Philadelphia, PA has 6 tea rooms and tea shops in this guide.
6 tea spots
Philadelphia's Tea Scene
Philadelphia's sit-down tea is mostly afternoon tea. The Mary Cassatt Tea Room at The Rittenhouse pours teas from In Pursuit of Tea and Palais des Thés at four Thursday-to-Sunday seatings, Akwaaba Tea Salon in West Philadelphia puts Southern dishes on the tiers, and The Dandelion pub runs weekday tiers from 3 to 5 p.m. For everyday tea, The Random Tea Room in Northern Liberties has served loose leaf and herbal blends since 2008, and Prince Tea House in Chinatown stays open until 10 or 11 p.m. The city lost two loose-leaf retailers recently: House of Tea in Queen Village closed, and Premium Steap now sells online from Ohio.
Rittenhouse has the Mary Cassatt Tea Room on the square and The Dandelion on South 18th Street. Prince Tea House on North 9th Street and the Tea Leaf stand inside Reading Terminal Market cover Chinatown and Market East, The Random Tea Room is on North 4th Street in Northern Liberties, and Akwaaba Tea Salon is on Lancaster Avenue in West Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Tea at a Glance
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Tea Rooms & Tea Shops (6)
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.
The afternoon tea room of The Rittenhouse hotel, named for the painter Mary Cassatt. A tea expert pours tableside from a list sourced from In Pursuit of Tea in New York and Palais des Thés in Paris, alongside seasonal savories, scones with Devonshire cream and sweets from the hotel's Lacroix kitchen.
A British pub off Rittenhouse Square that serves afternoon tea Monday through Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. Tiers run from Who Stole the Tarts ($20, pastries) to A Royal Occasion ($60, three tiers and a 4-cup pot), with teapigs teas such as Darjeeling Earl Grey and English Breakfast.
The Philadelphia branch of a New York-based tea house group, mixing Asian and European desserts with an afternoon tea set. Pots arrive on flame warmers in ornate china, and the room stays open until 10 p.m. on weeknights and 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
A stand inside Reading Terminal Market (stall B6) that sells loose leaf teas and brewing equipment alongside brewed hot and iced teas. Most of the counter traffic is bubble tea and fruit tea, but it is one of the few places in Center City to buy loose leaf off a shelf.
A tea room and shop on North 4th Street that Rebecca Goldschmidt opened in 2008. It brews loose leaf teas and herbal infusions, bakes gluten-free goods, and doubles as an herbal apothecary and rotating art gallery.
An afternoon tea salon opened by Monique Greenwood, former editor of Essence and owner of the Akwaaba bed and breakfast inns. The 90-minute service puts Southern dishes on the tiers, such as deviled eggs topped with fried chicken, peach cobbler and banana pudding, with loose-leaf tea and live jazz piano.
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Philadelphia Tea Tips
Mary Cassatt books a month at a time
Reservations for the Mary Cassatt Tea Room open on the 15th of the preceding month, for seatings at 12:30, 1, 3 and 3:30 Thursday through Sunday. Groups of 15 or more book by phone.
Akwaaba is weekends and reservation only
Akwaaba Tea Salon serves Friday through Sunday only, with seatings at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., booked through OpenTable. There is no walk-in service.
The Dandelion is the weekday option
The Rittenhouse-area tea rooms run Thursday to Sunday, but The Dandelion serves afternoon tea Monday through Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. Its $60 A Royal Occasion tier with a 4-cup pot is sized for two.
Check Random Tea Room's days
The Random Tea Room opens Thursday through Sunday only, from 10 a.m., and closes Monday through Wednesday.
Brewing at Home After Philadelphia
Found a tea you liked in Philadelphia? 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 Philadelphia?
The Mary Cassatt Tea Room at The Rittenhouse serves afternoon tea Thursday through Sunday by reservation. Akwaaba Tea Salon on Lancaster Avenue serves Friday through Sunday, The Dandelion on South 18th Street serves weekday tiers from 3 to 5 p.m., and Prince Tea House in Chinatown offers an afternoon tea set daily.
Where can I get afternoon tea on a weekday in Philadelphia?
The Dandelion serves afternoon tea Monday through Friday, 3 to 5 p.m., and Prince Tea House in Chinatown is open daily from noon. The Mary Cassatt Tea Room seats Thursday and Friday as well as weekends.
Where can I buy loose-leaf tea in Philadelphia?
The Random Tea Room in Northern Liberties sells loose teas and herbal blends, and the Tea Leaf stand at Reading Terminal Market sells loose leaf and brewing equipment Monday through Saturday.
Is there a late-night tea house in Philadelphia?
Prince Tea House on North 9th Street stays open until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Philadelphia Tea by Neighborhood
Rittenhouse
Best for: Hotel afternoon tea with a tableside tea pourer, or a pub's weekday tiers.
Top picks: Mary Cassatt Tea Room, The Dandelion
Chinatown and Market East
Best for: Late-night tea sets and loose leaf from a market stand.
Top picks: Prince Tea House, Tea Leaf
Northern Liberties
Best for: Loose-leaf and herbal tea in a shop that doubles as apothecary and gallery.
Top picks: The Random Tea Room & Curiosity Shop
West Philadelphia
Best for: Weekend afternoon tea with Southern food on the tiers.
Top picks: Akwaaba Tea Salon
Tea Reading for Philadelphia Visitors
Read these before you order: what to ask for, how it is brewed, and what it should cost.
