Afternoon Tea Experience at Four Seasons Hotel New York

Afternoon tea at the Four Seasons Hotel New York has returned after more than a decade. Here’s a complete look at the service, from tea selections to sandwiches, scones, and sweets.

Four Seasons Hotel New York

Afternoon tea returned to the Four Seasons Hotel New York after more than ten years, and it’s a welcome comeback. The hotel, located in midtown Manhattan and designed by architect I.M. Pei, hosts tea service in the Ty Bar, a deep red lounge off the main lobby.

What is Afternoon Tea?

• Afternoon tea is a mid-day multi-course meal traditionally served as savories, scones, and sweets.
• Guests typically choose the tea while the kitchen provides a pre-set selection of items for each course.
• Tea is poured first, followed by a three-tier stand of bites; at the Four Seasons, warm scones with clotted cream and jam are often brought separately.

Four Seasons Afternoon Tea Menu

The menu offers two options that differ only by whether champagne is included.

Sweet and Savory Tier
$75 per person
Classic afternoon tea presented on a three-tier stand.

Sweet and Savory Tier with Champagne
$95 per person
Includes a glass of Louis Roederer Brut Champagne.

Menus and prices can change, so contact the hotel for the most current information.

How Afternoon Tea at Four Seasons Works

1. Choose an afternoon tea option. Select the tier with or without champagne.
2. Choose your tea. The menu lists available teas; traditional black teas like Earl Grey or English Breakfast are common choices.
3. Tea is served first. Begin with your selected pot while the courses are prepared.
4. Warm scones are brought next. At this hotel, scones with clotted cream and jam often arrive separately from the three-tier stand.
5. The three-tier stand follows. The classic sequence is tea sandwiches, then scones, then sweets; you can request the stand be brought out at a specific time if preferred.

Setting: ★★★☆☆

Tea service takes place in the Ty Bar. As a cocktail lounge, the space is cozy and moody rather than bright and airy. If you prefer a quieter experience, aim for an earlier seating around 2PM before the after-work crowd arrives.

Afternoon Tea Service: ★★★★☆

Service was generally attentive and friendly with only minor lapses. Staff were helpful, though they didn’t always describe the items on the three-tier stand, and could be harder to locate toward the end of the visit.

Tea & Tea Selection: ★★★☆☆

The tea list is concise, presented on a single page. While it covers several types, a larger selection—ideally several choices per tea category—would provide more variety for guests. A quick brewing tip: avoid leaving tea leaves in hot water too long to prevent bitterness.

Afternoon Tea Savories: ★★★★★

The tea sandwiches are excellent—fresh, flavorful, and well-prepared. They live up to the hotel’s reputation and avoid any sign of stale bread.

Afternoon Tea Scones: ★★★★★

Warm, perfectly sized scones were a highlight. On one visit the clotted cream needed an adjustment, but on a subsequent visit it was spot on. The jam was consistently delightful.

Afternoon Tea Sweets: ★★★★★

The sweets impressed, especially a standout cream puff—crispy on the outside, light and pillowy inside, filled with whipped cream. It’s the clear favorite, while the other confections were enjoyable as well.

Afternoon Tea Overall: ★★★★☆

The Four Seasons Hotel New York serves one of the finer afternoon teas in the city. It blends classic preparation with high-quality savories, scones, and standout sweets in a polished hotel setting.

LOCATION:
Ty Bar, Four Seasons Hotel New York
57 East 57th Street
New York, NY 10022

AFTERNOON TEA HOURS:
Daily, 2PM – 5PM

COST PER PERSON:
Sweet and savory tier, $75 (price subject to change)

RESERVATIONS:
Call 212.758.5700 or email [email protected] to reserve a table.

Four Seasons Hotel New York Afternoon Tea Tips

• Always make a reservation; walk-ins may be turned away.
• For the best natural light and photos, request a table by the windows at the far end of the Ty Bar.
• Leftovers can be taken home if you don’t finish everything.
• Book closer to 2PM rather than later to avoid the after-work crowd.

Questions You May Have

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