5 Best Restaurants For Afternoon Tea In NYC
Whether you drink your tea with cream and sugar or a pile of tiny little sandwiches, these five restaurants are offering high tea services that will warm you up and re-energize you for the evening ahead. By Carly Petrone.
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It's hard to pass up a visit to The Russian Tea Room when you're craving a luxurious cup of tea. Step into this majestic restaurant and have a true New York experience. Afternoon Tea is served from 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. and costs $60 ($85 with champagne). Bite into delicious sandwiches and blinis like curried chicken salad with raisins and pecans, artichoke with red pepper and sun-dried tomato goat cheese, and smoked Scottish salmon with chive cream cheese and cucumber. Pair your English Breakfast or Darjeeling tea with one of their assorted scones, cupcakes, or petits fours. The Royal Afternoon Tea will cost you a little more ($90 high tea, $115 with champagne) but it includes Siberian Osetra, Hackleback, and Paddlefish caviars on blinis. Children can have fun at tea too with their own child-friendly menu ($35). We believe little pigs-in-a-blanket, PB&J, and miniature BLTs will do the trick. And who can pass up apple slices with creamy caramel, red velvet cupcakes with sprinkles, or their indulgent chocolate mousse topped with berries? Dine in style inside this festive and traditional New York institution.
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Who wouldn't want to enjoy a cup of tea while looking over at beautiful Central Park? You can do just this during afternoon tea at The Ritz Carlton. Served daily from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. inside the Star Lounge, you can relax and enjoy a wide selection of teas as well as sweet and savory delicacies for about $55. Snack on finger sandwiches or dive into homemade scones with preserves and an assortment of petit fours. Make sure to dress your best – it's all part of the fun! Please call for the most updated menu items.
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The King's Carriage House is the place to go when you want to spend less than $30 on a traditional afternoon tea service. You can enjoy savory finger sandwiches, scones, and sweets for just $24.95/person ($34.95 with champagne). Try the oak smoked Scottish salmon pinwheels, sesame chicken, or goat cheese tartlets with mango and tomato and make room for dessert because baby poppyseed tea cakes, lemon curd squares, and dark Belgian chocolate dipped strawberries are just a few of the delicious items on the menu. Freshly brewed infused tea awaits you Tuesday - Sunday from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
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If you're gonna go big, go to The Palm Court inside The Plaza Hotel. Enjoy fine dining and the iconic atmosphere while sipping on a teatime cocktail like the Gatsby Mint Julep or the NYC Cosmopolitan. Adults can enjoy the Champagne Tea ($110) while the little ones can live out their storybook dreams at the Eloise Tea ($50). Champagne Tea includes such delicacies as lobster rolls, foie gras torchon on toasted brioche, and a variety of caviar (for an extra charge). Nibble on macarons, tarts, and warm seasonal scones with double Devonshire cream, lemon curd, and preserves while enjoying Veuve and Moet & Chandon champagne. There's even an afternoon tea gluten free menu available! Eloise fans get to choose from deviled egg salad, turkey, PB&J, English cucumber and cream cheese, or prosciutto cotto sandwiches as well as a variety of yummy scones. Just wait until the waiter brings out the pink cotton candy for the table! Pair it with the vanilla iced tea or one of the many teas on the menu and you'll have one happy camper. Afternoon Tea services go from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. Please call for reservations.
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Alice's Tea Cup is the perfect place to plan an adult or kids tea service. For $48/person you can book The Mad Hatter, which includes freshly baked scones of the day with clotted cream and raspberry preserves, assorted tea sandwiches (cucumber & watercress, smoked salmon, and egg salad, to name a few), mocha chocolate chip cake, lemon tart, and assorted cookies, and, of course unlimited tea, soda, and coffee. For those looking for a little more fun, try The Mad Happy Hour, which includes all of the above plus 2 hours of unlimited champagne cocktails and wine. The kiddos will be happy too with The Wee Tea ($29/child): scones of the day, PB&J on banana bread, grilled cheese, and chicken fingers, White Rabbit's Dark Chocolate Mousse, and unlimited tea, milk, and juice. The Mad Morning Tea is also perfect for the early riser (available 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. weekdays; 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. weekends) with scones of the day, scrambled eggs and their famous potato-chicken hash, as well as homemade granola and fresh berries. Get lost in Alice's Wonderland of tea and treats! Check website for other locations.
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Carly Petrone is a freelance writer living in New York City.
