Alice's Tea Cup, Chapter I
(58 reviews)102 W 73rd St, New York, NY 10023, USA (212) 799-3006 Website Suggest Changes
Alice's Tea Cup is a dream-come-true for us. We have spent our lifetimes enjoying afternoon tea at various hotels and restaurants around the world, fantasizing about the day when we would open our own magical and whimsical tea room with a health conscious menu and variety of unique, fresh teas. Each item on our menu is made to order to ensure that it is the freshest (and tastiest) possible, each tea is brewed to perfection (3 to 7 minutes) with double-filtered water that is boiled to 180 degrees and our wide assortment of teas are sent to us from all over the world. We hope that this preparation allows you to come away from your experience with us at Alice's Tea Cup feeling rejuvenated, relaxed, healthy and cared-for.
Recent reviews
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Lauren S.
Went here for my birthday with my best friend and absolutely loved it. Maybe because we went in the middle of a weekday it wasn't noisy at all, so our experience was pleasant. All the teas we tried were good, but the vanilla rose was by far my favorite.
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Meme Black
It’s been a while since I was last here. I didn’t know they had more then 1 location. I enjoyed the 2nd so I gave them a try. I loved it. Great little place. Loved the decor and atmosphere. Hope to go back.
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Max Sugerman
I prefer the other location more. This one gets very loud and crowded which ruins the experience
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shesallthat
Went there with my 16 year old niece.We both have been to other teas before. The whole thing was disappointing. From the disinterested waiter, to the chipped cups, to the food. I didn't find it charming or fun. Don't get the hype.
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Michael Cramer
Always a pleasure to visit this whimsical tea room. They're no longer serving coffee in "loser" mugs, but the irreverent spirit of the founders is alive and well. It's been around for what seems like forever, and will hopefully continue for a while longer.
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Sally
We went to Alice's to have afternoon tea service since we were in New York on business. Very disappointing.
The place was very noisy with children screaming and poor acoustics. We asked three times for ice for our room temperature water before we finally got it. They brought us the wrong scones and the wrong dessert. They did finally bring the correct food.
You choose two sandwiches and three scones plus two pots of tea, if you have the tea service for two people. We chose the curry chicken and ham and cheese. The sandwiches were very dry, which could have been made a tad better if they put mustard or mayo on the ham sandwich, and more mayo in the chicken. We chose pumpkin, and fruit scones which were fruity but again dry.
There were cookies that seemed store bought and not soft and chewy but in fact..dry. The Mocha cake that we chose for the sharing dessert, guess what...dry and crumbly. Cost $45.
We just could not recommend this one.
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pippa
A huge disappointment. My second visit only confirmed my first impressions. The tea was almost undrinkable. I ordered the Mt. Everest blend and asked how long they steep it for. The server said 3 minutes. I asked her to let it steep 5 minutes. My friend ordered the chocolate chai. We had the full afternoon tea service. Scones were okay but the sandwiches were bland and the bread was dry. The tea was so weak it was tasteless. When I complained the server brought out a tea filled sachet and put it in each of our pots which were luke warm by that stage. They obviously have no clue how to make tea properly. Never going back.
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L
This place is amazing! I was only in New York for a day had to have tea, of course. Everything was perfect the tea selection is vast, I ordered the Alice's tea blend, and also the Boston Tea, and enjoyed both. I also ordered the Mad Hatter and was not disappointed. There was so much food two huge delicious scones, six sandwiches. I tried the chicken curry, and egg salad, and both were wonderful. There was also cookies, and I chose the lemon tart. I had plenty of left overs, and the price was great for what you received. I can't wait to go again when I return to New York.
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Michelle
This is my favorite place for tea in the world! The food is always excellent and varied, the scones are amazing and the atmosphere is fun and slightly girly without being cloying. The tea selection is enormous and perfectly prepared and presented. There's a lovely menu for children and really unique gifts in their waiting area. Their brunch is also not to be missed!
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Samantha
I went here with some of my girlfriends recently and we had a blast. The tea menu was huge! The Sessa and Green Tea with Hibiscus teas were fantastic, and the food was absolutely delicious (we got the 'Mad Hatter for Two', which included a variety of cookies, sandwiches, and scones. We absolutely loved it and it was more than enough food for the both of us). The atmosphere is cute although somewhat plain, but not overdone or girly/childish. Service was a bit slow, but it was fine because we did not feel rushed to finish and leave. We can't wait to go back!
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Jacqueline Manni
I *love* Alice's Tea Cup! There are over 100 teas to choose from (I chose the Phoenix Dessert Tea - caramel, vanila and honey in a black tea. It was prepared perfectly and so delicious that I had to take some loose tea home (all of the teas are also for sale by the ounce). Their scones are the best I have ever tasted. The food is also fantastic - I had a great steak salad. The decor is charming, and service was spot on - not too hovery but someone was always there when we needed them. The waitstaff was also genuinely NICE - not something you get often in NYC. Highly, highly recommended.
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Ducky
If you ask me, Alice's Tea Cup is the epitome of Ab-Fab (that's 'absolutely fabulous' for those not in the know). My partner and I decided on a whim to stop in and see what it was like. The tea selection was near infinite, and the wait staff were very helpful. Some even had wings!
Delicious scones are a must have!
The clientele was a little iffy and snotty, but that's to be expected, I suppose. The theme was amazing, based on Lewis Carrol's stories of Alice. The photography placed around the dining area was very nice as well, and fit the theme.
Very clean shopping room, and bathroom too.
Important note: when we went, there was $10 per person minimum on weekends for eating in the dining room. Meh, not for the poor college student, I guess.
Overall: If you had to decide to go to Alice's Tea Cup, or anywhere else in the world, go to Alice's Tea Cup. Bring enough money and an appetite, and be nice to the servers.
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Mike
My all-time favorite tea house! AMAZING food, especially the great selection of delicious scones. Great atmosphere- kind of like visiting grandma's house. Tea is always prepared flawlessly and the waitstaff is extremely knowledgeable. Prices can range from extremely reasonable to a tad overpriced, depending on what you order. I recommend ordering one of the spreads for two or more people to keep the bill in check.
The only drawback I can think of is that this location can sometimes become overcrowded with waspy/yuppie women on a 'girls day out,' and that pompousness can rub off on the waitstaff a little (only sometimes). But, it's to be expected in this neighborhood, and a small price to pay for the incredible food and tea. At least Alice's has a no cell phone rule which helps keep the atmosphere nice and civilized.
Overall, Alice's is not to be missed, and I try to make it there with my girlfriend at least twice a month.
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Mary
The rain poured down when I walked by this place and decided to stop and sit for a while. I ordered a Grand Keemun tea and, of all things, vegan broccoli soup, which was recommended by the server. Brewing tea is not for the uneducated and vegan broccoli sounds like a terrible idea. But they were both wonderful. It is a place that provides calm in a storm and I can't recommend it enough.
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grettel
i love this tea room. it´s whimsical and it´s lovely. the food is good, and the tea is fantastic. great variety of loose tea. my favorites are the rooibos tea (any of their selection), and the alice's tea, which i always buy to take home. whenever i´m in new york, i always come to have lunch to alice´s, even if it´s out of my way. it can be hard to get a table, but worth the trouble.
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Amanda
My husband and I had weekly 'dates' at Alice's when we lived in NYC. It is a wonderful place with tasty treats and an amazing assortment of teas. They even have a tea of the month club you can join! Sometimes the service is slow, but the charm of the setting outweighs the wait. There are a few rules that can make it hard to have large groups on weekends (must be over 6 to make a reservation but 8 or more must get the Mad Hatter, etc), but weeknights are terrific. Brunch is delightful and the scones are unmatched. I long for a Los Angeles equivalent to Alice's.
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Rose
I've been to the east side tea room twice for take-out. I am looking forward to dining in very soon. I have found everyone I've dealt with incredibly nice and helpful. Scones are one of my favorite 'desserts' -- I've had incredible British scones, and some fair ones here in the US. I've tried several different varities at Alice's Tea Cup and am VERY impressed! They are fresh and delicious. The buttermilk are my favorite -- plain but awesone with raspberry jam!
It's very exciting to me that afternoon tea is a growing phenomenon in the US! Now if only Alice's would open a charming tea house near me in NJ...
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monique
I went to Alice's Tea Cup a couple of weeks ago and the staff was very friendly. My friend and I went to the Chapter II location first, where we tried green tea and a scone. Very delicious. We bought some loose tea on the way out and the staff told us about their other location, which we went to and bought more loose tea. The staff was very helpful at both locations and my friend and I will definently come back again.
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J
I loved Alice's! What a wonderful urban tea house! Great food selection, VERY healthy portions, great atmosphere- and the staff was very knowledgeable about teas. They were very busy, yet took the time to help us find just the right tea. I look forward to returning when I'm in NY again.
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Rya
Excellent atmosphere, service, and food selection. I went to the one on the east side for my friend's birthday with her mother, her older brother's wife, her younger brother's girlfriend, and another close friend of ours. My experience there was a memorable one, and it was the perfect place to go for a girls day out! It was our first time at Alice's Tea Cup, and we were all very impressed. The place was very cozy, the writings on the walls were adorable, the presentation of the tea and food was incredibly cute, and our server was kind and polite. We sat upstairs, and I felt that the setting was just perfect. After my experience there, I had to try the one on the west side. I brought my mother with me, and our experience there was delightful as well. Our server was especially cheerful and friendly. I will most definitely be a regular customer from now on and recommend this place without any reservations whatsoever.
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Michele
I have been to Alice's on several occasions. It is a delightful place with reasonable prices for tea. Their tea selection is outstanding (with some 50 or more teas). Their food is also delightful. The pumpkin scones are simply divine!
The last time I went the service wasn't as attentive as the previous occasions. But they were still good. On the flip side, they let my friend and I chat away for hours without rushing us out. We arrived around 4:30 on a Wednesday so it wasn't too crowded. However they were still doing a good bit of business.
It is the place I return to again and again. I love the atmosphere. I like the different selections.
Though I would warn anyone, don't get the Jabberwocky unless you are starving! The first time I went my friend and I each got one and it was way too much food. This last time we got the Madder Hatter for two. It was more than enough food.
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Nicole K.
I've been to Alice's a few times for both high tea, just tea and scones, and dinner, and have always had a nice experience. Service was always consistently good; don't know what sort of nonsense these other reviewers are talking about! Incredible selection of teas, and every server I've had has knowledge of the list. Recommended.
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Julie
I work at a teahouse in Va and went with my boss and coworkers to Alices' and Loved it! We all thought the decor was brilliant and we enjoyed the story that went around the walls. My tea and scones were delicious, our waitress was kind enough to bring us a free pumpkin scone just so we could try it! I will be back!!
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Ashley T.
I have been going to Alice's Tea Cup for years and have never had a bad experience. The staff is WONDERFUL and the food is AMAZING! It is a warm inviting atmosphere and I honestly dont see how it could have been so bad for these other reviewers. This is a wonderful place and does not deserve the nasty remarks left on this site. I will forever stand by Alice's as a truly enjoyable and unique place to eat and the staff is one of the best in the city!!!!
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a very mad tea party
Alice's Tea Cup is VERY over rated. The tea and scones were delicious, but the waitstaff is HORRIBLE. They are some of the rudest, snobbiest, and most unfriendly people I have ever met. Not only did they try to overcharge me, but they made my visit so un-enjoyable that I never want to go back. I was planning on having my birthday party there, but they refused to answer my questions and were so rude that I walked out.
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Emily
The service here is HORRIBLE! These staff members do not care about their job. This is very disheartening because the product is excellent. My tea was likewarm and nobody bothered to ask if I needed anything. For almost $25/person (for tea and light lunch) I expect a little more...not much, but a little respect wuld be nice.
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Andrea
I have been to the West Side location countless times over the last few years, mainly for the delicious scones (for a while I was going at least once a week), but after dealing with the horrible service and rude staff on a consistent basis week after week(I can only recall one time that a staff member was actually helpful and pleasant), I gave up and haven't returned for the last year. I still crave the scones, but do not go because the stress and aggravation of the rotten service is not worth it.I was thinking of trying the east side location, but after reading the other reviews here, it seems as if it is the same. I notice that the owners of the tearoom respond to these negative notices as just one time bad luck experiences, but they need to realize the bad service is the rule and not the exception here. It is a shame because if they would improve their service and train their staff to be more pleasant this would really be a top-notch wonderful place.
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Peggy Waite
The manager was beratting a young waitress for asking for some time off and it upset me. Tea was luke warm and when I asked for hotter tea I was ignored. Very expensive and wierd energy...very OVER RATED, believe me. I went there 3 times before submitting this sincere review.
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Gaynor
I went to Alice's on my first visit to NYC last June and was totally enchanted! Myself and my husband were very well looked after with a HUGE breakfast of toast, eggs and scones - the Pumpkin ones are out of this world! The service is friendly and lovely and the whole place is just a joy! My favourite tea is Sparrow's Soul - delicious and soothing.
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Lee
The scones are delicious - be sure to ask for more devonshire cream - and the tea is good. The decor is charming. My only complaint is the somewhat flighty and inattentive servers.
I enjoyed the baked goods so much that I decided to order a wedding cake as a practice run for my wedding. BAD MOVE. While beautiful, the cake was dry, crumbly, and unfit to serve. The store refunded 50% of my money, so that's good. It's just a shame that I still have to keep looking for a decent baker.
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Ethel Barber
The charm and energy of this quaint tea room suits wee ones to grannds. I am looking forward to Chapter 2 on the East Side. The baker has created the most delicious cakes.
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W
Walking into Alice's Tea Cup is like taking a shot of estrogen in the arm. There's even a server who wears butterfly wings and sprinkles you with 'fairy dust.' This freaked me out the first time I walked in as I was stoned and looking for cupcakes. One taste of their buttercream frosting and I was hooked.
Anyway now I'm a regular. The servers are primarily hot & friendly chicks and they have the best cupcakes and carrotcake in the city (I'm serious). The ham sandwich I had there was also nice. Their loose tea is pricey but they have a large and high-end selection. Honestly I can't say enough good things about this place, my only complaint is that the delicious slices of cake are costly.
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Dora
I'm a regular at Alice's Tea Cup. I go for afternoon tea atleast once a week, sometimes three times...! I'm completely addicted to the scones, especially the pumpkin one. My favorite tea is Mauritious, and if you haven't tried it, you MUST! I love the servers, all of whom I've had a chance to get to know very well. I always feel very taken care of at Alice's... They really go out of their way to make people feel special!
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Nina
I love the teas. My first trip to Alice's was two years ago, I think, and I've returned more or less frequently (I live in Queens!). I've asked friends who were non-tea-drinkers and tea-haters to have tea with me at Alice's, and they loved it. The only thing that I don't quite like is the funny rule regarding the tea-sandwich combination, where you cannot order the tea-for-two combo if there are three people in your party. Something like that. The cookies are fine, but once, I've gotten a slightly stale batch. I like the sandwiches, and the teas.
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SH
On a recent visit to NYC l was so delighted to go to Alice's Tea Cup and loose myself from the hussle and bussle of Manhatten life. You walk down the steps to this place and enter into another world. Peace and quiet await you aswell as a cosy decor. Our fairy waitress was very helpful and promptly bought us our order. There were others around us all enjoying their treats and casual conversation. If l am ever in NYC again l will definately visit Alice's. l live in Portland OR.
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Lisa DeSpain
The best recommendation I can give for Alice's is that THIS is the place the locals return to over and over again. Whenever you talk to an Upper Westsider and mention Alice's, they immediately launch into a discussion about which scone is their favorite. 'Is it the pumpkin, no maybe the coconut almond, no maybe......”? Everyone on the Upper West Side has been to Alice's! And we go back often! Additionally, their knowledgeable staff was able to introduce me to new tea choices I'd never tried before, especially their wonderful selection of Red Teas. For those surprising negative reviewers I simply say (in my best New York accent) Please Stay Away! That way there's more for the rest of us! Oh, I must run. It's just about that time that Alice's scones some out of the oven and I can't wait to see what they have today!
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Blair
Alice's is such a wonderful escape from the average NYC day. I love the pumpkin scone with caramel glaze paired with a great pot of Rooibos tea. While weekends can be hectic it is well worth the wait -- and I think that the staff does a pretty good job considering how busy it gets. Alice's unique take on high tea is whimsical and delicious!
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loveualice's
Quite frankly, I am shocked by the negative reviews Alice's Tea Cup has received. I am there on a regular basis, and while they are swamped on weekends, it is for good reason. The adorable atmosphere, delightful staff, and probably the best scones I've ever had are only the beginning of the experience at Alice's Tea Cup. I know quite a bit about tea, and they have an excellent selection of loose teas that they serve by the pot in the restaurant and sell loose. And to be frank again, just because it's not necessarly a 'traditional' British afternoon tea, doesn't make it worse. Cheers to Alice's Tea Cup for re-inventing afternoon tea for those of us who are willing to think outside the box.
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t. myles
My Experience here, wasn't great. I didn't like the tea at all. The sandwhiches were not light finger sandwhiches. They were way too big for afternoon tea. The Scones were okay, not like the fresh baked scones that I am used to but they were probably the best thing there. I didn't get to taste the dessert because my stomach was turning by that point. This experience was not the afternoon pieceful, light yet filling tea experience that I am accustom to. Just 'Not My Cup Of Tea.'
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Wendy
Being brought up by British parents and drinking numerous cups of tea at home, I was disappointed how light our black tea was. My nan always called tea that was underbrewed 'Nat's pee' and I'm afraid that was how it felt... should have been brewed longer & tea cosies would make an excellent addition. The food WAS delicious. My mom and I will be returning with hopes the food stays good and the tea gets better
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Rene Rivera
I have never met with ruder people in my life. I found their service and their attitude to be the worst I've seen.
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Julie Kersten
I really enjoyed my visit. I thought the tea was quite good. The house blend that my friend ordered was excellent, but I was a bit dissapointed w/ the almond tea I ordered. It had a wonderful smell, but I really couldn't taste the almonds. It was still wonderful black tea. The scones were just fabulous, as was the tart and sandwiches. I thought the choice of sandwiches was quite creative. The price was reasonalbe compared to other tea houses in Manhatten. The atmosphere was great! I loved the old sewing machine tables that were used and the antique chairs. It had a lot of charm, although a bit of a loud atmosphere. The waitstaff was very attentive and prompt. They were also very accomadating to someone w/ a guide dog. I would definatly go there again.
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Crystal
This is an adorable place. It is quite small and if there are more than 2 people in your party you can expect to wait 45mins to an hour during peak hours, but I definately reccomend going. The staff is friendly and very knowledgable of their teas. The tea is wonderful and very varied - I sampled the Earl Grey Lavender tea and the Chocolate Mint Tea, both of which were very nice. The food is also very good, with the buttermilk crumpets being my favorite. The store is very cute and the Alice in Wonderland decour is sweet, but I wish they would have done a little more with it. Overall, it was a very pleasant experience and I would reccomend this place to anyone, particularly tea lovers.
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rachel
Thank God for Alice's Tea Cup - it has saved the neighborhood. The food is fresh and excellent, the staff is warm and freindly (they alwasy remember me when I come in)and the atmosphere is quaint and fun at the same time. I love it there. Although waits can be long, it is well worth it. I have never had any trouble with my teas and have always loved the waitress's suggestions. Try the pumpkin scone! It's like nothing you have had before.
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Frances
There are far too many kinds of tea to be quite convincing (are they just adding drops of vanilla to existing blends, for example?); and worse still, it was astonishingly badly made.
The keys to excellent tea are making it with freshly drawn boiling water and serving it the moment it's made.
As there were no tea cosies, there was no means of keeping the tea hot, and it therefore got cold very quickly.
The people are nice and the service is pleasant, though staggeringly slow. I am from Oxford in England, where Alice in Wonderland was written. I wondered how much anyone working at the Tea Cup knew about the original Alice, and mentioned to the young woman on the cash desk that I came from Alice's home town. She couldn't possibly have been less interested.
It's a pleasant enough place but quite chaotic and I think they should learn how to make and serve tea.