Initial Tea

There are some places that become part of your family's story, and Mia's Bakery is one of ours…read more We've been coming since the day it opened on Smith Street, and everything we've tried, the rainbow cookies, the tres leches, the cheesecake, has been wonderful. But this review is about something bigger than dessert. The strawberry cheesecake here reminds me of my mom. It was her favorite, and it was one of the last desserts I got to share with her. Anytime she wanted a sweet treat, that's what she asked for. Ordering it now keeps me connected to her. This past July, on her 3rd birthday in heaven, I placed an order to celebrate her. The menu only had cherry cheesecake that day, so I wrote a note explaining what the strawberry meant to me. The staff didn't just make it happen, they sent an extra slice of strawberry cheesecake on top of it. That kind of thoughtfulness is rare. The people here have always been this kind. We love everyone who works there, and we're grateful for the small moments of care they've shown our family. Thank you for everything.

Wow! What a wonderful bakery experience. I came here to purchase about 2 or 3 slices of cake to…read morecelebrate my brother's job promotion. I wanted to get the carrot cake as opposed to the carrot cheesecake, however, it was sold out. Instead, I purchased the Slice of Red Velvet cake and a slice of Blackout cake. Each slice was approximately $9. Not a terrible price; managed to get two slice of cake for under $20. I love how there is an option to dine in here. There's a full menu of coffee beverage options to choose from and a pastry to pair it with. There are also a variety of decorative cupcakes to choose from as well. I instantly noticed the Knicks championship cupcakes when I walked in. The establishment is relatively small but you can tell that they get great business here. The staff members who I engaged with were pretty nice as well.

Tiramisu

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Baby Shark cake

Laza Dessert Cafe

4.2(45 reviews)

5.1 mi•Bay Ridge

This is such a popular place in the neighborhood I'm glad I finally got to check them out. The…read moresmell of chocolate and waffles hits you as soon as you enter! I got the Triple Chocolate waffle and it was so good, thick style waffle and the chocolate was tasty and the brownie bites were great too. Recommend this spot if you want to treat yourself, it's not overindulgent just right

Laza Cafe is the place to be for intricate and elaborate desserts. I haven't been here since the…read morename rebrand, but their location on Steinway is always popping, and I had to see for myself what the fuss is about with this joint right in the heart of Bay Ridge Brooklyn. Firstly the rebrand has been phenomenal, I love the care that has obviously gone in to the packaging, transportation and delivery of my order. It really felt like it was delivered straight from the shop with no problems. The lotusella crepe was every biscoff lover's dream come true. The pairing with chocolate and banana and strawberry is a classic hit and I love that they didn't skimp on the chocolate or biscoff here. The layers of crepe were appropriate thickness and not too dense. I hate when they crepe is too thick and feels like you're getting a mouthful of dough. Not with this bad boy. I like the dusting of lotus crumbs and they actually don't go soggy which is nice. I can't wait to try more things of their menu. A true neighborhood gem!!

1.8 mi•Williamsburg - North Side

Dubai Strawberry Cup. Ice Laza Latte.

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$13.99-Dubai Crepe 10/10 it was delicious (added Banana {$1})

Nippon Cha

4.4(197 reviews)

Grab-and-go

Healthy dining

I have come here every time I crossed over into Williamsburg..it's a ritual at this point…read more Matcha is insanely good! So is Hojicha! I love that there's a kiosk so you can order your drink and customize sweetness/add ons, etc. Your order comes out quick too. Honestly just perfect set up. Easy smooth and delicious

This was another matcha shop that came up in our research as one of the top picks to try, so we…read moremade sure to swing by. Very small shop, almost no room to walk if someone else is coming out. They had two small tables inside that sat 2 people. You order off the kiosk and they make the drinks fairly quickly. It looks like they measure out the ounces so it's the same ratio every time. Even with this, I felt like there was so much milk compared to matcha. I also felt like the matcha itself wasn't very strong. Be careful when selecting your sizes - I usually just get the small/regular but my best friend is a matcha fanatic and she usually gets the large size. Nippon Cha really said LARGE because their size is a 32oz!!! So if you're not planning on drinking a quarter gallon, just get the regular!

Chitosenotomo (Uscha 薄茶) 千歳の友 Origin: Kyoto, Japan.

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Takahachi Bakery

4.5(30 reviews)

2.2 mi•Bushwick

Was waiting for a friend in the area and decided to grab a snack while waiting. Had the curry…read morecroquet and the iced hojicha and enjoyed them both and it was less than $6.50. Clean and they have restrooms for customers. I saw people getting onigiri and it seemed popular. There's limited seating and some standing room at tables.

I wanted to try this bakery since it got great reviews. There's other locations in Manhattan but I…read morewent to the one on Bushwick. There is a lot of options to choose from in this bakery. Sweet and savory. From noodles to ongiris to dessert to cookies this place is amazing. I can't imagine you couldn't find something in here to eat. I got a beef curry bun, beef yakiniku roll, Kinpira (burdock root), sesame tuile cookie and a tiramisu coffee roll. Everything looked fresh and everything did taste good. The sesame cookie was delicious. I would definitely go back again if I'm in the area or try the other location in Manhattan.

Interior

Baked eats

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Cream puff

Japanese Bite Stand YAMADA

4.1(40 reviews)

3.5 mi•Sunset Park

Delicious shaved ice and mochi ice cream. The hojicha was so rich and the thin mochi dough they put…read moreon top was just the right amount. The shaved ice is fluffy and the flavors are amazing! Pricey but great quality.

I saw that they added new items on their menu and decided to try their Awa Hojicha and the…read moreSparkling Yuzu Float. The Awa Hojicha was more like a dessert rather than a drink and it was also served with a spoon. The foam was firm and creamy, with just the right amount of sweetness while the hojicha flavor still came through. The kanten jelly added more texture with subtle tea flavor and was actually my favorite part. The Sparkling Yuzu Float was super refreshing, especially paired with the vanilla ice cream. It wasn't overly sweet, and the carbonation gave it a light, crisp finish that made it perfect for a hot summer day. I would happily return for these 2 drinks in the future.

Matcha shaved ice

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Left: Awa Hojicha Right: Sparkling Yuzu Float

Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain

4.0(866 reviews)

2.2 mi•Carroll Gardens

3.75 It's been a few years since I went here. I remembered…read moregetting a large chocolatey sundae which I needed to share with one of my sons. This time, we took the F train to Carroll St, walked by a quiet residential area and some busier streets. We ordered and paid by the entrance, given a number and looked for seats. Tables for 4, and along the long counter in the front area; small counter for 3, and 2 round tables in the back, where the restroom also is. Got a reg scoop of Coffee bean- small scoop, with specks of coffee; and a Warm brownie sundae - small for the price of almost $17- 1 regular scoop of ice cream, flanked by brownie (was good, soft and warm), covered with fudge. Asked for whipped cream and cherry on the side. Missing the shaved chocolate. Atmosphere is not lively for a soda fountain but I loved the decor/old pharmacy items. Employees were just working, with straight-faces/no smiles.

We came here on a recent summer Sunday afternoon on a whim after reading some positive reviews of…read morethe place as we were in the neighborhood. We ordered the egg cream (as it was award winning according to their wall), the black and white milk shake and coffee. The black and white milk shake was definitely the best of what we ordered. It was fresh and had a homemade taste. The chocolate had a richness to it. I would definitely come back to try the other items on the menu like the sundae. The place itself has a rather old timey vibe to it, which makes it quaint. The service was fast and friendly. If you're in the area I would definitely recommend checking out Brooklyn Farmacy.

1.9 mi•Williamsburg - North Side

Memorabilia

Broken dreams

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Have a seat.

Qahwah House

4.7(542 reviews)

•$

Late night full service coffee with the nicest staff and fantastic dessert…read more Qahwah House is a homey coffee shop that honors Yemeni roots, culture and tradition in the decor and curated menu. We got the Khaliat Almahi- heat it up!! alongside two teas. Service was fast and the honeycomb dessert just melts in your mouth.

Excellent Spring Day!…read more Lunch with Female friends from Finland today! I had the 2 Vegetable Sambosa's and 1 Cheese Sambosa ( see photo ) for Lunch in Williamsburg, Brooklyn Food = 8.5 Delicious.., however very small size portions.., I've tasted larger Middle Eastern Sambosa's in my hometown Chicago. Also, they don't serve sandwiches.., Muffins., Danish's.., or Cookies..,typical Cafe foods. Service = 9.5 Staff speak broken english.., however their very helpful, and professional. Ambience = 10. Quiet Arabic music plays in background.., NOT LOUD at all. You can have a corporate meeting, with 5 or 8 people.., and DON'T HAVE to raise your voice. Very spacious Cafe with over 15 tables for labtop.., and working on the go......, with FREE WIFI‼

2.1 mi•Williamsburg - North Side

Ordering Station: Bay Ridge

Sabaya, Adeni Chai

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Exterior

Laser Wolf

4.4(528 reviews)

•$$$$

I failed to make note on our reservation that we would be enjoying dinner here for my birthday, so…read morewhen we arrived, we were shown a less than stellar table without that amazing view. I asked if there was any way to fix this, and right away, the hostess brought us to another table with a much better view of that magnificent manhattan skyline and river. Then the food. Omg the food. We each ordered our main, after which they bring out an enormous tray of all these lovely nibble salads, pickles, dips, and pita. I don't eat wheat, and haven't my entire life, so I usually don't say anything about it if it seems to me the place doesn't cater to that sort of restriction. The server noticed however, and offered sliced cucumbers for the dips. Such a lovely detail, brava. Did I mention how deeeeeeeelicious everything was? Hubby had the steak shishlika which was perfectly tender and charred at once. I had the chicken shishlika which was good, but not the wow of the steak. Each and every salad, dip, pickle etc was perfectly spiced, cooked, presented. The nuances were just right. Nothing too precious or sideways. Just honest, well built yummy food. And the fries. You MUST get the fries. We ordered the tahini ranch along with the tahini catsup. In my opinion, that wasn't necessary. But if you're a ranch lover, go for it. Then the dessert! Soft serve with a cherry reduction and some kind of flourless chocolate brownie... I don't need to say more. The service was excellent. The food delicious. The view was perfect, though no one celebrated the sun going down like I was told they do. We will go back, with four or more so we can finish all the food. We left way too much behind since we were heading out after and not home. Lesson learned: laser wolf is a great celebration/date night venue for all the right reasons. But go with a larger party, not just two.

Laser Wolf Went to…read morean Israeli rooftop skewer restaurant in Brooklyn named after a wealthy butcher, a fictional character in the Tony award winning musical Fiddler on the Roof. Founding chef is a James Beard awardee. Wonderful literary references aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the meal. The assortment of unlimited salatim, Hebrew for salad, was enjoyable and easily filed me without the guilt of overeating. And the view of the Manhattan skyline from the restaurant is just splendid. And one caveat, this Israeli meal is my small reminder that we should never judge or be judged by the actions of governments or political leaders. Humanity is always bigger than politics. Hatred becomes dangerous when we stop seeing people as individuals and start judging entire groups. History has shown us where that can lead. This is a reminder to myself and to anyone seeking peace and love (Channeling George Harrison and John Lennon, still have a bit of beatlemania from my Liverpool trip ). Let's explore each other's culture to have a better understanding of the wonderful people behind each dish, poem, dance, painting, song, customs, etc... #curious_eater #peaceandlove

View from the counter

Platter with dips etc

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Window view

The Chocolate Room

4.3(702 reviews)

1.9 mi•Cobble Hill

It's never too crowded or empty when I visit. It's 'the chocolate room' but the smell of chocolate…read moredoesn't hit you in the face like a brick when you enter the shop. It's pleasant. The staff are nice, relaxed. It's a nice spot to get something to sip on and catch up with a friend. Get some cupcakes to go if there are any left.

I discovered The Chocolate Room after visiting the Cobble Hill Cinema. They make their own…read morechocolate truffles as well a Gelato. I was in the mood for Gelato and went for a small cup of Banana. I purchased twelve of their truffles to take home and enjoy. It is a bit pricey, but still recommended.

1.9 mi•Carroll Gardens, Gowanus

Dark Chocolate Pecan Square. Outstanding

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Inside

Malai

4.3(327 reviews)

Wow such an unexpected, unique ice cream shop you can only find in New York! Found it while walking…read morein boreum hill, and I was curious about malai ice cream. I was thinking to myself, could it be like Kulfi? Turns out yes! It's even better with the flavor assortment and consistency! They had fun combos like saffron pistacho, rose pistachio, mango and cream etc. we got the saffron pistacho and mango & cream split combo for $8.50 and hmmmm it was so good! Both flavors were distinct. I loved the mango one as it actually tasted like Indian mangoes and the pistacho one actually tasted like kulfi. The consistency is imo so much better than gelato. It's creamy and melts in your mouth. The ambiance is cosy, lots of people just hanging out like at a 3rd space. The attention to decor is really good, the walls and ceilings also have this classy look and feel. The service was great. They let me try 2 flavors, and my husband 1. You could also buy pints, if you'd like. Overall, 10/10 spot. Would 100% recommend!

This review is super overdue!! But Malai was memorable enough that I want to make a note of this…read moreplace so I remember to visit it for my next NY trip. I had heard of this indian inspired ice cream place and was on my list to try out whenever I am in the area. They have unique and seasonal indian inspired flavors which I typically love.. On this trip I tried the rose cinnamon almond flavor which was really nice and orange fennel which i loved.. it has a right amount of sweetness and creaminess. there were some other flavors that I wanted to try but that will be for my next visit!

Vegan Mango and Cardamom Yogurt Soft Serve Swirl (~$6) on Waffle Cone (+$2)

Mango Lassi soft serve

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Front of the store

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D N.

0

7

10

7 years ago

The teas are pretty good. If you tried tapioca milk tea before, you will understand the crave. They recently have honeydew slush that was really good. The crispy bubble waffle was as close as the ones I had from HK. It's a plus having two scoops of ice cream and sprinkles. The hot crispy waffle meshes well with the coolness of ice cream like a yin/ yang effect in your mouth. I just wish they had the "pork floss " ingredient as a choice for the rice balls (onigiri). For those who enjoyed rice balls you guys know what I'm talking about. When I mentioned this to them they said that it will be coming soon. read more

Xin T.

0

1

0

7 years ago

I like all the teas in the store, especially the rose milk tea and the green milk tea,the rose milk tea looks beautiful and tasty,the green milk tea is not too sweet,before I tried a lot of green milk teas in other stores,I really like it. read more

Cindy L.

5

1

2

7 years ago

They serve Japanese ice cream now! I picked green tea and red bean flavor with red bean as topping! Very tasty! also try their bubble milk tea and salmon rice ball. It fills my day. Will definitely come back for their bubble waffle! read more

Agatha A.

0

1

0

7 years ago

Such a cute place with lovely service and delicious food. We ordered a waffle with ice cream, rice balls, and two bubble teas. We were given a free sample of the octopus balls, which were so tasty. Highly recommend! read more

Rory C.

0

2

0

4 months ago

I usually love everything I get from Initial Tea but today I ordered a spam onigiri and the rice was so stale it was practically hard!!! I was super disappointed :( read more

Kira L.

0

7

0

1 year ago

Fix the time listed on Apple Maps and don't correct your customers for your mistake. They close at 6pm on Sunday's but the listed time states 8pm on Apple Maps. read more

Vincent T.

0

1

0

7 years ago

All the teas are so great,The reason why I put 4 stars is because I saw a lot of 5 stars are deleted.I like this store.

Vincent T.

0

1

0

7 years ago

My girlfriend tried the bubble teas before other stores ,but she like the waffles there,she also likes the ice cream.

Celia L.

0

6

32

7 years ago

More and more new items coming soon. Mochi ice cream : mango, red bean, green tea and vanilla flavor. read more

Byron G.

0

3

0

4 years ago

amazing bubble tea staff are amazing everything is good here. it is a really good bubble tea place

Sujeidy T.

0

2

5 years ago

Everything was amazing I loved the presentation. The customer service was good they were so nice.

Michelle M.

0

11

0

7 years ago

Love to have bubble tea in my neighborhood! Place is great and delicious. Very friendly!

Initial Tea - desserts - Updated September 2026

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Oops Tea

(10 reviews)

I ordered lunch delivery from here two days in a row. The first time was yesterday when I ordered…read morethe katsu shrimp curry and they sent me katsu chicken instead. I was so annoyed I didn't take any pictures, but it was probably the best chicken katsu dish I ever had, even without the curry! So I resolved to give them another chance to get my order right today. And they did. This was a perfectly balanced curry, thickened with potatoes and carrots to create a rich curry stew, of which they give you plenty, unlike some other places I've ordered from. And honestly, I enjoyed the chicken much better than the shrimp. I look forward to ordering from here again!

Always been a fan of their other location with the sushi pockets and would order on door dash!…read more After visiting urgent care I saw just this place while walking home and am so excited! Their teas are delicious and food is great price! Currently they have a soft opening special so I took advantage and bought a chicken Katsu male + half off a drink and a buy one get one free mix match drink! I recommend their Oreo mochi milk tea if you like sweet and creamy and mochi. Their fruit teas are also good as well and the cheese foam if you're not worried about calories! Don't forget you can ask for less sugar if it's too sweet. If you can't drink it fast enough you can always ask for less ice or no ice to keep for next day. The curry katsu was not bad and pretty good for 12 dollars! They pack it nicely and is a good amount of food for the price. Excited to see them here and check them out. The store is clean and bright, but small and best for togo, pick or quick stop!

Tea Spot

4.8

(14 reviews)

I loved my order from here!…read more Got a large iced Black Tea Boba Milk Tea with almond milk, 50% sugar and 25% ice. This was the perfect amount of chewiness, sweetness and caffeine. Not watered down, and not overly sugary. Drink was ready fast and kept cold with a cute plastic cup with a lid and straw. Would come here again!

I got a mango matcha. It had muddled mango in the bottom. This was pretty good. I would stop here…read moreagain when in the area.

Debutea - Brooklyn

4.4

(166 reviews)

Cute cafe with plenty of seating. I got a drink to go, but the inside was well-lit and…read morewell-decorated. Received the Jasmine Green Tea latte with bubbles. Drinks are standard. Bubbles are good and not stale. Service was fast.

Drink: Debutea offers a variety of milk and fruit teas. I tried the jasmine lychee tea which was…read morerefreshing and fragrant. They also offer appetizers, light bites, salads, and other desserts. Their drinks are overall very good quality and better than many milk tea chains. Service: Staff are friendly. Ambiance: The ambiance is excellent, and the cafe is a pretty good size with many tables, chairs, and areas to lounge and work. Many people are there quietly working on laptops or just hanging out with friends. The music is not too loud so it's a nice space to do work in. Overall, I would highly recommend this place!

Oops Tea

4.3

(32 reviews)

They've recently upgraded their menu and added a ton of very filling dishes. My favorite is the…read morecurry shrimp rice bowl..super flavorful, filling, but not too heavy. Of course the star here are all the bubble teas and creative drinks Tip - generally if you get on Uber eats, they will have a buy one get one free special on one of their drinks.

Fast Fun Gots some…read morebuns Fast Whee Gots a smoothie Fast Fun Won't be my last I'll be back fast For more fun

Happy Sandwich & Drink

(15 reviews)

Happy Sandwich is such a gem hidden in amongst the brownstones of Brooklyn Heights. I love coming…read morehere to do some work on my laptop. They have wifi, outlets, and great music playing in the background. In addition, the pocket sandwiches are so unique and yummy. My friend and I spent a few hours here on a weekday. We ordered the Salad Toast with Tuna and Mashed Potatoes ($12.75) and Chicken Floss with Ham Egg and Cheese ($11.75). I like how the sandwiches are cut in half, so it's perfect for sharing. They are so crunchy from the panini maker which nicely holds all the filling together. There is also lots of filling inside that works so well. Such a great meal to enjoy while working or at a picnic over at the pier and parks nearby. We also got some drinks to pair with as I had the Matcha Coconut ($7.75) while my friend had the Orange Americano ($6.75). For an extra $1, you can upgrade to a large size. The drinks were refreshing and employees were nice. Can't wait to come back and try the other sandwich flavors!

Stumbled upon this place on a run! It's tucked on the corner of a quiet street right around the…read morecorner from the park so perfect to grab a quick lunch. They have a variety of sandwiches - I tried the low calorie corn and egg sandwich and it was delicious! I would go back to try their other options - they only have coffee and canned drinks. I think adding tea to the menu would be great.

Tbaar Park Slope

3.9

(34 reviews)

I feel kinda conflicted about giving this place 4 stars, and here's why. As locals would be welll…read moreaware, it's not at all easy to find parking in this part of town as visitors, but we managed a spot and I went inside to order while my other half waited in the car. I couldn't find what we were looking for on the menu, so I said hello and started telling the staff at the register what I wanted to order, which was instantly met with a look of confusion and...displeasure. I'm usually super aware of my Australian accent messing people up when I order food, so I repeated the order and spoke more slowly, to which the staff bluntly said, "we don't have that." I turned around and left exasperated. Fast forward 15 minutes, my other half (with a North American accent) came back to the car with two large boba teas, the very teas I had tried unsuccessfully to order for us. Their four season tea was possibly one of the very best we've got from a boba tea chain, and their boba was pretty spot on in terms of texture and flavour. So, all in all, I would go back, but perhaps leave ordering to someone with an American accent (which is kinda bonkers to think about). BTW, this place is food takeaway only. I hope they continue to improve.

I wish I could give negative stars!!! Worse thing I ever could have did was make an order from…read moreTbaar. I ordered 3 items for delivery. The items were supposed to be delivered by someone from the store. After waiting about 35 mins for my order I made a call to the store for an update. The women on the line asked me for my name and advised me the driver was on the way. After waiting another 20 minutes with no delivery I called back. The woman again asked me for the name on the order and then proceeded to tell me that she couldn't find my order in the system and what was ordered which I told her. She then asked me for my address..... what changed in 20 mins that everything magically disappeared?? Finally 10 more mins went by as I waited for an update or contact from the store or driver and when I called back again 2 more times I was instantly sent to voicemail!!! Highly unprofessional! And would never order from them again!!

Ruhani Cafe

4.7

(38 reviews)

My kid made fun of me for taking a picture of my tea and made the patrons laugh but no shame in my…read morecamera eating / drinking first. Ha. This is a GREAT chai cafe. Before moving to NYC my chai experience was limited to Starbucks and Panera. But now I know better. Can't wait to bring visiting friends here. The masala is worth the wait. The matcha bread is delicious. Good seating. Quiet and calm vibe. Nice service. Can't wait to return.

A solid choice of cafe in the area. My saffron drink was a bit underwhelming lacking the notes of…read morecardamom it mentions. I might ask for a stronger preparation in the future. Ample seating and interesting baked goods. On this occasion I stopped in to try Shompa's cookies but they appeared to be sold out.

Brooklyn Tea

(59 reviews)

So I had the pleasure of coming in on a beautiful day to grab and re up on some of my favorite teas…read morefrom this beautiful black owned tea shop in Bedstuy and I must say it's always a great experience! The ambiance is really relaxed , artsy, and intentional. I love the chic ness of the tea shop and the wide variety of teas. The service is always nice and I always leave feeling good which is super important to me! The owners a lovely married couple made the time spent popping in worth the while. If you're looking for great quality tea, a welcoming environment, light bites to eat and or a space to chat over coffee and tea this is the space! Will forever be a customer.

Great-tasting teas with unique flavors and exceptional customer service…read more The staff is kind, friendly, and truly knowledgeable--they can recommend the perfect tea based on the mood you're in. My personal favorite is the Kyoto Cherry. One of the best parts is that you can also get your tea to go, which is perfect if you'd rather enjoy it in the comfort of your home. They also have a wide selection of loose-leaf teas for sale. The space itself is cozy and inviting, with the cutest green couch corner. It's perfect for tea with friends--or just a peaceful solo visit.

Kaigo Coffee Room