You would never believe this place exists in the middle of Chinatown! It's such a fabulous spot to relax and take a break from the hubbub of Soho and the Village! The huge, back room is set up with huge cushions, pillows and Turkish rugs where you can just hang. When we were there on a Sunday, NYU students were meeting to study, there were two different book groups discussing their book selection, and random other people just chatting and hanging. It was so comfortable, that my husband actually took a 10 minute nap! The chai tea was good, but honestly it was the laid back atmosphere within NYC that will bring me back! read more

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I'm giving this 3 stars because I appreciate that they donate to Pakistan, and I always like supporting businesses that give back. Unfortunately, the customer service and the drinks were a major letdown. We ordered the Double Tea (karak chai) and the Kashmiri chai, and both lacked flavor. The Kashmiri chai was especially disappointing, we took a few sips and ended up throwing the whole thing away. The karak chai wasn't much better, after a couple of sips, we couldn't finish it either. The café has a nice location with plenty of seating, but the quality of the drinks didn't match the prices. At these price points, I expected much better flavor and a better overall experience. read more

We were coming in from the cold, so I was really looking forward to a hot cup of tea. Being lactose intolerant, I opted for Turkish coffee, big mistake. It came served on a paper cup, lukewarm, and tasted like decaf. I've had Turkish coffee before, and this was definitely not it. The ambience is... interesting. Definitely not a first-date spot! you have to take off your shoes and sit at a low table on the floor. Ever sat cross-legged on a hard floor for more than five minutes? It's not relaxing. That's why chairs exist, people. There's an interesting array of merchandise, mostly by women vendors, which was more engaging than the chai itself. I appreciate the concept, but the tea (or coffee) experience didn't deliver. read more

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Love love love this place! What a gem to find in China town! It looks small outside but it's so spacious inside and it's a great place to do some work in silence or just relax and enjoy your tea or coffee. One thing to know about this place is you order up front and if you want to stay and hang out, you have to take off your shoes to go inside the area with the rugs. It provides a really calm environment and a great place to rest after exploring China town. read more

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Very dope spot to work and catch up with good friends! Very tranquil and relaxing with great tea read more

The Chai Spot - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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Tasty sweet chai, with strong cardamom flavor in the traditional option. Samosas and parle-g also available and great to pair with the chai. Service was quick, as chai is pre-made (fyi no option to customize sugar). Indoor cushion/couch seating options, require removing your shoes. Generally quiet vibe but normal conversation is fine. read more

The Chai Spot - Menu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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The ambiance is super cute and it's a really cool spot. It's a room with a bunch of couches, pillows, and carpets for you to sit and hang out. You also have to take your shoes off before entering. I'm giving this place a lower rating though because for a place that calls themselves the "chai spot" they have terrible chai. It's just not flavorful and pretty bland. They have a couple different chais that I've tried and all of them are pretty subpar. I would go back solely for the ambiance and probably just get a tea or something simple. read more

This place was an excellent choice for unwinding and taking a break from the business of New York. It wasn't crowded when we went which made it perfect to find a spot to sit and drink. I had a Thai Iced Tea that I really enjoyed. The low lights and rugs gave the seating area very calming. read more

The Chai Spot - Drinks - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Found this gem while visiting NYC! They have a great selection of different style coffees and teas. The best part is the lounge area; it's super cozy and has such a cool aesthetic. Definitely a great place to take a break, especially after a lot of walking in the city. read more

The Chai Spot - Chai tea lounge - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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This is a cute chai spot and is bigger than expected inside. The decor is nice as well. Most people were ordering the traditional chai but I don't like cardamom so I got the double tea instead. It was really good and also sweet. The samosas were also super fresh and yummy and went well with the chai. It comes with chutneys too. There are also lots of snacks available to buy. I would definitely come back here read more

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What a great spot to m eet up with friend or significant other. My college friend and I met here to catch up on life. We first placed our order at the counter. We both got hot chai drink. I went for the chocolate chai, something i never had before. Price was very reasonable. Technically you're not paying just for a drink, but a comfortable space to have conversation with friends. After we placed our order, we went to find a seat. On a weekday 6pm, there were still space to sit. It definitely wasn't empty inside. Lots of people were inside. The staff brought our drinks to us. My friend and I stayed there for almost two hours. With so many people there talking, it still wasn't noisy. We were able to hear each other. The decor of the place is very nice. The Chocolate Chai was absolutely delicious! read more

A friend recommended The Chai Spot because another friend had recommended it to her and I am so glad we went. This place is extremely cozy and welcoming, with a large space in the back with string lights, super comfortable couches, rugs, and pillows, and a peaceful ambiance where people are chatting quietly, playing games like chess, and working on projects (there are select outlets here). I absolutely loved that 30% of their proceeds go to projects supporting women and children in Pakistan and that there were touches of Pakistani culture all over the cafe from the decor to the menu selection. My friend and I both ordered tradition cardamom chai which is extremely tasty and richly flavorful ($6.50). After tax and tip, I do feel that it's a little expensive, but if I justify the additional benefit of the ambiance and relaxation I felt spending time here it was more than worth it. The staff members were nice and my friend and I took our shoes off and lounged for 2 hours (which is the maximum allotted time for the space when busy). Laptops are allowed and I'd highly recommend working here. It feels like you're sharing a living room with a bunch of new friends! Such a NYC gem. I almost want to gatekeep it :) read more

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I had read about this place or saw it on a TikTok and filed it away at the back of my mind. But wonderfully, a friend wanted to visit chinatown and at the same time wanted tea. We passed a giant sign that screamed "CHAI!" so we went inside and I put two and two together. Simple menu of eight or so teas, both hot and cold, with and without milk. Reasonable prices for sure. And then you realize that one, a significant amount of profits (30%) go to women and children in Pakistan. And then you see there is a HUGE backroom space in the back for working, resting, relaxing, connecting, conversing, covered in rugs and pillows and colorful fabrics. The staff are prompt, attentive, and very laid back. Don't forget to take your shoes off before heading into the back! Another place I cannot wait to visit again. Someone said "opium den vibes" and I can see that. Another New York gem. read more

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Came back this time and quite enjoyed the Double Tea (Dhoodh Patti). Samosas are as good as usual. The chai was a miss. read more

The Chai Spot - Drinks and samosas - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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I stopped in for the first time tonight and I immediately fell in love. Stepping into The Chai Spot from the streets of NYC, you feel transported to another country. A country that takes their Chai seriously. Their tea is flavorful, unique, and perhaps the most authentic Chai in the city, outside of what I make at home. The vibe is so peaceful and cool. The tea is so smooth and perfectly balanced. The relaxing music, the decorations, the people sitting in the back with their shoes off, it all added to make it the best spot tonight. Oh and to top it off, we got to talk with D, who is such a sweetheart, makes everything from scratch, and has such aura. Yeah, we look forward to going back here. read more

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Future Rae-  the chai was good (butter one was really decadent) and the samosas also looked good. But, I don't think you really liked the vibe of this. read more

Really cute love the ambiance, everyone just hangs out & chills. The rose coconut chai was so delicious like omg. NY prices so I can't be that mad I guess. Also someone gave me a cookie & it was good but rlly dry read more

The Chai Spot - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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Overall very cute place to hang out and chat with friends. I'm not sure there's any other place in NY like this. I got the coconut rose chai and enjoyed it overall. I was a bit worried I wouldn't be able to sleep at night given it was already 3pm, but I had no issues. read more

Cute interior with a lot of seating. The employee was nice and brought our drinks and food to us. I had higher hopes for this place but my cinnamon oat milk chai tasted like 90% hot water and a dash of the cinnamon and chai. My boyfriend got the regular chai and that one tasted better. Both were served REALLY hot so be careful. The samosas were really good though! read more

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I like this place a lot. Real opium den vibes. Like place to lay down and read. Ambient lighting. Tea was delicious. Would love to try out different teas on the menu. Bathroom on site. No shoes in the seating area read more

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Ever want to go to a place to lounge around and sip some chai? Then this is the spot for you. With the colorful carpets and cushions, I feel like I'm hanging out in my own living room. I can be here all day sipping some chai and a good book. Also, this is a great spot to hang out with friends. Although , I was a little disappointed that the drinks weren't served in paper cups tho. read more

The Chai Spot - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

It was a nice place to just talk and hang out with friends! They also had games and books for you to read while you lounge in their carpeted and cushion area. With the the Christmas lights strung up on the walls, it really felt like you've stepped into someone's living room. It had very homey cozy vibes to it. People are required to purchase a drink or food item in order to enter the carpeted area, and everyone has to take off their shoes before they get onto the carpet area (there are shoe racks). We tried the rose (tasted like lychee?), mango (mango flavor overpowered the lemonade) and regular lemonade (a bit sour which is a given). But I liked that there wasn't really a time limit on how long you could chill there. My friends and I ended up spending about 2 hours playing a board game and chatting away. read more

The Chai Spot - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Good chai, good ambiance!! Take off your shoes people :) if you're not used to this, it's a cultural norm and the seating is pretty awesome honestly. This was one of the OG spots that's been around read more

Super cute and cozy atmosphere with a back room with cushions, dim string lights and ambient music - mandatory shoes off. Got 2 dirty chais ($6.50 each) because it was so yummy!! 30% goes to Pakistani women so it's totally worth it. Lots of plug outlets but it's more of a place to chill and catch-up. Was on jury duty and appreciated the juice for my laptop and phone, caffeine and WiFi! Will be back. read more

The Chai Spot - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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Cool spot for some special chais and teas. Appreciate that some portion of proceeds are donated as well, which can help with the super pricey menu items. I've been a bit underwhelmed by the chai offerings itself, but the iced orange blossom / fennel tea is special and hasn't been a flavor I've found elsewhere. It's light, though less acidic and refreshing than I expected. There's open floor / carpeted seating inside but it runs very hot particularly in the spring and summer, so the outdoor seating is appreciated. Service is friendly and fast. read more

Such a great location to enjoy tea with your friends. Seating in the back requires shoes off and there are day beds surrounding the perimeter of the room with mirrors lining the walls. People are chilling, having a good time, and you can stop in here and enjoy a book too. read more

I'm honestly surprised this place had so many positive reviews. The chai was not customizable which has become quite standard at other places (sugar level etc.). It had an odd aftertaste that tasted like old evaporated milk. Not worth the nearly $7 price. Everything is served in disposable cups and trays for foods like samosa, which is fine but there was no trash (or one I could easily identify) in the seating area, which is a shoes off, carpeted and loungey area. The seating area in the back felt like a dingey college dorm with messy string lights and tapestries that didn't add much to the ambiance. There were very few tables to accompany the cushion seating, making drinking the teas quite difficult. There are so many small tweaks that would elevate the experience but sadly this spot was a miss. I should have turned around when I saw the sign by the door saying "chai tea" (which translates to "tea tea"). Very few south asian people too. Will stick to my $2.00 cup of delicious chai at multiple shops near me. read more

Chai & Chill. The coziest, comfiest, cafe I've ever been to in NYC. I love it here. I almost fell asleep on the cushions . It's a small cafe, not overcrowded so when you order something it is made and given to you very hot and quickly! I would definitely recommend anyone to visit this establishment and to try the Coconut Rose tea, it's so delicious! Of course you can go with a regular Chai Tea but I would encourage you to try that one first. It's actually the only Vegan tea that they have. But overall I would say definitely drop by this spot if you are looking to chill out, decompress or even take a short nap read more

This is such a cute and unique spot. After ordering your chai and snacks, you're asked to take off your shoes and get comfy on the couches around the room. There's books and games available, making this a fun and cosy handout spot. The traditional cardamom chai and the veggie samosas were both great. Will be back someday for sure! read more

The Chai Spot - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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I wanted to love this colorful, boho paradise of beaded cushions, and if I were rating this place on lounge quality, it'd be an easy 5 stars. But a cafe called The Chai Spot had better deliver on the chai, and this place sadly did not. The Traditional Cardamom Chai tasted more like liquid shortbread and was missing any spices that I could discern. Cardamom is my favorite spice--trust me, I could pick it out if it were mixed with dog doo. The fact that I couldn't taste any in the Traditional was just sad. The Butter Chai was a bit more flavorful, but still pretty bland. And the Coconut Rose Chai was great for two sips, then way, way too sweet. read more

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The butter chai was amazing and the vibes were very chill. The service was nice and friendly. The only thing is some areas I had some water leaking on me from a pipe so it took a minute to find a comfortable spot. Overall though would still come back. A great spot for lounging or having a catch up. read more

3.5 stars. Much like their chai, my feelings for this place are somewhat lukewarm. They have a good variety of chai, and I did like my double tea (doodh patti) with organic milk, black tea, and jaggery sugar, which had a strong tea flavor and just the right amount of sweetness. My friend got the vegan coconut rose and it was lighter and sweeter. The problem is, the teas are quite pricey at $6.50-10 for a small cup, and considering they're not even made to order, the quality doesn't really justify the upcharge. They do have a pretty cool seating area to relax and drink your tea, with comfy nooks filled with blankets and pillows. You have to remove your shoes before entering. Our seats felt a little damp and musty, which got my skin crawling a bit since I was wearing shorts, and it made me wonder how often they cleaned their furniture and blankets. It wasn't quite as spacious and removed from other groups as I thought it'd feel. They also have a few games and books. We played Uno but the cards were all withered and stuck together which felt a bit icky. We would've sat outdoors if those spots weren't taken when we arrived, but that area also looks cozy, with an added bonus of fresh air and steering clear of other groups. I saw some negative reviews about the bathroom, but for what it's worth, it looked clean when we went. Overall I'd recommend coming if you're looking for a place to lounge for a bit, but if you're seeking really top notch chai, this might not necessarily be your spot. read more

The Chai Spot - Seating area. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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Nice peaceful calm all above. Nice drinks! I'll bring a blanket next time haha but service was very kind. I don't recommend getting the unsweetened chai drink unless you're trying to cut out sugar. I really wish that I tried some of their food items but really came for the cushion area. The rose drink was really nice. The pictures make the space look larger than it actually is. We came on a Monday morning so there weren't many people (just one other person) so I'd recommend going at an off-peak hour in order to get comfortable seating and a good experience. read more

The Chai Spot - Coconut Rose Chai - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Very cozy spot for chai. My chai was a bit sweet and not very hot at all. Great spot to read a book and chat with friends over tea. read more

The Chai Spot - Chai - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Not a very sanitary place. Tons and tons of fruit flies (haven't seen anything like this ever in a NY establishment) and mops and brooms just lounging near the area where the drinks are prepared. I can see how this place is popular as the area where you lounge is relaxed and people can lounge around. However, I couldn't not help but to think that if the area where the chai is prepped was not clean looking then the lounge area must not be clean either. If the visible gross stuff is not an issue for the staff then what non visible gross stuff is a non issue? The staff (one guy in the front taking orders) was rude to customers and was on his phone the entire time he was taking orders. There's actually a great chai spot about a three minute walk from here called Kolkata, so if you're looking for a clean and quick to go chai experience go there or you can save 10 bucks and make it yourself at home which is much easier. read more

Amazing experience here. The staff was very pleasant and welcoming and really went above and beyond what you expect a barista/server to do. The ambiance is incredible as well, it's a snug little refuge tucked away in Manhattan. The tea was very good as well, I got a chai with Cardamom, and it was sweet but not repulsively so. I will be coming here again! However, the hours on yelp are wrong. It is open until 10 pm! read more

Loved the coziness of this cafe! The indoor lounge area was very spacious and comfy, with ample couch seating/cushions and colorful rugs lining the entire space. They also had books and games available. Definitely a great place to hang out, relax, or get work done. The bright fluorescent lights did kill a little bit of the vibe for me (though that's a personal preference), and I feel it would've been cozier with dimmer, more ambient lighting. In terms of the drinks, I ordered the traditional cardamom chai, which was good, but felt overpriced at $6.50 per cup. However, 50% of their profits do go to charity, so at least you know you're contributing to a good cause! read more

The Chai Spot - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Absolutely love this the colorful vibe of this place. Its soo comfortable. You take off your shoes and sit on the wonderful low to the ground couches that make me want to take a nap. The chai is expensive in my opinion, but its accurate in terms of its taste. I dont really see a reason I should be paying 6+ dollars for a cup of chai, but outside of that, its absolutely great. There is wifi and a bathroom making this a great place to study, sit down, and catch up with your friends. You do need to take your shoes off before you enter. The murals, decor, and mirors are stunning, and its quite the lounge spot that sometimes just feels like home. The drinks and food are brought out to you in a timely manner so you dont have to get up. The butter chai in my opinion was too sweet and overpriced, but as a place to sit down and relax, absolutely love this place. Part of me wants to gatekeep it so it does not get too crowded. read more

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Nice vibes and good samosa and chai but way too overpriced for what you get. If folks back home knew I was spending 20 bucks on two chais and samosas.... read more

The Chai Spot - Dirty Chai - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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One of the worst experiences ive had in the city. Waited 40 minutes for 2 butter chais, and I actually never received my order. First he tells us 10 minutes, and the. The other worker yells at us for not sitting, although I was sitting in the metal chair away from the shoeless area. Not my fault the drink was taking almost an hour. At that point they were not giving me a proper estimate of when I would get my drink, so I simply asked for a refund a left. Awful experience I strongly encourage people not to go here. read more