Alice’s Tea Cup offers whimsy, comfort and delicious tea in Manhattan’s Upper West Side

Narrow storefront entry to Alice's Tea Cup defies the rambling, charming space inside.

Alice's Tea Cup provides a whimsically delicious comfort tea in Manhattan's bustling Upper West Side. A deceptively narrow storefront entry defies the rambling interior with rosy red and pink walls and fanciful Alice in Wonderland-themed decor. The enchantment extends beyond the surroundings to the menu, the service, and the surprisingly reasonable pricing for afternoon tea.

Earlier this month, following a morning of museum touring in Midtown, our party of three—my husband Chris, our daughter Rachel, and me—headed north for a 1:00 reservation at Alice’s Tea Cup. It was our first visit, and we quickly discovered that it’s the perfect spot to unwind, recharge, and indulge in a delightful tea-time escape.

Our party enjoyed the "tea for three" which included two pots of tea, scones, sandwiches and dessert.

The menu features a variety of lunch and brunch options, but our sights were set on the afternoon tea. Guests can opt for tea and scones alone, or choose full tea service for one or two. In our case, we added a third guest to the “tea for two” option—offered at $88—with an additional $20 for our trio. This package includes two pots of tea, assorted tea sandwiches, four freshly baked scones, and a shared dessert. The mixed berry and chocolate chip scones were clear favorites, served warm with cream and jam.

Mixed berry and chocolate chip favorite scones.

Enjoying a cup of Earl Grey.

For our tea choices, we selected Earl Grey and White Champagne Raspberry. Both were perfectly steeped and satisfying—so much so that we bought a bag of the white tea to take home.

The cheerful ambiance invites guests to come as they are, whether casually dressed or in full tea-time finery. It’s a charming oasis in the heart of Manhattan, where visitors can sip, relax, and enjoy afternoon tea without breaking the bank.

Retail counter up front.

Guests can purchase tea to take home.

We’ll definitely be back. And to borrow a line from Alice’s delightfully mad host: at Alice’s Tea Cup, “it’s always time for a wonderful tea time.”

Scones served with cream and jam.

Cake, macarons and cookies for dessert.

Alice's Tea Cup changed owners last year, after Haley and Lauren Fox sold the tea business to Jeni He. The Fox sisters ran Alice's Tea Cup for over twenty year and expanded operations to "Chapter 2" and "Alice to Go".  The Chapter 2 location recently closed, but the carry out "to go" spot in Brooklyn is still open. For more information, visit their website at alicesteacup.com.

Alice's Tea Cup:  We'll be back!