-rooted identity.
Word Spreading Fast Across the Region
Despite being open less than a quarter of a year, Mrs. Fox’s Tea House is already seeing strong demand. Mallory described the early momentum as driven almost entirely by word of mouth.
“Our weekends are definitely packed,” Mallory said. “Even the weekdays are getting busier. I think as more people come in and the word gets out, the busier we’ll be.”
The tea house represents the kind of locally owned, experience-driven business that has been quietly reshaping Magic Valley’s community character in recent years. From the Women’s Walk Across America passing through the region to unique small businesses opening their doors, Twin Falls and the surrounding communities continue to cultivate a distinctive local identity built on family, tradition, and entrepreneurship.
For the Fox family, the venture is as much about hospitality as it is about commerce. The tea house is designed to be a space where conversation is encouraged and the simple act of sharing a cup of tea becomes an event worth anticipating.
What Comes Next
Mrs. Fox’s Tea House is open for seatings on weekdays and weekends, with Friday and Saturday reservations recommended due to growing demand. As the establishment settles into its first year of operation, the mother-daughter team appears focused on growing their customer base organically while maintaining the scratch-made quality and personal touch that have already earned them a loyal following across the Magic Valley.