Indulge in the warmth and charm of NYC’s Coziest Tea Houses, where the allure of a steaming cup of tea triumphs over the ubiquitous coffee culture. As winter embraces the city, there is nothing quite like the richness of tea, a mood-boosting elixir that transcends the ordinary. Amidst the bustling cafes and bars scattered across New York City, discover the hidden gems. Blissful teahouses that beckon with strong aromatic brews, delectable scones, and irresistible desserts.
Having lived in the city for over three, our tea journey has taken us to iconic spots like the Baccarat Hotel’s crystal-clad Grand Salon and the enchanting Kings’ Carriage House for afternoon tea extravaganzas. Yet, beyond these well-known haunts, New York unfolds as a treasure trove of tea havens dedicated to enthusiasts seeking more than just regular tea lattes.
In this edition of our New York City winter special series, we are thrilled to guide you through The Big Apple’s tea odyssey. Whether you savor the timeless English cuppa or frequently indulge in Japanese umami matcha, the concrete jungle unveils a myriad of choices to satisfy your authentic tea cravings.
So, bundle up in your warm, snuggly outfits as we present to you New York City’s Coziest Tea Houses. Embrace the chill with a cup of hot, flavorful tea, accompanied by scones and mouthwatering snacks that promise to make your winter days truly delightful.
15 Amazing Tea Houses Serving the Best Afternoon Tea in New York City
1. The Parisian Tea Room
In the lavish world of NYC’s Coziest Tea Houses, the ornate Parisian Tea Room stands as a living testament to the French legacy of the 1920s. Karen Elizabeth Lozner, a Fashion Institute of Technology graduate, redefines the fusion of sewing art and the classic Parisian high tea.
Indulge yourself in an atmosphere adorned with custom-designed white and gold porcelain crockery by Bernardaud and Christofle gold flatware. Delight your palate with culinary masterpieces crafted by award-winning French chefs, making this place ideal for private parties, romantic dates, and indulgent moments of afternoon tea, breakfast, and brunch.
Explore a diverse array of decoctions from across the globe, from the spiced allure of Indian milk tea [Chai Imperial] to the mellow notes of English breakfast tea, aromatic South African Rooibos, herbal infusions, green tea, and more. Caffeine enthusiasts can revel in the lineup of espresso, latte, and the signature Organza Bleu Hot Chocolate, imported from France.
INSTAGRAM HANDLE
347 West 36th Street —Hell’s Kitchen
(212) 500-8430
2. Prince Tea House
Explore the inviting world of NYC’s Coziest Tea Houses with the renowned Prince Tea House chain, boasting eight locations across the city. A familiar favorite among seasoned New Yorkers. This Chinatown venue is a captivating oasis, blending dreamy aesthetics with modern elegance and posh furnishings.
Indulge in their exquisite afternoon tea, elegantly presented on a triple-tiered stand. A curated selection of assorted snacks, from delectable desserts to savory finger sandwiches, accompanies the tea of your choice. Bookings cater to intimate groups of two to four, ensuring a delightful experience.
The extensive menu may pose a delightful dilemma but fear not. Whether you crave the robust flavors of Chinese green tea, fruit-forward infusions, soothing milk teas, or non-caffeinated delights, there is an endless array to warm your soul on chilly days. The choices are abundant, promising discoveries on every visit.
Delight your taste buds with their Must-Try offerings. Fresh house-made crepes, waffle ice cream, Lavender Green Milk Tea, Brown Sugar Bubble Milk Crepe, Tiramisu, and Purple Yam Souffle. Prince Tea House invites you to elevate your tea experience, blending taste and tranquility at the heart of NYC’s Coziest Tea Houses.
INSTAGRAM HANDLE
- 204 East 10th Street—East Village
(917) 388-2778 - 6122 7th Avenue—Dyker Heights
(929) 337-7150 - 324 5th Avenue—Midtown West
- 8510 21st Avenue—Bensonhurst
(718) 975-5077 - 134 Bowery—Little Italy
(646) 892-3160 - 15 Station Square—Forest Hills
(718) 971-1088 - 36-39 Prince Street—Flushing
(917) 285-2523 - 324B New Dorp Lane—Oakwood [Staten Island]
(929) 365-4625
3. Lady Mendl’s Tea Salon
Step into the enchanting world of NYC’s Coziest Tea Houses and discover the hidden gem at the 19th-century Georgian brownstone in Gramercy Park. Do not miss the small tea plaque—enter through the classic French door for an hour-long, five-course afternoon tea at Lady Mendl’s Tea Salon.
Lady Mendl’s, a small and glorious tea parlor, invites you with Victorian-style wood-paneled interiors and vintage armchairs. Experience an unconventional menu filled with surprises. Rounds of tea servings paired with seasonal soups, finger sandwiches, chocolate-coated strawberries, mini-scones [served with Devonshire clotted cream], and macarons.
Famous for its unique tea offerings like Earl Grey and full-bodied English Breakfast, this place is a haven for tea enthusiasts. Indulge in their creamy, ecru-hued oolong tea with notes of coconut and vanilla, a delightful treat that’s truly irresistible. And if you’re a fan of exquisite desserts, a return visit is a must for their twenty-one-layered smooth vanilla cream crêpe. Lady Mendl’s Tea Salon promises an extraordinary tea experience, inviting you to savor each moment in the heart of NYC’s Coziest Tea Houses.
INSTAGRAM HANDLE
56 Irving Place —Gramercy Park
(212) 533-4600
4. Alice’s Tea Cup—CHAPTER II
Step into the enchanting realm of NYC’s Coziest Tea Houses at all three Alice’s Tea Cup locations across Manhattan. Chapter II, a spacious café, is the perfect setting for a family gathering or midday tea party. With lively vibes, quirky interiors, mint green walls, and cute murals, it brings Lewis Carroll’s magical wonderland to life.
The knowledgeable staff at Alice’s Tea Cup guides you through a tea journey, brewing ingredients to perfection for a rich taste and everlasting aroma. Explore their expansive tea menu through Instagram posts—with over a hundred options, each visit promises something new.
Make it your ultimate breakfast destination, indulging in unlimited tea, sandwiches, and delectable scones [Oreo chocolate—oh so yummy]. Do not miss the smoked salmon sandwich—a recommendation that will not disappoint. Savor the Maté Carnival tea egg-salad finger sandwiches with mayonnaise and watercress for a unique twist. Alice’s Tea Cup invites you to a tea experience where every visit is a delightful exploration in the heart of NYC’s Coziest Tea Houses.
INSTAGRAM HANDLE
156 East 64th Street—Upper East Side
(212) 486-9200
102 West 73rd Street—Upper West Side
(212) 799-3006
43 Hicks Street—Brooklyn Heights
(347) 223-4830
5. Tea & Sympathy
Step into the cozy haven of NYC’s Coziest Tea Houses at Tea & Sympathy, your go-to destination for authentic British comfort cuisine. Immerse yourself in the London flair with an array of tea strains from around the world, including UK native Typhoo, Ceylonese blends, and Rooibos, all featured on an extensive tea menu.
Warm your heart with a cup of Cadbury hot chocolate on a chilly evening. And you must indulge in the uber-delicious Sticky Toffee Pudding [served with freshly made warm custard], scones [with clotted cream and jam], and the irresistible Chicken Pot Pie.
After a satisfying afternoon treat, embark on a thrilling trip to their nearby merch. Indulge in a delightful shopping spree to acquire stunning British imports, including embellished teacups, pots, Cadbury chocolates, jams, and more. Tea & Sympathy welcomes you to an experience where every sip and bite is a journey into the heart of NYC’s Coziest Tea Houses.
INSTAGRAM HANDLE
108 Greenwich Avenue—Greenwich Village
(212) 989 9735
6. T Shop
Indulge in the enchanting world of NYC’s Coziest Tea Houses at T Shop, a haven for tea devotees exploring single-origin teas from Taiwan, China, and Korea. More than a tasting spot, it is a loose tea shop and a cozy tea room.
Gather your friends for a delightful tea experience—book a table for four and brew your tea in a super cool Gong Fu-style setup. You have an hour for the entire process. For tea enthusiasts, reserve a date for an hour-long Tea Journey program. Indulge in three decadent varieties from their selection and exclusive private collection.
Meet the founders, Theresa Wong, a specialist in East Asian tea, and her partner Hyun Lee, learned in tisane and Korean tea. They travel to various Asian tea farms, sourcing the highest quality tea cultigens.
Warm up in the colder season with picks like Honey Oolong, 1998 Shou Pu-erh, and Hadong Hwang Cha. If you are looking for a Valentine’s gift for the tea lover, stop at this cute shop for gift sets, porcelain and Yixing teaware, canisters, and more. T Shop invites you to a tea adventure in the heart of NYC’s Coziest Tea Houses.
INSTAGRAM HANDLE
247 Elizabeth Street—Nolita, SoHo
7. The Russian Tea Room
Step into the glamorous world of NYC’s Coziest Tea Houses at The Russian Tea Room, an icon of sophistication and pre-theater culture since 1927. Nestled in golden-gilded embellishment, a crystal bear aquarium, and comfy seatings, it is one of New York City’s coziest tea houses.
Whether on a family holiday or hanging out with friends, make a stop for afternoon tea with delectable snacks. Explore a small selection of popular tea preps from around the world—traditional English Breakfast tea [Ceylon tea], sweet chamomile tea, mint verbena, Formosa oolong, Rooibos, and the classic Darjeeling black tea. Your tea experience includes sandwiches, blinis, and desserts on a three-tiered platter.
Next holiday, indulge in the specialty festive menu for Christmas [visit during other holidays as well], adding a touch of celebration to your tea time.
INSTAGRAM HANDLE
150 W 57th Street—Midtown West
(212) 581-7100
8. Physical GraffiTea
Step into the vintage vibes of NYC’s Coziest Tea Houses at the basement shop adorned with a wooden plaque, a nod to Led Zeppelin’s famous 1975 Physical GraffiTea album. Explore the stretchy shelves filled with a collection of two hundred loose, fair trade, and organic teas, including medicinal herbal blends.
Discover an array of choices, from artistic red pagoda from Yunnan province to fruity green tea blends and luxury cloud forest rainbow, catering to white, black, green, oolong, or flower tea enthusiasts. The real gem lies in medicinal blends with formulas for specific health conditions like arthritis, detox, allergy relief, and immunity boosters.
You need not be a tea connoisseur to purchase loose tea at Physical GraffiTea. Founder Ilana is knowledgeable about blends, offering steeping suggestions for accurate water temperature and leaves re-usage. The staff creates custom tea mixes based on your preferences, offering homemade infusions for tasting before taking them home.
If you love learning about tea, attend classes held on the first Monday of every month at 7:30 PM. Dive into tea histories, brewing lessons, and unique tea attributes, expanding your knowledge in the heart of NYC’s Coziest Tea Houses.
INSTAGRAM HANDLE
96 St Marks Place—East Village
(212) 581-7100
9. Brooklyn High Low
Step into the warmth of NYC’s Coziest Tea Houses at Brooklyn High Low in the heart of Prospect Heights. Escape the city bustles and indulge in the luxury of afternoon low tea in this cozy tea room adorned with vintage-frilled interiors and cushiony armchairs and sofas.
Enjoy a triple treat with bottomless tea servings of sandwiches, scones, and sweets [Chocolate Mousse Macaroons]. The freshly baked, warm, and buttery scones are a highlight, served with your teapot. Explore the incredible tea menu with choices ranging from classic Yorkshire to Welsh brews, Irish breakfast black tea, fruity green tea, herbal infusions, and delightful medleys.
The responsible staff inquires about dietary restrictions before taking orders, ensuring a safe dining experience for all guests. For vegetarian customers, there are separate arrangements, a rare find in other tea houses and cafes.
Make a summer visit for a fabulous teatime experience at their rooftop space. Brooklyn High Low invites you to unwind and savor the flavors in the heart of NYC’s Coziest Tea Houses.
INSTAGRAM HANDLE
611 Vanderbilt Avenue—Prospect Heights
(646) 907-9467
10. Brooklyn Tea
Brooklyn Tea was originally an online store in 2017 that garnered popularity at events and festivals. The growing fandom led to the creation of charming tearooms in Bed-Stuy and Atlanta, SW, making it the prime hub for the local tea community across the borough.
Owned by Ali and Jamila, Brooklyn Tea serves sixty tea varieties, small bites, and lunch snacks. The small menu caters to savories [wraps], pastries, cookies, and muffins, focusing on vegan customers.
What sets them apart? Ali and Jamila aim to build a community of tea lovers beyond just a business. Experience the unique ‘smelling wall’ with tea jars filled with fruity, nutty, woody, and floral notes. Guests can open the jars to enjoy the essence. Visitors can also play games, access wifi, and read books from the store’s bookshelf.
On Tuesdays, tea enthusiasts are treated to unforgettable steeping insights, tea science, history, and origins. Reserve your date for an interactive tasting session with Alonso ‘Ali’ [certified tea sommelier] and Jamila Wright. Brooklyn Tea invites you to join the tea-loving community in the heart of NYC’s Coziest Tea Houses.
INSTAGRAM HANDLE
411 Lewis Avenue—Stuyvesant Heights
212) 581-7100
11. 29B Teahouse
Step into the realm of NYC’s Coziest Tea Houses at29B Teahouse, originally a pop-up store and private tea-sourcing venue by founder Stefen Ramirez, is now a unique hub of organic tea in America, offering the finest tea cultivars.
29B blends the elegance of a premiere Japanese-influenced restaurant, a bohemian bar, and a traditional gong fu cha house. It is a drinking den where you can enjoy tea-infused beer, wine, soju, and sake. Above all, it is a store selling tea sourced from prominent locations in Japan, Korea, India, China, and Taiwan.
Ramirez, a former tea expert at Itoen and a visitor to the Urasenke tea school in Kyoto, is dedicated to selecting rare organic strains processed with natural ingredients. The tea room exudes unostentatious vibes, featuring artistic Japanese pottery and top-notch brewing apparatus.
Choose to sit at Ramirez’s bar for a drink or opt for table seating for a relaxed dining experience. Explore an expansive lineup of tea-infused concoctions and non-alcoholic beverages made with rare Tisane [Woojeon] from the Jiri mountains of South Korea. Don’t miss their matcha and rice beer cocktail. 29B Teahouse invites you to savor unique tea experiences in the heart of NYC’s Coziest Tea Houses.
INSTAGRAM HANDLE
29 Avenue B—East Village
(646) 864-0093
12. Puerh Brooklyn
Puerh Brooklyn is a tea parlor, a haven for the finest Pu-erh tea and cakes. With over twenty varieties of fermented Pu-erh and selections from India, Nepal, Ceylon, China, Taiwan, and Japan, the tea shop offers a diverse range of black, red, white, yellow, green, and oolong teas.
Experience the quintessence of the place in the Zen-style tea room with cement walls [shoes and gadgets not allowed]. The ambiance is highlighted by hand-dyed garments, teaware, canisters, wooden tables, and other goodies.
Escape the hustle of the concrete jungle and indulge in meditation over a tea session in this tranquil space. Guests are seated on black, feathery-soft pillows on the carpet for a tasting of choice teas like gyokuro or sheng puerh. Co-owner and founder Gabriel Grippo provides several options to match your taste.
Explore their store featuring gift sets, mini-Pu-erh cakes, books, and packed teas. Whether it’s make-at-home Early Grey tea packs or wild forest coins from Nannuo Mountain, there are hot picks to enjoy your tea at home. This tea parlor invites you to savor moments of tranquility in the heart of NYC’s Coziest Tea Houses.
INSTAGRAM HANDLE
174 Grand Street—Williamsburg
(347) 510-8136
13. Floating Mountain Tea House
Step into the serene atmosphere of NYC’s Coziest Tea Houses at Floating Mountain Tea House [on the second floor]—a hidden gem owned and managed by Elina Medvedeva. Immerse yourself in East Asian teahouse vibes within a modern minimalist art gallery setting.
This tea parlor is a celebration of Chinese tea culture, boasting over ninety strains, including green tea, red tea, white tea, yellow tea, oolong, and Pu-erh sourced from various tea gardens in Mainland China. Explore unique flavors, from Single Tree Wulong to Fujian Cliff Wulong to Liu An Hei Cha, catering to different moods and tastes.
Floating Mountain offers a clean, well-illuminated, and cozy space to relax with friends. Make a reservation for a chance to grab a seat by the arched window – just remember to take off your shoes before entering.
Elina extends her passion for tea through ‘Art of Tea’ workshops, including Tea Serving Basics, Tea Ceremony, and Gong Fu, aimed at expanding Floating Mountain not just for business but for the love of tea. Join in and savor the tranquility at NYC’s Coziest Tea Houses.
INSTAGRAM HANDLE
239 West 72nd Street [second floor]—Upper West Side
(646) 541-0636
14. Kettl Tea
Kettl is a unique tearoom nestled on the second floor above the popular Japanese restaurant and ramen center Okonomi/Yuji Ramen.
Owned by Zach and Minami Mangan, Kettl stands out as more than just another Japanese tea house in the heart of New York City. The Mangans directly import top-rated tea from Japanese tea farms, ensuring unparalleled quality at unbeatable prices. Zach’s month-long journey across Japan led him to discover rare tea produce available only in local markets, adding exclusivity to Kettl’s offerings.
Indulge in the authentic flavors of Japanese gyokuro, matcha, and sencha at this teahouse. Kettl features exceptional single-varietal black teas like Ureshino and Yame, offering fruity notes of apricot, grape skin, and osmanthus. Explore tamaryokucha from Kyūshū and kyo iribancha with liberating flavors of pine resin and tobacco.
To sweeten the experience, do not miss their delightful Mont Blanc and Matcha soft serve—a treat that adds to the charm of NYC’s Coziest Tea Houses.
INSTAGRAM HANDLE
70 Greenpoint Avenue—Greenpoint
(917) 909-1309
15. Kolkata Chai Co.
Step into the flavorful realm of NYC’s Coziest Tea Houses at Kolkata Chai Co., an emerging gem in New York City’s vibrant tea landscape. Founded in 2019 by brothers Ayan and Ani Sanyal, this tea room brings the culinary traditions of Kolkata, the Cultural Capital of India, to the heart of New York City.
Indulge in a menu that captures the essence of Kolkata’s street food, from the uber-delicious egg rolls to chaat specialties. The café offers a taste of authenticity with oat milk spiced tea, providing a unique blend of flavors that transport you to the bustling streets of India. Fluent in Bengali, the brothers create an ‘adda’ ambiance, offering a space for face-to-face chatting with friends at their premier locations in Nolita and East Village. Experience the cultural fusion at Kolkata Chai Co., adding to the allure of NYC’s Coziest Tea Houses.
INSTAGRAM HANDLE
199 East 3rd Street—East Village
(646) 892-3023
Cherish the Essence of the Best Teas on the Planet in Every Sip at NYC’s Coziest Tea Houses
NYC’s Coziest Tea Houses beckon with a global symphony of flavors—where a diverse palette unfolds. From the warmth of traditional Indian masala chai to the rarest cultivars sourced from the distant peaks of East Asia. Amidst their inviting ambiance, these tea havens offer a reprieve from kitchen duties, ensuring an opulent experience with each delightful sip.
Many of these tea houses feature fascinating merchandise counters boasting loose teas, spiced tea mixes, and charming tea sets—thoughtful gifts for friends. These éclat tea rooms are hidden gems, bringing diverse food cultures from across the globe to the Empire City. It is time to reserve your seat at one of these cozy hotspots and enjoy the festive treats with your favorite cup of magic.
