If you’re on the hunt for the best afternoon tea in New York City, you’ve found the right girl to go with. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with this cultural experience that feels at once dainty, refined, and delicious! There’s something uniquely girlish about sitting with a friend over patterned porcelain, eating finger sandwiches and scones smeared with clotted cream and jam—count me in.
New York City has an array of charming spots to contribute to the afternoon tea scene. Especially in a city as busy as ours, there’s something magical about taking a break from the hustle and bustle to indulge in this age-old English tradition. So as a self-proclaimed tea connoisseur, I’ve taken it upon myself to explore the best afternoon teas in New York City for you all!
What is Afternoon Tea?
Afternoon tea, often confused with high tea, is a cherished British tradition that dates back to the early 19th century. It was popularized by Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, who found herself feeling peckish in the late afternoon. To stave off hunger, she requested a tray of tea, bread, and cakes in her room.
This simple snack quickly became a social event, with friends joining her to enjoy tea and light refreshments. Over time, afternoon tea evolved into a sophisticated ritual, complete with fine china, elegant pastries, and an assortment of teas.
The Best Afternoon Tea in New York City
For my top picks of New York’s best afternoon teas, look no further than this dazzling list of delectable flavors, fragrant teahouses, and refined culinary creations. These are my personal favorite afternoon teas in New York City, and they range from high-end to moderately priced options. This list is in no particular order.
The Grand Salon at the Baccarat Hotel
Afternoon Tea Price: $85 – $425
The Baccarat Hotel’s Grand Salon is the picture of elegance. The salon’s beautiful white and rose-red decorations, accented with glass and chandeliers, give off a classical and royal vibe. Not only is the parlor stunning, but I also think this is one of the best places to have afternoon tea in New York City. It’s also one of the most expensive, but well worth the experience.
The Prince of Wales Afternoon Tea set ($140), overseen by head chef Ashfer Biju, is one of my favorites in the city. The teas are superb and brewed with care, with no extra bitterness. I had the Queen’s Guard and it’s absolutely wonderful, with so many flavor notes and gentle on the palate!
The savories are decadent and high-end with ingredients like lobster and caviar in small bites. I could definitely tell the craftsmanship that went into considering the balance between the dessert and savory options. Nothing was overly sugary, which I highly appreciated. I know I said this list is in no particular order, but if I had to choose one candidate for the best afternoon tea in New York City, the Baccarat Hotel’s afternoon tea would be my pick!
The Mandarin Oriental, New York
Afternoon Tea Price: $100
True to its standard of quality, the Mandarin Oriental presents a beautiful and high-end afternoon tea service in their elevated lounge with unbeatable views over Central Park, Billionaire’s Row’s iconic towering skyscrapers, and Columbus Circle. The staff here is unbelievably nice and makes the experience special. We felt like modern royalty enjoying some of the best afternoon tea in New York City while soaking in the gorgeous vistas out the window.
The standard tea service is $100 per person and comes with the classic unlimited tea and a selection of sweets and savories. The sandwiches were delicious, elegantly cut and prepared, and unique. The sweets were just as wonderful, though I filled up on them fast and wasn’t able to finish everything. The scones had a nice crumble and I like the attention to detail in the different varieties of scones (plain, with icing, and berry). Interestingly, the Mandarin Oriental’s tea service opts to use lemon curd and clotted cream instead of the traditional jam, but they have jam jars in two varieties—strawberry and blueberry—as well as honey if you prefer the more classic options.
Personally, I found the tea a little bit boring compared to how excellent the rest of the service was, but it was nonetheless good quality. I had the Earl Grey (my favorite) while my friend enjoyed the strawberry tea, which has a faint strawberry fragrance but is full of delicious black tea flavor.
The Vintage Tea Parlor
Afternoon Tea Price: $55
Since the Vintage Tea Parlor is located on Staten Island, it counts as one of the best afternoon teas in New York City—though it’s a bit of a trek compared to the others! This little tea parlor is truly special, a small business run by the lovely Wendy, a true vintage enthusiast. Their team has cultivated a truly wonderful and warm space filled with unique and real vintage items, from the embroidered sofas to the one-of-one teapots and cups.
With a whole page of fragrant tea options, tea enthusiasts will have a field day here. And I absolutely love that there are more savory elements than sweet elements on the tea tower—relatively unheard of in the afternoon tea world, but I’m all for it. I often feel too overloaded with sugar and scones during an afternoon tea, so the number and variety of sandwiches made a great impression on me!
However, the best part of the Vintage Tea Parlor is simply that the people here are so friendly and inviting. Chatting with the staff, having a slow and intimate tea experience in a cozy and lovingly decorated space—you can’t put a price on that. Easily some of the best afternoon tea in New York City.
The Palm Court at the Plaza Hotel
Afternoon Tea Price: $118 – $128
Afternoon tea at the Plaza Hotel has been a New York icon for over 100 years. Set in the luxurious surroundings of the Palm Court, the experience is defined by its opulent decor, featuring a stunning stained-glass ceiling, lush greenery, and grand columns.
The tea service includes a carefully curated selection of fine teas, ranging from classic blends to more exotic options. While you can enjoy typical savory options like smoked salmon and cucumber sandwiches, there are definitely some more creative selections as well. We had a savory fig tart in a sesame seed waffle cone and even savory macarons with caviar.
While the quantity of food at the Plaza Hotel’s afternoon tea service is generally smaller than other locations, the flavors here are extremely creative and unique. Every bite will taste different from the next and you’re sure to be taken on a flight of unexpected flavor combinations. The tea is also delicious—I drank the whole pot! For its bold take, the Plaza Hotel earns a spot on my list of the best afternoon teas in New York City.
The Parisian Tea Room
Afternoon Tea Price: $69 – $89
Unlike the other options on this list, the Parisian Tea Room is an afternoon tea in New York City that subscribes to the French afternoon tea style. French tea, or “Le Goûter,” is a more casual and typically lighter affair compared to British afternoon tea. The Parisian Tea Room’s classic service comes with a salad, croissant sandwich of choice, and a few pastries, paired with light and fragrant green teas or herbal infusions.
The actual parlor itself is beautifully colored, full of natural light, and understated while still adding in bright pops of color. It’s on the smaller side, like the course menu, but I enjoyed the light fare and airy flavors! The tea is also wonderful, with many options I’ve never seen in other tea parlors.
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Affordable Afternoon Tea in New York City
Looking for a delicious afternoon tea in New York City but don’t want to break the bank? I totally understand (I mean, who has the money to blow over $100 on teatime?). Here are some of my favorite picks for an affordable afternoon tea in NYC.
Patisserie Chanson
Afternoon Tea Price: $45 – $65
For a more sleek and casual yet bright afternoon tea experience, swing by the lovely Patisserie Chanson. The little bakery only has two open-air patio seats, but definitely grab one if you can for that European sidewalk dining vibe! The $45 base afternoon tea comes with a choice of gorgeous “blooming” tea and an assortment of sweets and savories. For an extra $25, you can enjoy prosecco and four seasonal juices to make unlimited mimosas.
We had the Heart’s Desire (a green tea, rose, and lily blend) and the Summer Love (green tea, carnation, osmanthus) and they were both delightful. I’m also a fan of their savory selections—the shrimp louis lettuce cup was my favorite, and it was a delicious change of pace to have a cheese and chive biscuit aside from the sweet scones! Especially for the value, this is one of New York’s best afternoon teas.
Prince Tea House
Afternoon Tea Price: $26 – $35
Prince Tea House is a local chain with several locations around New York, making it a great option for affordable afternoon tea. I wrote a separate article about the Prince Tea House afternoon tea experience here.
Starting at only $26 per person, the afternoon tea set at Prince Tea House lacks the same quality as the high-end afternoon tea services on this list, but it’s plenty good for those who want to bring a large group, young children, or experience high tea for the first time.
Cha-An Teahouse
Afternoon Tea Price: $40
If you’re looking for a truly unique afternoon tea in New York City, you must come visit Cha-An. The Japanese teahouse is famous for its traditional sweets in a dimly lit environment, but many people don’t know that Cha-An has a secret teahouse located on the third floor!
Unlike the other afternoon teas on this list, Cha-An’s prides itself on a seasonal Japanese-inspired fall afternoon tea that comes served in traditional pattern wagashi boxes. The traditional sweets were incredible and I fell in love with the ultra-soft and spongy matcha cream roll cake slice! The savories are a little more lacking—likely because Cha-An specializes in sweets—but the signature light sweetness of Japanese desserts paired with classic green teas made Cha-An an unforgettable experience. If this isn’t the most unique afternoon tea in New York City, I don’t know what is!
That’s a wrap for the best afternoon tea in New York City! Afternoon tea is truly one of my favorite hobbies—from the elegant ambiance to the delicious tea and spread of pastries and sandwiches.
I don’t think I’ll ever stop chasing the best afternoon tea experiences around the world and in New York City, so make sure to save this list! I’m always adding and discovering new places for my favorite midday activity.
Places next on the list to review:
- Laduree Soho
- BG at Bergdorf’s
- Angelina Paris
- Lillie’s Victorian
- St. Regis New York
- Mariebelle
- Lady Mendl’s Tea Salon
