Wandering SoHo on a warm, sunny day, the window displays caught my attention with an elaborate mix of novels, book sheaves and tea cups. Having seen the Harney and Sons teas at various retail outlets I wasn't aware they had a physical shop, and was very pleasantly surprised at their offerings! Founded by John Harney in 1983, this company is based in upstate NY and is a family-run business. Entering the store it's quite large inside with high ceilings and wooden floors and decor. The right side of the store showcases all the teas, merch and tea accessories they carry for sale. The left side is a register counter at the front and towards the middle, a bar backed floor to ceiling with a wall of tea leaf tins. Further in the left back corner, a cafe counter is available for ordering iced and hot tea drinks with a small cafe seating area in the back right corner. At the bar, Harney and Sons offers complimentary tea tasting for each customer, and you can choose from every tea they carry. I tried to keep it cool though inside I was really impressed and grateful! It's incredibly helpful to taste a tea so you know you like it before purchasing. (And I love making informed decisions!) There are more than a hundred options in their tea menu with key tasting notes listed next to each. In top of this thoughtful and generous practice, the staff at their store are top notch. Super knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. They are tea "sommeliers" and really know their stuff. They brew each tea at the optimal time and temp for enjoyment. I tried the Death on the Nile - chamomile, ginger, peppermint, coriander, cinnamon, fennel. It was herbaceous and green with a little spice, like a refreshing detox tea you might find in a spa. Also tried the Brittany - soba (buckwheat), beetroot, caramel, which evoked a Japanese buckwheat mochi flavor without real sweetness. All tea blends are available for purchase in the store, they range from $9.50 +tax to $40+ for the more rare teas. I'm so curious about their variety of Earl Greys too, I've tried various blends from British tea blender Fortnum and Mason though Harney and Sons is definitely on my radar for western style blended teas now.* For more info: https://www.harney.com *They do also carry eastern teas though I personally would purchase directly from Asian tea companies for those. read more

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Went early on the weekend at opening and there was a line. I got the scones and a iced tea. The scones were declines with the cream and the ice tea was nice and fruity. They have a few different sweeteners and a ton of teas to buy. I also got two loose teas which were good but didnt taste like the names. read more

Harney & Sons - Scones and ice tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

We stopped in on a rainy Sunday, and I am glad we did! I have so many Harney & Sons teas I have bought throughout the years, but this was the first time stopping by the store. It is a must for fans of tea! They had 3 featured teas you could try (including one of my favorites - White Christmas), and then each person could choose one to try from the wall - and there were a ton of choices. I tried the Paris Herbal Rooibos, my husband tried the 2015 Pu-Erh, and my sister-in-law tried the Lemon Ginger. It was a very enjoyable experience. The guy behind the counter was very knowledgable and helpful. We ended up buying a genmaicha, which is delicious. They have a separate section that is a cafe with tea flights that I am very eager to try when I am back in NYC. I also had a conversation with an employee about how Harney & Sons is working on moving away from plastic silk bags, so that's a plus! read more

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I had the pleasure of checking out this spot while getting some last-minute holiday gifts, and I was delighted at all I found. Their teas are absolutely delicious and have a very natural taste to them without being too strong. I love, love, love the scones which are made fresh on site. I watched them make the batter. Another thing I love about Harney & Sons is the space. It's wide, open, and cozy. It reminded me of a classic tea shop from back in the day. They have so many options and one of my favorites is the lavender tea. It is so good, and they even sell lavender shortbread amongst many other flavored shortbread. There is limited seating toward the back but it is perfect for short meetups and such. Though the customer service is just okay, I definitely recommend. read more

Harney & Sons - Interior wall art - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Harney and Sons Specialty tea store --------------------------------- Drinks: I'm a big fan of their teas which I typically get at Target but visited the physical store on a nyc trip, there are such unique tea flavors (so many variants of early grey, green tea), and creative and aesthetic packaging. I love re-using the metal tins for other purposes (ie as matcha storage containers) Recommendations: love the earl grey teas (ie the paris flavor), cherry blossom green tea Affordability: various sizes including bulk packaging Ambiance: large tea store with a sit in cafe Service: great! they had a tea tasting section and were sampling a myriad of flavors (lunar new year, some valentine day flavor, and a cookies and creme flavor) which I tried and was very impressed, the lunar new year tea tasted like a chestnut cookie; you can also try other teas! Good for: diverse tea selection read more

We stopped in to sample some hot tea on a very cold SoHo afternoon. We were pleasantly surprised to see they had flights and each got one. The presentation was amazing! The portion is large for the price. We were lucky to get seats as it got pretty busy after we arrived. Service was good and the employees are happy to make recommendations. There are 2 sampling counters which I found confusing. They have a large retail area and we both purchased tea to take home. The sampling counter had holiday flavors which was great! This is a great experience and opportunity to find some new tea flavors to enjoy. read more

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This is not a tea room but where I order my tea online. I found their tea at the local Caribou, when they left I went online. These folks are great. A good product, they treat their customers right and are full of helpful suggestions. I'm usually a coffee guy, but this is a nice alternative. And, there are more types of tea then I could imagine. Give these folks a try. read more

I'm in love with this tea shop! A friend has recommended this place and I just happened to stumble upon it while around this area. I wouldn't have went it if I didn't remember my friend's recommendation. I think what makes this place fun to visit is the variety of teas they carry in store. They basically have any tea you can think of plus more. Not only that, they also have complimentary tastings on weekdays. You get to select two flavors to try and any additional will be ($3 or $5 each?). I came on a weekend so I didn't know but I did get their tasting set (4 teas) at the cafe area in the back. The limit to the tasting set is the flavors are preset so you can't just select the ones you're interested. The experience was well thought out though- they give you a brochure that has descriptions on the tea you're drinking including a back story. I can't wait to come back during the weekdays to do the tasting! read more

Harney & Sons - Tea set tasting at their cafe in the back - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Always fun to stop in and check out the tea of the month. You are allowed to sample the three monthly teas and any one tea from the shelf. It's a great way to experience a new tea and also try it before buying it. They also have a cafe where you can have tea, plus an area where they sell it prepackaged or loose leaf. I make an effort to go every time I'm in NYC and SoHo. It's quiet, airy, and comfortable. The workers are friendly and helpful. read more

Harney & Sons - Sakura tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

I haven't been to Harney & Sons in years but I'm glad it's still around. I came here on a Saturday. You can sample the three seasonal teas (Halloween Party, Cranberry Spice, Pumpkin Spice) and request a sample of your choice of tea (they have 250+ teas, omg). I was overwhelmed by the choices but I chose the Duck Rice Genmaicha (popped rice roasted green tea) since I do enjoy a genmaicha and I was curious about the duck rice obviously. It was very earthy and great for a cold fall day. I also bought a tin of Japanese sencha because you can never have too much tea. The staff were very friendly and helpful. I'll be back! This is the best tea shop in NYC. read more

My latest morning treat has been finding and drinking this particular brand of tea. Thank you Marianne W of NY Yelpland for continuing to feature this tea from your state. I started this adventure at Christmas time with the Hot Cinnamon mostly because I luv luv luv cinnamon and this tea brand was featured on a Target advertisement. I bought eight cans to include in gift bags for family & friends and of course had to try it too. Impressive flavor, herbal so I could enjoy it anytime of the day. The only time I've had cinnamon tea this pungent was when I brewed cinnamon sticks and it's a bit of a hassle. All the flavors are unique and of the seven I've purchased I have not been disappointed. As I noticed Marianne's review and photos I started checking out Harney and Sons website and buying cans from them and on Amazon too. I'm going to need a shelf in my pantry just for my new passion. Awesome flavors. read more

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Enjoy a tea tasting in their cafe section. They also have scones to order with your tea. read more

Harney & Sons - Spicy tea tasting - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Harney & Sons is one of my favorite tea places, and the iced Black Currant tea is my favorite flavor (sweetened or unsweetened). The space is nice and clean, with a sit down tea area in the back of the store. Customer service was friendly when I ordered my beverage. The tea comes out rich with flavor as they make sure to steep it for the correct amount of time. If you want to sweeten your tea, they have a variety of complimentary sweeteners - agave, honey, simple syrup. Before leaving, I made sure to snap up some bottled tea to bring home! read more

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I love tea and this was absolutely a wonderful experience. I was a bit overwhelmed by the amount of teas but also I was like a kid in a candy store. The packaging was so beautiful and I immediately thought about reusing them as decorative pieces. What I enjoyed most was chatting with the tea sommelier's and trying the delicious samples they had to try. I loved that you can try a tea sample of your choosing for free and then $3 for any other samples. This was a great way to try a tea to be sure you like it before buying. Service was amazing and everyone was so friendly. They also had a sit down area to try tea and get tea to go. I also loved how the had the tea like a library with a ladder to get them, so cute, library of teas. I definitely bought tea to bring back home but will definitely be ordering from them until I can get back to NY to visit again. read more

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I sampled the Fanciest Formosa tea, which reminded me of some of the oolong teas I've tried in Taiwan. I also had a few sips of the teas of the day, all unique flavors that were nice and that I would never have thought to try otherwise. I appreciate how patiently the staff made our sample teas and made conversation while doing so! There was a steady flow of customers on a weekend morning, but I appreciated how it wasn't too crowded. The volume of conversation offered some ambiance without being too loud. The staff was helpful, offering suggestions for tea based on my preferences when I asked for help. I blind bought a green tea based on a suggestion and ended up liking it. read more

Harney & Sons - Fanciest Formosa Tea Sample - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

When I was planning my trip, I racked my brain trying to think of places I wanted to visit. After randomly checking my kitchen cabinet, I was reminded of the Harney & Sons location in SoHo! For years, I've been ordering their tea online but not only have prices gone up as they will, now I have to order a certain amount to get free shipping. Obviously a trip to their shop eliminates all of that. What made me want to check them out even more was that they have a little tea shop in the back of the store where one can sit and relax for a while. I went through their menu online and found numerous teas I wanted to try, but I knew I had to narrow it down to one. Upon entering, I was greeted by one of the guys behind the tea bar area on the left, and my choice tea I wanted to purchase was easy to find on the display wall to the right. At that bar area, you could sample tea, but I think it was only the tea that they had for the day so I'm unsure if you can select your own. When I went to make the purchase, the girl working didn't seem as though she wanted to be there, but the transaction was thankfully a simple one. Made my way back to the counter where I decided on a cup of the white Ceylon Vintage Silver Tips (this is a specialty tea, therefore costs a couple dollars more) and a pair of vanilla scones with cream and strawberry preserves. At the time, there were only two patrons so I took a seat at the farthest table at the wall. A hot teacup and the scones were brought out shortly and by now, the seating area was filling up. The tea was on the lighter side, and I'm glad I tried it here; as it's not something I would buy a bag of. Scones are always messy, but this was worth it; the cream and preserves would be perfect with any of their hot tea selections. This was a wonderful way to pass the afternoon; I can see why so many would want to come and enjoy the space, whether with someone or solo. I already know what tea I want to select for my next visit. read more

Harney & Sons - Realizing I only had so much space in my luggage, I only went with my favorite. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Harney & Sons SoHo has been there for a while. It's a cafe and introduces you to their flavorful teas. My daughter reminded me recently that we have been and need to return. She spotted the tins of tea at CVS and got me started buying all the flavors. When you find a flavor you really love you can go to the website and order large quantities for a reasonable price. Right now I've got about 200 tea bags of various flavors all Harney's! I've been sharing with my local friends and they love them. Today I'm having the Vanilla. I like the simple ingredients and the delicious taste that doesn't need sweeteners! Check for Harney and Sons in your local Target store. They have a wide variety in store and online. Also check out their website and learn about their company and products. Finally come to SoHo and invite me for teas and pastries. It's a great atmosphere. read more

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I love this place. The staff is very friendly. The have a huge selection of all kinds of tea; Black, Flavored Black, Green, Flavored Green, White Tea and Herbal etc. read more

Harney & Sons - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

It's tea heaven, and you can even have tea tastings. The Earl Gray London, delicious, and it soothed my sore throat. Great place to purchase tea, and or sit and relax. Will check out again and again read more

Harney & Sons - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Awesome place to sample some teas and buy some. Unlimited options and you'll definitely find something you like. read more

Harney & Sons - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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This place was a great place to sit back and relax while you're walking your way through NYC. We stumbled into this place while we were around shopping within the area, and we were not disappointed. We didn't know what to order, so the barista directed us into choosing something that would be to our liking. We were not disappointed. The drinks we ordered were delicious. My husband got the matcha and I got the turmeric tea. Not too strong tasting, very balanced. Seating within the area was a bit small and tight, but we made due. All in all, we enjoyed our visit. Whenever we're in the area, we hope to go again. read more

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This is a must-visit spot for all tea connoisseurs. They have four different flights to choose from, and I opted for the floral tea flight which had lavender, jasmine, and rose tea. A word of advice: the cafe is really small and cramped and each table can only comfortably seat 2 people. Before you order and pay, they do ask you to secure a table. I don't recommend coming with a big group. read more

Harney & Sons - Floral tea flight - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Herbs, Spices, Teas all natural, all things I like as a health conscious person. A beautiful tea room with a quaint sitting area in the back with a tea bar. Cute...smart concept! The staff were knowledgeable & helpful. Cinnamon Spice Tea - I wanted a winter flavor that gives me Christmas vibes and that I would use sweetener with. To my lovely surprise it's sweet and so potent there's no need for honey! Healthier for me! Hemp Moringa Tea - they were out of the most popular tea for this time of year given viruses so this was said to be second in line. As a singer this one was recommended as both a drinkable & steamable...it tastes interesting. I don't exactly drink tea for taste as much as I do it's healing properties. Give them a try...Happy Shopping...pinkies up! Go, enjoy!!! read more

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If you're a tea fanatic, visit this place in SoHo! Their wall of tea is quite astonishing. They have 3 free tea samples, and you're welcomed to try a tea of your choice also prior to your purchase. This would be a great gift to your friends or family. In addition, they also offer a flight of teas, similar to a mini omakase, which could be a unique date experience. Will definitely come back to try their flight of teas. read more

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The staff here are super friendly. Large selection of tea. Go to spot for their tea on tap.

Great selection and the staff are really friendly and knowledgeable! They always have a few select teas available to taste and they are always really good! read more

this is really a lovely tea shop and café. it's 60% tea store and 40% café in the back. there's a bunch small tables, enough to sit 14 ppl at most. the tea flight was interesting and I'd definitely order another set again. they have different flavor selections, I went with berry. I loved one, liked two, and disliked the last. it was fun to try new flavors in this way instead of committing to buying a new flavor that you may not like. the vanilla scones with clotted cream and jam were also delicious. a bit different than the traditional British scones but delicious all the same. read more

Harney & Sons - big berry flight - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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Great ambiance. You can do tea tastings, 2 teas of the moment, then each person can choose 1 tea of your flavor. All free. While the tea brews, you can go shopping in the store. Friendly and professional service! Tons of tea varieties and flavors, also candles, tea sets, and more. read more

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Such as fun place to be. Such as unique place for tea lovers. It is must visit when in NYC. read more

Harney & Sons - Tea tasting. Yum! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

I really enjoy coming to Harney & Sons and stocking up on looseleaf tea. Their loose teas weighed by the ounce (4oz minimum) is much more affordable than the tins and sachets (and more eco-friendly) so I typically try to go for that. Not all teas are available loose by the ounce though so it's not always an option. They also permit a sampling of their tea, I think maybe just one sample though I didn't ask. It's made on the spot and they really don't skimp on the looseleaf tea when making the hot sample. They also have a couple of ready samples that you can try, the options are written out on the blackboard in the middle of the tea displays. Really awesome spot! read more

Such a cute little tea shop!!! The store itself is spacious and filled with a large variety of teas, alongside some smaller items like cookies, honey, jams, and decor pieces (the selection reminded me somewhat of a farmers market, which I loved). The small dining area in the back is a gem - there's a quaint divide between the browsing area of the shop and the dining area, which I think is great. The menu is extensive with some really great, fun options like the tea flights. They currently have four categories for the flights, and each flight comes with four teas (worth mentioning that it's only $10.50 and can easily be split between two people). My friend and I tried the Floral Flight, which came with jasmine, butterfly pea, rose, and chamomile tea, and I was a big fan of all four! The teas were super fragrant but the taste was light and subtle. They even have simple syrup, agave, and honey at the counter so you can adjust as needed. I really appreciated that the service here was also friendly and knowledgable - it tied in perfectly to an already great experience! I'm looking forward to visiting again :) read more

Harney & Sons - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Looks lovely for tea, but I was wanting espresso. They don't sell coffee. So the Yelp listing isn't accurate.

Great tea shop with an extensive selection of teas and a sitting area in the back of the store. The scones that they have are also terrific. read more

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The flight of tea was visually stunning, fun, and didn't cost a lot. Vibes are relaxing and airy. Service was good and he gave a good rec for which flight to do. Totally recommend! read more

Harney & Sons - Flight - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Such a nice spot to try different teas, they have a massive menu and you can even try one cup of tea for free. Beautiful shop with a cafe in the back. Friendly people working there too read more

I love this brands tea but had a weird experience there today. The guy behind the counter was super helpful when i asked to sample one tea but they started to get weird when i asked for another. Im a paying customer and order this tea regularly and bought tea in the shop today but he was weirdly saying oh the hojicha is actually really really bad so you dont want it i was like huh interesting.. like if you dont want me to sample more than one thats fine but im a paying customer like im not a sample abuser lol. Idk if he was just looking out for me bc i asked for it by name so i obviously know about the tea and know what it should taste like? It was weird because he said theyve been getting bad reviews on this batch of hojicha but i cant find anything online about that so idk what he was talking about. If its so bad why dont they take it off the shelves ? ill just buy it somewhere else i guess read more

Fun, cute place for tea lovers. They have a large variety of teas as well as a small cafe in the back. There is also a restroom. The tea price are decent. They offer one free tasting of any tea per person. You can also purchase a flight tasting of several preset teas. In the cafe, you can purchase a full cup of any teas they offer. Service is friendly. read more

A quiet place to have some tea and scones on a weekday afternoon. It was just what I need after a stressful week. Got the vanilla scones and a cup of Hao Ya 'A' tea. Each cup is brewed to order, so it took maybe 5 minutes for me to receive it. The scones were warmed. They weren't the best scones I've had, but they weren't terrible. There's a crispy exterior because of the sugar, and the inside is pretty fluffy. However, they are flat and somewhat small. The strawberry preserves are already sweet, so I didn't think the sugar coating on the scone was necessary. The clotted cream was stiffer than the ones I've typically had. The tea was a perfect pairing to the scones to balance the sweetness. I went with no milk, which was good for me. However, it may be bitter for someone who's not used to drinking plain tea. It's a perfect location to relax and destress with a cup of tea. I'd come back for the tea whenever I need to unwind and take a breather. read more

Harney & Sons - Vanilla Scones - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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I really love this tea brand and was pleasantly surprised to see there's a physical store in NYC! They have so many teas available for free tasting! It's not a sip of tea, but a full cup of freshly brewed tea. I didn't use the Yelp check in offer and they just offered it to everyone. The second and other tea tastings afterward are $3 each. You can get a full flight with gray by going to the cafe but you need to wait for a spot to open. They also have a variety of teacups, teapots, and saucers for purchase. I didn't buy loose leaf or any of the tin cans, but I was able to buy the tea tasting set for $25 (tray, tea cup, and tea bowl). Pretty good deal I'd say and they include free tea samples as well! I had the earl grey with jasmine (murder on the orient express). Definitely aromatic, pleasantly bitter, and leaves a nice aftertaste. One associate was unhelpful in explaining how the process works while another gave us the info but didn't really have a nice attitude. At least he wasn't rude. So, it seems that service in general isn't all jolly but they would help you if you needed it. Would visit again! read more

Harney & Sons - Tea tasting - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

The store is fancy, with an upscale vibe. I was very excited for this experience, but it fell short due to dismissive and rustaff who we interacted with. The customer service was atrocious--the reason why my rating is so low. When you spend this much on a luxury product, you expect to be treated with respect and accommodation. Our experience here was anything but. A selection of pricey goodies is available for purchase (sweets and various tea accompaniments). If you buy tea by weight, it will be slightly cheaper than if you buy tea in a pre-packaged, nicely looking tin container. Buy by weight--the packaging still looks presentable for a gift. One caveat--there is a 4oz purchase minimum if you buy tea by weight. That was a huge turn off for me, as I wanted to purchase a wide array of teas in small quantities. No prices are indicated on teas, so as not to scare you with shocking numbers. One tea I bought cost $18 for 4oz minimum. Definitely not what I wanted to spend for just one tea. Other teas cost slightly less, around $12 per 4 oz minimum. Prepare to spend a pretty penny in this store. Tip: do not be intimidated by fancy atmosphere and ask staff for prices before purchasing anything, so you know exactly how much your credit card will suffer. You get to try one tea for free. After that, you have to pay $3 for each additional tasting. You could also do a "tea flight fancy" and sample multiple teas for a much lower price. The staff member just assumed that customers knew of that option, and did not inform us until it was too late, saying "oh wow, you should've tried that". Thanks for nothing! A male African American staffer made multiple mistakes when checking out my order. I repeated the information thrice. He was still in a rush to count things that I did not order. Had to explain to him twice, that I did not order what he charged me for. A long process of refunding ensued. He made another mistake. When a female staffer came to help, the male staffer still could not get my order straight. That experience was beyond frustrating. Why was everyone in such a rush to charge me for things I did not order? The male staffer looked and talked in an annoyed tone as if I was not spending a great deal and was just wasting his time for fun. Where is basic respect and customer service? Why should I leave the store frustrated and upset after spending so much money here? Definitely not an experience I'll want to remember or share with my friends & family. If you check in on Yelp, you get a free tea sample, which usually costs $3. Make sure to claim it! read more

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