Lady Mendl's Tea Salon

"So you like Victorian novels and tiny sandwiches, and some of your coworkers think you're a little pretentious? Have we got the place for you. This elegant spot is housed in a Gramercy brownstone decorated with museum-quality vintage furniture, and afternoon tea here is an hours-long affair. The scones and tea sandwiches are good, though we recommend choosing a pot you love rather than getting the tea pairing." - carina finn koeppicus, kenny yang, will hartman, molly fitzpatrick

"Cozy spot in a brownstone in Gramercy, offering teas with a seasonal soup, tea sandwiches, scones, and a vanilla cream gâteau de crêpes." - Elizabeth Rhodes Elizabeth Rhodes Elizabeth Rhodes is a special projects editor at Travel + Leisure, covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products. Originally from South Carolina,

"There is no better place in NYC to cosplay as the main character in your favorite Victorian novel while eating tiny sandwiches than Lady Mendl’s. This elegant spot is housed in a Gramercy brownstone decorated with museum-quality vintage furniture, and afternoon tea here is an hours-long affair that practically begs you to get dressed up. We particularly love the scones and tea sandwiches, though we recommend choosing a pot you love rather than getting the tea pairing. Fun fact: On Thursday nights, this place turns into a burlesque parlor, if you want to enjoy the sumptuous space in a different light." - Carina Finn

"Lady Mendl’s (56 Irving Pl.; tea service $65), in Gramercy Park, is named for a socialite and a pioneering interior decorator who once lived in the neighborhood. The resplendent salon, tucked inside an 1834 Georgian brownstone, is easy to miss, but once found this little jewel box reveals treasures. The five-course afternoon tea commences with a pumpkin-apple soup, with crème fraîche, pomegranate seeds, and toasted pepitas, in a Moroccan tea glass. The finger sandwiches range from classic (egg salad, smoked salmon, cucumber and butter) to daringly unconventional, including a crostini topped with butternut-squash purée, Boursin cheese, arugula, and balsamic glaze. After miniature scones and twenty-one-layer vanilla-cream crêpe cake come pistachio macarons and chocolate-dipped strawberries. Each course is paired with one of six black, green, or herbal teas. A spokesperson said that the proprietress, soon to be ninety, is 'comically wealthy and prefers to not have her name in print.'" - David Kortava

"For an old-fashioned, charming affair, Lady Mendl’s tucked inside a townhouse on Irving Place is the place. Afternoon tea, including a gluten-free option, is split into five courses, which makes this one of the more filling offerings in town. Tea starts with a seasonal soup, then moves on to finger sandwiches, scones, a vanilla crêpe cake from Lady M, and petit fours of macarons and fruits. Reservations required." - Kathy YL Chan, Alexandra Ilyashov