Marble House in Newport.

I’ve been a ton of times and I bet you have too.

The one spectacular thing I’m embarrassed to admit I missed over all my years of going to the mansions is the Chinese style tea house out on the back lawn that overlooks the water.

It wasn’t until 2019 that I finally got myself over there and got a good look at the gorgeous structure that Alva Vanderbilt Belmont had built beginning in 1912 — after her 2nd husband had died (more about all that in a second) and she was rallying the ladies of Newport and beyond around the Women’s Suffrage Movement.

Okay, let’s get into the gossip-y drama for a minute or two: Alva’s first husband, W.K. Vanderbilt, a grandson of the railroad tycoon Cornelius, had Marble House built for her as a birthday present for her 39th. She ultimately divorced him after he was less than faithful, marrying his friend Oliver Belmont (she had been quoted as saying that you marry the first time for money and the second for love, although Belmont was certainly no slouch in the wealth department), and moved across the street to Belcourt.

After her second husband died, however, she moved back (she’d kept M.H. as part of the divorce settlement from W.K.) and started work on the absolutely exquisite Tea House.

She brought in her go-to architects Hunt & Hunt from New York City, whose design for it was inspired by 12th century Sung dynasty temples, as well as builders directly from China. (And we thought those homes on the AD or Architectural Digest online tours were a big deal!)

Now, flash forward to 1977 when the Tea House was moved back 75 feet from the edge of the property for safety reasons, and then to 2016 when it underwent a big renovation.

These days it’s not so much a tea room in the classic sense as it is the most beautiful snack bar you’ll probably come across in these continental United States.

Still it is NOT to be missed next time you’re in the area and it is accessible as part of the entry fee to Marble House.

Oh, and another thing…one of the funniest tidbits I read online while researching this post was courtesy of someone who had toured the main house in the last few years and mentioned the resemblance between the family photos throughout and CNN news guy Anderson Cooper, who is in fact a descendant by way of his iconic mom, the late Gloria Vanderbilt.

+ This post has been updated and revised from one that has appeared previously on this site.