Yesterday I went for afternoon tea at Alice's Tea Cup on the upper west side at 102 West 73rd street.
It's the perfect place to take out-of-town guests for a lovely surprise.
The front shop of the tea salon is filled with a vast array of teas.
And tempting cakes to get you salivating.
And of course all things 'Alice' .
You say you have nothing to wear to Alice's Tea cup? You can pick up a gown in the front shop...
Plus a pair of pink wings...
And the ever-so-essential TIARA bien sur!
No reservations accepted unless you're a party of 6+, so bring lots of children along. Your eyes will pop when you see 'The Mad Hatter' tea trays being served...
I went with PBer Frances of City Views, Country Views. *Do note her fabulously tied Frenchie scarf - the secret how-to video is HERE!
There was no leaving the house without Monsieur BEAR, who insists he needs tea salon practice before we hit Paris.
We were both quite taken with the new Alice's Tea Cup cookbook.
The authors, Haley and Lauren Fox have THREE tea salons in New York. No wonder they needed a cookbook - very clever indeed.
And those delectably stacked tea trays - you can do them at home!
Or plan a kid's tea party just as if it was at Alice's.
Do you think they should rename New York City 'The Big Cupcake'? We were drooling over the goodies in the cookbook.
Frances and I settled sanely on scones + pot o' tea ($10). Granted the scones were insanely huge and you got a choice of two. I had Mixed Berry + Pumpkin Spice and Frances had Caramel Banana + Mixed Berry + gobs of jam and butter.
My tea was a wonderous mix of apricot + ginger + orange. Our neighbor (British) asked politely if she might look closer at BEAR. As an owner of 4 bears at home, she was smitten. She popped BEAR into her purse to see if he'd fit...ahem. She is returning to London shortly and BEAR mentioned he lurved London.
Some bears have a lot of nerve.The idea of going home with the first person who asks even i fthey do live in London...
We did not have any Mar-Tea-Nis.
BONJOUR ALICE'S TEA CUP!
I want to go there! Is it as tiny as it looks?
ReplyDeleteYes dear Julie, it's very tiny indeed. Otherwise how could the Mad Hatter have his tea party there?
ReplyDeleteAll three shops are quite small set in old New York apartment buildings.
It only adds to the charm...
Carolg
She is not the only Alice in Wonderland fan. I absolutely love it and want to go there on my next trip to the city.
ReplyDeleteCassandra
I adore this place! I went with a few friends to celebrate the winter solstice over hot tea the past two years and for pre-Valentine's Day – any excuse to eat, drink and be merry. The chocolate chai tea was divine! Great vegetarian options too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the photos!
Are boys allowed? I want to go!
ReplyDeleteThere use to be a small tea shop in Depot Town, the original main street of Ypsilanti, Michigan, where they would serve tea and scones. My sister, wife and I went there often. Half of the shop was set up to sell art, and I use to sell my framed digital collages there. Unfortunately, the shop had to close when the economy first started going sour in Michigan. I sure miss that place!
There are PLENTY of men at Alices FYI Bill!
ReplyDeleteMen do drink tea :)
What a delightful place to take tea... and such lovely company too.
ReplyDeleteCathering I LOVE YOUR post on Alice's Tea Cup!
ReplyDeleteAnd that RED teapot!
what a winner!
must paint that one!
thank you
Carolg
Definitely putting this on my places to visit next time I am in NYC. Did that picture of cakes say Banana Nutella? Now that sounds yummy.
ReplyDeleteCynthia
http://coffeeonthepatio.com
http://www.cynthiasblog.com
Last year when my mother, sisters and I last visited New York, we went to Alice's Tea Cup on the Upper East Side.
ReplyDeleteWe had scones too and they were lovely! What I loved was that although the crockery was beautiful, it wasn't matching, so you would never know what you were going to drink from. Such a refreshing change from the usual cafes.Definitely one of our favourite refreshment stops in the City and we will definitely be calling in there again when we next visit!
Oh, what a sweet spot. Nothing like a tea party. Bear is a lucky little guy.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great place!! I wanna go there! Amazing, really amazing! xx
ReplyDeleteLooks awesome! Gosh I wish I had an "Alice" nearby :)
ReplyDeleteI so love this post and the photos are a treat. And I'm intrigued by the gadget on the yellow teapot/the photo with the striped bear. Have never seen anything like it, supposedly keeping the lid from popping off? Guess you really DO learn something new everyday, eh?
ReplyDeleteBtw, always enjoy your site, but never comment. Thanks for the continual visual yummies! :)
Bear! Shame on you! Here in the US, we say dance with the one that brung you! Well, some of us say that...
ReplyDeleteI so badly want to go there now! Will have to do with ordering the cookbook in the meantime, I guess. Fabulous photos and posts from both of you - what a treat from two of my favourite bloggers.
ReplyDeleteAt last a place that sells pink wings!!
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, CG, this is a very fun post! I think that you had better keep an eye on Bear, though - sounds like he almost got pinched!
Good to see that you are out and about!
Looks fabulous! I love it when a dream is realised by brave venturers.
ReplyDeleteThank you for showing us x
They sell that little gadget in the front shop - either a bird or a cat - awfully adorable it's true Melissa.
ReplyDeleteBEAR is French.
What can one do... they are well known for their wandering eyes - as long as that's all that wanders!
The Alice Tea Cup cookbook looks quite delectable.
ReplyDeleteOne could recreate a great deal of this whimsey at home it seems...though I do not have any pink wings around the house...
Not yet anyway :)
What a lovely "eat and drink" shop and I just adore the sign with the ever so pretty tea-cup. Ah! I would so enjoy meeting you and dear Bear there for tea and a little delicacy. xx
ReplyDeleteDear Dianne,
ReplyDeleteAny time you should drop into 'THE BIG CUPCAKE' from 'down-Under' we have a date at Alice's!
xCarolg
Here I am finally arriving (should I be saying, I'm late, I'm late, I'm late, to keep up the Alice theme?)
ReplyDeleteWhat I definitely want to say is that it was delightful to finally meet Carol and to have the first of many conversations I know we are going to have. Bear is truly a bon vivant and puts anyone in his orbit instantly under his continental spell.
Alice's is lots of fun, particularly if you are able to enjoy relaxing into a lovely pace. Carol and I think that those scones really were freshly baked. Much more delish that way.
The listing of available teas is enormous. How could one possibly every try them all, yet the waitresses seemed able to describe any of them without missing a beat.
Next time, I am going to have to get a slice of one of those cakes!
Or even two.
xo
What a magical place! Did I ever tell you I threw a "Fairy Queen" birthday party for my mother's 60th? Gossamer wings and all - she loved it!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you shared this post, and so many beautiful pictures. I would have totally missed this on my next trip if it weren't for you and your fabulous blog! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteTEA-lightful! Doesn't it just make the tea and scones taste better with such a cozy whimsical environment. And YES!, those scones look deliciously HUGE...thankyou for sharing it with us tho'...as to the Frenchie styled scarf...how do they do that? Have a great week...when are you off on your trip?
ReplyDeleteJenny:
ReplyDeleteHere is the link to the HOW-TO-tie-your-scarf VIDEO at Eileen Fisher!
Easy peasy
i would like congratulate u on building such a valuable site. I’m sure yours visitors find your site as useful as did.
ReplyDeleteI love tea parties.
ReplyDeleteThis is enchanting.
Mmmm, scones.
Thank you !!
OMG!!
ReplyDeleteBanana Nutella cake! Is that not "to die for"...reminds me of the banana-nutella crepes that I love in Paris.
AND...then the added video "how to tie a scarf" ~so much better than those diagrams with arrows.
PB~you are my hero!
~Suzanne
How did I miss this lovely post?? Its wonderful. I LOVE that tea shop. Wish we had something that fun around here. And that Bear...You have to keep your eye on him at all times. :))
ReplyDeleteCarol -
ReplyDeleteGreat photos - I was there with friends on Sunday - just missed you! We did the Mad Hatter's Tea with an assortment of scones. The hands down favorite was the raspberry white chocolate scone. Wondering if you tried the tart au citron for dessert and what your thoughts were if you did?
As always, loving your blog every morning!
Jen
The scarf video is great but the model goes so fast!. I almost strangled myself trying to follow her.
ReplyDeleteWhat an absolutely delightful post, what bliss to indulge with fine tea's, yummy cakes and good friendship. Beautiful pictures and may I say that my NY owl friend Frances is looking fab too.!
ReplyDeleteThank you kindly for the link on how to fashion the scarf's.
I went in here on a Sunday but it was a few hours wait to be seated..looks like such a fun place. I do have their cookbook, can't wait to try some of the recipes!!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love it and want to go there on my next trip to the city.
ReplyDelete