Get Fancy (or Cozy!) With the Best Places for Afternoon Tea in NYC
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Few things make us feel fancier than afternoon tea—especially afternoon tea in New York City. The gorgeous teapots, dainty and delicious finger foods—not to mention the quintessential scones with clotted cream and jam—and the excuse to get a little dressed up for the occasion? Yes, please! England is really onto something, and we're all for adopting the tradition.
We searched far and wide for teatime experiences around the Big Apple, and whether you're looking for a cozy tea experience in a tucked-away tearoom or a really lavish affair in a fancy hotel dining room—or even a holiday or kid-friendly one—your next reservation is on this list, no doubt. You can even book some of these tea rooms for special events, like a bridal shower—or even a small wedding!
From traditional and proper English tea experiences to ones with an Asian or Parisian flair (macarons, anyone?), we're guessing you’ll be adding more than one of these restaurants to your teatime bucket list. Pinkies up!
The Crosby
Tucked away amidst the hustle and bustle of Soho, The Crosby Bar at the Crosby Street Hotel is a lively place to enjoy a fancy afternoon tea. Crosby Street Hotel, 79 Crosby Street, New York, NY
Brooklyn High Low
Ranging from 75 to 90 minutes, choose from three experiences at this Prospect Heights tea room: The Classic, The Grand Vanderbilt and The Grand Heights (the high tea). All include bottomless tea, so it all depends on how hungry you are. The covered back patio is open all year round (with heaters for the colder months), but dress for warmth—or make an indoor reservation—on really frigid days. Brooklyn High Low, 611 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn, NY
The Gotham Lounge at The Peninsula New York
Bookmark this midtown spot (right off 5th Avenue!) for the holiday season to enjoy the over-the-top Grand Festive Peninsula Afternoon Tea—which includes Petrossian Baika caviar, foie gras parfait, truffle finger sandwiches and Champagne. (It’s a bit of a splurge at $385 per guest, but each Afternoon Tea includes a $25 donation to New York Children's Center.) When you enter the lobby, you'll be greeted by the hotel's iconic Christmas decorations—an absolute must-see. And if you can't make it there during the holiday season, afternoon tea is also available in the spring. The Gotham Lounge at The Peninsula New York, 700 5th Ave, New York, NY
Alice's Tea Cup
Have some tea in the Looking Glass Room at Alice's Tea Cup, conveniently located only a few blocks from Central Park. Like something straight out of Lewis Carroll's classic storybook, this shop is a colorful wonderland for the whole family to enjoy.
Alice's Tea Cup - Chapter II, 156 E 64th Street, New York
Baccarat Hotel's Grand Salon
Baccarat Hotel's Grand Salon is as beautifully crystal-laden as you'd expect it to be. There are plenty of tea services to choose from, but if you're feeling extra fancy (we're talking $3,000-for-two fancy), the grandiose hotel just introduced a Crystal Tea, presented on a—you guessed it—Baccarat crystal three-tier and served with Cristal champagne. Treat your tastebuds to luxurious ingredients like caviar, lobster, truffles and Madagascar vanilla, and take home Baccarat’s Faunacrystopolis Harcourt Tea Set, which is included as a gift. Baccarat Hotel, 28 W 53rd St, New York, NY
Lady Mendl's Tea Salon
Look for a small teacup plaque on the door of a Georgian brownstone to find your way into this charming tea parlor, located in Gramercy Park. Inside, you'll be treated to a five-course afternoon tea you probably won't stop talking about for days. Lady Mendl's Tea Salon, 56 Irving Pl, New York, NY
The Whitby Hotel
Head to the heart of midtown for not only your choice of Afternoon Tea (with bubbly or not) or Royal Tea (served with caviar) fit for the queen that you are, but also for your fill of contemporary art and design. The Whitby Hotel, 18 W 56th St, New York, NY
Angelina Paris USA
At this Bryant Park tearoom plucked straight out of Paris, you’ll find mini madeleines, mini macarons and mini sandwiches (croque monsieur, anyone?) on the Teatime menu instead of scones and clotted cream. And if you decide to swap tea for Angelina’s famous old-fashioned hot chocolate (a legitimate option on the teatime menu!), we won't judge. Angelina Paris USA, 1050 6th Ave, New York, NY
Prince Tea House
Choose from one of the eight New York City locations for afternoon tea with an Asian-European flair. Enjoy hot or cold tea, and don’t leave until you’ve tried one of the almost-too-pretty-to-eat crepes cakes, like the Brown Sugar Boba. (All desserts are made by hand daily!) Prince Tea House, various locations
Ladurée Soho
Do yourself a favor and plan your visit around NYC’s cherry blossom season (usually peaking in mid-April) so you can sip your tea and eat your macarons in the pretty-in-pink outdoor garden. Ladurée Soho, 398 W Broadway, New York, NY
The Parisian Tea Room
This tea room in the Garment District of Manhattan transports you straight to 1920s Paris, with the option of turning your afternoon or high tea party into a sewing party too—thanks to founder and fashion designer Karen Elizabeth Lozner. The Parisian Tea Room, 347 W 36th St., New York, NY
The Williamsburg Hotel
At this hip hotel, high tea is served alongside jazz music over the weekend, with live bands rotating weekly. Pick your pot of tea to sip with finger sandwiches, cakes, scones and more. The Williamsburg Hotel, 96 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY
BG Restaurant
The iconic restaurant on the seventh floor of the long-standing department store is unmistakable with its blue, green and white color palette. Come for afternoon tea and stay for the views of Central Park. (If you ask us, the best view is during peak fall foliage season—usually in late October, early November.) Bergdorf Goodman, 754 5th Ave, New York, NY
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