I am a huge tea drinker and this is one of the best quality teas I have had. Hands down the…read morebest!!!! This place gives you the calmness the moment you walk in will full of aroma from the various teas. The experience of tasting slowly brew tea and listening to the deep history of the Chinese tea was so incredible. The owner was so kind and explained the process so well. Definitely worth the price.

My husband and I stopped by Jin Yun Fu Tea Stop for a tea tasting experience this past weekend. The…read moretea shop was founded in Fuzhou, China, in 1995, but they opened a NYC location in 2026. The shop is beautiful - minimalist and peaceful - and full of products for sale - tea and teaware. They also offer a range of experiences: Traditional Gong Fu Cha Tea Tasting; Horizontal Flight; Private Collection Tea Tasting; Song Dynasty Whisked Tea; and private events. We reserved a Ming Dynasty Tea Tasting/Cultural Experience through airbnb (I don't see the exact same experience listed on their website), which included five rounds of tea brewing from one type of tea. The tea was delicious and the experience - so traditional - was beautiful and special. The experiences and the teas and teaware sold at the shop are a bit pricey (for example, one tea canister I saw was $135, and one teapot over $500), but it's a special experience. The service was great; we felt we learned so much. For anyone who loves Chinese tea or who wants to learn more, Jin Yun Fu is worth a stop!

Normally when I search up tea places in NYC, it sends me to a quick boba shop (which I love, don't…read moreget me wrong). But I absolutely love this place because I can slow down and just enjoy the flavor of tea without the distractions. My bf and I love going through the little book of all the teas they have and picking ones to try. We're trying to get though all of them... The only drawback I would say is that it's a tad expensive, but I do understand the price! All the people that work there are so sweet, patient, and super knowledgeable too! Love to atmosphere and the seating they have available too.

I was reading the NYT planning my day when I came across an article about the "best pastries in…read moreNYC". The article mentioned this sophisticated pineapple linzer cookie. While I normally prefer a heftier cookie, I was so intrigued by the description I walked right over there. The shop offers pots of tea (that come with 3 steeping's worth) and a few small nibbles. I actually couldn't decide what I wanted so I ended up ordering the entire tea tasting experience, which came with 3 pots of tea (each with 3 steepings worth), the famous pineapple linzer cookie, a savory pastry, and a few other sweet pastry options. Now onto the pineapple linzer - I was blown away. The filling was funky and full of depth, like the sophisticated cousin of the mass market pinapple cake filling. The tart filling was contrasted by the subtle shortbread base flecked with salt and lime. I wholeheartedly endorse this position on the NYT list. Every other pastry offered also struck me with how FRESH they tasted. The actual pineapple cake was leagues above the packaged options, and the almond cookies were so delicate they sneered at lesser cookies made with cheap extract. For my teas, I got one herbal, one oolong, and one black for the variety. The shops staples are oolong but I interestingly enough liked the herbal tea the most which had a unique subtle honey flavor. Logistics: - indoor seating only. Mostly small tables but there was one comfy leather armchair that was prefer for a solo date (even if the tasting items had to be squeezed onto the small side table) - limited street parking nearby

I've walked by this place many times and finally decided to go. I like the bright, spacious, simple…read moreinterior. I was interested in multiple teas so decided to book the tea flight. I didn't know much about it going in besides that I have to book in advance and can't request it on the spot. Summary is I like their teas but the service/operations were bad. It wasn't clear on their website but turns out tea flight lets you try shot glass sizes of 6 cold teas plus a pastry from their counter. Then you can pick a full size drink of anything from their menu (doesn't have to be limited to the 6 from the flight). I've had tea tasting at other places before where there's more interaction and educational aspect from the barista, but that wasn't the experience here. Nothing wrong with that, just setting expectations. The timing of things was what went wrong. The website says it's a 30 minute experience, so I booked 1:30pm in order to make it to a 2:00pm appointment down the street. I arrived ~1:19pm, and the barista asked for me to wait until 1:30pm. I know I was early so I was fine with sitting and waiting. The barista didn't start preparing my flight until ~1:33pm which already annoyed me because I had to leave at 2:00pm. There was constantly a stream of customers coming in which is understandable she needs to address them, but I don't understand why she can't make a cup for my flight here and there since there's 6 to prepare. While she was preparing I was finally allowed to pick my pastry, and by the time it came out of the oven it was ~1:40pm. By the time I got my tea flight it was ~1:48pm. I tried to give each tea a proper sip before chugging them. By the time I ordered my full size drink to go and leave it was ~1:08pm. I ended up being 10 minutes late to my next appointment and felt rushed during my experience....unpleasant. I don't know what 1:30pm appointment lasting 30 minutes means especially if it's not meant to be a guided session. Is it 30 minutes for the barista to make my flight? I can see how the tea tasting takes more time to prepare than a typical drink, but what's the point of requiring bookings beforehand if I'm not getting my experience at the time I requested, not like they reserved a seat for me at the bar either. I also don't appreciate the lack of attention during my tea tasting which is meant to require more service from the baristas. When I first arrived, barista A was the only one there and doing everything. As she was in the middle of preparing my flight, barista B and C arrived. B started working on non-customer order tasks, and C seemed newer with less awareness of how the tea tasting is supposed to work. B served me my flight and gave a brief intro but I didn't find it any more useful than reading the printout myself. A was busy the whole time but didn't check on me even when I finished my flight and tried to make eye contact to request my full size drink. I ended up getting the attention of C for the full size drink. I know the $22 tea tasting isn't any fancy luxurious experience, but it's still meant to be a bigger offering than a typical customer ordering a pastry and drink (let's say $15 tab). I was genuinely disappointed by the service from the lack of efficiency and getting tossed around. As for the actual teas, yes I like them all and would love to drink more. I ordered a matcha latte for the full size drink since it wasn't an option in the flight and I genuinely wanted it. My ranking is: 1. matcha latte, 2. sencha, 3. black tea latte, 4. black tea, 5. cardamom rose, 6. honey lemon, 7. white tea. White tea is last due to personal preference of not liking the stone fruit taste associated with it. Honey lemon is low due to the honey and lemon having bitter and undertones, not refreshing and tart enough. Black tea latte is slightly higher than black tea itself because it reminds me a bit of Hong Kong style milk tea (not the same tea blend but similar). Black tea is actually really good. It's smooth in flavor and texture. It's not too dry or overly bitter. Sencha is my favorite from my flight because even though it's not as deep and earthy as matcha, the one they use is so bright and refreshing with seaweed notes. Matcha latte is my favorite because it's properly strong (for cafes), nice green color, smooth, creamy, naturally sweet, and has umami aftertaste.

Came in asking if they do straight matcha. The barista said yes…read more Great, I ordered a straight matcha. The barista proceeded to ask me if I wanted milk in it. ...?? I repeated, I want a straight matcha (aka just tea and water, no milk or sugar. It's the black coffee equivalent of matcha). Then they asked me if I wanted sugar in it. ...Can you tell I died inside at this point? Anyways, I got my drink. It's flat as hell with no foam; not even micro. At least the grade of matcha they use is good. The cherry on top - the girl next to me said "It was supposed to be an iced latte" when the barista made her the wrong drink. No clue what was going on with the staff that day but at least the ambience is cute. Seating is limited and it began and to get crowded around 1pm. There are some tables outside but they are not shaded. No restroom which encourages people to leave after 1-2 hours.

I truly loved the ambiance at Floating Mountain - a pocket of zen and serenity in busy Manhattan. I…read morecame for a solo date right when they opened (I made a reservation) and had a lovely conversation with Vivian, who was very kind, knowledgeable, and attentive with refilling my tea. My only gripe is the price. The cheapest pot for one was $28, so with tax/tip you're looking at $33+. I love sourcing loose leaf tea myself to brew at home (including from Taiwan/China), and feel like this should be priced at least $5 lower. Other tea houses like Te Company offer a similar experience with ~$15 tea pots that two people can share, though the ambiance at Floating Mountain is still unbeatable. I would still recommend this spot, but because of the price, it's difficult to justify going frequently. I'd recommend going with a friend, since splitting the pot for two price would make it slightly cheaper. Tea lovers & enthusiasts will still love this place no matter what. Just look at these photos!

Too pricey. I didn't feel like I learned much from the experience. I observed and assumed things…read more It would be nice if the owner, knowing that I am a first timer to explain certain things. One and done for me. Overall it was An average experience.

Let's start off with I am not usually a fan of floral teas/milk teas…read more Anyway, my friend and I were walking down to Tabetomo when she saw this spot giving away samples. She was hesitating (personal reasons) so I decided to try one to let her know if it's worth it. Surprisingly, I loved the floral milk tea that was presented to me (silly me, forgot to ask what it was but thankfully someone said it was their signature, osmanthus oolong milk tea). My friend then tried it and we went on our way for lunch but our minds kept wandering back to ChaHalo. During our lunch, we decided we will go back to get that osmanthus drink! Also, inside the store, it smelled so nice. They also had a wall set up with mini tea pots, teacups and a variety of other trinkets. I love how cute their little sachets are and maybe one day, I will get it (if it smells like tea?! Can someone confirm?!). Anyway, we ordered warm osmanthus oolong milk tea - mine was 50% sugar while my friend's was 70%. The cashier also stated the milk tea itself isn't too sweet but I find the 50% to be perfect for my palette. If you like to try milk teas, I would definitely recommend.

Side Note: As per usual, I'm not a fruit tea guy, and I don't like sugary drinks, almost preferring…read morethings to be a bit bitter over sweet, so the 30% here is perfect for me. I was at this location back in early December, shortly after they opened, with them having recently gone through their open promotions, I think the previous week. They have since opened another much more location in Chinatown on Mott, next door to Molly, and nearby a bunch of other more premium tea and bubble tea options. Anyway, this tea spot is from Xi'an in particular and has a few unique things, with one of the main pros for this location in particular being the design. Compared to some of the other tea places, it is very well designed, and it's a bit more calming in here, which makes this spot a good reprieve from the rest of the chaos on St. Marks. In terms of the menu, they seem to specialize in more "floral" tea varieties such as Osmanthus Oolong. Their other signature seems to be Tea Frappés, which I haven't seen much of at Chinese tea shops. As I am a big fan of the former, I went with a medium Signature Osmanthus Oolong, at 30% sugar with no ice. The oolong was pretty solid with a pretty strong tea flavor, but not too bitter, and there was a good floral flavor from the osmanthus. It was worth the $6.99 +tax. It's better than any of the cheaper spots that focus less on tea leaves, and in comparison to the fancier spots, the only place comparable nearby is N25, and this is better. This was a fancy but tasty oolong. It's a bit small for the price point, but I would stop by again.

At first glance, the concept, name, location, and overall symbolism of this place suggest something…read moremeaningful; an effort to connect cultures through trade, exploration, and shared experiences. It creates an impression of depth and intention, which initially drew us in. The location itself is excellent, and on Sundays it attracts a lively, diverse crowd. The atmosphere felt welcoming, with people from many different backgrounds enjoying the space. My friend and I each ordered a drink and stayed for a while, as many others were doing. As this is a café, it seemed reasonable to assume that purchasing an item allows you to sit and enjoy the space. Most tables around us were occupied by customers with a single drink - some even shared between two or more people...while they chatted and relaxed. Toward the end of our stay, however, the manager approached us and told us that we "could not do this again." We were genuinely confused (and appalled) and asked for clarification. He explained that it was very busy and crowded and that we had stayed too long with only a drink each. This was surprising, especially since many other patrons appeared to be doing the same. To be fair, it is certainly understandable that businesses, particularly in busy locations- face all-around pressures such as turnover and capacity. I always try to approach businesses and to review with empathy for the challenges that owners and staff deal with on a daily basis. However, in this specific case, the interaction felt unnecessary and poorly handled. There were no visible signs, policies, or guidance indicating time limits or minimum orders. Had such expectations been clearly communicated, we would have respected them without question. Instead, being singled out in this way felt unfair and somewhat disrespectful. This is a disappointing experience to reflect on. I've tried to find a more balanced perspective - perhaps it was an unusually busy day, or external pressures played a role...but it was veryyyyy difficult to overlook how the situation was handled in how we were treated. It is unacceptable and reprehensible. We left feeling uncomfortable and unwelcome, which ultimately overshadowed the otherwise appealing atmosphere. Unfortunately, based on this experience, we will not be returning.

Food/Drink: This cafe offers a variety of coffees, lattes, milk teas, smoothies, and fruit teas as…read morewell as small snacks and bites. I tried the jasmine green milk tea which was good but nothing special. This place doesn't specialize in anything and isn't particularly good for its drinks or food. Service: Staff are friendly and welcoming. Ambiance: The cafe is a good size with many tables and chairs. The decor is not particularly nice, but it's a good quiet space to do work or sit if you need a place to be. Cafe is a bit dark and dim, and the bathroom isn't kept too clean. Overall, I would recommend this place if you need a place to sit and do work but not if your priority is getting good tea/drinks.

I'm giving this 3 stars because I appreciate that they donate to Pakistan, and I always like…read moresupporting businesses that give back. Unfortunately, the customer service and the drinks were a major letdown. We ordered the Double Tea (karak chai) and the Kashmiri chai, and both lacked flavor. The Kashmiri chai was especially disappointing, we took a few sips and ended up throwing the whole thing away. The karak chai wasn't much better, after a couple of sips, we couldn't finish it either. The café has a nice location with plenty of seating, but the quality of the drinks didn't match the prices. At these price points, I expected much better flavor and a better overall experience.

The ambiance is super cute and it's a really cool spot. It's a room with a bunch of couches,…read morepillows, and carpets for you to sit and hang out. You also have to take your shoes off before entering. I'm giving this place a lower rating though because for a place that calls themselves the "chai spot" they have terrible chai. It's just not flavorful and pretty bland. They have a couple different chais that I've tried and all of them are pretty subpar. I would go back solely for the ambiance and probably just get a tea or something simple.

I don't know a lot about bubble tea. However, whilst in chinatown I wanted to try one. It states…read moreonline thatTen Ren's Tea and Ginseng Co. is a distinguished tea store. So I tried them out. I enjoyed my tea and would recommend.

Happened to walk by the store and saw the sign for tieguanyin soft serve and tea flavored ice cream…read moreis really my soft spot so ofcourse I had to get one to try. I walked in on a Sunday around 5pm and it was empty. $8 for a soft serve is quite pricey but you can get 20% off if you order a drink. The soft serve itself was smooth and had a nice tieguanyin flavor, but a tad on the sweet side and I would've like it if the flavor was a little more intense. The portion is generous as it should because it's $8! I used my spoon to eat it and there were ice cream completely filled from top to bottom. Overall, it's not a must get item whenever I'm in the area given the price but it's a nice treat every once in awhile.