One thing I absolutely love is going for afternoon tea. I discovered the concept back when I lived in the United Kingdom and what a revelation it was. I have tried all sorts of afternoon teas in different places, most of the time as the plus one to Ana, my best friend, who has reviewed a lot of venues. When I moved to the Big Apple, I brought that love with me and made it my mission to find the best afternoon teas in NYC.
RELATED – An afternoon tea bus tour with Brigit’s Bakery.
After leaving close to five years in the US, I have had time to indeed find the best afternoon teas in the city. Now, there are probably a lot more to go to – but the prices aren’t always in my range. I did try one or two that are kind of a once in a lifetime – like The Plaza or Tiffany’s. And both were fantastic! But I also found other more affordable and unique venues that I think are so worth it!
So don’t waste any time and scroll down to what are the best afternoon teas in New York City – in my opinion. Let me know if you’ve already gone to some of them or if you have any recommendations for me as I don’t know yet where I’ll go next!
1. The Crosby Bar & Terrace
The Crosby Bar at the Crosby Street Hotel has been listed several times as one of the best afternoon teas in New York City. Thus, I had to see for myself and dragged a friend there to give it a go. I have to say, it did not disappointed. Yes, I think it was one of the best afternoon teas I had in the city and the price is pretty fair for what you get – quantity and quality wise. I loved the sandwiches, they were very filling; and the sweets were so tasty! The tea selection is fantastic and the service was impeccable. The bar would also be great for a night out – and the outdoor seating perfect in summer.
Address: 79 Crosby St, New York, NY 10012
Hours: Serves afternoon tea daily from 11am to 5pm.
Price: starts at $65 per person.
How to Get There: Take the N, Q, R, W train or the 6 train to Prince St; and then walk towards Crosby Street.
Read my full review here.
2. Palm Court at the Plaza
Who hasn’t heard of afternoon tea at The Plaza? It had been on my bucket list for a while when I moved to New York City and I am glad I did it. The venue is fantastic, the architecture beautiful and the overall experience memorable. The quality of the pastries is out of this world. You can clearly see the work that went behind conception and creation. The staff was fantastic and the tea selection amazing. Of all the afternoon teas I went to, I’d say it was one of the best in terms of food quality, quantities and service. In term of the cost of the experience, I’d say it is once in a lifetime, and the occasion to treat yourself to something very nice. Not sure I would recommend this place as a go-to for afternoon tea though, because of the price.
Address: 768 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019.
Hours: Serves high tea from 10:30am to 4:00pm.
Price: Starts at $118 per person.
How to Get There: Take the E, M Train to 5 Avenue-53rd Station and then walk North towards Central Park; or N, R, W Train to 5 Av/59th St.
3. Bergdorf Goodman, BG Restaurant
I went to BG restaurant back in January 2022. During dry January more like. I feel like the afternoon tea is somewhat famous but it is so difficult finding any information online. In general, there is not much available about the place, even on the Bergdorf Goodman site. It was a long time ago and my memory is a bit fleeting. However, while I do remember feeling like there could be more on the cake stand (I got the 2 tier option), the food was delicious and the tea selection great. I did have a good experience and the venue is lovely. Our table was just by the window so we had a great view of Grand Army Plaza and Central Park.
Address: 768 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019.
Hours: Serves high tea from 112pm to 5:00pm.
Price: $75 per person.
How to Get There: Take the E, M Train to 5 Avenue-53rd Station and then walk North towards Central Park; or N, R, W Train to 5 Av/59th St.
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4. Lady Mendel’s Tea Salon
I had wanted to go to Lady Mendel’s Tea Salon for so long, you would not believe it! And it was a short walk away from my apartment, and not too far from Union Square. The venue is located in a brown stone in Gramercy and is the cutest! Loved the interior decor and the vibe. The food was so good. There were 4 courses: starters, entrée, dessert and some more dessert. The extra dessert was a crêpe cake – lavender flavored – and one of the best ones I ever had! I loved that you can pair the different teas with each course. While I would have really enjoyed all the courses to be on one cake tier instead of being brought one by one, I really enjoyed that high tea. Everything was so delicious, the service was pristine and I 100% recommend this place!
Address: 56 Irving Pl, New York, NY 10003.
Hours: 1:00pm to 4:00pm Wed to Fri; 12:00pm to 5:00pm Sat & Sun.
Price: $78 per person.
How to Get There: Take the 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W to 14th – Union Sq and walk from there.
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5. Tea & Sympathy
A friend and I stumbled upon Tea & Sympathy very much on accident. I believe we were looking for a place to get dessert and ended up getting afternoon tea. At least, I did. This place is so cute and perfect for anyone wanting a little taste of the United Kingdom. Their café doubles up as a shop full of British products. And it did feel like a typical afternoon tea, which made me a bit nostalgic but was also amazing! Also, very reasonably priced and an overall great experience. Book ahead of time though because the place is small and very much in high demand!
Address: 108 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10011.
Hours: 11:00am to 9:00pm Mon-Fri; 9:30am to 9:00pm Sat & Sun.
Price: Starts at $50 per person.
How to Get There: Take the 1,2, 3, to 14St; or A, C, E, L to 14th/8 Ave.
6. Angelina Paris NYC
There was a time where one could make a reservation for Angelina Paris and that’s the one time I managed to get a table there. It was a cute experience, with nice food overall, good service and of course, the infamous hot chocolate! I feel like the prices is quite reasonable for the quality of items that you get. This one felt more on the breakfast side, but the venue’s location is also perfect if you’re visiting New York City and want to stay in Midtown.
Address: 1050 6th Ave, New York, NY 10018.
Hours: 8:00am to 8:00pm Mon-Fri; 9:00am to 7:00pm Sat & Sun.
Price: $42 per person.
How to Get There: Take the B, D, F, M or 7 train to 42nd St-Bryant Park.
7. Lillie’s Victorians
Lillie’s Victorian is very well known in New York City for some crazy seasonal decorations and floral displays. Summer 2023 has its own interpretation of Alice in Wonderland and the decorations are out of this world. Brunch at Lillie’s is always lovely but it is really the cocktails that stand out. Afternoon tea is on the lower end of the price range in NYC and the quantity of food in the higher end. I’d say the quality is not the highest but it’s still very nice. If you’d like to secure a table, better book a week if not two in advance, especially during the Holidays.
Address: 13 E 17th St, New York, NY 10003.
Hours: High Tea is served everyday from open to 5:00pm.
Price: Starts at $45 per person.
How to Get There: Take the 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W to 14th – Union Sq and walk from there.
For a full review: Afternoon tea at Lillie’s Victorian Establishment.
8. Blue Box Café at Tiffany’s
If you love Breakfast at Tiffany’s and always wanted a little of a Gossip Girl experience, then this place is for you. While it may feel tricky to get a reservation, it is not impossible. I snatched one and tell you all about it in my full review of Blue Box Café. While the afternoon tea is pricey, and I am not sure I would pay again, I have to say that it was a very nice experience. The food was delicious, the tea selection amazing and the service on point. The quality really is there and you can definitely see how intricate each food item is.
Address: 6th Floor, 727 5th Ave, New York, NY 10022
Hours: 10am to 8pm Mon-Sat, 11am to 7pm Sun.
Price: $98.
How to Get There: Take the E, M Train to 5 Avenue-53rd Station and then walk North towards Central Park; or N, R, W Train to 5 Av/59th St.
For a full review: Afternoon tea at Tiffany’s Blue Box Café.
9. Alice’s Tea Cup
Alice’s Tea Cup is an Alice in Wonderland inspired café. It has several locations in New York City, but I have only been to the one in the Upper East Side. I would say that the decorations are rather subtle compared to other venues with a similar theme, but I quite liked it. The café is very charming and welcoming, perfect for a birthday or a girl day out. The staff is on point and the food was aplenty and rather good. Groups can get a group discount which would decrease the cost per person to $66 instead of $72.
Address: 156 E 64th St, New York, NY 10065
Hours: 11am-6pm Mon to Fri, 10am-6pm sat & Sun.
Price: Starts at $72 per person.
How to Get There: Take F, N, Q, R train to Lexington Ave/63rd St, or 6 train to Lexington Av/59th St.
For a full review: Afternoon tea at Alice’s Tea Cup.
10. Prince Tea House (East Village)
I discovered Prince Tea House when a friend suggested we go there to catch up and have coffee. We made it a whole afternoon tea in the end. I know there are several locations in New York City and beyond. My thoughts only apply to the East Village venue. To be honest, it was a while ago so I can’t give a detailed review. However, I do remember overall enjoying the experience and being pleased with the food on the cake stand, so make of that what you will.
Address: 204 E 10th St, New York, NY 10003
Hours: 12pm to 11am.
Price: From $35 per person.
How to Get There: Take the L train to 3 Av or 1 Av.
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11. The Cauldron
The Cauldron had been on my radar for quite a while but I never really took the plunge. Until I saw a deal on Pulsd and decided now was the time. The deal was not for the interactive afternoon tea with the castle tower and potion effects; just for the regular bottomless option. Which was pretty nice. I am always for using a tea cup and pot for cocktails! The food was pretty nice, I just wish it had come on a cake stand, but that’s just a detail. The venue is super cute and pretty, very instagrammable overall. I am still curious about the interactive experience though!
Address: 47 Stone St, New York, NY 10004
Hours: 4pm-12am Tue, 2pm-12am Wed-Fri, 12pm-2am Sat, 11.30am-10pm Sun.
Price: From $49.99 per person.
How to Get There: Take the 4, 5 train to Bowling Green or R, W train to Whitehall St.
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12. MarieBelle
The cafe is pretty small at MarieBelle so better have a reservation or you will wait for a long time before you can be seated. You can browse the store in the meantime – it is very beautiful. The afternoon tea was great and each food item delicious. It was a lot and pretty filling – which is something you want of course. The hot chocolate with cream was fantastic and so indulgent. A cute experience I recommend, especially if you love hot chocolate and pastries!
Address: 484 Broome St, New York, NY 10013.
Hours: 11am-7pm.
Price: $70 per person.
How to Get There: Take A, C, E train to Canal St or 6 train to Spring St, and walk from there.
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13. London & Martin Co
This afternoon tea took me completely by surprises because it is very different from what I am used to. There will be some pastries of course but don’t expect tea sandwiches and scones. Instead, you’ll have English meet American breakfast food items – which were delicious and super feeling. Plus, it comes with bottomless cocktails! I had found the deal on Pulsd at the time and felt it was very worth it. I know the venue does some other types of brunch and afternoon teas. Perfect for all lovers of British culture!
Address: 6 Stone St, New York, NY 10004
Hours: 11:30am to 12am.
Price: $49 per person.
How to Get There: Take the 4, 5 train to Bowling Green or R, W train to Whitehall St.
For a full review: Bottomless afternoon tea at London & Martin Co.
14. Anntremet Cake
One day, I saw a super cute mousse cake shaped like a bunny and decided I had to go to Anntremet Cake. It was so cute, I could not miss out! You can get the bunny mousse cake individually as a pastry or as part of the afternoon tea. A friend of mine and I did the latter. While we did not really know what to expect, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. All the savory items were delicious and quite diverse. While I do love tea sandwiches, I can now say I will not say no to a savory cake. The pastries were so good too and the little bunny cake was delicious. It is cheese cake flavored. Typically, in addition to the full cake stand, you also get to choose 3 mousse cakes to share. The bunny comes at an extra $5 (so $2.50) each because it is in such high demand. A great experience overall.
Be aware that the bakery does not have restroom and that you’ll have to use the public restrooms outside. In addition, the afternoon tea is only available upon reservation.
Address: 47 8th Avenue, New York, NY-10014
Hours: 10am – 6:30pm. Monday closed.
Price: Starts at $39 per person.
How to Get There: Take the A, C, E, L train to 14th St/8th Av, or 1, 2, 3 train to 14th St.
Read my full review here: Afternoon Tea at AnnTremet Cake.
Bonus: Ophelia
Ophelia New York is a bonus because we can’t really call it an afternoon tea but it is still served on a 3-tiered cake stand. Sandwiches, quiches and croissant, the highlight is the top tier of exotic fruits! So tasty and perfect to conclude brunch! Plus, the views are absolutely phenomenal and the ceiling decorations look great by day, but must be amazing by night!
Address: 3 Mitchell Pl, 26th floor, New York, NY 10017
Hours: 12pm-4pm on Sundays.
Price: Starts at $49 per person.
How to Get There: Take E, M train to Lexington Av/53 St, or 6 train to 51st and walk from there.
What are your favorite afternoon teas in New York City? Have you been to any of the aforementioned? Do you have any recommendation?
I will add to this list if and as I try new afternoon teas in New York City so make sure to come back for any updates!
Thanks a lot for stopping by. I hope you liked this post.
See you soon,
Love,
Corinne.
