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108 GREENWICH AVE
NEW YORK NY 10011-7741

Tea & Sympathy – The Lowdown

Before the recent tea craze overtook Manhattan and resulted in a David’s Tea being plonked on every corner, Tea & Sympathy was quietly catering to the early steeping devotees ahead of the leaf-brewing trend’s explosion. Labeled a quintessential corner of England in the heart of Greenwich Village, the general store and adjacent restaurant caters to Brit expats and New Yorkers with a fondness for the Queen alike. Everyday is Sunday Roast at the neighborhood favorite, with the menu featuring traditional fare such as bangers ‘n mash, shepherd’s pie, welsh rarebit and roast beef with Yorkshire pudding. In the store, there’s a curated selection of British groceries, chocolates, sweets and teas, alongside authentic tea pots, mugs and souvenirs emblazoned with members of the Royal Family. If you’re lucky, you might cross paths with John Oliver or his assistant nipping in to pick up a round of Nestle Milky Bars for the LastWeek Tonight crew. The hybrid space’s owners are committed to keeping their offering authentic – in 2010 they shipped a fully-functioning, stock standard black cab from London and then converted the engine to run on used vegetable oil from nearby fish-and-chip shop, A Salt & Battery. Drop by for afternoon tea and nibble on homemade scones with jam and cream, finger sandwiches, cakes and a pot of tea for $35.