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A person pours bright red tea out of a pot into three glass mugs.
Any time can be tea time if you just believe.
Kim Kovacik/Eater Chicago

Outstanding Spots To Sip Tea in Chicago

Terrific fancy and casual ways to enjoy the world’s beverage

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Any time can be tea time if you just believe.
| Kim Kovacik/Eater Chicago

While Chicago counts as one of the country’s strongest coffee scenes, the great work of local tea sellers — like Rare Tea Cellar, Spirit Tea, and Kilogram from Intelligentsia — is transforming the city’s tea culture and expanding its horizons, too. Beyond trendy drinks like matcha lattes, Chicago is experiencing a swell in establishments serving properly-brewed teas, wherein the temperature of the water is taken into consideration, along with the brewing method, and the ratio of leaves to water.

From oolong to green, black to chai, peruse Eater Chicago’s selection of the city’s best places to sip tea.

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Eli Tea Bar

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Michigan import Eli Tea Bar is a sober-friendly nightlife alternative in Andersonville, with an LGBTQ-friendly atmosphere (including drag queen bingo), late hours, and an extensive menu of 100 loose-leaf teas and blends from all over the world. Owner Eli Majid studied botany and uses that background to mix drinks.

A person pours bright red tea out of a teapot into glass mugs.
The team at Eli Tea takes the brew seriously.
Kim Kovacik/Eater Chicago

First Sip Cafe

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This cozy cafe in Uptown serves sweet and loose leaf teas in a storefront filled with plants and antique furniture. First Sip also hosts musical performances and community events, such as Lunar New Year celebrations.

Backlot Coffee

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Backlot Coffee, which also operates a location in suburban Evanston, serves brews mostly made from Rare Tea Cellar teas. And for those keen on unique tea-based beverages, pop in to try the lavender-imbued matcha, sweetened with house-made lavender syrup. There’s also the chai option, made from a chai concentrate, chai spice-infused steamed milk, and — for an extra rush — make it “dirty” with a double shot of espresso. As of fall 2023, a third outpost is in the works in Lincoln Square.

Intelligentsia Coffee Broadway Coffeebar

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Local specialty coffee chain Intelligentsia offers drinks made from Kilogram Tea. Pick from English breakfast, chamomile, and jasmine green teas, in addition to matcha drinks. Select locations also offer seasonally rotating sparkling Kilogram teas, like turmeric tonic, schizandra berry, and organic golden needles tea. In 2023, the company closed unionized shops in Wicker Park and Logan Square to consolidate operations to the Lakeview flagship and two outposts in the Loop.

Superkhana International

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The tea options at mod Indian haunt Superkhana International in Logan Square skew, well, Indian. Try chef Zeeshan Shah’s auntie-approved extra-strong milk chai, made with Red Label loose tea, ginger, green cardamom, black peppercorns, water, milk, and sugar. The recipe was inspired by a family recipe that he grew up drinking. Beyond chai, the team has built a list using Spirit Tea, including Nepal white, rosella, and okumidori sencha.

Chiya Chai Cafe

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Chiya is the place for chai fans. This modest Nepalese cafe in Logan Square serves more than 150 different combinations, with classic and creative flavors like masala and cardamom to “Salty Pink Himalayan” with almond butter. Order some momos (dumplings) to eat on the side. 

The Peninsula

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Served in the heart of the hotel, the Lobby at the Peninsula offers afternoon tea daily from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday. The house tea brand of choice is Le Palais des Thés, served alongside a rotating seasonal menu of scones, tea sandwiches, and small desserts.

The Peninsula’s tea time is full of swanky bites and beverages.
The Peninsula [Official Photo]

The Langham, Chicago

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Pavilion at the Langham offers daily afternoon tea service, with tea sandwiches and scones served beside jam and clotted cream served on Wedgewood china. Brews are not outsourced; instead the hotel commands its own proprietary brand with 25 unique blends. From time to time the property also offers specially-curated afternoon tea sessions, including a special for Valentine’s Day.

Metric Coffee Co.

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Though sleek micro roaster Metric might be best known for its excellent coffee, the tea program here is also one of the city’s best. The team carefully sources its teas from Spirit Tea, offering a mix of whites, blacks, greens, and matcha. Unsurprisingly, its matcha has been the biggest seller lately, available both as a steamed latte and as a shaken iced drink. 

Over at West Loop savory pancake specialist Gaijin, the teas lean toward Japan. The leaves are sourced from Rare Tea Cellar, and guests can choose from five hot and two iced tea options daily. Think samurai chai (sencha tea with popped rice and chai), and sakura Kyoto cherry blossom tea (Japanese green tea with cherry blossom and wild rose).

It’s no surprise that Kumiko, Julia Momose’s Japanese cocktail den in the West Loop, is big into tea. Momose is sourcing all of her teas from a single, family-owned plantation in Hoshinomura, a village located in Fukuoka’s Yame District (an area famous for green tea production). Flavors include gyokuro, kukicha, oolong, hojicha, and kodemari matcha. Those looking to go caffeine-free can choose from tisanes such as red chai and emperor’s chamomile.

Chicago Athletic Association

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With its fireplace and comfortable furniture, Drawing Room at the Chicago Athletic Association hotel is one of the city’s coziest places to sip tea during colder months. Here, the team worked with Rare Tea Cellar to draft a menu of unique and seasonal teas, and right now guests can choose from options like emperor’s house chai, magnolia blossom oolong, and royal chamomile mint. Meanwhile, rooftop bar Cindy’s also sources its teas via Rare Tea Cellar, and those brews flavor drinks both boozy and alcohol-free.

Living Water Tea House

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Find milk tea and other beverages at this East Asian tea parlor situated in Little Italy. Living Water Tea House sports a unique mission and even allows customers to book their own tea ceremonies, a unique way to sip tea and learn about Chinese traditions. Not only does the tea deliver, but ownership is very particularly about the vessels — tea is only as good as the equipment it’s made and served in — and the pots and cups at Living Water are something to behold.

TeaPotBrew Bakery

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True to its name, TeaPotBrew Bakery offers an extensive selection of teas, plus freshly made baked goods, including cookies, scones, a variety of banana breads, and doughnuts on Fridays. There’s also gelato. The tea comes from Milwaukee-based importer Rishi.

Saint's Alp Teahouse

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A Chinatown staple since 1994, this casual teahouse is a favorite among those in the know for its lineup of traditional teas (black, green, and oolong) as well as frothy versions with boba or jellies. Fans also rave about its food, especially the Cantonese and Taiwanese dishes.

Afro Joes Coffee & Tea

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Since it opened in 2020, this family-owned Auburn Gresham cafe has become a community hub with weekly open mics. It also serves both hot and iced tea, chai, and matcha, plus a variety of blended drink specials.

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Eli Tea Bar

Michigan import Eli Tea Bar is a sober-friendly nightlife alternative in Andersonville, with an LGBTQ-friendly atmosphere (including drag queen bingo), late hours, and an extensive menu of 100 loose-leaf teas and blends from all over the world. Owner Eli Majid studied botany and uses that background to mix drinks.

A person pours bright red tea out of a teapot into glass mugs.
The team at Eli Tea takes the brew seriously.
Kim Kovacik/Eater Chicago

First Sip Cafe

This cozy cafe in Uptown serves sweet and loose leaf teas in a storefront filled with plants and antique furniture. First Sip also hosts musical performances and community events, such as Lunar New Year celebrations.

Backlot Coffee

Backlot Coffee, which also operates a location in suburban Evanston, serves brews mostly made from Rare Tea Cellar teas. And for those keen on unique tea-based beverages, pop in to try the lavender-imbued matcha, sweetened with house-made lavender syrup. There’s also the chai option, made from a chai concentrate, chai spice-infused steamed milk, and — for an extra rush — make it “dirty” with a double shot of espresso. As of fall 2023, a third outpost is in the works in Lincoln Square.

Intelligentsia Coffee Broadway Coffeebar

Local specialty coffee chain Intelligentsia offers drinks made from Kilogram Tea. Pick from English breakfast, chamomile, and jasmine green teas, in addition to matcha drinks. Select locations also offer seasonally rotating sparkling Kilogram teas, like turmeric tonic, schizandra berry, and organic golden needles tea. In 2023, the company closed unionized shops in Wicker Park and Logan Square to consolidate operations to the Lakeview flagship and two outposts in the Loop.

Superkhana International

The tea options at mod Indian haunt Superkhana International in Logan Square skew, well, Indian. Try chef Zeeshan Shah’s auntie-approved extra-strong milk chai, made with Red Label loose tea, ginger, green cardamom, black peppercorns, water, milk, and sugar. The recipe was inspired by a family recipe that he grew up drinking. Beyond chai, the team has built a list using Spirit Tea, including Nepal white, rosella, and okumidori sencha.

Chiya Chai Cafe

Chiya is the place for chai fans. This modest Nepalese cafe in Logan Square serves more than 150 different combinations, with classic and creative flavors like masala and cardamom to “Salty Pink Himalayan” with almond butter. Order some momos (dumplings) to eat on the side. 

The Peninsula

Served in the heart of the hotel, the Lobby at the Peninsula offers afternoon tea daily from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday. The house tea brand of choice is Le Palais des Thés, served alongside a rotating seasonal menu of scones, tea sandwiches, and small desserts.

The Peninsula’s tea time is full of swanky bites and beverages.
The Peninsula [Official Photo]

The Langham, Chicago

Pavilion at the Langham offers daily afternoon tea service, with tea sandwiches and scones served beside jam and clotted cream served on Wedgewood china. Brews are not outsourced; instead the hotel commands its own proprietary brand with 25 unique blends. From time to time the property also offers specially-curated afternoon tea sessions, including a special for Valentine’s Day.

Metric Coffee Co.

Though sleek micro roaster Metric might be best known for its excellent coffee, the tea program here is also one of the city’s best. The team carefully sources its teas from Spirit Tea, offering a mix of whites, blacks, greens, and matcha. Unsurprisingly, its matcha has been the biggest seller lately, available both as a steamed latte and as a shaken iced drink. 

Gaijin

Over at West Loop savory pancake specialist Gaijin, the teas lean toward Japan. The leaves are sourced from Rare Tea Cellar, and guests can choose from five hot and two iced tea options daily. Think samurai chai (sencha tea with popped rice and chai), and sakura Kyoto cherry blossom tea (Japanese green tea with cherry blossom and wild rose).

Kumiko

It’s no surprise that Kumiko, Julia Momose’s Japanese cocktail den in the West Loop, is big into tea. Momose is sourcing all of her teas from a single, family-owned plantation in Hoshinomura, a village located in Fukuoka’s Yame District (an area famous for green tea production). Flavors include gyokuro, kukicha, oolong, hojicha, and kodemari matcha. Those looking to go caffeine-free can choose from tisanes such as red chai and emperor’s chamomile.

Chicago Athletic Association

With its fireplace and comfortable furniture, Drawing Room at the Chicago Athletic Association hotel is one of the city’s coziest places to sip tea during colder months. Here, the team worked with Rare Tea Cellar to draft a menu of unique and seasonal teas, and right now guests can choose from options like emperor’s house chai, magnolia blossom oolong, and royal chamomile mint. Meanwhile, rooftop bar Cindy’s also sources its teas via Rare Tea Cellar, and those brews flavor drinks both boozy and alcohol-free.

Living Water Tea House

Find milk tea and other beverages at this East Asian tea parlor situated in Little Italy. Living Water Tea House sports a unique mission and even allows customers to book their own tea ceremonies, a unique way to sip tea and learn about Chinese traditions. Not only does the tea deliver, but ownership is very particularly about the vessels — tea is only as good as the equipment it’s made and served in — and the pots and cups at Living Water are something to behold.

TeaPotBrew Bakery

True to its name, TeaPotBrew Bakery offers an extensive selection of teas, plus freshly made baked goods, including cookies, scones, a variety of banana breads, and doughnuts on Fridays. There’s also gelato. The tea comes from Milwaukee-based importer Rishi.

Saint's Alp Teahouse

A Chinatown staple since 1994, this casual teahouse is a favorite among those in the know for its lineup of traditional teas (black, green, and oolong) as well as frothy versions with boba or jellies. Fans also rave about its food, especially the Cantonese and Taiwanese dishes.

Related Maps

Afro Joes Coffee & Tea

Since it opened in 2020, this family-owned Auburn Gresham cafe has become a community hub with weekly open mics. It also serves both hot and iced tea, chai, and matcha, plus a variety of blended drink specials.

Related Maps