Food

Top 5 tea places in New York

Published on December 6, 2020

Few things are more satisfyingly decadent than afternoon tea on a weekday or a Sunday spent leisurely with friends. The luxe three-tier affair, involving savories, scones, sweets, and lots of tea, is serious business in New York City, with a huge range of options. Some hotels have giant tea menus, while other shops take pride in a small, curated selection. Some focus more energy on the food with a full meal’s size worth, others on the tea itself. From big name hotels to tiny neighborhood gems, there’s an afternoon tea service to suit every mood (from cozy and casual to formal and sophisticated) and budget (prices on this map range from $25 to $150 a person).

Etiquette certainly is a part of the tea’s tradition, but rules have relaxed in the centuries since. Some things to keep in mind, though, are eating from the bottom tier up — that means savories first, then scones, and finally sweets — eating the bottom half of a scone first, with jam and preserves spread on before the cream, and feeling free to take home leftovers. Finally: This endeavor is called afternoon tea — a pleasurable afternoon affair of small savory and sweet bites accompanied by tea — not high tea, which is considered an early evening supper.

Located in the heart of Greenwich Village, Tea & Sympathy has been serving up a taste of England since 1991. Afternoon tea comes with dainty finger sandwiches, scones crowned with clotted cream and jam, a selection of cakes and, of course, a pot of tea. (Choose from a wide array of signature blended teas like mango and blackcurrant.)

Serengti teas- It’s tea time in Harlem! With over 12 tea collections we’ll explore the holistic healing teas. What’s most important is to not only taste the tea, but learn about its special remedies. The finest teas will be served to you by a tea master. Together we’ll explore three different teas and as a holistic health counselor, I’ll show you the health benefits of these amazing teas.

At Alice’s Tea Cup, afternoon tea is geared toward everyone, not just those with an overflowing wallet. The Alice in Wonderland-themed restaurant delightfully leans into the beloved franchise: the three afternoon tea styles are dubbed The Nibble, The Mad Hatter and The Jabberwocky, each overflowing with unlimited tea in charmingly mismatched cups, scones, sandwiches and mini cookies.

During high tea at The Williamsburg Hotel, tea, like wild persimmon and aromatic quince, is gently poured into multicolored, one-of-a-kind teacups. On the food side, the usual sandwiches and sweets are subbed for lemon meringue tarts, squat squares of carrot cake and hefty wedges of avocado toast, all baked at the Brooklyn Bread Lab. The $60-per-person spread is available only Friday through Sunday.

This attractive Nomad spot, opened in April 2018 as an offshoot of nearby Blank Slate Coffee + Kitchen, caters to a latte-’gramming clientele, with its floral wallpaper and pastel pink banquettes. The affordable afternoon tea is priced at $28 per person, though it’s a more casual environment, as most customers come for a quick matcha, not leisurely tea service. Expect hipper, healthier savory food options here than the usual tea fare, like avocado and hummus toasts.