Special Interest Travel: Touring Manhattan over Afternoon Tea

My firstborn, Maki and I have been on a teahouse kick ever since we first visited Tealuxe in Boston, probably 23 years ago (unfortunately, now closed). Since then, we’ve sampled unique teas, pastries, and scones with jam and clotted cream wherever we could: the Empress on Victoria Island in Canada; Silver Tips in Tarrytown, NY (also closed); Sally Lunn’s in Chester, NJ; and even a Mother’s Day visit to Fezziwig’s Food & Fountain in Portsmouth, NH.

So, when I noticed a Facebook ad for TopView’s Tea Around Town NYC, we were both onboard, so to speak. The website boasted a 4.5-star rating and a sizable discount for booking online. It promised a 75-minute double-decker bus ride touring some of midtown’s highlights such as Grand Central Terminal, Columbus Circle and Radio City Music Hall, along with scones, savory and sweet food items, tea, narration, and entertainment. Because we agreed to schedule the trip around my birthday, we booked a noon departure (6–10 departures operate each day) and bypassed the standard admission ($69 plus fees) in favor of the premium service ($109 plus fees), which promised a guaranteed private table seating, priority boarding, an enhanced menu, and a glass of champagne, Prosecco, or sparkling grape juice.)

Continue reading this story at Everett Potter’s Travel Report.