Morgan C.
Yelp
If you want to feel like a character in a Jane Austen novel or simply want a unique way to spend an afternoon in a relaxed and simply charming setting, look no further than Florrie Kaye's Tea Room in Carmel, NY! Named in honor of the owner's British grandmother, Florrie Kaye's hosts daily tea parties that would make the both the Mad Hatter and the Queen of England proud!
I spotted this place on Yelp a few days ago whilst looking for fun things to do while visiting my boyfriend, and being the tea enthusiast that I am, I was delighted to stumble upon Florrie Kaye's! We visited on a Sunday afternoon and were the only customers, but our wonderful waitress Lynne informed us that on weekends, they usually have lines out the door! She recommended that if we come back during those times to call ahead for a reservation. I had my eye on returning for their Tuesday "Happy Hour" deals, though! Who can say no to freshly prepared English snacks and teas?
The restaurant itself is storybook-perfect, decorated to the nth degree with British memorabilia (check out the cutouts of Duchess Kate and Meghan Markle! Perfect for photos!) and exquisite vintage tea dresses from the 1900s. Feel like getting in on the fun? Take your pick from a variety of hats on a rack to truly channel your inner royal! I loved my sparkly blue number, and my boyfriend even joined in the fun with an elegant top hat as well!
The menu features a classic afternoon tea, of course, but we decided to come just for a snack and ended up indulging in a house made scone in the flavor of the moment - mango ginger! It was sizable, and a perfect sweet bite to split since we'd already had lunch before coming in. Pair that with one of the Harney and Sons teas from the impressive selection (I had a tangy and creamy Grapefruit Vanilla and my boyfriend went for an iced-to-order Mango tea), and you have a great way to get a taste of Florrie Kaye's! Looking for something a bit more hearty? Check out the tea poached chicken salad, classic British entrees like sausage rolls, and of course, the popular croissant bread pudding with an ever changing flavor profile! The teas came in adorable vintage pots (amazing for Instagram!), and yielded quite a few cups!
When all was said and done, and the check came nestled inside of a well worn antique copy of "Sense and Sensibility", it totaled around $25. Kind of on the pricier side, BUT the warm and friendly service coupled with the extremely high quality teas and homemade scone made it more than worth our while. Our visit to Florrie Kaye's was the highlight of my New York trip, and we can't wait to visit for tea time again!