This kid-friendly Upper East Side mainstay calls themselves New York’s most whimsical tea house and they’re right. Guess what else? Their 81st street location is also Sippy Cup Approved! Cue the fairy dust! (No seriously, they have real glittery fairy dust)
Basics:
| Cuisine: | American, Cafe, Tea House |
| Address: |
220 E 81st St btwn 2nd Ave and 3rd Ave
|
| Area: | Upper East Side |
| Phone: | (212) 734-4832 |
| Hours: | M-F 11AM-5PM Wknd 8AM-6PM |
| Price: | $ |
| Menu: | LINK |
Kid Friendliness:
| Stroller parking: | Limited |
| Room Around Tables For Stroller: | YES |
| Accessible (No Stairs): | YES |
| Double Stroller Friendly: | YES |
| Table Activity: | YES *Crayons |
| Kids Menu: | YES |
| Half Portions Available: | YES |
| Changing Table Men’s: | NO |
| Changing Table Women’s: | NO |
| Booster Seats: | NO |
| High Chairs: | YES |
The Verdict:
Best for breakfast, brunch, lunch and early dinner
Appropriate for all ages – best for toddlers and little kids
Sippy Cup Rating:
(3.5 / 5)
I had heard about Alice’s Tea Cup for years but had never been so Sunny and I were excited to be invited by my bestie Shari and her son Josh. Sunny was in a fussy mood that day so I wasn’t sure how this was going to shake out. Needless to say, I was overjoyed (maybe even more than Sunny) when upon entering the teashop we were promptly sprinkled with magical fairy dust glitter. Sunny was also handed a pair of wings to wear and suddenly all was well in her world. We were seated at a table in the back and promptly presented with menus and coloring sheets for the kids. Our waiter was extremely friendly and bonded with Sunny over their mutual love of the Frozen soundtrack which was playing overhead.
Even though this location is quite small, the menu is plentiful and refined. Josh and Sunny indulged in their favorite food groups – chicken fingers and pasta while Shari and I shared a delectable omelette and Alice’s Curious French Toast (more on that below!)
Tea time!
A perfect dining companion! Josh and his Elmo placemat
Bonus Points:
- The first thing that happens when you walk in the door at Alice’s Tea Cup? You get sprinkled with fairy dust. You also get a pair of fairy wings. This sets the tone for fun!
- Cute gift shop on the way out (which could be a pro or a con depending on your mood!)
- Very friendly staff who love kids and cater to kids. Our waiter made every effort to accomodate Sunny’s food requests (including a side of sliced cucumbers) without an ounce of attitude.
Insider Tips:
- If you are looking for more space or coming with a larger party you might want to venture over to Alice’s Tea Cup – Chapter II at 64th and Lexington, the largest of the three locations. Chapter II is also open until 8PM as is the UWS location at 73rd and Columbus.
- As noted on their site, Alice’s Tea Cup locations is set up for walk-ins and have strict reservation policies. More on that here.
And One More Thing!
Alice’s Tea Cup founders have a groovy cookbook featuring some of their most popular scone and sandwich recipes including their Curious French Toast. You can get their cookbook here! Our friends at Epicurious featured the recipe a few years ago in case you’re feelin’ adventurous! Try it out!
Curious Bread Pudding photo credit Ben Fink
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