Casual Afternoon Tea

[taraxstar]

Can anyone suggest a place to take my friend for her 25th birthday in manhattan for afternoon tea? We would like somewhere more casual than the Ritz or the Plaza but price is no object.
I have looked at all the lists but want to hear what people think. Thanks.

[taraxstar]

We will be on park and 33rd beforehand so somewhere close to there would be ideal but not a must.

[sidwich]

I agree. Alice's Tea Cup on the Upper West Side is very nice for a casual tea.

[taraxstar]

have you tried Alice's Tea Cup on the upper east side? Is A.T.C. mostly mom's with their babies/kids because I'm not sure that will help with my friend's quarter life crisis!

[LFeinberg]

BG at Bergdorf Goodman is for you...$45 per person with Veuve Cliquot. What could be better?

[sidwich]

Actually, I haven't tried the UES place yet. I lived on the West Side for many years and used to go to the West Side Tea Cup quite a bit. I moved away to the West Coast a couple years ago, and still stop by the West Side shop from time to time when I'm in town, but haven't been to the East Side place as of yet so I don't know what the crowd is like yet.

The West Side place is usually quite busy on the weekends, but I don't recall all that many babies or small children. They do host a number of showers, both bridal and baby showers, so if that's going to set off your friend it's not a good idea. Actually, almost any tea room I know tends to host a lot of showers, so that may be something to keep in mind.

[Quine]

I am a fan of Tea and Sympathy....solid tea, not fancy. Mind you it it teeny tiny, Alice in WOnderland small. But I like it.

[akowit]

Wild Lily Tearoom in west chelsea.

[taraxstar]

Wild Lily was exactly what I had in mind but apparently they have closed.

[LFeinberg]

Plaza does not exist, at the moment. Try: The Pierre Hotel, Gordon Ramsay at The London, Ritz, St. Regis or Bergdorf Goodman's BG Restaurant.

[LFeinberg]

What about: Lady Mendl's or Alice's Tea Cup? My apologies...I read your post wrong, thinking you ARE looking for something along the lines of the Ritz, etc. :)

[taraxstar]

called Lady Mendl's and they are booked for this Sunday which adds another degree of difficulty..finding afternoon tea on a sunday! We are going to be on 32nd and park at a Spa before tea, so didn't want to trek all the way uptown but Alice's Tea Cup is a popular suggestion.

[1uc7]

You'll be right by Franchia, a korean tea place. Good for light asian fare and desserts if you're up for trying it, sort of along the lines of Wild Lily (space is quite different though).

http://www.franchia.com/

Otherwise for full-on crumpets and cream teas, I second the tea and sympathy recommendation. It's elbow-banging small but quite good for full-on english tea.