By Roger Sands • Photograph by Grace Coley
Broadway and New York City are joined at the hip, and the theater district is one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. From lavish musicals to spellbinding dramas, the bright lights of Broadway offer something for all tastes. Discerning tea enthusiasts will discover that the venerable British tradition of afternoon tea is flourishing only a hop, skip, and a jump from some of Broadway’s most renowned theaters. Although New York City would not be mistaken for London, there are, nonetheless, a variety of options for teatime, with each venue offering a distinctive flavor and flair. For many locals and tourists alike, afternoon tea in Manhattan serves as an oasis amid the mayhem of one of the world’s busiest cities. A delightful way to enjoy a day here includes afternoon tea followed by a Broadway play. The following locations are among the favorite Theatre District respites for sipping brimming cups of various tea blends, accompanied by flavorful scones, delectable finger sandwiches, and delicious sweets. Smart casual is the recommended attire for these by-reservation-only venues.
THE LOBBY LOUNGE AT MANDARIN ORIENTAL, NEW YORK
80 Columbus Circle • New York, NY 10023
212-805-8800 • mandarinoriental.com/newyork
Guests entering this opulent hotel are immediately struck by its contemporary design and stylish Oriental flair. Ideally located on Manhattan’s Westside near the southern entrance to Central Park, Mandarin Oriental, New York, offers breathtaking views of the park and the famed Manhattan skyline. The stunning décor balances the urban surroundings with a nod to the hotel’s Asian heritage and a look inspired by exotic orchid florals. A glittering wall of wine creates a chic backdrop for a memorable dining experience.
Afternoon tea in the Lobby Lounge celebrates not only the property’s Oriental heritage but also its location in New York City. The experience has been created to take guests on a journey around the world, beginning in Asia with teas sourced exclusively from the region, moving west to England with traditional homemade ginger scones and Devonshire cream, then on to New York with creative tea sandwiches that feature local ingredients, and ending back in Asia with a choice of Asian-inspired sweet confections. Afternoon tea is available daily from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
THE PEMBROKE ROOM AT THE LOWELL
28 East 63rd St. • New York, NY 10065
212-605-6825 • lowellhotel.com
Close to Central Park, The Lowell hotel is on a quiet, tree-lined street off Madison Avenue in the heart of New York’s exclusive and fashionable Upper East Side. This refined 74-room hotel welcomes guests with a serene, residential atmosphere reminiscent of a private townhouse. Tucked away on the hotel’s second floor is The Pembroke Room. Accenting the striking décor of this intimate room are plush chairs, heavily draped windows, eye-catching artwork, lovely potted orchids, crystal chandeliers, and adorned mirrors. In this setting for afternoon tea, the hours can easily and peacefully slip by as the hustle and bustle of the city seem a million miles away.
The Pembroke Room’s three afternoon-tea experiences all include a choice from an assortment of herbal infusions, black teas, green teas, oolong teas, and fruit infusions. Among the offerings are the only white and smoked Scottish teas grown by The Wee Tea Plantation at the Dalreoch Estate in Amulree, Perthshire. From spring to late summer, the flushes of fresh leaf produce a succulent and unique flavor. The Classic Pembroke Tea includes such English tea sandwiches as cucumber and watercress, poached shrimp with dill butter, deviled organic egg salad, Scottish smoked salmon, and smoked turkey with arugula. A combination of these savories is presented on the lower level of a three-tiered stand; the middle tier holds assorted fruit tarts, French pastries, and French macarons; and the top level displays petit fours. Warm homemade scones are served separately with scrumptious lemon curd and Devonshire cream.
The Pembroke Royal Tea builds on the Classic with a glass of Rosa Regale Sparkling Red, Fonseca Red Port, or Sherry Bristol Cream, along with a foie gras canapé as an added savory. The Lowell Imperial Tea expands the offerings of the Classic with champagne and organic American farm-raised caviar accompanied by toast points and condiments. Afternoon tea in The Pembroke Room is served daily from 3 to 6 p.m.
THE PALM COURT AT THE PLAZA HOTEL
5th Ave. at Central Park South • New York, NY 10019
212-546-5300 • theplazany.com
The Plaza is widely recognized as one of the world’s iconic hotels. It has been featured in countless movies and such classic sit-coms as Seinfeld. Afternoon tea at The Plaza, held in the stunning Palm Court from noon to 5 p.m. daily, is an event in and of itself. A complete renovation helmed by architect Thierry Despont has brought the grand feeling of Central Park indoors with garden elements such as caning, large potted plants, four soaring palm trees, and an oval trellised bar that anchors the room and creates an inviting atmosphere. Here the tea takes center stage with such varieties as Big Ben English Breakfast, a wonderful blend of black teas from Yunnan, China, and Assam, India. Or sample the Grand Lapsang Souchong, one of the Plaza’s finest smoked teas. Its delicate flavor makes it easy to distinguish between the tea itself and the smoky notes.
Warm seasonal scones with double Devonshire cream, lemon curd, and preserves perfectly complement the pots of hot tea, as do the pastries and sweets, which feature pistachio macarons or white chocolate cherry domes. The Plaza’s world famous Eloise brand also includes a children’s afternoon tea featuring tropical strawberry garden tea with cranberry lime, fresh muddled basil, simple syrup, and fresh lime juice; or a black tea with cherry, citrus, berries, hibiscus, and rose. Sandwiches for the young ones include organic peanut butter and jelly, while such sweets as a chocolate and peanut butter cup fudge brownie are offered.
Lox and bagels with pickled cucumber, cream cheese, house-cured pickles, and alfalfa sprouts are part of the fare of the New Yorker Tea, along with deviled organic egg salad on white bread. A house favorite is prosciutto cotto, Gruyère, and Dijon on a ficelle baguette. Guests requiring gluten-free foods will be pleased to find on the menu such savories as smoked salmon and cream cheese, housemade turkey with cranberry aïoli and romaine lettuce, and English cucumber with flavorful pickled red onion cream cheese, as well as delicious baked goods.
TWO E AT THE PIERRE
2 East 61st St. • New York, NY 10065
212-940-8113 • twoeny.com
Every day, The Pierre’s neoclassical lounge, Two E, offers an exquisite afternoon tea from 3 to 6 p.m., with a wide selection of tea leaves to ensure everyone finds a favorite. Popular teas include Dragon Pearl Jasmine (perfumed with jasmine blossoms to encourage reflection, awareness, and contemplation) and Lung Ching green tea (rich in antioxidants with a sweet and mild nutlike flavor). Others might enjoy the toasty taste of a Formosa oolong. The Pierre Blend is a custom mixture of black teas with black currant, lemony bergamot, and vanilla. Taj Spiced Chai features an original house blend of a classic chai to honor the spicy tradition.
Tea sandwiches include Catskill smoked salmon on rye bread, balsamic onions and sour cream, Boursin cheese and asparagus crostini with tomato jam, spiced chicken tartlet, dates and baba ghanoush crêpes, American caviar and buckwheat blinis, English cucumber with dill cream cheese, and deviled eggs on brioche buns with red sorrel. Indulge yourself with freshly baked, melt-in-your-mouth cranberry or ginger scones with decadent Devonshire cream, Meyer lemon curd, or raspberry preserves.
Scrumptious pastries are a highlight of the experience. Although it’s almost impossible to choose from raspberry tartlets, red cherry financiérs, blueberry tartlets, Grand Marnier chocolate madeleines, coffee opera cake, and lemon meringue tarts, it is a delicious way to spend an afternoon.
For a complete schedule of Broadway shows, visit broadway.org. Purchase tickets online there through official sources, call 800-755-4000, or stop by the theater’s box office. Discounted tickets can be purchased the same day as the performance at TKTS booths in Father Duff y Square (intersection of Broadway and 7th Avenue at 47th Street), South Street Seaport (Front Street and John Street), and downtown Brooklyn (Jay Street and Myrtle Avenue Promenade). For more information, go to tdf.org.
Roger Sands is a freelance travel and sports writer who is passionate about afternoon tea and is continually searching for the ultimate setting for the time-honored tradition.
From TeaTime January/February 2016
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