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Category: Tea Rooms
Neighborhood: Greenwich VillageW 4th St (A, C, E, B, D, F, V)
Christopher St (1)
9th Street (PATH)
Mon-Thu. 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
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This place has it all: awesome service, great tunes, coffee, tea, "bubbles", pastries, tapas, free wi-fi and wine. WINE.
Honestly, it just doesn't get any better. Tea Spot/Wine Spot is the perfect place to chill, enjoy a nice coffee and a delicious quality pastry, or to just surf the net, or meet up with friends in the downstairs space for a bite and drinks. Think endless tea varieties, french press coffee, quiches, pastries, desserts, paninis, etc.
Wonderful, wonderful spot.
*bubbles: large tapioca balls, commonly found in Asian drinks, also referred to as "pearls"
Moving to New York has made me much more discerning - I'm sorry, Mr Restaurant, but if your product is not absolutely extraordinary, I'm not going to be impressed. Therefore, only 2 stars, even though there's nothing really wrong with the Tea Spot.
The pastries are somewhat sub-par, and the panini's not the best. They do have a VERY WIDE selection of teas, and a knowledgeable barista-equivalent to help you choose.
However, if you order a cup of tea, THEY LEAVE THE TEABAG IN YOUR MUG! Not only that, they DO NOT PROVIDE YOU WITH A TEABAG-HOLDER so you can remove it yourself - so you're left drinking out of a mug which still has the teabag in it (gross) or with a damp and unappetizing teabag just sitting there on your tray.
A further gripe is the very cheap plastic 'silver'ware - at the very least, please provide me with a real spoon with which to fish the teabag out of my cup. Is that too much to ask for, for a nearly $4 cup of tea?
The seasons have changed a couple of times since my last visit to the Tea Spot. In a former life, it was an old standby on a chilly day where I could find a lovely pot of tea and a comfy atmosphere to enjoy a quiet conversation with a friend, or to sit and read among like minded folks surfing the internet or working on class projects. Years out of college, I could pop into the Tea Spot and feel as if I had transformed into that 20 something year old version of myself; the self who would dive into unforgiving philosophical rants with friends or read Dostoevsky and Rand for hours on end.
The Tea Spot offered extraordinary teas and they had these pastries which were always the bane of my waistline's existence. I have always loved their herbal teas with rose hips, lemon, ginger, et al... sometimes I'd go in for a Rooibos, and at other times, something green, and I'd always leave thinking "I should come back here more often".
Today, I woke up thinking it was the perfect day to meet a friend in the West Village, so we picked the Tea Spot as our destination and off I went, filled with excitement that I was venturing out to steel a moment or two from my 30s to reminisce about old times again. But when I got there, I couldn't believe my eyes! They changed!
As I walked up the steps I noticed the sign, still there, still the same... it reads "The Tea Spot" carved into an old style wooden shingle which looks so warm and inviting. And then, there it was, just below it, a sister sign carved into a newer and fancier shingle, announcing "The Wine Spot"!
WHAT???????????? Wine... not those people! I go there to get away from "those" people! Those, "me on every other day of the week", people. But there it was, the sign which invited those "me" people into my former "escape from myself" oasis of tea and danishes. Why were "they" invited!?!?!?!??! Why was "I" invited!?!?!?!?
I begrudgingly walked up the stairs knowing that I was about to find a very different environment behind the front door from that which I had grown so fond of over the years. As I walked in, I looked to my right, toward the counter, and my fear became a sharp and jilting reality. The counter was new and fancy, the old red tea canisters with black sharpie labels had been replaced with new fancy silver canisters with fancy laser jet printed labels. They had a menu of teas and they hardly had any tea pots cluttered up on the counter like they used to. And then, there it was, the wine, set up on the shelf, staring at me, mocking me! I was paralyzed! I knew I wanted tea, of course, but I didn't know what kind. Everything was too organized and clean to be my Tea Spot, no beautiful men working behind the counter, no chaos, no broken cash register, no chance of messing up the order, it was lovely and put together and DIFFERENT and... oh, my brain is hurting just thinking about it. I ordered my tea, but it was fairly lackluster, and I sat there with my friend, but the patrons around us were not the same as patrons of the past. They were older, and newer and ordering strange foods. They were impatient and unenthusiastic about tea. Most would likely not know the difference between a specially blended tea and Twinings, nor would they care. They were corporate and frivolous and most would have been drinking wine if they had been serving.
Thank goodness they don't serve wine until 6pm, or I would have melted down completely. At least "those" people hadn't shown up yet.
The music was on a loop which played the same five or six songs over and over again. People were ordering food which was microwaved and served in red and white checked paper cups that reminded me of ball park hot dogs, and the tea was first offered in a paper cup. The seating was different, crowded and cramped, and the service was much slower than I remember. The only thing that remained somewhat the same as I remember was the powder room - it was dingy and smelly as usual.
Over all, I liked the old Tea Spot much better and wish that they hadn't messed with the format. When I left today, I didn't have that old feeling of longing to go again soon. I hope they do well, but I'm not up for this New Spot like I was the old.
What was once worthy of a four star, is now a three, for me.
S~
This place is cute - the seating upstairs were all taken so we had to venture downstairs... it turned out to be surprisingly cute and comfortable. I didn't pay - went with a gentleman :) - but it seemed a little pricey for tea. Was a little disappointed that they didn't have mint tea - but enjoyed my mango tea!
After a long internet courtship I finally managed to trap the lovely Aimee O. to meet up for a spot of tea. My older sister immediately recommended the "Tea Spot" for our lovers' roundezvous, and she was right, it was perfect.
I arrived promptly at four and sent her a text
M: I'm outside
A:I'm sitting at a table in the back
I wiped my hands on my jeans and checked my hair for one last time before meeting my mistress.
Now anyone who hasn't met the lovely Aimee O. should know that she is tall; and she has the incredible ability of commanding an audience, that this is a woman with an amazing presence.
We immediately hugged, plopped ourselves down and yakked, until Aimee's PIC* Brett sauntered in and our small party was complete**.
The staff at the "Tea Spot" were extremely cordial letting the three of us sit and talk without buying anything for the better part of an hour, before someone finally chirped up "Hey, should we get some tea?"
The Barista*** helped each of us pick our own tea and put up with my asking "What about this one?." Responding by pulling each of the teas' tins down and letting me stick my snout in it and get a whiff before I ended up choosing the "Honeybush" tea.
The three of us got to gab, laugh, get some dating tips from Ms. O, and bitch about our jobs. Aimee is a sweet heart, and Brett a reconteur extraordinaire****
And the Tea Spot proved to make for a fantastic backdrop for any gathering or to just chill with your Yelp buddies.
_____________________________________
*Partner in Crime, duh
**Ménage à trois?
***Or tea expert equivalent
****Swear it's in the man's blood, not just his reviews.
Gone are the patrons and warm service... and I know why.
With very, very few good tasting and charming tea salons in NYC... Why did this place go down hill? Noticed some new changes here like the massive service counter that should belong in a franchise --Sad.
But what was really sad... Was when I inquired about loose teas for purchase. This person seemed to be annoyed to have to magnetically pull down the canisters in order for me to smell the goods. Plus she was more interested in listening/answering in on the two businesslike men nearby. What happened to customer service and only one other lone guy was there....
Forget this place --"Tea NOT" --it's not the same (Can anyone tell me what happened to the Cool Italian Ladies?)
I swore off coffee for the week, so to remove temptation I decided to try Tea Spot as my new "co-working" space.
The tea was good (a pot was the perfect size to share with my friends), my wifi didn't work (I blame my weak netbook as it was fine for everyone else, and despite the people next to us (I didn't want to deal with serious PDA at noon on a Thursday)...
I was highly productive.
As productivity is golden, I will def return to work at Tea Spot.
I love the feel of this place, with the different options for seating and snug-but-not-too-snug spacing for seating. However, the few times I have come here, they are always out of my first choice for tea. And they were different teas, too! Staff were able to recommend a similar tea, but I always leave feeling like I was missing out on something. However, I appreciate that they can make your tea any way you want it. Speed of service ranges from decently fast to incredibly slow during their higher peak times.
Tea Spot is an ideal place to catch up with friends, sniff some tea leaves, get hyper-caffeinated on said tea leaves, and leave happy. Game plan: park yourself in the back nook so no one hears you as you share your dirty little secrets with your friends. And yes, we are all full of dirty little secrets that are in need of divulging, even you my friend. That couple over there that's busy sucking face? Don't worry about them. You can bet they're not listening to you.
The tea leaves are stored in large metal canisters. Large enough for long and bountiful sniffing. I feel compelled to sniff several of them each time I visit, even if I have already sniffed one on a prior visit, even if I don't want that tea in particular. Is it a sickness? A fetish? I don't pretend to be a tea expert by any means. I sniff with no authority on how fresh the leaves are or whether they are indeed what the label claims they are. I can't even pronounce some of the labels here. They require an electronic translator. They all just smell so good, each one a unique blend of primordial forest and dried flora. And they're also good steeped and drunk of course.
I ordered a pot of Green Tea for $6, deciding i would spend the next couple hours doing some work on the laptop in a comfy corner of this awesome little tea place. Even though the tea wasn't Hot (it was just warm), i still give this place 5 stars for coolness. There are lots of small tables, with very comfortable chairs (with back support), and lots of cuties with wandering eyes (me like!). And - jackpot - they have a Tapas and Wine Bar downstairs, with a faux fireplace! How cool is that??? This was discovered on my first trip to the downstairs restroom - it's like a whole other world down there - quaint, nice tables, and very interesting menu (steak tartare, cheese plates, did i see fois gras on the menu? Can't recall). They also have a tasting (4 items off the menu) for $29. Very romantic little downstairs scene. This place is the bomb.
Recently spent the day exploring the area around NYU. It was cold and my friend and I were looking for a place to sit and warm up. We both would have been perfectly happy with a Starbucks, but as luck has it, we stumbled across The Tea Spot not even a block away from Washington Square Park. Both of us aren't much of coffee drinkers, so a tea room was like hitting the jackpot. The woman behind the counter was ever so helpful. She gave us some suggestions of popular flavors and without being asked brought them over for us to smell. We ended up settling on a pot of Chocolate Creme. We sat for close to two hours and even got a second pot of Chocolate Creme. The woman at the counter was very pleasant and I even bought some tea to take home. I could definitely see myself doing homework at the Tea Spot in New York. I will be back to taste some more tea!
$4.50 for tea. not a good place to study. They blast bad early 90s R&B and pop. The whole place also feels dirty. They are renovating the upstairs, so this review is only of the downstairs.
Continuing on my quest to find superb loose leaf tea in NYC, my buddy "Queezy" and I found Tea Spot online and decided to go in. We didn't read any reviews or comments and just wanted to see if it had what we were craving....a great cup of Dragon Well, Silver Needle, 1st and 2nd Flushes Darjeeling, a superb and fruity cup of Ceylon, the tastiest and greenest Gyokuro - I mean this wasn't too much to ask right?
Here's one note about tea houses or cafe's or salons on the East Coast - they might offer great atmosphere, but they sorely lack in knowledge and quality of loose leaf (Reviews of Cha An, T Salon, Sanctuary Tea, Teany and more coming up) But first, Tea Spot.
Walking in to Tea Spot, I liked the fact that it was as tight space, the chairs were high, the colors were dark solids and the lighting was likened to a bar after last call. For some reason I was digging the vibe.
It wasn't busy, as me and Q hit up places on off-hours on purpose. The reason being we're searching for quality of the leaf, the service is secondary as we're not looking for a meal or snack even, just a sensuous cup of tea to share, to talk about, or to savor by one's self over an unforgettable book.
We arrived at the counter, there was a cute tea-barista girl who greeted us. Q brought me here because he was intrigued from getting their Iced Dragon Well the time before. For tea connoisseurs-that's intriguing, for non-tea-connoisseurs, iced Dragon Well means squat. So I was thinking they had a giant, brilliant selection of traditional teas of high quality. But I quickly realized that they specialized in blends and flavored teas with crazy names in giant tins behind the counter where they promptly opened and fanned the aroma. They also had traditional loose leaf, but clearly, the target audience are people who want a place to go online, read a book, hang out with a friend but didn't know much about tea.
They basically had everything I wanted but without a key ingredient - the perfect "two leaves and a bud" which I longed for. Maybe I'm asking for too much.
Q ordered a flavored iced tea (I didn't bother to find out the name because I assumed it will be fruity, slightly sweet, cold, and enjoyable, and it was...but that wasn't going to satisfy me today.) I scanned the menu...which was typed out on a plain paper-something that fits the decor of the place, but probably wouldn't fly in other tea houses.
One note on the ice tea-it was absolutely fascinating how they made it, they used a specialized tea-espresso machine. they put the leaves into the filter and then placed a cup with ice underneath, and voila! Instant ice tea, I don't know what you call that, but it was truly cool to watch. I guess that's how they made the iced Dragon Well that Q liked so much last time.
Anyways we decided to share a pot of Silver Needle. I knew it wasn't going to be anything comparable to the tea quality out west, but nonetheless I'm here and who knows, the $5 dollar pot of Silver Needle could be a surprise.
Me and Q grabbed a booth and high chair next to the window. I can definitely see myself coming here if I went to NYU to come study, or just hang out with a friend, or meet up with a date.
We receive the pot of tea in a large single color ceramic pot. I was impressed that somewhat resembled a decent silver needle. The girl behind the counter was really nice, and told us that we could re-steep when we were ready.
The flavor was what I expected from a $5 pot of silver needle, a little stale, not much sweetness, a little over-brewed. But nonetheless, we were enjoying ourselves in this cozy place. Not to mention it was the "almost gonna rain but not just raining" whether, too bad Q wasn't a girl, or it woulda been pretty romantic.
We finished the pot and decided what the heck, let's go for a second infusion-let's see what this Silver Needle's got. The second infusion was not as good as the first, but it still had a little flavor, more than what I expected so I was satisfied.
Overall, this place is the kind of place I would find myself at if I lived in the area and needed some quiet time (not sure how busy it usually gets). As far as the tea itself goes, I'll take a pass, however it is very inexpensive. But as tea drinkers know, we'd rather pay for quality than quantity any day.
I would def return here if I was in the area, mostly for the atmosphere, the friendly service and value, but it's not the first place I think of if I want quality tea.
Came here on a late afternoon after walking past it all the time, expecting a cozy place to sit and chat and try some different teas. After all, what less can one expect from a name as cute as "The Tea Spot"?
Unfortunately, the tea was ridiculously expensive (almost $4 for a cup of white tea, which is legitimate for "ridiculously expensive," at least 4 years ago) and came in a little glass mug that was too hot to pick up for awhile. We sat by the window and it was pleasantly sunny, but the rest of the place was totally empty (where did all the NYU kids go?), in the bare and awkward way, except for some guy talking irritatedly on the phone and typing at the same time. I was also kind of displeased at the fact that there were a bunch of flavored, "wacky" (read: abominations of) teas available.
This place was pretty disappointing. But I guess if I desire expensive mockeries of real tea while I am here in Illinois, I can always go to Argo.
If you're like me, and prematurely ejaculate in your lucky boxers at the thought of being touched by a sensuous object...like Sencha green tea, then this place is for you.
Tea Spot is conveniently located nowhere near the UES [where I reside], but I was in the 'hood doing my semi-annual shaving-needs shopping @ C.O. Bigelow. After the apothecary I dragged the girl to Mamoun's for a religious experience. We left Mamoun's frozen through, sufficiently full, and stumbling toward the subway. I jerked her arm in delight and we stopped in here.
I ordered 4 ounces of green Sencha with lemon, which was about $5 per ounce. The tea is something that I don't have to be ashamed about prematurely coming for, but I still deduct a star for the prices. The rest of the patrons on the main level were library silent, typing their novels on their Macs.
Delicious tea, but as others have stated not such a wonderful variety. I don't care. I'm happy. I always get lucky in these boxers.
I don't know if it's just the guy and the girl behind the counter today or if everyone who works here is like this, but when I came in today to read and have a pot of tea, these people knew absolutely NOTHING about tea. Not only that, but they were completely indifferent and acted like they didn't even want to be working there. Their eyes wandered around the ceiling as I chose what tea I wanted, and when I asked to look at/smell the teas they did have, they could barely describe them! How can you not know anything about tea and WORK at a tea cafe?! Minus two stars for the bad, indifferent, unknowledgable service.
Other than the service, this is a cute spot, especially the downstairs section. They have a few couches and comfy chairs and tables where you can linger, study, read, work on your computer, etc. And Tea Spot has a great free wi-fi connection.
I chose the Keemun Imperial tea -- a very strong black tea that has a burgundy-colored hue. The pot was $5, and you can get free hot water refills. The quality of the tea was decent, but then again, not sure exactly how fresh it was since all the teas are stored in huge metal bins, which probably means that they get a lot of exposure to air... which will eventually stale the tea, sadly.
I'll be back here just for the free wi-fi and the comfy space to read.... and the tea, I guess.
When I departed Minneapolis for New York, I had to let many of my regular hangouts go. It took awhile to loosen the grip and watch these spots slip from my grasp. The Tea Garden was one of the hardest goodbyes.
Then with random luck, I came upon The Tea Spot just a few doors down from Mamoun's Falafel and La Lanterna and felt warm and fuzzy; like I had found a long lost friend.
The Tea Spot is a large space, with upstairs and down, that serves the finest of loose leaf teas from around the world. They also have bubble tea on the menu. A sucker for bubble tea, I had to order a cold glass of mango flavored goodness. Learning that they had an $8 credit minimum and holding no cash, I was forced to pay $8 for a large bubble tea...a very steep price compared to the $5 I was used to in Mpls.
Of course, the tea was delicious and had me forgetting the high price tag quickly. As for the space, it is a chill environment filled with NYU students, hipsters and aspiring writers. A few pluses: the free internet and several plug-in spots to keep your laptop juiced.
Great spot to sit and drink tea. Lots of tea. There are so many varieties, all loose leaf... There are so many I am fairly sure I haven't had them all even though I order something different most times.
An upstairs and a downstairs. My one tiny gripe that as someone who has knee problems the stairs to get in and the stairs to go down suck suck suck.
I'd say moderate for a tea place as really tea and coffee places are always a little ridiculous for the product you are getting versus what you would spend if you did it yourself at home, but it's the sit down and the availability you are paying for more than the actual tea.
For those of us in the know about loose leaf tea availability is a big problem and hours... Tea Spot is open longer than a lot of places, is clean, the staff is very nice... and it's great. Go!
Tea Spot is fantastico in my book. You can get a pot of tea or a cup, even bubble tea, though it'll set you back $6 (yeah, seriously, six freaking dollars, and I would say never again, but I can't ever motivate myself to go to Chinatown, so...). It also has some cookies and sandwiches, but nothing inspirational, more something to get you going if you've been there for hours.
There's tables upstairs, and what makes this place a winner is the downstairs seating. It's a nice place to chill with a friend or do some work, even on a Saturday.
This place proportionally, has as much tea as it has seating. Actually, on second thought, I think it has more tea.
And so I am a hard core idiot for ordering a latte, imagining a sweet, steaming cup of java and then receiving the shock of my life when it is most definitely, not coffee but surprise, surprise...TEA.
Otherwise, this obscure place is like a jewel on MacDougal. Their dessert was very good; my friend and I shared a pumpkin tart. And that tart was amazing considering that pumpkin is out of season now...Around four dollars for dessert and five for tea.
Go for the tea (obviously) and a pleasant atmosphere. It was kind of strange, actually. While it felt 'New York,' on another level it was very 'New Englandish.' Anyways, plenty of seating (upstairs, not so much, but there's also a downstairs).
The Good: lots of seating, free WIFI, impressively large loose-leaf tea selection, ample outlets for your laptop, clean restroom, great location in the Village
The Tolerable: dim lighting, small seats, mediocre food selection, mostly teas (no coffees or other espresso drinks), fast service
The Bad: $4 for a cup of tea latte, $3 for a cup of tea, $5 for a pot of tea, weird loud background music, small tables, cramped quarters with lots of people/ gets crowded quickly
I don't know if this is a go-to place for me, but it's certainly okay. It would probably earn another star from me if it wasn't so expensive.
Dropped by this place on the way to the W. 4th F train station. My girlfriend had apparently been wanting to come here for a long time. I didn't even know this place was there!
Fortunately, The Tea Spot is one of many bright spots that seem to keep popping up on MacDougal St. I'm really more of a coffee guy, but the almond cookie black tea I had was pretty refreshing. The interior is cute, with free wifi (always a plus). They seem to have a large (if not overwhelming) selection of teas.
Overall, I'd check out Tea Spot if you're a tea lover, and maybe even if you're not.
I love Tea Spot. I miss Teaism in Washington, DC SO much. Tea Spot is the closet thing to Teaism's wonder in NYC. The tiramisu flavored tea melts my heart and soul and drifts me off into relaxation and peace. Tea Spot is incredible and I highly recommend that devo-teas (couldn't resist ")) flock there quickly. I hope the fix the bottom floor so there is more space for us to sit, however everything else is perfect.
The Tea Spot is a place that is a shout out to the
90's in you, the coffee place that may play obscenely loud
music with students, business people, and tourists hunched
over rickety tables, and yet given the right choice of tea,
you are satisfied. Here is an example that quantity should
not trump over quality.
The right choice of tea is a saga of it's own as they may have
what you are interested in or not. You have to choose
candidates and drink the one based on availability. The price is
steep as to be expected in NYU doused businesses.
Expect the joys of free Wi-Fi, very little conversation with
your friends, and a place to warm up from the cold.
Tiramisu-flavored iced tea: terrible! I've been here a couple of times and loved the hot tea. But I took a sip of the watered-down iced tea and went bleh. Popularity comes with a price because most of the tables were occupied when I got there on a Saturday afternoon.
I'll come back, just not for the tiramisu tea. I should've gotten boring black tea instead.
*sigh* I'm in love...and not just with the cute barista here.
As someone who gave up coffee years ago because it always had to be chased with some Xanax, and as someone who studies best while surrounded by people, I'm always on the prowl for a good tea house in which I can settle for a good long while. I used to come to Tea Spot just for a bit of tea-on-the-go. Even though their prices have always been steep, I adored their incredible selection, extremely knowledgeable staff (when someone can give you an appropriate tea for sore throat, congestion, AND upset stomach, you're in the right place), and delicious cookies.
Today, I finally stayed at Tea Spot to study. Per other Yelpers' suggestions, I opted for a pot of After Dark because it was the best value ($5 for about four cups of tea). As always, the tea was delicious, so this time I got to experience the atmosphere of the place: calm, jovial, comfortable, and inhabited by people bonding over their respective teas. I didn't bring my laptop, but everyone else seemed satisfied with the free wifi even if I didn't see too many power outlets around.
The back of Tea Spot is kind of dark, so if you want to read, try to stay at the front by the big windows or go down the steep stairs to the better-lighted basement. Just be careful, because those stairs are really steep; I stayed upstairs just because I was scared of dropping my pot of tea while walking down them.
Bathroom Grade: 4/10. I want to give the bathroom a much higher grade because it's really clean considering the fact that it's in the basement (I had nightmares of cockroaches, but not a single one was to be found), but I have to ask: why would a tea house have ONE bathroom? ONE! Ridiculous.
so sad i only JUST visited this place and i'm moving in a week!
Tea Spot is located in the W4th streetish hub of nyu collegiates, lively restaurants, and fun loud night life. It's a cute tea shop that's a great way to get away from the 'hyperness' that can often be this area.
Tea Spot has a HUGE variety which I was a fan of - the tea they make you is made from the leaves, so you know its the real deal - none of that bagged crap.
I got a peony tea on ice and sat at a window seat. Tonnie's cupcake shop is right around the corner (which I def recommend), so I ate my cupcake, drank my tea, read my book, and had the sun shine on me the entire time.
It was awesome. I also tried a little of their green tea mojito - which is basically like a frozen mint + lemonade - quite good.
They offer some snacks/desserts/empanadas (which is random!) too - but really, I recommend going the cupcake (from tonnie's) and tea from tea spot route. perhaps i'll go there once more before I leave. def a fan of this cute tea spot with its extensive list of leaves.
i came here based on K T B's review. she has a category for wifi cafes and restaurants, which i desperately need more of, but in this instance she has failed me.
my tongue still tries to jump ship when it recalls along with my most active synapses the blueberry tea frappe that was almost as bad as the photos from guat--okay, not quite so bad, but i would give this place zero stars if possible. seriously, how much sugar does that stuff need? it was 80 parts sugar, 60 parts blueberry flavoring and 100 (percent) parts disgusting.
i let out a blue string of crabby words, all starting with "f", when they charged me EIGHT GODDAMN DOLLARS for this crappe. i nearly stormed out of there. instead, i put away my fiver, pulled out my card and didn't tip. oh, and i stayed for four hours, nursing that cuppa sugar and working. the basement is at least pretty awesome.
i have, after 31 years of stumbling about through life, become a tea aficionado, and this was not the place that served up the lump of awe. that would be the roebling tea room, which has converted me. even their melon tea is amazing, and all melons (save water-) taste like perspiration to me. i can't stand cantaloupe unless it's in a roebling mug.
save yourself the pretension, sugar attack and wallet-thinner. hop the L to brooklyn and shell out $8 for three cups of tea or a pint of allagash. you'll feel like you just got a new lease on life.
I've had tasty green tea bubble tea here, hot and cold, and a nice warm pot of marsala chai.
I like it, very cozy and inviting. Downstairs is nice. It gets crowded pretty quickly, but that didn't take away from my experience.
I love the MacDougal area, so I will probably return soon.
Been here twice.
Yes, excellent tea variety.
Yes, medium amount of seating.
Yes, plenty of outlets to go around.
Yes, sweet service.
But:
* Expensive. ($5 small pot; ran out of pots so I got a $4 small latte. Absurd.)
* $8 minimum on credit card.
* Free wi-fi = too spotty. I was there for 2 hours and every twenty minutes, the laptop people whispered to each other: "So.. are you on Linksys-G or meswireless?"
* Downstairs area = Crazy warm. Make sure the layers you wear in the winter are take-off-able. Mine were not take-off-able. I was the girl in the corner whose flushed face and squirminess gave off the "Is she drunk?" vibe.
I'd come here again if I'm in the area, but I wouldn't hunt it down.
I've had better.
Tea Spot is probably one of my fave places in the city. Conveniently located around the corner from the NYU 'campus', friends and I would frequent this little gem to get some work done or to momentarily suppress our stressed out minds.
Easily overlooked, Tea Spot is located in a Brownstone adjacent to Washington Square Park and occupies two very small but cozy floors. There are hundreds of teas from all over the world to choose from and the people who work there are actually very helpful and well versed in all things tea.
With tea, it really isn't hard to please people but it is hard to distinguish yourself from the thousands of other tea and coffee shops found within the city. For me, the element that set this tea house apart from all the others, was the intimate downstairs. As many tables as possible snuggle together to crowd the functioning fireplace -- a fireplace! In Manhattan! Which Works! That was the deal breaker for me and what kept friends and me going back week after week. Once you walk downstairs you are instantly transported to some small sleepy town in Northern New England -- for the minutes or hours you spend at the Tea Spot -- you willingly forget the hustle and bustle of the city.
Teas are hit and miss. Also they run out of the good stuff a little more than I'd like. There's wifi and a handful of outlets, plus for the most part the chairs are easy to move around if you've got a group.
Recently though this place has got wicked crowded and it's SRO after 5pm. Also they are not so hot at keeping the music at a decent level, so, I hope you enjoy the part where you have to shout over the mixtape to tell your friend to pass the sugar or whatever else crazy things you put in your pot of tea.
The staff is generally good-natured, though, and they will recommend teas and they will encourage you to make ridiculous blends and choices. Just be sure to ask how much the thing's going to be before they brew it, because the price structure can set you back a full dinner's worth of cash.
I would say I wish they served snacks that weren't sweets, but they'd probably charge me $4 for a bagel, so.
I want this place to be something it is not. I love that they use fresh loose teas and have a good variety. Prices for regular hot teas aren't bad either, though my friends who love bubble tea hate how expensive it is here.
What really bugs me is when I pick a tea off the menu that they are out of. They also have a LOT of gaps in their tea menu. If you don't want a plain green or a caramel/butter/chocolate flavored black tea, then you are in a bit of a jam. Why not a good black currant black tea or how about a lavender earl grey? Neither are on the menu or anything close to that. This makes me sad.
I do enjoy that they serve tea in teapots and real mugs if you are staying in.
You know that feeling? The feeling you get when you see a cute little spot off in the distance and it catches your eye. And your heart? Its like there's just something about it that says, I can't pass this block up without seeing what that space is and what it looks like inside. As I was heading to one destination, this is exactly what happened to me when I saw the Tea House. It was off the corner, maybe about a storefront or two down and it look so cool. A tea house for the tea lover? Ooh I just had to try.
However, once I went in I felt like I didn't even have a chance to take in my first impression of the experience before the clutz in me knocked over and broke the honey jar. Way to go! However, the tearista - if that's even a name- was so accommodating and put me at ease with a whiff of what my eyes were fixated on- pumpkin crème tea.
Before I knew it, she bagged it and told me to let it steep for about 7 minutes. Another tearista was cleaning up my faux paux as we exited out of the tiny space before I had time to steep in my own misery. I will definitely come back to this place - it's quaint, cute and has excellent service.
I host a bloggers meetup group and wasn't sure where to take them for our monthly meeting. A friend suggested this place so I gave it a shot. It was lovely! We were able to take over a large corner upstairs and the tea was delicious. They have bubble tea, which is a big plus in itself! I had the Thai kind and it was delicious. A few weeks later, my parents came to visit and I brought them there for a quick cup of tea. My dad was amazed by the selection and it took him a while to figure out what kind of tea to buy.
It's a cute spot. Very low-key and relaxed. They have big tables downstairs for larger groups and the staff is cool about letting you hang out for a while.
I live in the area, and this is my joint. The staff is awesome, everyone is super friendy (and some pretty cute!) - they remember my "regular" and always chat me up. My only complaints are the too steep prices ($6 for bubble tea?), but it IS good tea. And they aways seem to be out of this almond flavor I've been wanting to try, but that's forgivable haha.
Perks: Free wifi, fireplace downstairs (in the winter), cozy, good selection, great tea, great staff
Eh: Prices, sometimes tastes different depending who makes it
A gazillion flavors of Iced Tea in the summer, all of which you can get at this little joint right by Wash Sq Park? No way! I love love love coming here in the summer for a delicious fruit flavored freshly brewed iced tea, they have an amazing selection of teas and every one that I've tried is deelish. While, it is a tad expensive for simply iced tea, in my opinion the ability to get any flavor of tea they have iced, is worth it.
Plus kids, they've got the wireless internets here. Bonus! Even though I live in Manahatta, everyone around me has their internet locked, what gives! Yes, I admit it, until very recently I was *still* dialing up... I live alone, internet is crazy expensive, and I am not about to take money out of my booze and clothes budget!
When I've gone, its rarely crowded so I can always find a table. There are plenty of outlets to plug my baby into. Maybe I should have Yelped this from within the confines of this little gem?
They also have sandwiches and pastries, but this girl has never tried anything but their teas.
Good customer service as well, they will held you find a tea that they know you will enjoy.
This is a great cafe. Not only do they have a lot of teas, which are wonderful, they also have good treats for ok prices. Any tea they have can be an iced or frozen tea, too. This place is great in both summer and winter.
Others have complained about the prices, but I don't know what they're comparing it to. A pot of tea for two is under $5 and nets 4 cups. And that's with any tea in the place. Iced is only $3. Plus, you can get any tea to take home at pretty good prices. Next to Lipton it's quite a bit, but this stuff is SO much better than Lipton (or any other bagged tea).
The people who work here are awesome. Always friendly and outgoing, always willing to make suggestions and get you to try something new. If you make an effort to talk to them and become friendly, they'll go out of their way to make you happy.
Also, they're completely fine with people sitting for a long time. I found this to be true during the summer when the NYU kids weren't around. During the semesters there are more people. They are a business, after all, and I can't blame them for wanting people who've only bought one thing to not stay all day. Be polite and buy equivalent to the length of your stay. Become a regular and you'll be able to sit for longer without anyone looking askance at you. They know the value of keeping good customers.
For Writers: Free WiFi, which is always a virtue. There's lots of seating upstairs and down, so plenty of places for individuals or groups to gather and write. If you go to the lower level, just know there are only outlets on the wall near the stairs. So plan accordingly (some bring extention cords).
You're definitely paying for the experience and variety here. Yes, there are a multitude of loose tea varieties to try (stored in these drum-like bins along the walls), but I find it hard to justify the prices of Tea Spot (which have increased over the years I've been a patron). The WiFi service isn't all that great either. One of my favorite teas in the fall is the Pumpkin tea. I've had better experience with the hot teas than the iced teas in terms of overall flavor. The owner even gave me a tutorial in tea leaf steeping once, which proved very interesting. I've tried the bubble teas here and the consistency is all wrong -- my taro bubble tea made me feel like I was drinking Pepto Bismol or something with an equally chalky texture. I'm not sure how widely known this is, but the sandwiches are actually from Crosby Connection (I've asked). On the upside, there are two floors of seating (although it can be crowded at certain points of the day) and the staff is very friendly, always willing to make recommendations.
Out of tea houses/coffee houses in the area, this is probably one of the better places to meet up with a friend because you can actually carry on a conversation and not worry about anyone trying to get you out the door.
I liked this place. I was visiting NYC from Chicago. We have a placed called Argo Tea here and it's very similiar. I had a fruit based iced tea, it was excellent. I'm making sure to visit this place when I come back.
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Nolita
Category: Bookstores
Neighborhood: Murray Hill
Category: Tea Rooms
Neighborhood: West Village
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: SoHo
Category: Bookstores
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