Chicago, IL has 8 tea rooms and tea shops in this guide.
8 tea spots
Chicago's Tea Scene
Chicago's tea scene splits into two camps. Downtown, three luxury hotels (The Drake, The Langham and The Peninsula) run tiered afternoon tea services, and Russian Tea Time in the Loop pours tea from a samovar every afternoon. Away from the Magnificent Mile, Living Water Tea House on Taylor Street and Taian Tea on Cermak Road serve single-origin Chinese and Taiwanese teas the owners source themselves, while Chicago Teahouse in the Gold Coast stocks more than 200 loose teas with a tasting bar.
The Near North Side (Gold Coast, Magnificent Mile and River North) holds Chicago Teahouse plus the afternoon teas at The Drake, The Peninsula and The Langham. Chinatown has Taian Tea on Cermak Road, Little Italy has Living Water Tea House, and the West Loop has the matcha bar Matcha Cita.
Chicago Tea at a Glance
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Tea Rooms & Tea Shops (8)
Tea houses, afternoon-tea rooms, matcha bars and loose-leaf shops that brew tea from other makers. Each card says what the place is known for and its price range.
A woman-owned loose-leaf shop run by a certified tea sommelier, with more than 200 teas on the shelves. Customers can smell samples before buying, and the tasting bar will brew a cup of any tea in stock to drink in or take away. The shop also runs group, private and corporate tastings and tea-blending workshops.
The Drake Hotel's Palm Court serves afternoon tea Friday through Sunday from noon to 4:30pm, with a harpist on Saturdays and Sundays. Reservations are required through OpenTable or by phone. The hotel runs seasonal themed teas, including a Halloween menu from October 2 to November 1.
The Peninsula serves its afternoon tea in The Lobby restaurant on weekends, priced at $150 per adult with a glass of Champagne and $85 for children 5 to 12. Seatings must be pre-paid through Tock. The hotel also runs holiday and Chinese New Year tea menus.
The Langham serves its signature afternoon tea, a format the brand dates to The Langham, London in 1865, in the second-floor Pavilion. Service runs Friday to Sunday from noon to 4pm with Langham-blend teas and classical music on weekends. The hotel rotates themed teas; a Forbidden Forest tea started in September 2026.
A Russian restaurant across from the Art Institute that runs afternoon tea and samovar service every day from 11am to 4:30pm. It is the only afternoon tea in this guide served seven days a week, which makes it the walk-in option when the hotel services are booked.
A Chinatown tea shop on Cermak Road selling single-origin Chinese black, green, oolong, white and pu-erh teas from old mountain gardens, plus herbal blends. Guests can sit at the table for brewed service, and the shop releases limited seasonal teas.
An East Asian tea parlor on Taylor Street that sells teas the founder buys in person from growers in Taiwan and Fujian, in small batches. The list includes Wuyi Rougui, Taiwan red oolong, sun-dried black tea and ripe pu-erh, with handmade teaware and pottery for sale. Seated tastings are booked online.
A matcha cafe near the Morgan 'L' station built around ceremonial-grade matcha imported from Japan. The menu mixes straight matcha with flavored layered drinks such as the ube Purple Haze, and the cafe opens at 8am daily.
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Chicago Tea Tips
Book hotel afternoon tea ahead
Palm Court at The Drake and Pavilion at The Langham both serve afternoon tea Friday through Sunday only, and The Langham asks for 24 hours' notice. The Peninsula requires pre-paid reservations through Tock.
Taste before you buy loose leaf
Chicago Teahouse on State Street lets you smell samples of its 200-plus teas and will brew a cup of anything on the shelf at the tasting bar, which is the easiest way to test a tea before buying 4 oz.
Reserve a seat for guided tastings
Living Water Tea House takes bookings online for its seated tastings; its Mid-Autumn sessions ran 45 minutes for up to 8 guests at $35 a seat.
Russian Tea Time pours daily
Unlike the hotel services, Russian Tea Time in the Loop serves afternoon tea and samovar service seven days a week, 11am to 4:30pm.
Brewing at Home After Chicago
Found a tea you liked in Chicago? Buy the leaf, then use these to brew it the same way at home.
Teaware
Kettles, gaiwans, kyusu, scales and matcha whisks for brewing at home.
Steeping Chart
Water temperature and steep time for green, white, oolong, black and pu-erh.
Tea Ratio Calculator
Grams of leaf per 100 ml, for gongfu and western brewing.
Bitter Tea Troubleshooting
Fix a bitter, flat or astringent cup by changing one variable at a time.
Cold-Brew Tea Ratios
Leaf weight and fridge time for cold-brewed tea, by tea type.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get afternoon tea in Chicago?
The main options are Palm Court at The Drake (Friday to Sunday, 12pm to 4:30pm), Pavilion at The Langham, Chicago (Friday to Sunday, 12pm to 4pm), The Lobby at The Peninsula Chicago (weekends, $150 per adult with a glass of Champagne) and Russian Tea Time in the Loop, which serves afternoon tea daily.
Where can I try traditional Chinese tea service in Chicago?
Living Water Tea House on Taylor Street runs seated tastings of teas the founder buys directly from growers in Taiwan and mainland China. Taian Tea in Chinatown serves single-origin Chinese teas at the table.
Where can I buy loose-leaf tea in Chicago?
Chicago Teahouse at 1160 N State Street carries over 200 teas. Living Water Tea House and Taian Tea also sell their Chinese and Taiwanese teas by weight to take home.
Is there a dedicated matcha bar in Chicago?
Matcha Cita at 1017 W Lake Street in the West Loop builds its menu around ceremonial-grade matcha from Japan, with flavored matcha lattes alongside straight matcha.
Chicago Tea by Neighborhood
Near North Side
Best for: Loose-leaf shopping on State Street and three of the city's hotel afternoon teas.
Top picks: Chicago Teahouse, Palm Court at The Drake, The Lobby at The Peninsula Chicago, Pavilion at The Langham, Chicago
Loop
Best for: Daily afternoon tea and samovar service that does not need a weekend booking.
Top picks: Russian Tea Time
Little Italy
Best for: Seated tastings of directly sourced Taiwanese and Chinese teas.
Top picks: Living Water Tea House
Tea Reading for Chicago Visitors
Read these before you order: what to ask for, how it is brewed, and what it should cost.
