Who doesn’t like tea time? Well, an afternoon tea party is more than a tea break, it’s an indulgence!
If you are on a group trip, adding afternoon tea in NYC to your itinerary will take you to good times! The bigger the party, the better, so bring in your whole group!
Where did the Afternoon Tea tradition originate?
The tradition of afternoon tea originated in the mid-18th century in England. It was started by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, who craved a light snack during evenings, a few hours before dinnertime. The timing of an afternoon tea was between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
The tradition originated to be a mini meal that included foods like cakes, finger sandwiches, and scones, served with tea. At this time, the afternoon tea was an indulgence limited to the upper classes of society, setup with coffee tables and beautiful chairs. While women initially enjoyed the party, men gradually joined in as well.
Afternoon tea today
Today, the afternoon tea is offered by a large number of luxury restaurants as well as local cafes around the world. It mostly includes the same servings as it traditionally did, complete with light snacks and tea in a nice setting of coffee tables and chairs. The food is served on a multi-tiered stand.
Top places for afternoon tea in NYC
The Big Apple is renowned for its vibrant culture that offers highly diverse cuisines for locals and tourists. Better still, many places in the buzzing city offer afternoon tea. Some of the top spots to try are:
Bergdorf Goodman’s 7th-floor cafe
Brooklyn High Low
Lady Mendl’s Tea Salon
The Palm Court (at The Plaza)
And more.
Afternoon tea is a great idea to get the group together to sit down and socialize amidst sightseeing. Different teas, like herbal teas and green teas, promote relaxation, digestion, and more, while you have a great time! The snacks give you enough energy to enjoy the rest of the evening until it’s dinnertime.
Arrange the best New York tours with an experienced tour operator in New York City that will give you the best itineraries, including afternoon tea in NYC. Have a fun and highly successful group trip to NYC where you cover all the places that you had always wanted to!