After spending the afternoon walking around Richmond, bubble tea was calling my name! Gigi Tea is a…read moresmall shop where you can order downstairs and then head upstairs to sit if you'd like. I took my drink to go and it was ready pretty quickly. The barista making drinks was super nice and set me up with a rewards punch card which I appreciated. I kept it simple with a lychee black tea and lychee jelly which was just what I needed.

Best little mom and pop boba shop ever. They are always so kind, a couple years ago they never had…read morean open upper space. It was nice to see that it was open with many chairs, tables AND numerous outlets. They even have whiteboards for studying. Unfortunately since it's just the family that works here it's only open 12-7 everyday. On whatever free days I have I'll definitely go here. If I didn't do reviews I definitely would have gate kept it but i'm just so nice ‍ The Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie just hits the spot and fills the craving so easily. That's my favorite drink there! I'm so excited to try their other items as well. When I went I didn't see any food, but hopefully I'll be able to try some on my next visit too!

What a cozy cafe with two rooms with plenty of seating from couches to small tables. Outlets are…read morespread throughout and strong wifi is free and easy to access. (Ask staff for the password.) Popping in for lunch, I enjoyed their croque monsieur with the duck-fat fried potatoes. The potatoes were well seasoned and tasty dipped in a side of mayo. (I grew up in Europe.) The strawberry lemonade was refreshing and cold!

Had the cutest time at a tea party event hosted by a friend, and I'm still thinking about it! The…read moretea? Chef's kiss. So many yummy options and every cup was perfection. The vibes were immaculate--think cozy, charming, and just the right amount of fancy. And okay, random but important--the tomato soup was SO good. Like, unexpectedly amazing. Major shoutout to the staff too--they were absolute pros, somehow juggling two parties at once and still making everything feel seamless and special. 10/10 would sip (and slurp) again.

This is a must stop every time I'm in Richmond. Each and every time I go the line is longer and…read morelonger though, so keep that in mind if you decide to stop by. The line moves pretty quickly and the sweet treats you leave with definitely make it worth it. I enjoy the salted caramel chocolate cake, but there is a plethora of treats to choose from and there's something for everybody from bars to cookies to cake and brownies. It's a whimsical spot, great for a cute little date or just a pick me up. I love the bubbles that they blow outside.

have been here plenty of times, parking is always a hassle on busy nights--a bit cramped but we've…read morealways made it work. service is standard and quick, but I also haven't had any interaction outside the dessert bar. all their cakes I've had have been so good. Their other baked goods are ok. I wish the key lime pie was more tart and fresh and their oatmeal cream pies are a bit too sweet for me. sometimes they have live music and it's nice to sit out and enjoy the weather.

A friend of mine introduced me to this place. It is just down the street from PBR. If you are…read morelooking for a specific kind of tea, you may have good luck finding it here. The store is slightly tucked back and can be hard to find. It is in a quiet area of town as well. Off the beaten path of Cary Street. Inside the store there is a small seated area in the front and throughout . It is really quaint. I loved how the tea is stored in black metal containers. You can get tea made to sip on there, or to go. You can also purchase loose leaf tea. Pricing is reasonable. There is a wide array of loose leaf tea. The three employees were amazing. They were awesome! I can not say it enough. They were so helpful, and they knew their product. If one did not know, the other would know. There is a punch bingo card, which is nice and unique. Parking is located on the street, or public lots throughout Richmond.

I love this charming tea shop tucked away by the PBR building. There is free street parallel…read moreparking right in front. They have a huge selection of teas to enjoy in the shop or take to go with you. It is a smaller shop so there is limited seating. Do know that there can be a long wait sometimes. When I've went there is usually just one person working. This is a great place to buy a gift for the tea lover in your life (even if it's just yourself). When it is your turn, you get a lot of love and attention. I was looking for some uncaffeinated fall tea and loved trying their rooibos chai tea. You can find all types of teas here and you're able to get them to go in different sizes. I highly recommend checking this lovely place out.

Finding The Queen's Library is half the adventure -- and not entirely in a good way. I never would…read morehave spotted it had I not been given the address that the front door faces (which is 3rd St. not Clay St); it's tucked away with minimal signage, and I was practically standing in front of it before I realized it. First-timers, come prepared. Then there's parking. On the day we visited, a convention across the street had swallowed every available spot in the area. One-way streets, detours, and a full 25 minutes of circling later, I finally made it inside. Hot, from walking 6 blocks away, and frazzled is not the ideal headspace for a genteel tea experience. All of this makes the news of their upcoming move to Stony Point genuinely welcome -- easier access could transform the whole outing. Once you're in, though, the vibe delivers. The room is styled like a Victorian English salon, all refined and atmospheric, with a soundtrack pulled straight from beloved period films -- Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility -- that quietly transports you to the Regency era. The service is polished and professional, the presentation elegant. Having taken tea in both England and Scotland, I can say this holds up -- it's the real thing. The food is authentically English as well, meaning sparse and understated. Don't arrive hungry expecting something hot and filling. It's not that, and England is not known for its food. That said, the chicken salad with lemon infusion was the standout offering. We sampled six tea flights -- three hot, three cold -- and the first hot flight was genuinely fragrant and lovely. The rest were pleasant but unremarkable. The sparkling options were a nice palate cleanser. It's expensive for what it is, so this probably isn't a weekly habit. But as an occasional indulgence -- especially for fans of period dramas and Regency fantasy -- it's a charming little escape. Fortunately, you can go to Stony Point and avoid the parking adventure. And a suggestion for the wonderful owner. Invest in DEVONSHIRE or CORNISH clotted cream. It really makes a difference. ANNNNDDD, I've been drinking tea every since the visit, so it made an impression.

I wanted to enjoy this more than I actually did, especially since I took my sister there for her…read morebirthday and wanted it to be special for her since she enjoys English experiences. Starting with finding the place, I couldn't. I live nearby, know the area, and could not find 221 E. Clay St. There's no signage, and there's no door marked 221 on E. Clay St. Where you actually walk in is 414 N. 3rd Street. But they don't advertise that (except by putting a small sandwich board on the sidewalk WHEN they're open) and won't tell you that, even after asking twice. I literally had to photograph the block, circle 3 doors on the photo, send it to them, and ask them which door do we come to. It was like pulling teeth. You have to book and pay, including gratuity, in advance. It's a gamble, but given the high ratings, I took the gamble. The place is adorable, starting with the gift shop, which is filled with (of course) teas, tea service sets, books (mostly by Jane Austen or similar), accessories, and trinkets. Very lovely. And expensive. You're greeted when you walk in, and the service is very professional. The servers look the part, are well-trained and present the service with explanations and a smile. The tea room is lovely to look at--(mostly) appropriate English style chairs, sofas and small coffee tables, but wasn't at all comfortable for us. We were seated at the very front of the room in two armless chairs, which meant my back was to the rest of the room. I had a view of the door, essentially, and didn't get to even see the rest of the room, which I didn't realize was filled with others enjoying their tea. My sister had a lamp directly beside her head, which she had to turn off to keep from being too hot. There are 5 courses of teas, the first and last of which are palate cleansers. The palate cleansing teas were delicious. but did contain caffeine, which we'd hoped didn't. We asked for herbal teas for our service and was accommodated with pleasure (thank you). Of the main three tea courses, I only enjoyed the first, which was truly incredible, very fragrant. Just an explosion of delight for the taste buds. It was a pink hibiscus blend. The second was a citrus blend, but had ZERO flavor. The third was a ginger blend. VERY ginger-y, but unlike any ginger tea I've ever had. It almost tasted like a savory broth. The food served on the tea towers was sadly forgettable. I did enjoy the lemon chicken salad on croissant, but the chicken salad was rationed so thin, I barely knew it was chicken salad. The other sandwich, likewise, was all bread. Such meager servings! Again, forgettable. I literally forget what was on it. I do remember a slight hint of pimento cheese. The second tier of breads, I could've completely done without. But at $65/person, I wasn't leaving a crumb! Even the desserts were forgettable. I expected the food, as minimal as it is for afternoon tea, to be incredible and full of flavor. It was not. Even the tea sets and towers you served with are not as lovely as the ones they have for sale. I expected to use the good stuff. I was also surprised to see many children's books on one of the book shelves in the tea room. I really would not have been pleased had there been a noisy toddler running around during our tea. I think the rave reviews gave me expectations that just didn't live up to the experience. I love the story of the owners and I want them to do well. I love tea. I love books. It's a terrific concept. They spoke to us about their new location in Stony Point in such a way that almost pointed out all of the misgivings of their 3rd Street (not Clay Street, mind you) location, and that those things (such as the furnishings and decor) would be a major upgrade. I hope the furniture placement (and comfortability), food and other two herbal tea choices, are too.

Easy to order online, love all the choices. Their onigiri was delicious as well! Very friendly…read morestaff!

This was a quick stop before getting on the road to go home. I wanted a fun drink, and Tea Do…read moredelivered. I got the tropical twister with the lychee jelly. The drink was delicious. I loved getting the jelly in my sips, they tasted just like the fruit! I'd come here again to try their bahn mi's, which they didn't have the bread for when I came. But I'd like to try them because if they're anything like the drinks, I know they'll be amazing.

Incredible experience. I ordered the mango Matcha and my husband ordered the chai coffee. We also…read moresplit a flight of the mint Matcha, Thai tea, and cinnamon tea. It was a delightful afternoon. We will definitely be back!

The atmosphere was very nice and calming. The people there has been very helpful and friendly. I…read moreenjoyed sitting and relaxing with a nice drink. It made me take my time and just focus on the present. The tea has been amazing and I can't wait to come back to visit again.

I was treated to Floris for my birthday, and I loved it! The building is traditional with matching…read moredecor. Beautiful. You sit in chairs and tables like a restaurant, which is comfortable (unlike an English salon setting that you'll experience at another tea room). The tea was NOT the star of the show. The food was. Every single thing on the tower was incredible! The only mediocre item was the brownie. How hard is it to mess up a brownie? There was no presentation of the tea. The porcelain was attractive, but plain and didn't meet the vibe of the venue and the event that afternoon tea should be. One of my pots came barely warm when tea should be piping hot. None of them stood out as a favorite, either, which was disappointing. I was also disappointed that they didn't have a huge selection of teas or porcelain for sale. Go for the food and atmosphere, with good company, and you'll leave very satisfied.

Let me correct a common assumption right away: Floris is not an English tea room serving finger…read moresandwiches and scones. The food is American, and it's quite good. The quiche is the best I've ever had -- the crust was perfectly flaky, and the eggs were cooked just right, not overdone. The overall selection is well-chosen: not abundant, but calibrated precisely to leave you satisfied. Every item earns its place on the menu. The space is lovely -- period decor, elegant wall trim, beautiful curtains, and charming antique tea dishes on display. But there's a jarring note: a large modern painting occupies a prominent wall, clashing visibly with everything around it. The tea itself is served in individual modern pots, which is practical (you and your companion can each order something different), but the pots are plain and forgettable. A beautiful period tea cup and pot would elevate the experience into a proper event. And then there's the tea -- which, in a tea room, really ought to be the star. It isn't. There's no presentation, no ceremony, no ritual. Of our three orders, the first (lavender, chamomile, and mint) arrived scalding hot and tasted bitter, as though it had been brewed too long. The second -- Moroccan Dreams, I believe -- was fragrant but flat in flavor, and arrived tepid. The third, a cherry blossom blend, was genuinely lovely. Third time was the charm. Service was warm and capable when our server was present -- which wasn't always. Fortunately, we were in a leisurely mood. If you're pressed for time, that could be a real frustration. I parked in the lot which was an addition $6.

Absolutely loved this place and can't believe I've never been here. The owner is wonderful and gave…read moreme several samples to figure out what I liked. I got the taro milk tea with rainbow jelly and it was perfect! Super cute inside, plus they're the original boba place in Richmond! Go here!

Best boba I've found in Richmond! Cute little shop too. If you're looking for suggestions, their…read moretaro milk tea is my favorite.

This is an adorable little shop. They have all kinds of cute merch in the shop on top of their…read moreextensive boba tea menu! The lady that was working when I came in was really patient and sweet. It took me a minute to figure out what I wanted to drink. They had a lot of people coming and going, so I think they're a bit popular in the area or at least in a prime, convenient location! I had the strawberry black tea with light ice and 50% sweetness. I really enjoyed it, although I think it would've been better if I had kept it at a sweeter level. I also didn't try any toppings (I'm not really a big fan of toppings), but I think additional toppings may add more flavor. They do have an extensive menu, and I would like to come back and try some of their smoothies and a croffle or two!

Very watery, asked to fix it just added sweetness. Maybe they were busy but did expect more from…read morekokee.