The 7 Best Afternoon Teas in New York City: Reviewed

The Baccarat Hotel’s afternoon tea is a triple treat: fantastic food, great tea, and stunning décor, complete with crystal glassware, blooming red roses, and a massive chandelier christening the space—as one would expect, of course. The experience is opulence done right, paired with a rather enjoyable menu. Think wagyu beef sandwiches with fresh herb pistou, a three-cheese spring vegetable tart, and the classic coronation chicken offering. For those with a sweet tooth, you’ll be able to try out treats such as a Meyer lemon gâteau with yuzu curd and blueberries, a Sacher torte with chocolate mousse, and a mini strawberry New York cheesecake, in an ode to the Big Apple. Baccarat has done afternoon tea right, and it’s definitely worth a visit.

Every last detail at Majorelle inside The Lowell Hotel is impeccable, and its Lily of the Valley Tea is no exception. Created in partnership with Dior (and named for one of Christian Dior’s favorite flowers), this afternoon tea is served on stunning green china and poured with matching pots from the fashion house. And don’t miss the dessert cart passing by, complete with the signature pink cake. Besides the delicious sandwiches, the mango and papaya parfait was particularly delightful and light, and the chocolate cake came adored with a pink butterfly. Here, too, you can expect white-glove service, with waitstaff attending to your every last wish. Even the room, with its various plants and florals done up in towering arrangements, smells fresh and bright. It’s enough to make you feel as though you’re dining with British royalty overlooking the gardens.

When you walk into Le Café Louis Vuitton, there’s no question you’re in a swanky ode to the maison. The fashion house’s famed flower motif can be seen on nearly every detail, from the chic plates to an imprinting on the finger sandwiches to the floral design seen atop basically every dessert on offer. Even the marble cake, split into four pieces, comes together to form the LV emblem. All those Monograms are paired with a contemporary abode, the type of space that just welcomes you right in. The restaurant is like a library lounge, with bookshelves lining the walls, warm wood accents, and a swanky bar to boot. It’s a modern ode to the afternoon tea—and a fantastic one at that.

At the Mandarin Oriental, you can enjoy tea from the Rare Tea Company (which sources sustainably farmed drinks) with one of the best views in town: perched high above Central Park, overlooking the vast greenery and Manhattan skyline. The snacks on offer, though, are worth tearing yourself away from the sights. That includes a lemon-ricotta and spring-pea sandwich, and truffle egg salad number, and rhubarb strawberry tart. As for those teas, options abound, from a silver tip jasmine to a golden lily milk oolong—though we personally enjoyed the classic earl grey. Above all, make sure to request a table by the window; you won’t regret it.

Would an afternoon tea list be complete without mentioning the Plaza? The dazzling, expansive Palm Court has been welcoming guests for tea for over 100 years, and for good reason. The desserts are quite lovely (the cookies and cream cheesecake was my personal favorite), and each sandwich is just as delicious as the next. With the hotel’s Signature Tea offering, you can indulge in a foie gras macaron, a center cut smoked salmon sandwich with Ostera caviar, and that classic cucumber number. As far as tea, the Signature Blend has a welcome touch of citrus, too. Paired with all that food and tea, of course, is all the glamour and prestige of the Plaza itself, making it a worthy stop during teatime.

Inside Tiffany & Co.’s glittering Landmark (a.k.a, its Fifth Ave. flagship), there’s a café sat underneath hundreds of those classic little blue boxes, hanging from the ceiling. It’s there that you can enjoy an afternoon tea courtesy of Daniel Boulud, who puts together seasonal menus for the spot. The smoked salmon bagel, caviar perched on a potato, and the lobster roll were three highlights, as well as the white chocolate dessert decked out in colorful hues to match the café’s floors. The space, as well as the food, is certainly impressive—as are the jewels you walk by on your way to elevator on the Landmark’s first floor.

The Wall Street Hotel’s afternoon tea spot is dripping with jewel tones—a teal-blue carpet, mustard lounge chairs, a deep-red banquette. And though all that is paired with expansive ceilings, towering pillars, and New York City skyline frescos, the space is rather cozy, an ideal place to take a loved one for a spot of tea. The scones here are particularly scrumptious (try the apricot), but make sure to leave room for some of those airy earl grey cream puffs and a sweet berry tea called Blueberry Merlot. There’s a bar on standby, too, should you choose to indulge in something a tad stronger for your next drink