This place opened up a few days ago and I am ecstatic to be living around the corner from it. Tea in Sahara is a little bit of Morocco in Providence. Good mint tea and fantastic hummus! Super friendly staff! Free wifi! Do I need any more exclamation points? Go to Tea in Sahara. Do it. Now. Unless it's before 7 AM or past 10 PM. I arrived, ordered, then thought it would be prudent to ask if they accept credit cards. They don't. Cash only. I was sad. The closest atm is a 25 minute walk away, so I said I'd come back the next day. The waitstaff said "don't worry about it." I said, "what do you mean?" "Don't worry about it, go take a seat." I sat down and he served me my tea and hummus. My girlfriend later joined me and had some cash, so we ended up paying, but wow. Maybe it's cause they just opened and want to build some customer support (if so, it worked), but I've never experienced that before. read more

Stopped in today for some tea and baklava. Turns out I don't love Jasmine tea so I will stick with the mint. Baklava was ok but a bit dry. It's nice that it wasn't too busy on a Sunday afternoon read more

Tea in Sahara is an oasis in the city. Lovely menu of different teas and small plates, free WiFi, and cozy seating makes this one of my favorite places to decompress, especially in situations where I have a few hours to kill in PVD but I'm not looking to drink booze or the weather's too crummy to walk around. There's hookah but I've never been in the restauraunt and found it to be too smokey or hazy. I like to grab a small pot of something interesting and occasionally indulge in the churros, especially if I have my husband there with me to share. Sometimes I'll do work there, but it's a nice place to chat with a friend or read/journal. Tea in Sahara is worth checking out, especially if you're under 21 or just sick of the bar scene in general. read more

Really great food. I got the leon l'Africain sandwich while watching a friend's band. Great vibe with the music playing, and there's lots of other food I'd love to come back and try. The ingredients are high quality and Moroccan food features combinations I enjoy. read more

I love Tea in Sahara. Support local businesses! I want this place to stay open for as long as possible. :) The tea is delicious. It is somewhat pricey (I'm a broke college student) but worth every cent every time I get it. It's best to go in summer if you need to do work. You'll be guaranteed fast wi-fi, air conditioning, delicious mint tea, friendly, laid-back service, and the quiet atmosphere necessary to conduct work. Also, to the woman who gave TiS a mixed review with regard to music, I've gone to the owner (who is always working) and asked him to lower the music. He usually raises it when there aren't too many people around. He's receptive to customer feedback and he's really sweet. read more

Very chill and relaxed place in fox point on the East Side, the staff are very friendly. Pretty awesome Moroccan interior design. The offer a diverse of Moroccan/ Middle Eastern goods, highly recommended for a date or just hanging out, they a hookah too.. read more

Tea In Sahara - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Walking into this place was like walking into a little piece of Europe in Providence, RI. Tastefully decorated, softly lit, and attentive, friendly (but not overbearing) waitstaff. The moroccan tea was fabulous and well-presented. The guy even poured the delicious stuff for me into a double walled tea glass. I was delighted. Not to mention, the tea was reasonably priced and the cafe was relaxing and quiet. read more

What a gem! This is my first visit and I am enchanted with the menu offerings and atmosphere. I stumbled on this cozy cafe on an afternoon walk and so glad I did! I love the comfortable, quiet, dimly lit and authentic atmosphere. I ordered the Naanaa tea, a great option if you are looking for something light, refreshing and delicate on a summer evening or after dinner. I can't wait to come back to try some lunch or dinner options. read more

~A Shitty Review~ I don't even want to give this place 1 star. I used to be a regular customer at Tea In Sahara. I love the food, I love the ambiance, and I love the way that they pour the tea from a mile high. Recently, I had a horrible encounter with one of the workers (I believe he's one of the owners) who mistreated me and threw me out of the store. One day when I was there with a friend of mine, I had to use their bathroom (#2, not #1). I admit it did not smell divine and there were some streaks in the toilet, but it flushed fine. Moments after I left the bathroom, I was aggressively approached by this worker who asked me if I had taken a shit in his bathroom in front of all the other customers. I was embarrassed in this moment and told him yes, so he said "come with me" and I followed him to the bathroom. He said "what did you do?" and pointed at the streaks in the toilet. I asked him if he thought I was a dog, pointing out how rude it was to speak to me in that way, and he said "GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY STORE!" I walked toward the door and quickly told my friend that we needed to leave, and the worker caught up with me at the door and asked if I knew what a douchebag was, and I said yes. He told me that I was a douchebag and that I should get the fuck out of his store, so I left. This entire interaction had me shook -- he publicly shamed me for using the bathroom in front of the entire store, he treated me like an animal, and he disregarded the fact that I had been a regular customer at his store. I will never step foot in this establishment again unless this man makes an effort to make things right. read more

Cozy place to get some work done or catch up with friends. Very unique atmosphere and comfortable seating in the back room. Finding an outlet is never a problem, which usually is not the case in most coffee shops. I can't say much about their menu since I've only ordered their teas and coffee. The server stretches the tea in front of you which is cool. Service is good, although the owner likes to poke fun sometimes. It's all in good humor though! read more

Tea is wonderful and well-priced. Hookah is... what? $28 for a hookah? I'm spoiled, I suppose, living in Washington DC, but Tea in Sahara doesn't even begin to compare to the hangouts in Adams Morgan or Columbia Heights in ambiance or authenticity. That being said, it's a solid choice between a 3 and a 4 -- good ambiance, wonderful management, tasty jasmine-infused hookah. read more

One of my favorite places in providence. First off, the ambience is authentic Moroccan. We came here a couple years ago for the first time after coming back from Morocco and craving Maroc in food. It did not disappoint. The café itself is decorated so cute it's the perfect vibe. The staff that works here is very nice, they explained on the menu what was vegan which they had a good selection. The soups are to die for. As is the hummus. It's BYOB. And the hookahs are great. They even have outdoor seating in the back. If you're just looking for a place to relax have some snacks or a meal and chat over hookah with friends, this is the place. The only thing is sometimes their hours are different than what's listed. I've gone on a couple occasions that they were supposed to be "open" and they haven't been. read more

A cozy cafe with ample seating. He got a coffee and I got a tea--a really delicious green (a little on the sweet side, but next time I'd just ask for no or less sugar). If I lived in the area, I'd be back for more tea and would also love to try the food. More sit and sip than grab and go. If you're lucky, you might get to overhear a couple on a first date at the next table over. read more

I had not been there for a while & had tea there on Sept 27 late afternoon. I love the Moroccan mint tea & the decorations ! And Mohammed is very nice. This time, both my friend & Ii ordered a cup of decaf tea. We did not receive our tea for over 30 minutes . When I checker on our order, the waiter rolled their eyes at me. We were finally served, spent time & left. I realized I had forgotten my phone so I run back. Anither waitress was there & gave me my phone but scolded me for not " cleaning my table . ". I found this a bit over the top. Then I went home and did not sleep at all: I think this was not a decaf tea? All this combined was very disappointing because I really like this place so be careful about who serves you & what you order ? Or try Aleppo Sweets 2 min walk down on Ives Street! read more

Tea in Sahara is a sweet escape, for sipping solo or joining friends. There is ample seating with a nice comfort zone between tables. The setup and earthy Moroccan decor is cool and soothing, comfortable but not overly lounge-y. Many of the interesting accents (baskets, clothing, jewelry, bowls) are for sale. Wonderful tea. Moroccan Mint is served deliciously sweet, but they gladly lightened the sugar for a friend of mine. The person behind the counter will come to your table and serve you your first delicate glass of tea from your beautiful tea pot, poured from a high distance to make a foamy layer on top. I love the ritual of it. Haven't tried the food yet. Since it's away from the more heavily business-populated areas of Wickenden and Ives St., on-street parking is a breeze. read more

Hookahs, couches to sink into, jasmine tea, lemon tea, baklava, Middle Eastern music... Walk into Tea in Sahara, and you feel like you've been whisked away to the actual Saharan region. Quietly tucked away on Governor Street, away from the hustle and bustle of Brown and RISD, you'll find many a student working here while puffing away on some hookah and sipping a little glass cup of tea. It's no Starbucks: the pace is slower, the music is less mainstream, the ambience is significantly calmer, and space is not as packed. But if you're looking for a peaceful work station (with wifi!) or a place to read for the afternoon, this is a safe bet. They may not have as many tea options as Tealuxe on Thayer, but they compensate by giving you plenty of personal space. read more

Really comfortable atmosphere. The music and decor makes me completely forget where I am. I am transported to Morocco. Great place to just get away for an hour or 2. The staff are really nice and professional. There is always one person working when I come in. I get the same thing every time: grape leaves and a pot of tea. They have one type of tea which at first I was bummed about but it is the traditional morrocan tea and is quite delicious and fresh. If you ask, you can have just the mint tea which I often do. I am not sure what kind of leaves they are, but it's not the regular tea you buy at the store. It literally looks like they just picked the leaves as you order. They are not dried out. The decor is from floor to ceiling traditional Moroccan. It's quite lovely. read more

I like Tea in Sahara, but I don't love it. It is a great place to go if you can afford a little distraction and like green tea - there is always space! The Moroccan Mint tea is excellent, if a bit pricey for the volume. The grape leaves are also great. However, the hot chocolate is terrible, and I really wish there were more drink choices on the menu. Like the food the atmosphere is also mixed. I like the decor, but at least in the colder months much of the shop is very cold. The music can be overly loud and very distracting, and sometimes the owner watches videos on his laptop which makes it very difficult to work. read more

This place is grand. The tea is excellent, genuine Moroccan and i am in love. I meet with friends in the back area and the space is great for groups and the seating is comfortable. There is plenty of space in the front as well as nice pieces to purchase in terms of art, jewelry etc. The ambiance is perfect for meeting up with a friend to catch up, do some writing or have a low key meal on your own. The Baklava makes my mouth party. The evening crowd can get a bit noisy but otherwise its a serene place of awesome. read more

Thanks for the suggestion. Just as most of the reviews have stated Tea in Sahara is the place to go to get away from the fighting over tables that happens at some of the other coffee/tea shops in the area. The afternoon I went was only shared by about 4 other tables of people - great company for getting work done. What I love about this place is the vibe. I got to sit at a table that was lit by a hanging decorated light and provided a great view of the street. The other table options included a banquet, one behind the banquet (for extra privacy), or some couches in the back room. The whole place stayed in the Moroccan theme with candles, vases, lights, a screen, and some wall hangings. The Moroccan mint tea was very good - not too sweet. I loved getting it in the pot, though I do have to say that for a large, there wasn't all that much tea, and it was a little pricey. I am interested to try the hummus, but I will have to save that for the next visit, and I think there will definitely be a next visit. Especially since they're open till 11pm - yep, I said 11pm. That is unheard of for coffee/tea shops in this area. I'm guessing this is for the hookah customers, so I would be interested to see how the clientele changes as the night goes on. Up until 6pm it was pretty quiet, so I'm happy about that. read more

Great tea and cool relaxing environment to hang out in. Reasonable prices and friendly staff.

Best place in Providence. Great ambiance, D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S food and fantastic tea. Everyone is super friendly and awesome In "Tea In Sahara". I highly Recommend this place. read more

We stopped in here on a whim one afternoon, having a little time to kill. I'm so glad we did. It's lovely inside and just small enough to be intimate without being cramped. There are two rooms; I got the impression that the back room is more for hookah. We sat up front. We ordered a combination platter. It doesn't seem to be listed on the website, but it's mostly what you'd expect for middle eastern fare: hummus, roasted eggplant, grape leaves, and pita strips. What I didn't expect was a roasted pepper dish that was great. The grape leaves were amazing. I am not normally a fan, but these were a wonderful exception. And, of course, we got tea. The prices might look a little daunting, but first, they're on par with coffee shop prices and second, what you get for the price is worth it. The large was enough for my husband and I to refill our glasses twice, as well as share some with our baby daughter. The staff was more than accommodating, explaining items on the menu and service was very quick. We had a great afternoon. It's well worth a visit. Street parking, not usually my favourite, was no problem. It's just far enough from Wickenden Street that it's not hard to find a decent spot. read more

Tea in Saraha is quite the gem on Providence's East Side. I don't go there nearly as frequently as I should. When I do, it's always to hang out with one of my best friends. She'll get tea, and I generally get some sort of fruit smoothie. Mohamed is a wonderful owner. He wants to make sure you feel welcome, and will gladly converse with you as much as you'd like. The atmosphere is incredibly relaxing. Music playing in the background, and dim lighting with candles at night. Not a bad place for a date. Highly recommend! read more

We tried going on two separate occasions during supposed hours of business. The first time, no one was there. The second time, there was a man inside who said he wasn't opening the shop because he's going to a concert tonight (this was at 12pm). Guess they don't care about actually serving customers. Very disappointed, we really wanted to try this place. read more

Bring me back to Marrakech! I'm so happy this place exists and wish there were more like it. Authentic and delicious Moroccan tea and treats. Free reliable wifi. A cozy and inviting atmosphere. The owner also seems really chill and nice. Come check it out! read more

Tea In Sahara - The front room - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

I am dying over this place because I can get a pot of tea. Does that seem weird? It's not, chump. Because I don't take my tea with sugar OR the sales pitch at Tealuxe or Teavana and man... those names suck anyway. It's so refreshing in here and I know that come the hot, muggy summer this will be my oasis. It's dark inside (not too dark though, you can see what you're doing) and quiet. You know the staff is great when neighborhood folks pop in to chat with them. Hookah's not necessarily my thing, so I can't speak to that. But as someone who works for a coffee/tea company, I know cafes, and this one is just... sigh. read more

I stopped by Tea and Sahara after having a few minutes to kill before running to an appointment. I ordered a small tea. It was absolutely delicious with such great flavors. I also snagged a spot by the window to take some work calls from. I took a peek at the menu and they had some excellent stuff I'd love to try. The energy in there is amazing and the staff is friendly. I definitely want to head back for dinner sometime soon! read more

The food here was delicious, from small plates to the tagine. Casual and friendly, it's also the type of place you can sit and read with a pot of tea. read more

Very good baklava in a lovely relaxed quiet ethnic find of a cafe nestled in a residential area just minutes by foot from Brown University and RISD! A nice authentic touch is the friendly gracious owner pouring tea in a more traditional way from high above the glass twice. Tasty snacks and homemade finger desserts rotate. Delicious cold lemonade too - freshly made from scratch! You can experience Tea outside in the front on a sidewalk cafe table, in the back shaded garden area or from one of two intimate character-filled interior rooms with a diverse choice of seating/lounging: tiled cafe tables, comfy chairs with ottomans, stools, a matted bench, window counter or sofa with lots of pillows - something for everyone whether you're a student studying, couple on a tete-a-tete date, a solo reader, or friends chatting over light fare. Enjoy! read more

Tea In Sahara - Relaxing mid-afternoon on July 4th with a book! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Tea, coffee, hookah, chill vibe - what's not to like? It feels off the beaten path with its residential location. Bring your ipod, your homework, your computer, your family, your friends and RELAX. A word about the food - I would strongly suggest skipping all eats here. We ordered the sampler platter and it was bland bland bland. When in a pinch I would say go for the grape leaves as they were the best of the lot. read more

I love this place. I love their Turkish coffee and soups. How much? On my home from the hospital, after surgery, I insisted we stop here to get soup to bring home. I was unable to walk, so the owner made Turkish coffee and brought it out to me on a tray to have in the car. I will never forget this kindness. Plus it was just what I needed. This is one of the best spots in Providence. Be sure to check it out. Last week another wonderful Sunday afternoon gathering with friends. Excellent lentil soup, three appitzers with warm flat bread, lemon verbena tea on a chilly day was perfect. Too bad we had to leave before the Sunday at 3 live music offering. read more

This cool, eclectic tea spot was just what I needed to get some light reading/writing done! Tea in Sahara is located just off Wickenden and nestled within the quiet residential neighborhood of Governor Street. I visited around noon time when the traffic of people were light and the cozy conversations filled the room. The atmosphere was warm and relaxing. I ordered a pot of jasmine tea at the counter and took a seat by the door. The server was very polite and carefully poured out my cup of tea, leaving the remainder of the teapot on the table. The teapot yielded two cups. Although I enjoy a fancy cup of tea, my tastebuds are typically accustomed to the common grocery store black/green tea bags. So I was slightly worried that their tea would be too strong for my liking. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that the tea was deliciously sweetened and brewed to the perfect strength. Not too diluted or concentrated. This hidden gem is a great place to slow down, unwind and relax. It's comforting atmosphere made me wish I didn't have to leave. read more

I feel bad for breaking this cafe's perfect 5 star record, but I feel a need to voice my opinion! I give it props for lovely ambiance, personality and location. Even the tea I ordered (Moroccan Mint.. yum!) was delicious. Being new to the area, I was excited to live near a place that sounded like it would be a lovely place to meet friends to have tea and good conversation. However, I get there and it turns out I only have ONE choice for tea... kinda disappointing. The rest is coffee. "One Kind of Tea and Coffee in Sahara" might be a more appropriate name. Okay fine, I just order the tea, iced with no sugar. Though it was refreshing and definitely high quality, I felt like I was paying $3.78 (w/ tax) for mostly ice. It might have been about 5 sips in that cup. If you are in the area and want a nice place to chat/relax, enjoy some good appetizers and use wi-fi this is your place. But if you are looking for a place with variety and value, you may have better luck going somewhere else. read more

Feeling like a change of pace/place but airline tickets prices reminding you that you're a grad student? Don't worry, find the perfect get-away in this little gem near Wickeden. The whimsical lights and sink-into-me couches offer a fun lounge experience where you can sit and chat while snacking on grape leaf wraps, hummus, and Morocco mint tea. [ no laptops or homework allowed in the back!] Or even if you have any work/reading to do, there are tables scattered around the front of the cafe where you can work away in silence. read more

I went to this place expecting it to be busy and eventful since it is a hookah lounge, but the place was quiet and personal. It is a great place if you want to just read a book or do your homework and have a cup of tea.. The tea is really good and it comes in small, medium and large options. Love the Moroccan tea! read more

Tea In Sahara - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

One of the best mochas I've ever had. Top notch mint tea too.

Magical, peaceful, transporting. Tea served with quiet, gracious warmth - heaps of fresh mint in a beautiful teapot read more

I met my arabic friend here, we had a huge hookah of lemon flavoured tobacco and the fresh mint leaf tea - a wonderful invigorating combination!. We also had a platter of humus and chips. The staff was ingratiating and friendly. The back room features low divans typical of Moroccan style and interesting ornaments. I understand that there is a back porch in the summers, as well. Go to this gem in the crowded busy district of Providence for a quiet, relaxing respite! ~K read more

such a cute café! I came here on a hot friday afternoon, looking for a place to quench my thirst. I was biking around Providence and found this gem place. Atmosphere is so nice and cute tables & chairs. The prices are so reasonable too! Coffee for $2.50. Why not!? I got a small mango smoothie and a baklava. I'm gonna be honest though, the mango smoothie was kind of like diluted version of lassi. Cool! Small size for $3.50. Baklava was a little disappointment because it was dry and tasted a little bit of plastic case. But this place so relaxing and the drinks were fine for the price. :) read more