MoMo & Coco

NYC’s Best Asian High Teas and Tea Spots (NYC)

Introduction

After almost 15 years of reviewing desserts around the world, seven of which were focused in NYC, two of our most-read dessert reviews were (i) our ultimate guide to the best high teas in NYC, and (ii) the many other reviews we published on a spectrum of Asian desserts. Given such incredible interest, we thought to amalgamate the two, and the result is this guide where we hunt down and round up the best and most exquisite Asian high teas and dessert & tea spots in NYC. As with all our NYC dessert guides, we will keep updating so bookmark this page and be sure to check back!

The most immersive Ancient Chinese-style high tea in NYC

  • ☑ Dessert destination: QM Dessert Lab, Flushing, Queens.
  • ☑ Previous high tea review: Read here and here.
  • ☑ Budget: $-$$.
  • ☑ Reservations required: No.
  • ☑ Best for: Exquisite traditional Chinese pastries in an ethereal space.
  • ☑ Short and sweet story: If we could time travel, Ancient China would be one of the places on the top of our lists. Imagine floating around in one of those graceful hanfu gowns. *insert starry-eyed emoji*. Hidden away in a basement in Flushing, QM Dessert Lab is a teashop straight out of a Chinese Xian Xia drama, complete with a large weeping cherry blossom tree, a guqin, and beautiful painted scrolls. It’s one of the most affordable high tea spots in NYC, with a complete experience amounting to no more than USD $50 for two. The desserts closely mirror that found in China itself, with flower motifs and mythological creature shapes featuring across the pastry and cake range. More than three years since we first discovered it, it still flies under the social media hype radar.
  • Review note: At the time of publishing this guide, QM appears to have shuttered according to some reports online.

Best modern Chinese afternoon tea spots in NYC

Option #1 – Rustic Chinese afternoon tea

  • ☑ Dessert destination: Duo Cafe, East Village, Manhattan. .
  • ☑ Previous high tea review: Read here and here.
  • ☑ Budget: $-$$.
  • ☑ Reservations required: No.
  • ☑ Best for: Excellent selection of rare Chinese teas and a calming space.
  • ☑ Short and sweet story: Duo showcases modern Chinese desserts and rare Chinese teas in a somewhat rustic, minimalist space. Always make sure to order the afternoon tea set, rather than individual desserts, for the full experience – the caramelized sweet potato is a touch of traditionalism whereas the lighter-than-air cheesecakes are representative of more modern dessert craftmanship. We especially love visiting Duo Cafe when outside is rainy or when your mind is overwhelmed and you need a calming space.
  • Dessert tip: Also consider Ando Patisserie across the road, for take-away cakes that you can use for a DIY high tea at home. By contrast to Duo Cafe though, Ando does not have any proper sit-down area.

Option #2 – Tea tasting with traditional Chinese pastries

  • ☑ Dessert destination: Te Company, West Village and East Village.
  • ☑ Budget: $$.
  • ☑ Reservations required: No.
  • ☑ Best for: Traditional Chinese teas and pineapple cookie.
  • ☑ Short and sweet story: Along with Duo Cafe, Te Company takes its tea selection very seriously. Here, you will find Chinese teas sourced from Taiwan, ranging from oolong to green to black. While the West Village was the original shopfront, we actually prefer the more recently-opened East Village branch better – it is far less crowded, and if you visit on the weekday, exudes a quieter tea shop atmosphere. In addition to the very attentive and knowledgeable staff at the East Village branch, the long counter space where tea tastings are hosted speaks volumes to the substance of this tea spot. Don’t miss the wide array of traditional Chinese pastries, filled with the likes of mung bean, red bean, dates, sesame and pineapple.
  • Dessert tip: You can also buy gift boxes of tea and pastries to take home too.

Option #3 – Chinese tea for the gram

  • ☑ Dessert destination: Soft Hours, Chinatown, Manhattan.
  • ☑ Budget: $$.
  • ☑ Reservations required: No.
  • ☑ Best for: IG posing, but the chrysanthemum candy is a must-try.
  • ☑ Short and sweet story: The newest dessert spot on this guide, Soft Hours is a textbook study of excellent marketing. We even heard of it all the way in HK. Although almost every PR announcement parrots that it is “Song Dynasty inspired,” it felt, in reality, more of a gentrified Asian tea IG check-in spot. For example, notwithstanding that its front facade is graced by a plum blossom window carve-out quite unlike anything in NYC, its dimly-lit interior possesses more of a mini art-gallery ambience. As long as you don’t come here expecting a “Song Dynasty” vibe, Soft Hours is nonetheless a charming, minimalist spot. Its small selection of desserts are decidedly modern in style, flickering with light Asian flavours, such as black sesame, red bean and chrysanthemum. It’s a slight pity that they are served on paper, as opposed to mini plates. Each tea comes with a small card explaining its source and flavour notes, reminding us very much of Tang Suo in China (a modern Chinese patisserie shop more deeply attuned with the eponymous Chinese dynasty). For us, this tea spot – and the speed at which it went viral on IG – exemplifies a burgeoning wave of popularity for Chinese desserts, very similar to the Hallyu wave of Korean desserts that hit NYC around 2023.
  • Look out for: We are waiting for a Chinese afternoon tea spot in NYC that combines QM’s dessert aesthetics, Te Company’s tea quality, Duo Cafe’s plating, and Soft Hour’s architecture — that would be truly spectacular.

The most evocative Japanese high tea in NYC

  • ☑ Dessert destination: Cha An Tea House, East Village.
  • ☑ Previous high tea review: Here and here.
  • ☑ Budget: $$-$$$.
  • ☑ Reservations required: Yes.
  • ☑ Best for: Mochi desserts.
  • ☑ Short and sweet story: Before Chinese desserts, NYC has long been infatuated with Japanese desserts. Since the time we first arrived in NYC more than a decade ago to now, Cha An remains one of our most long-time favourite dessert spots in the city. Styled as a traditional Japanese tea house, its specialty is a range of traditional mochi desserts. During summer, it is one of best places for generously-sized bowls of shaved ice, and at other times of the year, it also offers seasonally-changing high teas. Aside from the immersive decor, what we love most about Cha An is that it doesn’t shy away from traditional Japanese dessert flavours. You won’t find any of the weird hybrid dessert mish-mash that pervades NYC’s dessert landscape here…nor dare we say, Americanized/Westernized Asian desserts.

Simple and sweet Korean afternoon tea spot in NYC

  • ☑ Dessert destination: Seoul Sweets, Koreatown, Manhattan.
  • ☑ Budget: $$-$$$.
  • ☑ Reservations required: No.
  • ☑ Best for: Korean dessert and tea sets.
  • ☑ Short and sweet story: Just around the corner from the main K-town drag, Seoul Sweets is a spacious bi-level spot that attracts tweens, Gen Zs, millenials and much older aunties/ajummas alike. We have never seen quite a multi-generational spot like it in NYC. Is it the best Korean dessert spot in the city? No – you can certainly find more refined modern Korean desserts at the myriad Michelin-starred and casual Korean restaurants scattered around NYC, but for something sweet and simple for the afternoon, we thoroughly enjoyed our platter of dried persimmon, sticky baklava-like yakwa, doughnut-like jooak balls, and mochi bites served with two types of Korean teas. Traditional Korean rice cakes (ssal) are also made anew here, with chewy centre sandwiched by a light sponge, and subsequently layered with light white cream.
  • Dessert tip: If you are interested in a tasting flight of Korean teas, we recommend checking out Genesis House. You can also order modern Korean desserts too, crafted at a restaurant-level and at restaurant prices (see previous review here).

The best Thai high tea in NYC

  • ☑ Dessert destination: Sarisa Cafe, Midtown Manhattan, Manhattan.
  • ☑ Previous high tea review: Read here and here.
  • ☑ Budget: $$-$$$.
  • ☑ Reservations required: Yes.
  • ☑ Best for: Beautifully-crafted flower desserts.
  • ☑ Short and sweet story: In an unexpectedly quiet spot near Midtown Manhattan and decked out in jewelled-toned velvet seating, Sarisa serves a distinctively beautiful and creative high tea resembling a field of pretty flowers and platters of trompe l’oeil fruits. All come infused with Thai flavours such as coconut, mung bean, mango, etc. There’s certainly no boring soporific ribbon sandwiches here.

The best modern Asian fusion high teas in NYC

Option #1 – For Modern Asian-French afternoon tea desserts

  • ☑ Dessert destination: Prince Tea House, various locations, including in the East Village and Flushing.
  • ☑ Previous high tea review: Read here and here.
  • ☑ Budget: $$-$$$.
  • ☑ Reservations required: No.
  • ☑ Best for: Mille crepe cake.
  • ☑ Short and sweet story: Similar to Cha-An above, Prince Tea House is one of NYC’s longest-standing Asian afternoon tea spots. It is an easy, affordable high tea option suitable for many occasions. Indeed, we have lost count of the number of times that we have visited over the years. Similar to Duo Cafe and Te Company, it takes its tea menu very seriously. Whereas the other two focus more on showcasing Chinese teas, Prince Tea also features English teas and many herbal and fruity teas too. Of its Asian-French-ish dessert offerings, make sure to order an additional side order of its signature mille crepe cakes — the mango, green tea, taro, or bubble tea flavours, in particular. 

Option #2 – For lightly modern Asian afternoon tea

  • ☑ Dessert destination: Roam Gallery and Patisserie, Long Island City.
  • ☑ Previous high tea review: Read here.
  • ☑ Budget: $$-$$$.
  • ☑ Reservations required: No.
  • ☑ Best for: Trompe l’oeil mousse cakes.
  • ☑ Short and sweet story: If you are in the mood for another modern Asian high tea, albeit slightly more elevated in dessert craftsmanship than Prince Tea House, check out Roam. Served in a bento box-like set-up, Roam’s high tea features both savoury and sweet bites, with the highlight being the array of stunning trompe l’oeil mousse cakes. Pick from a little white rabbit, lemons, bamboo stumps, peaches, bananas, pumpkins etc, and make sure to book ahead. 

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