North Square at Washington Square Hotel

If you’re looking for afternoon tea for around $13/per person (which I didn’t even think existed!), you need to run to the Washington Square Hotel. Hands down, the best value for your money for afternoon tea. It’s not completely traditional (no scones and there’s a cheese course), but it’s served with a pot of loose leaf tea and courses are served on a three-tiered tray.

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SETTING: ★★★☆☆
Walk past the front desk, straight to the back and go to the hotel cafe, North Square. It’s a small space with about 10 tables and a tiny bar. It’s not exclusive to afternoon tea during tea service hours, although it’s fairly empty during that time.

SERVICE: ★★★★☆
Very good. There was just one server who works the bar and the cafe and he was attentive and friendly.

TEA & TEA SELECTION: ★★★★☆
Good. A small, but nice selection of black, green, and herbal loose leaf teas. No white teas can be found on the menu, though.

The afternoon tea service is for two and served with a pot of tea. I met up with Kathy and we shared the three-courses. Instead of sharing a pot of tea, we each ordered our own. (I had the bancha, a green tea.)

The non-traditional afternoon tea is served in three courses.

SAVORIES: ★★★★☆
A half sandwich meant to be shared, so you get a quarter. Comes with a side salad. Served warm, the smoked turkey sandwich with cheddar cheese, roasted peppers, and a walnut pesto aioli was surprisingly delicious with a little spicy kick.

SCONES: Not Applicable. No scones were served.

SWEETS: ★★★☆☆
We moved to the sweets next, saving the cheese plate for last. A small, but ok selection of tarts, and cookies.

CHEESE: ★★★★☆
I actually enjoyed ending on a bit of a savory note. Small wedges of three cheeses, served with grapes, which added a sweet touch. Sometimes, traditional afternoon tea can end on too sweet of a note from the progression of a too-sweet jam for the scones to the final sweets course. This was a lovely course to end on.

OVERALL: ★★★★☆
Did I mention it’s less than $15/per person?!? There’s no way to beat this deal. It’s perfect for a casual mid-day tea break with a friend. Definitely a gem of a find!

INFO: North Square at Washington Square Hotel | 103 Waverly Place | New York, NY 10011 | 212.254.1200
AFTERNOON TEA HOURS: Monday – Saturday from 3PM – 5PM
COST: Afternoon Tea for Two, $20 | Menu