hhusted

Best Teahouses in NYC

If you are looking for a place to relax and soothe your soul, while enjoying a nice cup of tasty tea, here is a list of the best places that serve tea.

Can anyone think of any more teahouses in NYC that they consider the best?

1. Alice's Tea Cup - This place is like an Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. They serve Herbal Detox Blend, a mix of alfalfa, dandelion, nettle bush, plantain, red clover and mint. They also serve a pot of tea and two dense scones for only $10. You can locate them at three locations including the following:

102 W 73rd St at Columbus Ave
212-799-3006

156 E 64th St at Lexington Ave
212-486-9200

220 E 81st St between Second and Third Aves 212-734-4832

www.alicesteacup.com
2. Communitea - This mellow neighborhood café has more to offer than a Gossip Girl trivia connection and free Wi-Fi for its laptop-toting clientele.

You can locate them at this location:

47-02 Vernon Blvd at 47th Ave
Long Island City, Queens
718-729-7708
www.communitea.net
3. Franchia Teahouse & Restaurant - At this tranquil tri-level vegan eatery, you’re invited to sit upstairs in the traditional mountain-temple tearoom while you sip Korean wild green tea for $5–$10, depending on whether it is picked or not.

You can locate them at this location:

12 Park Ave between 34th and 35th Sts
212-213-1001
www.franchia.com

4. Lady Mendl’s - The place is as charming as a Victorian-style salon. Reservations are required, since they serve a five-course service, (for only $35), which includes finger sandwiches like smoked salmon with dill cream cheese, warm scones and clotted cream, and tea.

You can locate them at this location:

The Inn at Irving Place
56 Irving Pl between 17th and 18th Sts
212-533-4466
www.ladymendls.com

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20 Comments

uptowngirl Feb 19, 2010

I am a huge fan of tea and enjoy going Alice in a Tea Cup though its a bit pricey. I never however buy my tea here its just too weak for me . I always bring back Tetley Tea /Marks and Spencers Strong Tea from England or head to the Indian stores in Queens for some tea from back home. Really can't stand the Tetley/Lipton that is sold here.

uptowngirl Feb 19, 2010

The recession swallowed one of other favorites - Cafe Amai Tea and Bake House which used to be on 3rd Avenue between 16th and 17th streets and served a whole host of teas with some yummy tea flavored cookies.

hhusted Feb 19, 2010

When you are used to having tea at home, you can't get used to it anywhere else. What makes the teas in India stronger than those sold here?

NeverSleeps Feb 19, 2010

@uptowngirl Can you not get Tetley Tea/ Marks and Spencers Strong Tea in NYC? I thought we imported everything.

hhusted Feb 19, 2010

Good question, NeverSleeps. I drink mainly herbal teas. I buy them from the grocery store, but if I am near a teahouse, I'll buy some herbal tea.

uptowngirl Feb 20, 2010

@NeverSleeps I don't think the American Tetley is as strong..I drink tea without milk/sugar/lemon and really relish a strong flavor. You do get the English PG Tips here but the prices are outrageous. I tend to go to London and India every year and always get my supply from there its much cheaper that way. @hhusted I think its the type of leaves that are used in the bag maybe Americans like a lighter blend while we are used to a stronger blend. Its a matter of taste really.

NeverSleeps Feb 20, 2010

@uptowngirl That actually makes sense. They probably dumb it down for the Americans. I like my coffee black with no sugar, so I can relate. If the coffee is bad, it becomes painfully obvious without all that fat and sugar to mask the flavor.

JenMac Feb 20, 2010

Roebling Tea is pretty awesome. Great space, great teas . . cozy couches in the back. They always have good music too

ajadedidealist Feb 24, 2010

Tea and Sympathy on Greenwich Avenue has amazing flavors - my favorite is Chocolate and Vanilla. It's expensive, but absolutely delicious!

uptowngirl Feb 24, 2010

@ajadedidealist Chocolate Tea?? wow that's a first.. wonder if does taste like chocolate...

hhusted Feb 24, 2010

Ajadedidealist, do they offer herbal teas as well? If they do, I'll check it out.

NeverSleeps Mar 01, 2010

Chocolate tea seems like one of those things that sounds so weird that it must be good.

hhusted Mar 02, 2010

Wow, chocolate. Now that sounds like a treat. How about chocolate mixed with peanut butter. Hey what can I say, I have weird tastes. I just love peanut butter.

uptowngirl Mar 18, 2010

@Everyone here is Time Out New York's just published its own list of the best Tea houses in NYC. Many interesting recommendations must try and take in a few since I so love a good cuppa. http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/restaurants-bars/83719/best-teahouses-in-nyc

hhusted Mar 19, 2010

@Everybody: Has anyone ever tried bubble tea. This tea house down the street from on 3rd Avenue sells various flavors of tea in a quarter cup of bubbles. Extremely delicious.

uptowngirl Mar 19, 2010

@hhusted I have had Bubble Tea though I tend to limit my consumption to only the tea for those tapioca balls are extremely high in carbohydrates and I am watchful of the amount I consume.

NeverSleeps Mar 19, 2010

I love love love bubble tea, especially those tapioca balls! Probably because they are so high in carbs... Oh, well.

hhusted Mar 20, 2010

@Everybody: Yeah, those bubbles taste so good. I tried for a long time to figure out what those bubbles were made of. And when mixing them with the right flavor tea, what a tasty treat.