This place is an absolute hidden gem! Staff are fantastic, food is pure earthy goodness, and while the spot is somewhat in need or a refurb, its remarkable charm cannot be denied.<br><br>If you want delicious comfort food, with an authentic British vibe — this is it. We go as often as we can… they take walk-ins but it’s a small place so it fills up easily. Consider making a reservation if you’re taking out of towners or it’s a special occasion.
British restaurant
Tea & Sympathy
Greenwich VillageManhattan
Greenwich Village
Manhattan
The brief
About Tea & Sympathy
Tea & Sympathy's next-door annex is a carry-out shop stocked with eclectic U.K. food & accessories.
Health inspection
NYC DOHMH Grade A
Score10(lower is better)
Inspected2/18/2026
Grade A is the highest mark from NYC's Department of Health — about 90% of restaurants earn it.
Community Rating
4.2
out of 5
1,514 community reviews
Rating aggregated from community reviews across platforms. Read full reviews on Google or Yelp for detailed diner experiences.
Reviews
What diners say about Tea & Sympathy
15 verified Google reviews
4.3
15 reviews
- 5★
- 9
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- 1
Loved the Barbour x Tea & Sympathy pop up event! The food was amazing- they even had gluten free bread to accommodate my diet restrictions. Will definitely be back here! :)
It’s a small place, and all about its rules, to the point when Three of us sat down at the only table available, they threatened if a fourth shows up he won’t be able to sit down. Now this is a shame to start your meal in this way especially as the steak pies were delicious, and even had an English, London Pride beer.
This place is a treat! The food was wonderful, and if you are an Anglophile (love the British) like me, you will love the decorations. And the tea is wonderful. I did not get the afternoon tea, but want to return for that. The waitstaff were great! And there’s a store next door where you can purchase their house tea, as well as all kinds of treats from Great Britain. It’s a very small place, so make a reservation if you don’t like waiting for a table.
Super small traditional British restaurant in Greenwich village. We love the full Monty and the lamb shepherds pie. Next time we will try the Sunday roast. Small but nice selection of British beers. Service is usually good. However, there are a couple of tables next to the door where you feel cold during the winter because of the door opening all the time.
Rude and disrespectful owner/manager. He wouldn’t know how to behave if he met the Royal Family. Same owner runs the sweet shop next door and they sell Easter eggs for $35 which cost £5 in UK supermarkets. The fish and chip shop is dreadful. Soggy and small battered fish, served with a bag of frozen chips (not proper chip shop chips) cooked in grimey oil. Everything about the three shops is extremely overpriced. Only thing that saves them is the young friendly staff behind the counter. But they clearly treat them like crap. Wouldn’t survive in UK - only because it’s New York do they get away with it. Save yourself the time and money.
Always enjoy visiting Tea & Sympathy when in NYC! Truly the most authentic British restaurant!I got the afternoon tea for one and mom got the full Monty (full English breakfast)! I always enjoy their in house blend of earl grey tea! Staff are lovely! Sadly this visit we didn't get to see Nicky or Audrey! Will be craving it like crazy until my next visit to NYC! Love the warm homely feeling you get being so close to your neighbor feels like your inside someones living room!!!
We came here for a morning tea and brunch & loved the place. It’s very quirky and charming, but we truly enjoyed all the food and would definitely recommend for anyone who loves tea. They have a good selection of loose leaf teas & the soup was so warm and comforting. The space is a tiny bit cramped, and it can be hard to walk to your seat without fear of bumping others. But all in all, we thoroughly enjoyed
Really authentic British food and afternoon tea! The scones with clotted cream and jam are perfect 🫶
I had afternoon tea and it was absolutely fantastic. The tea was delicious and the treats very filling. The savory sandwiches were wonderful, as were the sweet treats. The restaurant was the perfect cozy spot on a rainy winter day, though very small. Great way to start my trip to NYC!
Tea & Sympathy in New York City is a absolute gem for anyone who loves authentic British charm. From the moment you step inside, you’re greeted with warmth and a cozy atmosphere that feels like a little piece of England tucked away in the city. The service is impressively fast! Despite being a small and intimate spot, it adds to the charm and makes the experience feel personal and special.<br><br>The food is okay, offers a classic British comfort dishes if you are wanting a taste of Britian. Whether you go for their fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, or afternoon tea, everything is British inspired. The variety of teas is another highlight, with countless options to choose from, each offering a distinct aroma and taste that pairs wonderfully with the menu.<br><br>Located in a convenient and lively part of the city, Tea & Sympathy is easy to get to and well worth the visit. Because of its small seating size (inside) and popularity, I highly recommend making a reservation to guarantee a spot. Overall, it’s the perfect place for a relaxing meal, a cup of tea, and a taste of true British hospitality.
Had tea for "one" and steak and Guinness pie. All very good. Good service. Tea for One was alot. It consisted of three types of sandwiches (so you got to choose 3 sandwiches and was given 3 pieces of each type, totaling 9 mini sandwiches) sticky toffee, sponge cake, 2 biscuits, jam and butter. I recommend. Would go back. Bill was just under $100 before tip.
I moved to NYC in 1995, from the United Kingdom, good ol’ blighty. Terribly homesick at first for my friends and family, my friend suggested going to Tea & Sympathy and we then became regulars for Sunday lunch (a roast dinner of course or a cream tea!). We often spotted celebrities there. Rupert Everett was there many weekends (when he was much younger like we all were) and his dog fell asleep on my foot. It was such a fun place to hang out, always bustling and hard to get a table though. Nicky built a homage to vintage Britain, with fun old fashioned china, teapots, shelves of shabby chic nostalgic ephemera like old Royal Wedding cups, thimbles and keepsakes. It’s a delight for both your eyeballs and stomach.<br>A few years ago I took one of my kids, we went to the village to attend a service in honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s death. I knew we’d need to finish that day with Tea & Sympathy. Much to my surprise it hadn’t changed much, and Nicky is still working her tail off! Goes to show the work ethic on that lady! She could have retired years ago… clearly she loves it so much.<br><br>It’s a charming place to visit in the heart of Greenwich village.
What a nostalgic place for afternoon tea! So cute! Met with friends for the afternoon and enjoyed the high tea service option. Everything was delicious and our waiter’s tea recommendation was spot on (pun intended lol)! We were seated outdoors since it was a nice day and I noticed quite a few other patrons dining alone which was nice to see. I’d definitely recommend if you’d like to meet with a friend or just have a simple date alone to catch up on some reading. So cute!
Really fun place, mostly outdoor seating, their indoor space is limited but plenty of outdoor space (heated). Food has been super yummy. The scones with jam and cream were really good! So were the tea selections and especially the sticky toffee pudding with warm custard. Friend got finger sandwiches and chicken pot pie, the sandwiches are not bad but the chicken pot pie was very delicious! All around great spot will definitely come back!
Reviews sourced from Google. Displayed for informational purposes. Ratings reflect reviewer opinions at the time of posting.
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Tea & Sympathy is listed in the Eat Real Food NYC directory — a curated database of healthy restaurants in Manhattan, verified with official NYC Department of Health inspection data.