Carry On Tea & Sympathy

Great find! Small British store with plenty of great snacks, candy, food, tea and souvenirs. The staff are friendly and helpful! Definitely recommend and will be returning to try new things! :)

Tourist trap, pure and simple. To call this store gouging is an understatement. It's the definition of passing tariffs onto the consumer to obscene levels (nine dollars for Barley Water?!). This is especially true now that a lot of supermarkets have an international section where a lot of these British products are now not as hard to find. I would also check the expiration dates on any items you buy here. Bottom line, the price points are honestly outrageous. Avoid!

I was gifted these teas right before I got sick with the flu and it really comforted me and helped heal me. Love the tea and the mission behind it.

Beautiful British shop for tea necessities.

Nice selection of British food stuff.

Great selection of childhood favorites.

Very friendly service

I ordered takeout for a ladies afternoon event and pre-ordered their scones, 2 bottles of clotted cream and strawberry preserves. I also left with 1/4 lb of their loose Earl Grey tea leaves. These were all a big hit with the ladies who were all tasting clotted cream for the first time. Gentlemen behind the counter were both very sweet and helpful.

Loved visiting here randomly one day to find a cute English tea shop full to the brim with British knickknacks and shelves overflowing with tea boxes. The two shopkeepers were incredibly friendly and hilarious to speak with. They joked around with me and my friend and were very helpful in providing tea recommendations. I ended up getting their house English breakfast, which was a great decision. The flavor was robust and smooth. It came piping hot-- very welcome in this pre-autumn weather. The only thing I'm disappointed about is that I don't live in this neighborhood to frequent this amazing little shop. I highly recommend popping in for a hot tea to go and some friendly conversation.

What a lovely delightful spot!!! Rob is a great host! They were super helpful with recommendations and suggestions. Walked out with a mug featuring dogs and tea and fruit cake! Gluten free/vegan/vegetarian options! They are Covid friendly- one customer at a time and a big pride flag a-waving! Get that Sticky toffee pudding!!!! Thank you!!

I came in for the store portion of Tea & Sympathy. They actually have a cafe restaurant attached next door. But I was doing brunch across the street before the holidays and wanted to bring some goodies to my brother-in-law that's from England. They have a large amount of teas, colorful tins, cookies, biscuits, chocolates, tea sets. Just everything you could ever want imported from the UK or stuff the store specially makes. I went with one of the teas from the store and a roll of digestive biscuits. I will say that some things are a bit expensive. My friend bought like three huge tins for his family for gifts and was like 'I walked in here not intending to get anything, look what you did to me'. But they had really nice decorative sets for the holidays so they do make great gifts. They also can heat up scones to go inside of the store.

I witnessed a rather surprising incident this past weekend while browsing this shop adjacent to the charming Tea & Sympathy. It seems that this business charges a card-usage fee. That's absolutely fine (the fees charged by V/MC are exorbitant) but when a customer who had paid in cash, but was apparently charged the fee all the same, returned to ask for a refund of the fee, he was treated by the shopkeeper in quite a patronising way. I get it: shops are struggling. But I would suggest that shopkeepers not mock patrons who have chosen their establishment over an e-commerce alternative, especially given the markups that I saw on their prices.

It's pricey but very worth it. 100% authentic UK store. amazing workers great services with British people you feel like you're in UK!

Eek! Methinks not. It's dark, it's dank, and it's not welcoming. When your party is not all here for the restaurant next door, you'll be encouraged to wait in this dinky spot until everyone arrives. The place is stocked with goodies across the pond and you'll find a cute teapot for a dog lover, a vibrant cosy for any color enthusiast, and just about all the biscuits you can stuff your face with for the rest of your tea-drinking, cookie-eating life. What they do lack here is life. Staff couldn't care less to greet you and don't even bat an eye towards your way. No, you're not invisible, you're just not important. If it weren't for reservations next door and was waiting for a friend, I wouldn't be even in this shabby shop. On that note, find yourself another store to kill time because this will kill your mood big time.

Got scones to go from here. $8 for 2 including cream and jam. The most authentic scones I've found in the States so far. Wish the scones were more fresh/warm but I took it home and heated it up and it was fine I guess.

I found this place via a random yelper's help because I was looking for Jaffa cakes. Ever since I heard Karl Pilkington referring to them on an old XFM show. I've been dying to try them. I accidently ended up at Tea And Sympathy rather than Carry on. But I had a lovely meal there so no harm done. After my meal I walked down to Carry on and was greeted by two handsome gents that quickly helped me while joking with me and discussing sweets. I really would have loved to just sit all day and discuss sweets with them but shame! I had to travel home. The place is STOCKED. There was so much candy I had no idea how to start browsing. I'm glad I knew what I wanted. I plan on going back and asking about different sweets because this place has my curiosity peaked!

A good place to kill some time if you are waiting for table right next door at Tea & Sympathy. They mostly sell tea pot sets here that were also used next door. The entering door was even painted like a London phone kiosk! The star was being deducted here as I overheard someone else discovered that the food they bought had passed the expiration date. But other than this small occasion, I was pretty satisfied with my short tour.

I have a very fond memory of coming to this place with an old friend I hadn't seen in over 10 years. She brought me here because it was quirky and unique and really added to my experience in NYC. Having been here a few times, I was really sick of doing a lot of the touristy stuff my friends hadn't done yet. We each picked a tea and I bought a crap ton of my favorite british sweets that I thought I wouldn't be able to find in the states. The candy is not cheap though, and I"m not entirely sure it's cheaper than ordering a few boxes of your favorites online, but they have so much variety that it'd be great for trying new things to see you'd wanna order in bulk, too. I bought one of each of a bunch of things and spent close to $50. But I savored every bite. Mm. When the tea came, brewed by a young gentleman with a charming accent (I was told that they only hire UK boys to work here?), we sat by the window on a bench and watched the rain fall and warmed ourselves with delicious tea while reminiscing about old times. And eating delicious candy! What a great experience. not a NY native, but I always remember and suggest this place when people ask me about New York City.

They sell TOFFEE CRISP!!! And speak in very Manchester-esque accents. I love this place already. That is all. Oh, they also have a large selection of very British groceries/teas - as expected. But TOFFEE CRISP! Yesssssssssss...

Nice selection of English tea, teatime foods and tea accessories. Also a really nice selection of china cups and teapots and everything they sell could be given as really nice gifts as well. I actually liked this place better than the tea room next door, Tea & Sympathy. You can have a perfectly delicious tea there, but the space fills quickly and gets rather noisy.

This place makes me embarrassed to be British. They peddle lots of British wares - sweets, crisps, tea, etc - at horrendous markups, and then have the nerve to charge a credit card processing fee on top of it. Their credit card processing fee is north of 4%, which is absolutely outrageous. What next, charging us a percentage of their rent?! And then the customer service is appalling. They're constantly rude, and don't fall for the idea that being rude to customers is "British charm." It's not. Britain itself is nothing like that; if a sweet shop at home treated people like that then people just wouldn't go. If you're really craving a wispa or some pear drops, do yourself a favor and order them from Amazon.

The attitude of this place is really bad i didn't even get a chance to try anything as they where so rude i would have liked to spend a lot of money in here on the groceries but the person who worked here was so horrific there is much better British food grocery spots in new york with much better attitudes. I simply asked are you serving and was like yes when i'm ready, i don't need to be spoken to like that when i am spending a lot of money. too many nice places to need to degrade yourself to be spoke to like this

Came here to get some British candy for my Brit coworker (secret Santa in the house; feeding him some nostalgia). Very cute little shop. I loved that they had a good selection of things to choose from, and many different "holiday" boxes of treats. Bear in mind, this is definitely a pricier place to go - but if you're craving the British dairy milk and not the Hershey's - it's your best bet! The staff was really helpful- I would probably come again to visit the actual tea/food joint :) To be honest, I chewed down an entire UK import dairy milk bar but I digress even in my guilt at the price and calories, I can't really tell the difference! The Hershey's version is certainly sweeter and has a different after taste. The UK one has a slightly more pleasant after taste- but I don't mind the Hershey's, I'm a cavity-prone, soda guzzling American after all!

I've visited this location in person a few times when I lived in NYC and it has a good selection of teas, but somewhat high prices. After I moved to Boston, I heard this business was having troubles so I went to its online shop to buy some tea. I think the online storefront needs to be updated. There's a very limited selection of products available (they have more in store) and they charged a $20 shipping fee to send tea to Mass. T&S, you have my S, but please also take my advice. Your business needs to adapt to survive, and charging me $20 to ship tea domestically is taking the piss. Relying on people to schlep down to the village to buy bulk tea is clearly not working, so why not try to expand online business?

Amazing store!! This is the only store I could find in NYC that carries clotted cream and double devon cream. My scone lovers can rejoice. They also stock all sorts of BRITISH teas. Imported. So if you see PG Tips, it's not the same PG you get from the supermarket, etc. People working there have wonderful personalities and can answer all questions. Thanks for the dedication to a longstanding tradition! Tea!

The three stars are for the great variety of products and seemingly good service! At the end of the day that is maybe what mostly counts. However less two stars for the rip off and highly inflated prices. Eg, their Christmas Crackers were $39 vs the same crackers at two other stores for $12. Not good! Beware of what these great products will cost you!

such a crazy place to get all kind of British candies, chocolates, sweets, teas, tea pots, tea pot covers, cups, mugs, books, flip flops, toilet cover, napkins, key rings, T-shirts, undies, etc... inhale.. exhale... inhale.. exhale... just be ready to open ur purse... readyyyyyy???? GOOOOOO!!!!! they do accept a CREDIT CARD!!!

Mint Aero bars, smartees and toffee crisps! O my! I used to get my British chocolate mailed to me from my family members in Trinidad (it used to be a British colony), until I found this place. Call me pretentious, but after you eat British chocolate, you can never go back to American. I don't know what they do, but it tastes so much better. So creamy and smooth. I'm not even a big chocolate lover!! If you are a big chocolatier, you should visit this shop. If you're going to indulge, why not go for the best?

This store has what I like to call the ABCs of English chocolate: Aero, Bounty and Crunchies. They sustained me in my summer abroad in London and now they are an "occasional" treat during those "few" times in the semester when I feel "just a tad" stressed. This shoppe (taking it too far there?) also has hobnobs and biscuits, tea, lots of Keep Calm and Carry On merchandise, and Christmas crackers. Oh, and shopkeeps with charming accents. Come in here and stock up on treats during your inevitable wait to get in next door.

oh my, oh my! cookies, candy bars, tea pots, and zany t-shirts! i bought 4 crunchies (a childhood favorite sold in London & Australia) and a few milk chocolate bars. it's fun walking in there with your friends and laugh at the kooky t-shirts and knickers they have. of course... you could only just go there to buy tea, but whatever! be sure to sign the Little Britain Petition!

Absolutely adorable and helpful. I stumbled my way in here on my way to Jane Cafe. I was walking guy and one of the clerks was smoking outside. I passed him without a word... three seconds later, after peering into the store, I do a violent turn around and almost shout at him, "DO YOU HAVE LEMON CURD!?!?" You see, I love lemon curd. I put in on my scones, I put it on my white bread, I put it on my croissants. ... I even eat it straight with the spoon. But the only other lemon curd I really liked was Fortum and Mason's, and while Saks carried it for a while, they discontinued it (they do have lemon jam, if I'm correct). And really, nothing makes a crummy afternoon better than tea with lemon scones and lemon curd. They did have lemon curd. It wasn't Fortnum and Mason, but the clerk guaranteed that it would be great. I jokingly told him that if he disappointed me one bit, I'd come back and steal his hat in compensation (it was a really cute hat). He still has his hat. It was almost nearly as good as Fortnum and Mason. But almost six dollars cheaper. You could definitely go to places with better tea, but it's fun having the clerks explain the teas to you anyways. The only heartbreaking thing is that they don't carry violet creams. Almost perfect... almost perfect (If by the way, you are looking for violet creams-- sugar fondants with violet essence-- Charbonnel et Walker on the 8th floor of Saks have them).

Got a classic Earl Grey with milk, along with looseleaf to test at home. Grabbing a tea-to-go here brings back my happiest times at simple groceries and shops in England. For $2, a proper experience: a tea list, asked with milk and sugar?, one-size-fits-all size, and optional plain scones with cream and jam. Tea sold by the pound. Silence is not sulky but pleasant. I'm the customer but the world doesn't revolve around me because, you know, it doesn't. As a grocery, it has a full wall of English imports - get your Digestives and Cadburys here! And the accents! Love... Kudos to the business owner for running a strategically British business that feels so genuine. For the full tea service and sit-down dining, step next door. $5 card limit- just have a few singles handy.

This is seriously as close to home as I'm ever going to get living in the USA! I got way too excited, just absorbing myself in the atmosphere of English products. (If you've ever lived in a different country - you'll understand!) I went all the way to get Robinson's sugar free squash, I bought two bottles they didn't have orange but apple and blackcurrant will easily fix my missed addiction. Unfortunately, I gave up sweets and chocolate for lent but by gosh name they had it mini eggs, my favourite white chocolate mini eggs (going back for those), Easter eggs!!! They had proper English cadburys easter eggs!! In the midst of it all, I saw that they had cans of fizzy drinks - great!! Lilt please!! I was so excited at the prospect of having a lilt, that I had totally forgotten that I had also given up fizzy drinks for lent - that I drank it and few hours later- remembered I had just busted my resolution! Ops! But I will definitely be coming back to get some custard, skips, quavers, wotsits and more squash!!! Thanks guys for providing me home comforts on the other side of the pond!!

I got some tea from this place, but it was not my taste. From the fear of being dissapointed again with the teas in nice packages, I got a cup cake. (I think you need to know a bit more before hand about tea to select a good one for you) Sticky Toffee Cupcake? I stepped outside the store and licked the cream and said "yes". The cream was perfect, and then there was this marvelous sticky toffee inside the cake! 3 dollors and 25 cents including tax, so it is sort of pricy for a cup cake thinking of its size but it is worth a try when you are craving for something good&sweet but not too hungry. This will be my secret for a while, and if I found someone that would appreciate it, I would buy them one cupcake to show how ausmn I am.

After seeing deep-fried Lion bars on the menu next door at A Salt & Battery, I wandered into the Brit shop next door to see if they had the real deal for sale. And lo and behold, they did!! Along with every possible British candy bar your heart could possibly desire!! I'm somewhat fortunate because at my local grocery store, they stock a very limited selection of British goods, including good ole Cadbury bars, along with Aero bars, and Cadbury Crunchie & Cadbury Flake. But no Lions. But this little shop satisfied my Lion cravings that had long lied dormant. I ate one on the spot, and got another one to save for a special occasion (or just when I need a little something that only chocolate can fulfill).

OK, the place is a bit Brit-campy, but they sell home-made Brandy Cream in December. Unavailable in the U.S. in true form because it is perishable, Brandy Cream is the most delicious topping for Christmas Pudding and Mince Pies (also sold here), and tastes heavenly off of the spoon. This is a take-away shop, hence the "Carry On." That means you're not staying. But if you have a hankering for any widely known UK food or candy, like Flake, Galaxy, Wine Gums, etc., they have it or can get it. Then you can go home and nosh on it while watching the BBC for atmosphere. Now that's 5 stars.

If you have ever tasted an American dairymilk alongside an English one you'll realize that the English version is much more decadent and creamy. This knowledge has unfortunately forced me to decline most American chocolate which is obviously more widely favorable. Whenever I have the second to hop on the A I had to stop in here and just stand in front of the counter staring at all the candy and fruit snacks that I enjoyed while in England. If you never have had the pleasure of their wide variety of crisps I highly recommend the Prawn Cocktail Walkers Crisps or Skips which have a sweet tangy taste that I can't liken to any American flavor. Also try the winegums as fruit snack. Other recommendations Dairymilk (Of course) Cheddar and Onion Walkers Crisps Flake Birds Custard It's hard to come here and pay a little extra for candy than you would at a convenience store, but its truly a great experience and a nice place to get all your favorite European treats.

My dealer for my chocolate drug of choice: Cadbury's Double Decker. I got hooked onto the Double Decker when I was in London for 6 months last year. I don't know why Cadbury's doesn't distribute this in the US. They'd make a killing. Yes, they sell other British stuff but why would you want to get anything other than a Double Decker?

As a Brit, this place is SO good to have in New York. One of the things I miss from home are all of the little snacky foods and candy and chocolate that I could get at a local store in England. This place fills that need and every time I go in, it's a struggle not to buy everything they have. Makes me feel right at home. The only downside is that everything is rather expensive. They have to import it specially and obviously not in massive quantities so it adds a lot to the price. Some things are occasionally rather close to (or past) the best by date too. But if you're hunting for good British products, this is the place to go, regardless of the importing cost. God Bless this store :)

It's a really small shop but has unique products. The red doorway resembles the telephone stand in London: there's a Queen Elizabeth art piece by the entrance. When I stepped inside the shop, I saw an array of British goods ranging from chocolate, candy, cookies, biscuits, tea to china tea sets. The store is kinda cluttered and filled of festive holiday wrapped goods. You can walk around the shop within 5 mins as there is not much room to roam.

I walked here to see how their tea was, purchased an iced berry tea and walked out. Their wares and tea are pricey since it is imported goods. The store reminded me of an old time general store. Definitely tried this spot out to say I have been here, and if you are a tea drinker who likes a spot of English tea on the move, try this place out. I have not tried the more formal sit down restaurant that was next door.

Adorable and packed to the gills! Plenty of Christmas Crackers and puddings. I bought Salad Cream and my favorite Jacobs Cream Crackers. Plus I looked longingly at a teapot. Maybe next time! Great for anyone who misses London or wants to have a taste of England without leaving Manhattan ~

I buy my mom chocolate oranges from here around the holidays. I don't know if she really likes them as much as I do cause I figure I'd love to get them as a gift! Seriously, this is a great store, full of all things from blighty. If you're in need of your London fix, but haven't the cash to get there, have a sampling of this store to hold you over.

Certainly a destination for anyone with cravings for all grocery items British. Set out like a traditional grocery store, the shelves are stacked floor to ceiling with biscuits, sweets, crisps, tea pots, obscure royal plates - all served up with friendly British staff. Given there are a couple of stores like this in the area, I actually rate this one a little higher, as the staff do actually smile and engage.

Rob, Andy, I hate to say this, but the feud will have to continue. To clarify, this is the couple from Portland, OR that promised to help you settle the Cadbury Mint Crisp vs. Fry's Peppermint Creams debate. We tried both today and Josh is vehemently in Cabury's corner while I'm voting for Fry's on this one. Josh thinks that the peppermint creams are a higher quality, glorified peppermint patty and loves the fact that, not only is the Cadbury package resealable, but the honeycombed nibblets add a crunch texture to the smooth chocolate. While I really enjoy Cadbury chocolates, and love how smooth the mint crisp was (I definitely didn't dislike it), the Peppermint creams were just a lot less sweet which was a win for me. It was a lot smoother, and more flavorful than most peppermint patties that I've tried. To be fair, Josh doesn't like mint things as much as I do, but still, looks like the winner remains to be crowned :) P.S. For everyone else looking at these reviews, these guys rock :D *EDIT* we let my mom try both and she was a Fry fan! Looks like we've broken the tie :)

Such an adorable little place. It reminds me of my childhood candy store. We came in here after eating at Salt & Battery to pick up a few candies. After reading the reviews I'll have to go back for some chocolates!

This is the only place I know in the States where I can get Walker crisps. Prawn Cocktail being my favorite. The other two salty snacks that I like to get here are Hula Hoops (Any flavor will do) and Monster Munch. Just check the expiration dates before you check out.

We all fell in love with the Vanilla Green Tea and was told we would be able to buy some next door at Carry on. It quaint shop. My only complaint is when measuring, they did it accurately, but when putting the tea into the two paper bags, it was not exact. One had more weight than the other.

A hole in the wall spot offering hot cups to go. Plenty of loose tea here in multiple varieties. Downside is that the guy behind the counter isn't a tea drinker and doesn't know much about what they have to offer. I'm trying an adventure with Vietnamese black tea with vanilla. It is super hot, which is a good sign for black tea! It tastes exactly as I expected. Christina got the Assam which was perfect. We grabbed a Cadbury's fruit & nut for later and headed outside to people watch. An eccentric older lady introduced us to her cat named Emily while we were sitting outside. I freaking love it! If I lived in this neighborhood, I'd stop in often for a cup in a hurry.

With the exception of the owner (the tall guy), I have found some of the employees working here to be extremely obnoxious and/or snobbish. I refuse to support snootie-patooties, so I'll get my tea elsewhere. Cheerio!

Update: I have a twig and berries, and armed with such equipment I find Elizabeth Hurley disarmingly attractive, save her British teeth. I will likely marry a Brit, a snotty elitist who still thinks that the U.S. is an independent colony. A Brit, with the body of a model (one that eats), a sarcastic, dry sense of humor, and an abusive command of the terms "bloody" and "piss". For tourists, ex-pats, and locals alike this place is a treat. Buying something here almost feels like I'm committing a crime of sorts, like I'm smuggling in contraband (e.g. Eurpean candies, jellies, Heinz canned goods, tea pots, etc.). A friend and I were walking to some exotic furniture store across the street, when I noticed this place and veered off to get myself an iced tea. We entered through the phone booth door and set foot into this store, which is a mix between cheeky British tourist crap, European food exclusives, and British novelties. It's like one of those souvenir shops at the Jersey Shore that sells any type of of useless accessory you can imagine as long as it's adorned with "Jersey Shore," except everything in this store is smeared in the Union Jack and all things Britain. You better believe you pay a premium for all this goofy sh!t, and to have a slice of England in NYC, but it's worth it (me thinks everything is priced in GBP and converted into USD). The staff is extremely friendly (un-Limey). Nicky, the owner, is a beautiful soul & ex-pat, who loves America. My friend and I came in here for some iced tea and wound up staying and talking to her for a while about a plethora of topics. I, of course, had to buy some candy, while Nicky talked to my friend about all things politics (Blair, Iraq, the next president, etc.). All in all, I really like this place, and I know where to go for those novelty items that you just can't get anywhere else, and where to go for some real iced tea (not that piss that other establishments serve). This place puts me in the mood to do something, like empty the contents of a ship full of tea into the Boston Harbor, yeah, you know, like start a f*ckin' revolution or something. I'm sick of this taxation without representation.

Strolled in after a helpin of fisn n chips from the chippy next door. I love this place. The staff is so awesome and helpful. Great teas, and british chocolates that always taste better cause they cant use bullshit corn syrup.

it needs to really be cleaned up with some fresh paint and the food is ok but really misses the mark. The Victoria Sponge is stale and dry. Tea is good. it's just one of those places that needs to be freshened up. When I see a place like this I think if this were mine I would paint, have fresh flowers on the tables and just in general make it a cozy place to be.

Great place to shop after some fish n chips next door. Just like one of the reviewer said, this place is my chocolate dealer coz you know, English chocolates pwns American chocolates. My favorite is the McVittie's Penguin and McVitties Hobnobs. Penguin is this chocolate covered chocolate biscuit while Hobnobs are chocolate covered oat cookies. NOM! I also get my fruit pastilles from here. Try the blackcurrant ones, they are great.

I will never set foot in this establishment again. I have spent most of my life in England (though I am American) and I have never experienced such bad customer service -- either there or here in New York. I went to the store on Saturday to pick up some Christmas crackers. I asked politely if I could pay with an American Express which seemed to hit some catastrophic nerve with the owner -- who went off at me in a loud voice about how evil American Express is and how she will never ever ever accept American Express. I was taken aback and said almost under my breath, "My husband works for American Express" (which he does). Well, that was my mistake evidently. She then went off in a nasty nasty diatribe, which culminated with her pointing her finger at me and yelling -- fully yelling -- "You tell your husband that I say to American Express "F*** You". Regardless of her or anyone's opinion of American Express, I could not believe that she could be so rude to her customers. At this point, I had already paid with my Visa and was too floored by her aggression to ask for my money back. As I was leaving, I muttered under my breath to another customer, "I guess I wont be coming back here any time soon", and she said "Me neither" and left the store with me. Small comfort for some seriously irrational and unnecessary aggression.

Wow. Need some clotted cream fudge? They got it! Kinder surprise eggs (someone was looking for those recently, still trying to remember who), Flakes, everything! Oh, and tea, of course. Plus thongs that say Mind the Gap. I think those win out over everything else. Except maybe the Union Jack toilet seat. Nah, the thong still wins. Go there, get some hard to find candy, wonder who you could buy the thong for, and then sign the petition for a Little Britain in the Big Apple! Woohooo!