Good Tea Service

[jackieparis]

I'm a huge tea lover and am always looking for new places to try tea, tea sandwiches, and desserts. These are the places that I've tried so far. I'd love to hear any more suggestions.

Alice's Teacup-like
Tea Box-love
Cha-an-love
The Mark Hotel-Unimpressed
Lady Mendyl-love but expensive
Franchia-love

[cidonie]

I would suggest Cafe Opaline at the Dahesh Museum. The atmosphere is so-so, but I think they have the best sandwiches of the places I've gone (Wild Lily Tea Room, Franchia, St. Regis, Cha-An, to name just a few).

[tjcletsgo]

We're planning on going the the St Regis Astor Court for tea in October. It's a once-in-a-lifetime deal..........expensive but it looks great!

[jackieparis]

Is there a new tea place opening in Soho?

[magfitz]

I'm a fan of Podunk on E. 5th Street (between 2nd & 3rd Aves)
If they have savory scones, the cranberry(?) and andouille scones are very good.

[jsgjewels]

There's a music space/tea parlor in MePa which I've been wanting to try. Anyone been?

http://www.ariumcafe.com/

[AgentRed]

Coffee and Tea bar at 71 Irving place is really nice, and open till 11.
There's also 'Sympathy for the Kettle'
http://www.sympathyforthekettle.com/
on St.Marks and Ave A, it has a gajillion different teas and the service is very friendly. Plus they have tea tastings quite frequently.

[newfoodie]

I'll second the recommendation of Sympathy for the Kettle.

Very cute place, great for relaxing.

[jackieparis]

I've been to arium. It's great!

[elizabeththinks]

I believe the Pierre does tea, but it comes at a hefty price is my guess.

[LeahBaila]

BG at Bergdorf Goodman

[doona]

Speaking of stores that do teaservice... I've been to Takasimaya and that looks good.

[DJS]

Tea and Sympathy. I went there on a first date....and we've been married for over 8 years now.

http://www.teaandsympathynewyork.com/...

[doona]

There is this new place that I really wanna try called Franchia http://www.franchia.com/franchia/inde...

Supposed to be great.

[jackieparis]

Franchia is very good. The vegetarian dishes are great and the tea is good. However, if you want the Asian afternoon tea experience I would suggest Cha-an or Tea Box over Franchia. If you want lunch and tea I would suggest Franchia.

[financialdistrictresident]

The former owner of the T Salon in SoHo's Guggenheim Museum just opened a tea shop in Chelsea Market. The Ritz in Battery Park City has Tea. There is a small tea shop on Allen that offers a three hour traditional Asian tea service.

[Fida]

Gee, I'm really surprised that people didn't immediately leap to answer this.

There are all kinds of articles about NYC tea places, if you google around. One place that was very pleasant, and off the beaten track, is the Harlem Tea Room. It's also nice that it's more reasonably priced, because afternoon tea has become one of the biggest rip-offs in town in recent years.

http://www.harlemtearoom.com/

[gloriousfood]

Thumbs up for Harlem Tea Room for its affordable and reasonable afternoon tea. Thumbs down, however, for its service. In a word, it can be unbearably s-l-o-www, even for something as leisurely as afternoon tea. I've been there more times than I care to remember b/c it's nearby and convenient, but not in a while. Service is really erratic. You might not always get your water filled, you might have cutlery dropped on your lap, and you might not always get the response you want from Patricia, the owner, when you approach her nicely about the service issues.