Traditional High Tea, NYC?
 

We're four adult women wanting a traditional high tea in New York City. Where would you suggest? I saw the Pierre has one. Any other recommendations or is that the best place?

I don't think you mean "high tea". High tea is used to describe a light dinner or supper with a hot dish.

What you're looking for is afternoon tea - around 4pm - little sandwich bites, pastries, scones, etc.

The Plaza used to have a good tea - don;t know since it reopened.

The Pierre is closed for renovations until 2009.

The Plaza. Call and make a reservation.

The Gotham Bar at the Peninsula is very nice......(5th ave), and on the UWS, The Carlton.....cute little Madeleine-themed room off of the bar. The Peninsula's website has pictures of the room.....not sure about the Carlton. have fun!

oops....The Carlton is on the upper EAST side......

Thanks, everyone. Yes, I did mean the afternoon tea with scones, finger sandwiches, and bites of dessert. It's been called "high tea" the other four times I've done it in other cities. I really enjoy it, and the other three women have never experienced it. I thought it would be something nice amd warm to do when we're there in the winter. I appreciate all of your suggestions. It's especially good to know the Pierre is closed.

Try The Palace and the St. Regis. I have done the one at The Palace several times and it is always quite nicely done.

I had afternoon tea years ago at the St. Regis Hotel on 55th/5th and it was very nice.

The Waldorf=Astoria used to have one too.

The Astor Court in the St. Regis hotel is very nice. Lots of food and traditional.

The lobby lounge of the Mandarin Oriental hotel (35th floor of the Time Warner building) is modern, great view and different.

Have not been to the Plaza hotel since they've reopened but I do believe they've started serving tea again.

I think Colette meant the CARLYLE hotel on the UES.

How about the London Hotel -- tea there is supposed to be wonderful. Here's a link. Sit down before you call them to get the price!

http://www.thelondonnyc.com/gordon_r...ontea_menu.cfm

Oh. Surprise. I found the price on menu pages for the London tea of $35 per person. That seems surprisingly reasonable for what all it includes!

Thx mclaurie...you were correct.....I meant the CARLYLE on the UES. You can count on ME for accurate advice. :) :) terri2, I know you asked for a more "traditional" high tea.....so that's why I mentioned the Carlyle and the Peninsula....altho I had a really delicious (not traditional) afternoon tea @ Alice's Tea Cup on the UWSide. (around 72nd/73rd street). Cute little place under the sidewalk.....not fancy, just kinda cute.....but I loved their clotted cream. Google it if you're interested in seeing pix....again, not your traditional chandelier/couch kind of tearoom.

Another non-hotel option is Lady Mendl's at the Inn At Irving Place.

This forum is my favorite place to go to get travel advice. Thank you so much for taking the time to offer great suggestions. Kudos to Fodor's for making such a site available to receive unbiased and free advice. Thanks, guys!

My and wife and I had a great dinner last December at Gordon Ramsey at The London Hotel. Although we didn't have tea there, I did notice they did a great job with the renovations.

Terri2,

My favorite place for afternoon "tea with all the accoutrements" is the Four Seasons Hotel. They have a bar area on the mezzanine level. Tea there is wonderful, and you may have to make a reservation. I've always had good luck with just showing up.

If you're looking for elegant, with great people watching, and out of this world atmosphere, that's your place.

(57 E.57th Street)

LisaG

Lady Mendl's at the Inn at Irving Place is one of the nicest in the city. I suggest you make a reservation.

I can highly recommend tea at the St. Regis, we had a wonderful time, food was fresh, tea was hot, and we were not rushed. Worth the money. Unless the Plaza renovated the tea service when they renovated the hotel I would skip it - the last time we were there the service was horrible and the food only so-so.

Enjoy!