I truly loved the ambiance at Floating Mountain - a pocket of zen and serenity in busy Manhattan. I came for a solo date right when they opened (I made a reservation) and had a lovely conversation with Vivian, who was very kind, knowledgeable, and attentive with refilling my tea. My only gripe is the price. The cheapest pot for one was $28, so with tax/tip you're looking at $33+. I love sourcing loose leaf tea myself to brew at home (including from Taiwan/China), and feel like this should be priced at least $5 lower. Other tea houses like Te Company offer a similar experience with ~$15 tea pots that two people can share, though the ambiance at Floating Mountain is still unbeatable. I would still recommend this spot, but because of the price, it's difficult to justify going frequently. I'd recommend going with a friend, since splitting the pot for two price would make it slightly cheaper. Tea lovers & enthusiasts will still love this place no matter what. Just look at these photos! read more

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Too pricey. I didn't feel like I learned much from the experience. I observed and assumed things. It would be nice if the owner, knowing that I am a first timer to explain certain things. One and done for me. Overall it was An average experience. read more

It's a cool concept spot but in my opinion, just not worth it. It's cute and the owner seems very into it but to me, it just seemed like an overpriced, mid experience. I think it could be better priced and personally don't think the "experience" makes up for it. The owner comes and refills your cups, which is nice but I thought it was a little inconvenient. We also didn't stay for too long, so may be more worth it if you're looking to stick around for a couple hours. Overall, not terrible but just be prepared to spend a pretty penny. read more

Incredible experience. I left feeling so calm, like I was floating on a cloud. Really amazing selection of teas and love the set up inside. It's gorgeous. read more

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Definitely a cute, calm, small little tea shop that was calm and nice to see out onto 72th Street on the UWS, but the tea was SO overpriced wow. For a SMALL teapot the size of a normal mug, it was $40+ - my friend and I got the pot for two of the Duck Shit tea, and it was flavorful, roasted, but not nearly worth the price. The shop keeper also wasn't very friendly. The reservations are $10 (which gets deducted from the total) and only allows for 90 minutes. I second comments from previous reviews on not getting the value for the overpriced tea here. read more

A little pricy but I'm sure worth it for a tea enthusiast. As it is, we had a good time but I don't think we were "expert" enough to fully appreciate it. Between 5 people we got 3 different teas and I can say they were all good and vastly different. I was also fun to sit, relax, sip our teas, and watch the owner as she prepared our teas. It lasts for many pours so she'd come over every so often and add more water into each of the teapots read more

Floating Mountain - One of the wulongs - Tea Rooms Near Me - New York, New York

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Such a wonderful experience. We had a private tea ceremony for our family of 6. It was so well done and she even allowed us to ask questions afterwards. Well worth the time and money. read more

Floating Mountain - Tea Rooms Near Me - New York, New York

Wildly overpriced. The show they put on felt a bit ridiculous. Floating Mountain is clearly just profiting off of Chinese culture, using the whole tea preparing process as a "show", which allows them to sell a tiny pot of tea for $50, when the amount of tea leaves given per pot costs cents (maybe $2 if you including sourcing and shipping). The ambiance and location doesn't even make up for it. Update: Rather than focusing on defending the price, I hope one day they realize this is some degree of appropriation. read more

High grade tea served in a beautiful peace space. Calm ambiance and lovely service. Pot for one ranges from $28-$55 Pot for two ranges from $30-$65 read more

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Ran across their instagram page and decided to come here with a friend on a cold, gloomy Friday. This place was the perfect place we needed to just relax. There was such a big selection of teas, but I wish they actually described the flavor of the tea more than where they originated from. The place is actually quite small and you can see all the customers from the moment you walk in. We requested seating by the window online couple days before we actually came here (highly recommended). The person working does a tea ceremony like gesture to prepare the tea and each time she pours more water in. We were able to drink about like 6 times and left feeling satisfied. For the price, I think the experience is worth it! read more

Floating Mountain - a living room with a couch, table, and potted plant - Tea Rooms Near Me - New York, New York

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The ambiance was amazing. This a a true tea house with no food served. So you definitely want to eat before you go. It's on the pricier side. read more

The ambiance is great, lots of activities to do while you enjoy your tea. Service was attentive and kind, although she didn't leave the kettle with us so we had to wait for her to come back whenever we wanted to pour more. I'd say it's a bit overpriced but I guess you're paying for the vibe. Worth checking out for gong fu enjoyers read more

I've been coming to Floating Mountain for a few years it's a favorite especially for unexpected rainy days. The price is higher then what most would consider paying for tea but I find the quality and overall experience to be worth it. The owner is very passionate and knowledgeable of the tea she sources and is lovely to talk to when she is at the shop. I love that it feels like a little oasis in such a busy city. I have had some really great conversations here as well because the environment just lends to it. I miss the later, evening hours they used to have but understand that's not possible anymore. Floating Mountain is a gem for tea lovers and enthusiasts read more

Food: no food allowed here. Tea: we ordered Da Wu Ye Dan Cong (Big Black Leaf from Single Tree) and Dan Cong Ba Xiang (Single Tree Eight Immortals). I LOVE tea and am starting to get deeper into tea culture and tasting, this was an amazing unique experience. They also have plenty of books about tea for you to browse. It is expensive but service is amazing, they come to refill your pots without you needing to ask. You can generally resteep oolongs for like 5-8 pours. I love the Japanese, ground seating ambiance. Very unique! You need to book reservations!!!' read more

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Be prepared to pay a pretty penny for an experience at Floating Mountain. The shop is located on the second floor of UWS and across from a yoga studio. Super zen and the space's ambiance was lovely. We came on a Sunday afternoon at 3:30. Make sure to make a reservation here! The space is tinyyyy and only fits about 5 or so tables. Service was so sweet. One lady manned all five tables and always made sure our tea was full. She explained to us the basic steps of the tea ceremony, and made conversation with us every time she repoured our cups. We ordered the Phoenix Mountain Oolong tea. Man- it was pricy. For $18ish per person, we maybe had 4 cups of the tiniesttt cups of tea. I was not expecting it to be so expensive. The tea quality was decent, but definitely very diluted towards the end of the four cups. I don't think it was worth $18 per person. Also be forewarned, the teahouse is usually back to back with reservations- at exactly 5 we were asked to leave as the next party had arrived. read more

Floating Mountain - Tea Rooms Near Me - New York, New York

Tranquil. I was a little hesitant to go as I've never been to a tea house and my knowledge of tea is whatever I read on the package (will this help me sleep?) Don't be hesitant. Go! Enjoy. Bring a friend that you haven't chatted with in awhile. I guarantee this place is more conversational than a restaurant. read more

Floating Mountain - Tea Rooms Near Me - New York, New York

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I'm so bummed about this experience. It felt a little pretentious and extremely overpriced. The ceremony was very different from the traditional Chinese tea experiences we've had before and the tea tasted surprisingly mid. We couldn't get much flavor from our tea since they only brewed it for less than 5 seconds. Didn't seem like the woman working knew much about the teas they offered. We left with more questions than answers regarding our selections and inquiries about the ceremony. It felt like a $10 CUP of tea when we ended up spending much much more (two pots was over $100). read more

The selection of tea is amazing and loved the ambience of the place. An extra bonus is the tea house has great taste in music! read more

Floating Mountain - a woman sitting at a kitchen island - Tea Rooms Near Me - New York, New York

This cute little oriental tea house is on the second floor of a busy street but once ensconced within its calm Zen-like interior, it is as though we were transported to another world. We got lucky and bagged one of the 5 tables one Saturday afternoon. Leaving our shoes at the entrance, we made our way across to the tatami mat where the tables are and sat on seat cushions. We were excited about their extensive selection of specialty teas from various regions of China. All teas are served gongfu style starting with an elegant ritual involving the warming up of the tea vessels and utensils with hot water. The tea is then brewed in miniature earthen tea pots and then served in little tasting cups. The higher leaf-to-water ratio results in fuller flavour teas, whose essence and fragrance can be enjoyed even after several steepings, as with our Ba Xian and Da Hong Pao. Service was knowledgeable and attentive. Our teapots were topped up with hot water in a timely manner. This is the perfect place for enjoying quality tea and quiet conversations. read more

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Floating mountain was my first tea room experience and I had wonderful time. The vibes were very welcoming and relaxing, and the tea service was excellent. If you're looking for something different for a first date, this would be a great idea. Will definitely be coming back again. read more

My friends and I have been talking about coming to this tea house for months. We finally got a chance to meet up here and are so happy we did! To enter the establishment, press 4F on the buzzer. After you are buzzed in, you walk up the staircase and see the tea house dooron the left side. There are 2 window cubby that seats 3 people cross-legged comfortably. There are 3 tables on a lower step if you don't want to sit cross-legged. So many tea choices: green, white, dark fermented (pu'er), wulong cha, wu yi mountain, and red. We settled on 3 choices: Pu'er: Liu An Hei Cha - The Golden Thread WuLong Cha: Lao Huang Zhi Xiang - Old Tree Orange Blossom White: Bai Mu Dan - White Peony We were able to catch up in this serene environment for an hour and half. What a lovely way to get away from the busy world to have a few minutes of peace. Hope you have a relaxing time. read more

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this place was very zen, I wish they served some small bites with it but it was very relaxing and calming. Also was a high-touch experience, so while the price of the tea is quite expensive for one pot for two/three, consider the fee all part of the experience/service/ambiance. It is a quaint spot you can go for some solitude or time to just have cozy tea conversations mid-day. this place has big windows, lots of natural light and beautiful decor. i felt peace and quiet leaving than when i first entered this spot- a must-have while in the hustle and bustle of manhattan! read more

Such a great hidden gem! We were looking for a place to warm up on a cold winter day and found this tea house on the second floor thanks to yelp. You have to take off your shoes at the entrance, and sit on the mats on the ground to drink the tea. It's so cozy, and you really feel like you stepped into someone's living room. We were well attended to, and as soon as we finished our cups of tea, the owner would come by and refill the pot with fresh hot water without us ever alerting her. It was a beautifully relaxing experience and can't wait to stop by again. read more

Floating Mountain - Tea Rooms Near Me - New York, New York

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Pleasant little shop tucked away in an unassuming stairwell, but Floating Mountain is an idyllic spot that brings forth Elina's passion for her craft. The room is unassuming yet cozy and perfect for conversation. The tea selection is fantastic and spans a wide range of flavors. And last but not least, Elina herself brings a sort of mystique into the room. Definitely recommend read more

Floating Mountain - Tea Rooms Near Me - New York, New York

Like Shakira's hips, the five-star reviews don't lie. This is a teahouse made and managed with love by a Russian tea lover who wants the world to share her love of tea. The menu offers an incredibly varied array of tried and unknown Chinese varietals, always steeped to perfectly timed perfection. The atmosphere is as quiet and tranquil as a Buddhist monastery, and like those monasteries, you can't wear shoes indoors. Note: The bathroom is way downstairs at the end of a somewhat questionable hallway. Just think Karate Kid thoughts as you're walking to it. read more

Husband and I did the private tea ceremony it was a really cool experience. If you are interested in learning about Chinese teas check this place out. The owner is very informative and it is a really cool experience. read more

Floating Mountain has been on my radar for so long and I'm glad I finally got a chance to stop by on a rainy day to soak in the peaceful atmosphere. The shop is located on the second floor. Take off your shoes at the door and you have your choice of seats inside. Of course, the most desirable (and aesthetic) seats are right by the window but the floor seating with the taller tables is more comfortable on your legs/back. The tea menu is super extensive and can be a little daunting but they've written amazing descriptions that had me picking like a pro. During my 3 hours there, I had the Honey Orchid (definitely a new favorite) followed by the Cinnamon Bark. The owner came around to pour each cup, so it's a perfect experience for the tea newbies. I had such a relaxing study session at Floating Mountain and will definitely be back with a friend for afternoon tea sometime! read more

Floating Mountain - Rainy days and fragrant tea, what could be better? - Tea Rooms Near Me - New York, New York

Amazing place, the owner is so friendly, passionate and welcoming. Good for solo, date, friend hang and groups all alike. There are two window seats which seats 1-3, bar (2-3) and floor tables (2-8). So many different chinese teas and a sort of tea ceremony is done. The menu is expansive. You can do pot for one or two and share. You take off your shoes at the door and put them in the cubby or corner, which I appreciated :) My only gripe is the bathroom is in the basement, its not on the same floor. Such a zen, meditative tea house thats worth the trek up to W72nd. :) I went today Sunday. read more

This place was delightful. We were in NYC for just a day, and it was pouring. What better way to spend a couple hours than inside somewhere warm with tons of tea choices and a delightful view of the city? We sampled quite a few teas, and the woman who runs the place gave us personalized attention, explaining the different notes various teas would provide and providing a lovely tea experience. I purchased a small sample and enjoyed its smooth quality. read more

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We came here after a lazy brunch for a date! Bf's younger sister joined at the last second and added to the fun of the experience! A unique place to catch up with friends or to have a serene tea date with yourself or partner. We arrived mid afternoon around 2 pm and seated ourselves at a table (note there are no chairs and the tables are low laying -- prepare to sit on the floor) after removing our shoes at the door. There is a lot of natural light in the area that floods the room -- but not overwhelmingly so and adds to the serene ambiance. We were given three menus and explained that the teas are refilled until we no longer want anymore, which was awesome in our book. Our party of three ordered one red tea that was delicious, aromatic, and full bodied (I believe it was the second one of the red teas -- all the names are in a different language (I believe Chinese)). We stayed for about two and a half hours and during which, passed the time with exciting and interesting conversation and later snuggles. Eventually, we decided to relinquish our spot for the numerous people waiting and headed out. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and we will be back! read more

I've been to every tea house in the city, and I've been to many across the world, and Floating Mountain remains one of my favorites I've ever been to. Tea is a hobby if mine, and I'm particularly into the type of tea (dancong oolong) that Elena specializes in. That doesn't actually incline me to like Floating Mountain more -- if anything it would make me harsher and more picky (as I am with Puerh Brooklyn). However, not only do Elena's teas and her preparation of them hold up, they're actually world class. They're extraordinary. Well worth the visit. I will say that, while nice teas are readily apparent when you drink them, some of the quality might be lost on you if you're not massively invested in tea. read more

$18 each to share a teapot of extremely dilute tea. They put the tea leaves of your choice in a small teapot, pour hot water over the leaves and IMMEDIATELY pour this into your cup. Many many times. As a result, the tea never steeps and is flavorless. Left me nauseated. As a tea aficionado I would never drink tea this way, and the only reason I let let it slide is bc it's supposed to be a "tea ceremony". I imagine the reviews for this place are high because a) all Yelp reviewers care about is service and not quality of food and b) maybe they were bought. There is nothing remotely authentic about this tea service, and as an Asian person it's borderline offensive to watch as white people in dreadlocks prepare this awful tea according to their recollection from a study abroad experience. Anyway nothing against the people who run this business but as a whole the experience was inauthentic and tasteless. read more

Very cozy and relaxing place with stylish decor and beautiful large windows to people watch on the street as you sip your tea from a wide variety of aromatic choices. Soothing music plays quietly in the background and a diffuser spreads aromatherapy through the space. Very friendly owner and overall great experience very unusual for New York and great to slow down the pace of life in the city for a second read more

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Small but cozy spot ! The waitress was wonderful and very attentive. I would reccomend this spot for studying, a date or even a buisness meeting. I would reserve in advance so you can get the sit near the window read more

So happy it has returned to the UWS after a year of hiatus due to Covid19. Limited hours, but I will take it for some tranquility and serenity in the throes of an everlasting pandemic. Experience new tea flavors, savor the peace, and enjoy the company. read more

An out-of-the-way little tea room on the 2nd floor of a building on 72nd, Floating Mountain offers a serious menu of teas, personally imported by the owners. For now they have Chinese teas but the plan eventually is to broaden out. Not that there's any shortage felt in limiting themselves to China--the menu has maybe 50 teas, from white to green, to oolong to black (or red, as they call it here), and more. They prep the teas for you, giving you a perfect cup. Relaxed, airy, with comfy floor cushions for seats and some street views from the windows, Floating Mountain is lovely and unexpected. Aside from purchasing individual teas (~7 for a cup, ~20 for a pot with unlimited re-steeps), there are tastings you can buy, and also ceremonies you can book by appointment. I think there may be a daily free tea ceremony, at 11am-12pm, but you should double-check. Tea snobs and connoisseurs will, I think, be pleased. The more casual tea drinkers may just enjoy the ambience and the quiet, careful preparation, which serves to highlight the flavor of the teas. read more

Floating Mountain - A view from the entrance. - Tea Rooms Near Me - New York, New York

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This is an extraordinary tea house. The style is steeping individual small cups of tea one at a time, so that each cup gets the perfect amount of flavor from the leaves. The owner takes care of all of this for you, so you just sit and enjoy one perfect cup after another. Her technique is almost mesmerizing to watch. And her depth of knowledge about all of the different teas is crazy. I've come here twice, and I want to keep coming back. read more

I don't know if it was tea, Elina or combination of both :) but experience exceeded my expectations. Elina puts her energy in every cup she serves and it makes all the difference. Will be back soon. read more

My friend and I stumbled across this tea spot on a rainy day and it was perfect. The shop is hidden upstairs, the entrance is a little tricky to find, but well worth it. The decor is simplistic and perfect for the environment. My friend and I sat at the table closest to the window so we could watch it rain outside while we were able to be in an indoor cozy spot drinking tea. The lady working there who I assume owns the shop was great! She was so knowledgeable about the teas and did a fantastic job of showing us the proper way to brew the teas. She was very attentive and every time we started to finish our tea she would brew some more. She brewed and poured the teas the traditional way it is supposed to be done. read more

Floating Mountain - Tea Rooms Near Me - New York, New York

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Such a lovely place. Loved the tea, the cozy tranquil setting, and how nice the owner was. They found a spot for us, despite what was a very busy day for them, 1.5 hours before our reservation. Writing this review many months after our visit, but this place deserved a great review and I'd rather write it late than never. read more