Lady Mendl's Tea Salon-Inn at Irving Place

I decided after a long day to go to this very atypical place in Union Square. 

This teahouse can’t be compared to the ones I have been to. It’s actually a Victorian period style tearoom. This place is a bit hidden although it’s located on a very obvious place. I spent some time finding it, but I realized I was just in front of it.

The entrance is actually an entrance of a typical house on the West village. That’s why I couldn't recognize it was the teahouse. I climbed the high stairs, opened the door and find myself in this strange old looking living room. A lady called out to me and unfortunately announced the place was closing. I couldn't try their menu but I tried to spy a little bit (my picture is completely blurred). I will have to make a follow up with you another time. Please be careful of the time. The place is only open from 12 to 4pm, which is pretty inconvenient.

Because it was closed I went to another teahouse not far from it.

http://www.innatirving.com/?pg=dining-mendls

Harney & Sons

Last Friday afternoon, a friend advised me to go there. So I decided to try that one. 
Harney & sons used to do only BtoB (business to business) distributing their teas to the hotels (Four Seasons) but 5 years ago they opened 2 tearooms in New York with one located Upstate and one in Manhattan.

When you enter the teahouse (in Manhattan), you arrived first inside the shop where they sell the products and at the back only you have a tiny tearoom with a bar and 10 tables. The good news is that they provide Wi-Fi so you can work there, for those who like to work in some teahouses. It’s a very calm, clean and neat place.

I took the “fresh brewed iced tea” for $6, a homemade iced green tea mixed with pineapple. It’s a bit bitter but I loved the mix between green tea and pineapple.

https://www.harney.com/

Hiroko's place

Hiroko’s place isn’t a place dedicated to tea but I absolutely wanted to mention it because I actually love that place. It is more known as a Japanese restaurant but it doesn't serve traditional foods like ramen or sushi. They have curry, omurice, French fries, a bit different from what you are probably used to.

They have a small selection of 5 teas and a few deserts for those who would like to stop for a small 4pm break, which I highly recommend as a shopping break in Soho.

I haven’t found any places like that in New York City yet. It’s a very cute place that releases a very special atmosphere. I would like to say this restaurant is a coffee place where you feel like home. There are a couple of tables, a piano, a shelf with Japanese manga and magazines, two sofas, and of course Japanese music.

When I entered the café, it was empty. I was the only customer. There was just the two cook, the three waitresses and ooji-sama (grandfather) as I like to say. I always see him there, sitting on the sofa, and I’ve never understood what he is actually doing, but I feel now he belongs to that place so each time I come, I know he will be there cutting some papers and stuff for some reasons I don't know.

Back to my story, I sat at a table near the window at the back and I could here all the employees talking all together in Japanese. I ordered one of my favorites desert: “a green tea parfait” and a hot Ceylon tea. The parfait reminds me some of my nostalgic time in Japan and I know I can only find it in that café.

Hiroko’s place, a well-chosen name that makes me think that each time I’m going there I’m actually going to a friend’s house.

http://www.hirokosplace.com/

(Closed on Wednesday)