Visiting Vital Tea Leaf in Chinatown is always more than just a tea tasting--it's an experience,…read moreand seeing Uncle G again made it even more special. We met him last year and were so excited to return and bring our kids this time. He had shared so many thoughtful life lessons with us about family and children during our first visit, so it felt meaningful for him to finally meet the kids we had spoken about for so long. Uncle G is truly a legend--warm, welcoming, and full of life. His energy and vitality are incredible, especially when you consider his age. It's fitting for a place called Vital Tea Leaf, because he really embodies it. The tea tasting itself is wonderful, with the chance to try a wide variety of teas in a relaxed, social setting. What makes it stand out even more is how it brings people together--visitors from all over the world end up chatting, sharing stories, and connecting over tea. It's one of those rare stops in Chinatown that feels personal, memorable, and genuinely uplifting. We're so glad we came back.

Uncle Gee was amazing. Loved his vibe. He taught us soo much about tea, etc! We tried a few…read moredifferent tea and all were great. The service is amazing. They have a wide selection of teas. I highly recommend this place!! I will definitely be buying tea from here!!

STRONGGG MATCHA!!!! Super creamy ice cream(?) and customizable, strong-flavoured matcha lattes. I…read morewanna go back and try more!!!!! Sweet workers, easy ordering process and tucked away in a corner of Japantown. Honestly a good little pick me up if you're in the area for shopping and want something a little more authentic.

One of those places where I wish I didn't leave tips upfront. Absolutely pathetic service where…read moreworkers just getting by. I came with two little kids and asked if ice cream can be split into two cups. The guy at register said "sure, we can do that". Girl with purple hair hands me full ice cream and on my question if it's half portion with annoyed face gives me another cup. On my question if I can have a spoon was short "right there" not even pointing me any direction. By the time I found plastic sticks on the counter in a busy crowd handling two little kids crying for ice cream I was ready to throw it out. What a shame, I don't expect 5 star service but simply splitting ice cream, giving me a spoon or just pay any attention to me as a customer would be enough for those tips that they asked upfront. Lesson learned, never again, although we are in this mall often.

Cute place for a nice tea party. I've been to the location…read morein Pacifica as well but this location is more of my vibe. Very cute and cozy, food selection is great and service was Good as well. Reservation recommended as they do get busy. Eligible for Amex Resy Credit

A pleasant afternoon with friends. Lovejoy's Tea Room in Noe Valley is basically like stepping into…read morea cozy, whimsical fever dream run by the cool British aunt you wish you had. Why it rules: * The Hat Rack: They literally have a giant rack of vintage, ridiculous, fabulous hats you can borrow and wear at your table. Did I need to drink Earl Grey in a wide-brimmed pink fascinator? Absolutely. * The Vibe: Mismatched floral china, lace everywhere, and zero stuffy high-tea snootiness. It's just pure, comfortable fun. * The Food: Warm scones with thick clotted cream and jam that will make you weep happy tears. Plus a tower of cute little finger sandwiches (the cucumber cream cheese and egg salad were elite). The Shepherds Pie was a little dry and could have used a little more Worcestershire sauce. * The Tea: A massive menu of brews, served piping hot in adorable teapots. Bring your besties, put on the silliest hat you can find, and stuff your face with scones. Just make a reservation first because this tiny gem fills up fast! Overall 4 solid stars!

High quality matcha, I got the ube matcha latte and it was perfectly sweetened. Note that there is…read moreno wifi

50% sugar was a bit too sweet for my taste, would try 0% next time. Matcha taste is pretty good…read moreotherwise. If there's a line outside, look inside for the kiosk at the back, could save time

The Center is truly a unique and special place for me and many who have dropped in. I have been a…read morevolunteer for 3 years and active for over 2 years serving the local community. There is nowhere I feel more safe and comfortable connecting with people in a real open and vulnerable away. I can't tell you the number of people I see come in and immediately their spirits are lifted after entering the space. VIBE is the most appropriate word for describing the ambiance-decor is magical and calming about sitting on ground and pouring tea in a half below grand basement. I almost always suggest to meet up with friends from all walks of life at the space because of it breeds vulnerability. Make no mistake this is not a cafe as there is no coffee or cooked food. The space has endured it's own challenges with balancing a community (open to the public), business, co-living, yoga, events, etc... I hope we can raise the space to a new transcendent level in 2025. If you read this review and happen to drop by, I hope to meet you

I came here at the recommendation of a friend along with a few other people and we got a pot of…read moreturmeric chai to share so we could sit inside and chit chat. They have quite the selection of teas which are pretty fragrant and the menu is helpfully organized based on the level of caffeine in the teas. I thought the tea was decent. I learned that The Center is a space where events and classes are often held, and that there's actually people who live here (presumably upstairs). When I went on a Sunday afternoon, there were quite a few people there to talk or work on their laptops. I admit this place is a bit too "woowoo" for me, but I'm sure for some other people this would be a good fit for their desired atmosphere.

This place is absolutely amazing! The food and teas are so delicious and the ambiance was so…read moreadorable. The teacups are all so cute! The staff are also so sweet and knowledgable about the foods and tea selection. We went for our anniversary and they brought us a special tea(: will definitely be coming back and would 100% recommend!!!

This place is awesome! Wasn't sure what to expect, just wanted to grab some tea in a relaxing…read moresetting on a cold sf day. Came Saturday afternoon and it was pretty empty and super cozy. It's just a coffee/tea room with super chill vibGreat tea, super nice staff, cool vibey music and just got to enjoy tea in a comfy setting. This place is honestly one of the best "coffee shops" in town and I can't believe it's my first time coming. I was apprehensive at first because I thought I had to go through the church to go in, but the entrance is on the side through a wooden gate that's open and leads into a cute side area with a fountain. Along with tea they have chocolate drinks and I think coffee too. So happy to have a relaxing place to grab a beverage that's in a setting that doesn't feel like a sterile Apple Store. Love it!!

Great little cafe inside the Japan Center Mall that serves all kinds of Japanese comfort food. Came…read morefor the onigiri and surprised that they also serve Gyudon. I absolutely love this dish. It's so delicious and comforting. They also sell other yummy snacks like mochi and sodas. You can eat at the designated area right next to this cafe. Service was nice and efficient. Located on Webster and Post inside Japan Center Mall.

Visited the Japan town for mochi and I bought to much they are so sweet for me not a fan…read more But the onogiri taste good and warm

First time trying this place because they had a mango sticky rice drink on their menu. Then the…read morecreme brûlée drink caught my eye too. I ended up wanting to try both. Creme Brûlée was beyond amazing, and I can see why it's one of their most ordered drinks :) the mango sticky rice was kind of a disappointment. It just tasted like mango juice mixed with rice milk, and a few grains of rice. After trying it from other places, I just expected more sticky rice in the drink. Highly recommend the creme brûlée though! The pudding bits were my favorite part. I went in the evening around 6pm and was lucky enough to find parking right out front. It wasn't too busy inside and I was able to place my order on the tablet fairly quickly. Once placed, my drinks came out pretty quick. If you wish to enjoy your drink inside, there's plenty of seating. Mostly hard wooden chairs and one corner with softer cushion seats, if that's what you prefer.

My friend and I decided to take a break for tea since it was an unusually warm afternoon in SF, and…read morewe were exhausted from walking around all day. We didn't have to wait in line to order, but all of the tables inside were packed. I was in need of something light and refreshing, so I decided to try the lychee IPA (non-alc). My drink was prepared promptly, and it immediately quenched my thirst. The lychee flavor tasted fresh, and its sweetness was tempered by the subtle hops flavor. The drink was also lightly carbonated with just the right amount of fizz. The menu wasn't as extensive as those of the larger, more established boba shops, and I wish there had been more fruit-flavored teas - especially for the summer. Nevertheless, I can't wait to try other tea varieties on my next visit.

Such a great cat cafe! Awesome cats and fun environment. I would've taken home five if I couldread more

Came here for the Neko Oji-san collaboration, as that's how I learned about the cafe (I love the…read morecomedy short form manga online, check it out!). Parking nearby is horrendous, super busy even on the weekdays before the rush hour so I can't imagine weekends when people are out or other high traffic times. Get ready to make some rounds and pay for parking and be careful since there's very specific signage and times. The cafe itself is cute and cozy. Front area is a gift shop with lots of cat themed gifts and goodies like keychains, stickers, and such, and also some items from local and small artists too, which is neat. The cafe also has community events like movie showings ("The Cat Returns" was one of them which is a great choice) and cat yoga. If you're local, you can also get a time stamp if you are a frequent visitor. Definitely follow their socials for more information. There's reservations online and you can also do walk ins if it's not super busy. You can book for a 55 minute visit or a 30 minute visit. PRO-TIP: There's a discount for students, so if you want to be surrounded by some feline friends while you study or relax, great place to do so. You can hang your coat on the rack and there's a mini shelf area for your shoes. So you gotta walk in with socks! With each visit you can either get a hot cup of tea or a cold can or box drink from their fridge (sparking water, juices, etc.). Very refreshing and you can enjoy it in the cat area too. Sanitize your hands before and after visiting. There's lots of cats hiding around, sleeping, walking around, and some are super friendly and will go into your lap. There's toys you can play with the cats with and there's a wall of adoptable cats. Lots of seats or you can opt to sit on the floor with the cats too. There's relaxing lo-fi music throughout too. Pretty cool that they rescued 2 cats from Qatar and neat that we got to see them. As with all cats, some can be a bit spicy but it's usually just a warning teeth rub. I own cats so there's nothing new. I'm horribly allergic to the cat that specifically lives in my house, but I didn't get an allergy here, meaning that the cats are clean and well taken for. My favorite was a large sleepy orange boy, Ron (permanent non-adoptable resident) that was hanging out next to me the entire time.

What a lovely place to browse! So many gorgeous ceramics and the employees really know their stuff…read more They gave us some samples of cold brewed barley tea (SO GOOD) and then my partner talked tea with them for a while before deciding on a sencha purchase. They knew how to answer her specific questions and make a good recommendation!

Came here to shop for matcha accessories and the staff were so nice and helpful! They were amazing…read moreat explaining different products in the store. They have a great selection of matcha bowls and other drink ware, perfect for gifts or for yourself. Will be my go-to store for tea and tea accessories.