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Category: Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhood: East Village1st Ave-14th St (L)
Astor Place (6)
Mon. 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Tue-Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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This place is exactly what I have been looking for. Unfortunately it's not in my neighborhood, but I will definately come back when I'm in the mood for some good tea and relaxing atmosphere. 4 of us shared a pot for 2 and it was the perfect size for us considering it was an hour (or less?) before closing time.
The woman working here helped us choose the perfect pot of tea. The list is pretty long and I'm not a tea expert.
There are only 5 tables so I imagine that it fills up pretty fast. During the time we were here 2 or 3 groups came in and left because there werent any seats left. Next time I will have to get some sort of dessert.
If you are a huge tea fan and I mean teas around the world and back, this is the place for you. Sympathy for the Kettle is an oasis retreat from the chaos of the streets of St. Marks. The pink decor outside and inside instantly soothes the soul and prepares you for a relaxing tea journey. They have an enormous variety of teas that can be served hot or cold or loose or packed.
people, this is not a restaurant. Its more like a small coffee shop - you need to be a little bit more proactive in getting service.
The just-below-good: It is what it is, the tea ain't magnificent quality, the selection is varied enough that you can get something that will be pleasing enough. the shop is cute and feels like it is made for people to just hang out. If I am in the immediate area, this is where I will go if I need to sit and wait for someone for a long time.
the not so bad: the deserts. I am moderately disappointed in the tiny strainers.
things to avoid: do not get tea that requires fussy steeping (matcha, high shade greens, lung ching) - it will be wrong. Get something that can handle hotter water and will be generous with brewing time.
The good, the bad, the ugly...
The good: huge teas, with a variety that is hard to beat. Any type or taste is catered too and that is a big advantage when ordering. Also, I happen to like the decor and vibe of the place, relaxed and mellow but...
The bad: the prices! ok ok I know its nyc, they have rent to pay yadda yadda yadda... but still its rare you are in for sticker shock with tea. myself and my companions were all in a bit of awe at how much we just paid for 2 pots of tea. which would be ok if not for ....
The ugly: might have been an off day (and judging by the other yelpers Im going to give them the benefit of the doubt as I am not a regular and there are a large amount of pos reviews on here) however, the barista/tea pourer??(do you use barista when describing the tea staff or is a term just for coffee?) anyway the staff person was horrible. the 1st tea was wrong, we thought it just didnt taste right asked and realized it was wrong. she didnt apologize, just said she would make the next one, then other customers came in for a takeout order and she 'forgot' finally apologized and made the new, correct tea. of course again, she was distracted it wasnt all that hot... and kind of messed up the experience a bit.
for those prices everything (attempting my best british accent here) should be 'spot on'! and it just wasnt. so ill give it 3 stars with a small caveat that could either go to 2 or 4 very easily.
This is a wonderful little place to relax with a pot of tea. The decor is charming, the selection is extensive and interesting, and teas are fresh and steeped perfectly in a charming pot (this place knows what it's doing). Oh, and did I mention that they have some great pastries?
I visited Sympathy for the Kettle on a warm day. After helping me make my selection, the friendly and knowledgeable woman behind the counter delivered my order to the small table where I sat on the sidewalk outside. St. Marks Place in the East Village is full of interesting types, so it made for a great break of reading and people watching. Highly recommended.
Do not waste your money here!
Went there on a Saturday night hoping to enjoy some tea and dessert after dinner. Called and ask if there is any seats or at least how long is the wait. Waitress was really not helpful. She said she doesn't keep track of these things and don't know when will tables become available.
Service -
I went there anyway to see how bad is the wait. Lucky enough a group was just about leaving. Before we sit down, the waitress told us that when we are ready to order just go up to her. She claimed that she's too busy to serve. But everyone was already settled at the place sipping tea and eating cake, what is she so busy about? Did not get any service really during my whole time there. You order at counter and pay at counter.
Quality of Tea -
If you came here for the tea, be prepared to be disappointed. There are tons of varieties but does no good to a place who doesn't know tea. We ordered Oolong and they gave us Pu-erh (Pu-erh is really cheap tea) where they serve at any dim sum place. Ordered Lung Ching and taste like crap. They also give you so little tea leaves you almost want to pay them a bit more just to get a real taste of the tea. In addition, they were only serving Chocolate cake that night, and is a bit on the heavy side.
Overall -
Bad service, horrible tea. Such a pity. Was hoping to find a good tea place.
I go to this place literally every time I'm in the area and I've gotta say, it's one of my comfort spots. Yes, this is the place I turn to for all my tea needs.
Prices are fair; if memory serves me right, it's about $8 for a "Pot for Two" which is served in an adorable tea pot with adorable cups and usually lasts you your entire adorable stay.
Every single tea here is brewed to perfection and tastes absolutely heavenly so I never fear trying a flavor I'm not familiar with.
I never catch this place on a bad day, that is to say, it's never crowded when I go. Maybe it's cause I like my tea during odd hours of the day, who knows.
For me, this is the perfect place for a relaxing cuppa tea, some good conversation, and a lazy game of chess or scrabble.
But yeah, bottom line:
-Adorable decor
-Equally as adorable tea sets
-Delicious tea
-Intimate and warm atmosphere
-Board games
All that I want in a tea place, and more.
I only think it's a shame that it's so small... it'd be great if they could somehow expand or something.
SFTK is really, really adorable... an oasis retreat off an always-bustling street. Three favorite things:
1) When they happened to be out of the tea I requested, the man working suggested two other options that were similar in taste and medicinal properties. They have SO many different kinds of tea. And you can get everything hot or iced, which is hard to find.
2) They brew tea correctly... as an art form. I watched the man (I think I heard someone call him Michael?) prepare a green tea latte step by step: brewing the tea for a couple minutes, slowly whisking in honey, pouring the milk into a martini shaker-type contraption, pouring the tea into the shaker and then mixing it all together. So ceremonial... I wanted to grab it and it wasn't even my tea!
3) Every design aspect seems well-thought out; from their various mugs and cups to their business cards (which are absolutely, hands-down adorable). I love places that put thought into the little details, and SFTK is certainly one of those places.
I'm usually a huge fan of cute tea places. I can't get enough of them. I've passed by this place SO many times and NEVER had the chance to go in because it's always packed. So finally one day I decided to go RIGHT when they opened so that I can experience what other yelpers have been raving about.
To be honest, I was rather... well... I guess unimpressed. I loved the setting, but I think because we were there so early, the staff was not into the business mode yet. Service was a little bit slow (well, we were the only ones there for a while!) but it seemed when a regular came in that they were much more eager to serve. That kind of irked me, but the staff was quite nice, if not very chatty.
I am not a tea snob. Neither was my friend. We had no preference for tea so asked for recommendations. He ended up with a green tea and being that he's a bit particular about his green tea... he declared that it wasn't really authentic. I had a rooibos mixed herbal tea and... well, I guess I just didn't feel like it tasted all that special.
I would give it another try (if I can get in again) since I think I really didn't get the full experience, but this first visit was rather a let down. I still gave it 3 stars because the setting is quite special and the tea was... not too bad.
I've only come in and sat down once, and though it was barely a memorable experience, I have to remark on the selection and qualities of the teas themselves. I don't think there's a larger selection anywhere in the city. Not only are there about a hundred different flavours to choose from, the teas themselves are strong and potent. I bought one four ounce bag of peppermint that the fragrance even now a month later, can clean even the cloggiest of sinuses just by opening the bag.
The best part is that you can invent and name your own teas by mixing and matching the different flavours on the shelves. Yum.
A bit more expensive than your average tea joint, this quiet and quaint and nearly hidden tea place carries a nice variety of teas and the smiliest waitstaff I've ever encountered in my life.
Located right on St. Mark's Place between 1st Avenue and Avenue A, I'd recommend their tea by the kettle instead of the drinks they serve up in latte or other format.
Being the tea snob that I am, I never turn down the opportunity to check out a new tea spot. This place is really very quaint and cute and all that.. it would've been a dream tea house for me to play in circa 1988, but better late than never, eh?
Not pretentious, just chill - and boy, what a wide selection of loose leafs! Our very cool waitress recommended a special blend that she had made earlier in the day - peach&ginger + vanilla black tea. Purists like Irene and myself...don't use honey or sugar when we wanna really taste it - and it didn't disappoint this hypercritical pair. Suitably impressed.
i actually held off writing a review for Sympathy for the Kettle because I didn't know what words could do this place justice. I don't think I'm any more confident, but here goes: it's amazing.
Teas: It's really phenomenal.
I've talked with Jodi (the owner) a couple of times, and I found out that she only got into teas in college while she was in Germany. She really liked how they put flowers and fruits in the tea, and said she actually didn't like the teas in England with the milk and such. I think that actually speaks a lot about the teas that the store has. I've tried the different teas, and they're all a little on the light side, as if you wouldn't need to put in anything else. Also, the best teas are the ones they blend themselves, and those are floral/fruit heavy. But anywhere, here's my take on bunch of their teas...
a) apricot: Standard black tea-- high quality. The apricot smell is sweet, and the taste is light. It's enjoyable, and doesn't leave that bitterness that some black teas have.
b) Fruit medley: I come from a family of tea drinkers. The only one tea my mother approved as a gift for her before this was the sencha I got from a temple store in Kyoto. Yeah, it's that great. It's great iced. I actually don't like to drink this with strainers, because I like to eat some of the fruits... that's a confession...
c) Yerba Mate Royal: Standard high quality. It's good, but it's not Tiger Lily Tea Room's Lemon Grass Yerba Mate...
d) Paris: A really smooth and soft black tea blend. It'd make a great starter tea for someone who doesn't really drink black teas. I forget what's inside so you'll have to excuse the vague descriptions...
d) Scarlet: I think this is my favorite tea from them so far. It's a lot like Fruit Medley-- a lot of fruits, but has cherries. Normally, I hate cherry flavored things, but this has real cherries! The tea is strong, and has that puckery sweetness. Amazing.
E) Citrus Ginko green tea: Smells absolutely amazing. A little on the light side for green tea. The citrus is very faint once actually brewed. the ginko and green tea mix well, and leave a clean feeling.
F) Strawberry Papaya Green tea: I can't really tell the two fruits' flavors once actually brewed. A little light for green tea.
G) Blueberry Yogurt: If I hadn't had the Fruit Medley or Scarlet befor this, I would have thought this was amazing. But this has less flavor than the other two. The blueberry is really really really faint. The yogurt... I couldn't really tell..
H) Peach Ginger: My favorite black tea from Sympathy so far. The peach smells so amazing, and is really great. The ginger is just light enough so that it tingles in your mouth, but not so that it overpowers the peach. It's surprisingly refreshing for a black tea.
***
Atmosphere; I really like it... even though it's too pink for my tastes. It's bohemian, without being snobbish. Also has boardgames! (owner: Yeah, I've seen some epic battles over if a word is Scrabble approved or not)
***
Service: So friendly, and so helpful. The first time I talked to Jodi, she even gave me extra teas so I could take to my boss at work. Though, I did find a hair strand in one of my teas the other day...
***
Final note, go here for the blends that Jodi makes herself. The teas are great and high quality, but for a lot of them, you could find better ones. But the blends, you can't find them anywhere! And all the ingredients compliment another so well.
Also, it's closed on Mondays.
A really cool tea place in the East Village. I had a pot of the the extra fine Gyokuro. The steep wasn't done as exact as it should be but the tea was awesome. Kept me up and awake for a while. The place is tiny, only a few tables. My friend had the tea with macha and milk and was tasty as well, but the macha wasn't mixed enough so there were some balls of it in there. We stayed for over an hour. A great place to chill if you can get a seat.
If you are a woman who loves pretty,lovely things....
you will be just falling in love with this place at a first sight.
Period.
This place is kinda pricey for tea. The cupcakes were $4.50 a piece for a small cupcake. I was kinda surprised. I didn't really think they were all that either.
I found this place reading other reviews, and figured it was small, but it was REALLY small. Luckily, I went there on an early Sunday afternoon and there was only one guy in there with his computer. My three friends and I were able to get a seat. But soon more people started coming in and they just had to take their teas to go since there are only like 4 places to sit in the whole place.
They have a good variety of tea, and you can totally share the individual pot b/c they will refill the water. But it kinda annoyed me when I opened the pot, there were some tea leaves that weren't even soaked.
I had the lychee nut and my friend got the double ginger something. Both very good.
Rose petal milkshakes. Lavendar cupcakes with bergamot icing. Dorian Gray tea (Earl Gray with bits of rose). Literally hundreds of loose teas sprinkled around the place, with all manner of tea-related treats.
There are not many seats in this pink, too-cute-to-be-believed tea shop--so my friend and I sat on the bench outside and watched the neighborhood go by.
No, this is not an inexpensive place--I think I spent $6.50 on a cupcake and small tea. If you're looking for coffee, go to Cafe Pick Me Up.
But, yes, the owner and patrons are beautiful--this place wonderful for a special, afternoon treat. Each time I've gone in the evening, all of the seats were gone.
This place is so so lovely. It is small, but the atmosphere was so peaceful. We were offered to try the tea of the day, an Earl Green + verveine leaf brew they'd just thrown together that morning. Mmmm!
We didn't stay long but we purchased 2oz. of that tea before we left. It was nice watching how they mix the leaves in the bag for you on the spot. The leaves of all the teas they showed us smelled so fresh, I wish I could have stayed a while and tried different ones. And the girl helping us out was super nice.
Nothing to say about the pastries... we didn't try them though they looked good. Give this place a chance if you're in the neighborhood, you might discover new teas you like. I wouldn't be drinking any green tea if they hadn't shown me the Earl Green.
Drawback: it won't come cheap. I probably should have asked how much that 2oz. bag was going to be before asking for it. $14? *cough* wow... ok.
...with the windows down and the system up.
There are two essential reasons to love this place. Reason 1) the tea is phenomenal, and 2) as the lyrics to the Eminem song alludes to -it's virtually a big middle finger to Starbucks. This place is everything that Starbucks isn't and I love it. The most blaring silent and yet seemingly boisterous protest to the corporatization of the "experience" that adorns these havens littered with green and white symbols, yuppies, and meaningless jargon (grande et al.). Yes, it is true that I paid near four U.S. presidents for a cup of Sencha green tea that I could have brewed at home, and yes I loved every minute of it. Knowing that a place exists for us tea freaks, makes the expense worthwhile.
I have to admit the decor is quaint and reminds me of what I thought the Old Woman in the Shoe lived in (think nursery rhymes people), but the tea is second to none.
If you are serious about tea, you are serious about Sympathy for the Kettle.
ok, so this place is cute - and it has about 150 different types of tea. It's small - but we went around 830 and there were a few tables open. I got a Sencha Green Tea and my tea-time friend got Ginger Green Tea - they come by the pot, so we both got individual pots - and trust me, that's a lot of tea.
I thought the cups were a little too small (think chinese tea cups) - but I guess that's the cuteness factor playing in. They had some treats available, but not as many as other tea shops and none that really struck out to me enough to buy them.
All in all, this is a cute tea shop that for some reason reminded me of Alice in Wonderland - and smells like a medley of fruits (thanks to their fruit teas) - I'd go again - but if I'm craving a sweet to go with my tea, I'd probably go elsewhere.
They also offer tea smoothies and lattes - which I've yet to try.
This is a cute little tea shop. They have a great selection of stuff to drink while there and to take home. It's on the expensive side, though, so maybe not best for a casual tea. Or for when you just want a drink, not an experience.
For writers: They have free WiFi, but very little space. Group writing here is a bit difficult and they don't seem to like it when you hang out for a long time. Fair enough, since they have limited space.
A charming, quaint little tea shop on my block of the EV. A perfect afternoon with the special someone or to catch up with girlfriends. The shop is tiny. The tables are cozy and the vibe is relaxing. And the walls are stocked to the brim with tons of delicious tea. They also sell gift cards, teapots, mugs, as well as some delicious looking pastries. Ask the shopgirl for some good combination blends.
It's great to see a place with such an extensive list of teas and who serve them in pots, and it is unpretentious but I thought it was expensive. So expensive that I probably wouldn't go back unless for a special occasion. I come from a country where tea is a working class drink, not a luxury.
But it's nice to see tea made properly in the US and not with lukewarm water...
Hummus Place is expanding to this location. The hummus is spreading...http://evgrieve.com/20...
Wonderful little place to sit with a friend and have a chat.
They do sell coffee but I'd recommend asking the knowledgeable staff for a suggestion on a type of tea to try. I'm a very big coffee drinker myself, but tea is healthier and just feels better sometimes. The treats are tasty and go well with the tea.
Sadly, they closed their shop! They're planning on opening another one soon, and you can buy the teas online...but I'm hankering for the best chai ever and can't wait until they open. Right now I'm sipping the yummy Earl Grey Creme (by coincidence) and it's so delicious!
This is my favorite tea place. They have a massive selection, a cute and comfy cafe, and sweet… Read more »
A quaint, charming, slightly frayed pink confection of a tea shop. They advertise 150 kinds of tea, and the tea list is indeed overwhelming. My advice: decide 1) hot or iced; 2) green, black, or white; then 3) plain, floral or fruit-flavored. They do it right here, with loose leaf tea served in a ceramic teapot with a small handleless cup. Given the abundance of mediocre tea in Manhattan -- where even places that advertise themselves as "tea shops" still serve it watery, fruity, or with tea bags -- this is a welcome development.
Sorry, but I'm knocking off a star for the wince-worthy prices. Tea for one is $5.50, although it's a huge pot, of which I could drink less than half. A good experience, truly, but I just can't stomach the price.
This is such a nice place. They have a very eclectic tea collection. I recently bought Black Current Green Tea and it is delicious. I also bought an Earl Grey cupcake to walk with. Very rich, very good.
The place itself is beautifully decorated, enhanced by the competing aromas of the intermingling tea.
The people that work there are so, so nice. I think I'd go back just for them.
This place has made me a new found lover of earl greys. I used to pass on earl grey all the time. Now I'm experimenting on more teas, testing my palette and mixing my own loose leaf.
I'm so relieved that I can place orders from this place since I am no longer in NY.
Sympathy for the Kettle is a precious little tea shop on St. Marks that provides a delightful reprise from the surrounding bustling streets. While small, it's tables are accommodating and comfortable and make you want to hang out and span time while sipping on a freshly steeped something.
When it's hot outside, in addition to their iced tea of the day (sweetened with a touch of honey), they can ice any tea on their menu. They have matcha, that green powdered Japanese tea that is totally yummy and a little harder to find around town. And if you want something other than a pot of tea, the green tea latte (made with the aforementioned matcha green tea), hot or cold, is totally proper.
I also appreciate that they have some alternative sweeteners like agave nectar.
Sympathy for the Kettle is a bit pricey with all drinks at about $5, but the tea is lovely and you are paying for a full and delightful experience. If I lived closer though, my purse would surely suffer.
This is one of the many places I have passed by and said "I have to try it". So I tried to try it one day with a friend. We sat down and the waitress gave us menus. She kept saying she would "be right there". After half an hour of no service (and there are maybe 5 tables in the whole place), my friend and I got up to leave. As we were leaving, the waitress chased us out to the sidewalk and asked if we wanted to order something. Ummm...no thanks. Maybe it was an off day. Maybe the waitress was retarded. Maybe there was some very complicated tea-brewing happening. I can only speculate. I am willing to give it the benefit of the doubt, but so far have been too scared to try again.
Sucha cutie find! A little quaint tea house with a HUGE variety of teas, clearly displayed on the shelves. The tea house is purply pink and can't be missed, the inside has cute little tables - limited seating but nice enough for an afternoon chat over a pot of tea.
This is the sort of place where you'd come with a girlfriend and talk for hours...I'm coming back and my girl friends are coming with me! ;)
Lovely atmosphere. They have so many different kinds of tea that I don't think I could ever try them all. There isn't a lot of seating, though. The desserts are pricey but very good (lavender infused cupcakes and such).
lovely and perfect ambiance, like everyone says. In summer, get a green tea latte.. you'll never want a heavy, burnt, oversweet coffee frappuccino again. Light and cool with that lovely smoky matcha. It always makes me sad that even with the uptick in coffee quality in general over the last, oh, decade or so, tea is still lagging behind. Iced tea is even more behind, with coffee shops that serve 10 different kinds of coffee lugging out that jug of brewed lipton's under the counter. Needless to say, this is not that place.
Be warned though that there is no tea on the menu here for less than $5. yikes.
3 stars
small cozy, friendly staff...had a green tea latte for the first time and was delicious. expensive...too much for me.
played a game of scrabble.
This little place is wonderful! I love the variety of teas. The girl that works here is so friendly and helpful, and she was describe the teas to you and let you smell them. Also I'm a huge lemonade person, but I like REAL lemonade the kind that's made with lemons and more sour than sweet... well here they had something different... lavender lemonade. Out of curiosity, I got a sample and it's my new favorite drink! The lemon is tart and the lavender soothing... it's quite balanced.
My friends and I recently had a nice afternoon tea party here. Tiny place, but very cute and perfect for an afternoon tea break with your girl friends (max of 6-7 or else it gets too tight).
For about $25/person, we got unlimited teas (2 flavors), scones, sandwiches, macaroons and individual chocolate cakes.
Tea & food were great, service with a smile, we had a really good time here.
5 stars for the selection, 3 for the service, or lack thereof. Perhaps it's because we went on a Saturday night, and it was a little busy. Still... it's such a cute place I can't give it lower than 4 stars.
I had the Jasmine Melange tea, and it was perfectly floral without being overbearing. Mmm.. I can't wait to try the other teas though.
As for the scenery, the quaint and cozy (read: tiny) surroundings made it slightly uncomfortable, but bearable. The clientele ranges from emo hipsters with tighter jeans than david lee roth to NYU students...
Sympathy for the Kettle! This is my favorite tea place in the city. 100 or so good loose teas and a fine selection of drinks and desserts put the money where its dainty, authentic ambiance is. It is an enclave with pink walls and kick ass tables depicting such things as the map of London or a Clue board. You are served your tea in a simple, yet perfectly elegant teapot by a hipstery, but nice barista. Lately I tried a delicate lavender latte and an equally subtle rose petal sorbet, though ice cream and tea together made me cough a lot. Finally, a place where cute ambiance and quality caffeine actually meet.
It's a cute little spot in the lower east side...I loved it! They have so many tea choices that I felt overwhelmed, but the lady who worked there helped me out. I had green tea with honey and it was amazing! It's very welcoming, but also very small. There's only three small tables in the place. And I recommend you take one of those Starbucks hot coffee grips down there because theirs is way too thin and the take-out cups burn your hand. Overall, though, it was a great place that I will definitely visit again!
Neighborhood: West Village
Category: Candy Stores
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Coffee & Tea
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Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Coffee & Tea
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