Afternoon Tea and High Tea on the Upper West Side| The Ellington

The Ellington offers a sophisticated Broadway afternoon tea and high tea on the Upper West Side, Manhattan. Located near Central Park and Columbia University, our service honors the neighborhood’s jazz history providing house-made savory pairings, warm scones, and champagne at a competitive $30 price point.

Most afternoon tea in New York asks you to pretend you are somewhere else a London hotel or a Parisian bakery. At The Ellington, we ask you to be exactly where you are: on Broadway, in the neighborhood Duke Ellington called home.

A Tea Service Rooted in Jazz History

Duke Ellington grew up in Washington D.C., but the Upper West Side — specifically the storied cultural corridors of the 1920s and 30s — was the world that shaped his legacy. This neighborhood was never just residential; it was intellectual, musical, and deeply social. People gathered here to debate ideas, to hear live music, and to take tea.

The Ellington is named for that tradition. Our afternoon tea service is not a borrowed British custom grafted onto a Manhattan venue it is our interpretation of the sophisticated mid-day pause that defined Upper West Side social life at its peak. Where Midtown tea rooms trade on grandeur and formality, we trade on neighborhood and story. You will not feel like a tourist here you will feel like a regular.

Finding a Moment of Calm near Central Park and Broadway

Located at 2745 Broadway steps from the 96th Street subway and a short walk from the North Woods of Central Park our room is built for the kind of conversation that only happens when the city slows down. The interior features deep wood tones, period lighting, and a rustic-chic warmth that reveals itself slowly.

Our enclosed outdoor patio opens onto Broadway a breezy, people-watching alternative to the indoor dining room, ideal for a spring afternoon. Inside or out, the soundscape is deliberate: no televisions, no intrusive playlists. Just the neighborhood and your table. It is the premier destination for those seeking afternoon tea near Central Park without the Midtown crowds.

Reserve your table  tea is served daily from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM for $30 per person.

The Menu: A Craft-Focused High Tea Experience

Our culinary team treats the tea service as a craft a point of genuine pride rather than a checkbox. Every element is made in-house and designed to hold together as a coherent meal.

Hand-Crafted Savory Pairings

Guests select four artisanal sandwiches from our rotating menu. Current highlights include:

• Brie and Prosciutto with Fig Jam: Creamy, salty, and a little sweet the combination that defines a well-set table.

• Smoked Salmon with Caper Remoulade: A New York classic done properly artisanal bread, bright citrus, and house-made remoulade.

• Cucumber and Herbed Mascarpone: The essential British tea sandwich, made with fresh local herbs and mascarpone for a richer finish.

House-Baked Scones and Pastries

You will smell the scones before they reach the table butter and toasted flour and the particular warmth of something made by hand that morning. We serve both raisin and plain varieties warm from the oven, accompanied by thick clotted cream and house-made fruit preserves. The service closes with a rotation of chocolate creations, fruit tarts, and petit fours that change with the season.

Champagne and the Ellington Cocktail

To elevate the afternoon, we suggest adding a glass of chilled Champagne or our house Ellington Cocktail. At $8 per glass, it transforms a good afternoon into a great one.

The Only Afternoon Tea in Manhattan That Leads Into Live Jazz

This is the differentiator no other tea venue in New York can offer: book a late Friday afternoon table say, 2:30 PM or 3:00 PM and your tea service flows directly into our Friday night jazz program.

The room changes energy as the afternoon deepens. The kitchen switches gears, the musicians arrive, and by the time you have finished your last petit four, the room is beginning to hum with the electricity of a jazz room coming to life. Most afternoon tea experiences end when you step outside ours is an opening act.

A Perfect West Side Day: The Full Itinerary

The Ellington sits at the center of one of Manhattan's most walkable afternoons. Here is how to spend it like a local:

1. Morning (10:00 AM): Walk the North Woods of Central Park or explore the historic grounds of Columbia University.

2. Noon – 4:00 PM: Afternoon Tea at The Ellington: Settle in for an unhurried service at 2745 Broadway.

3. Late Afternoon: Riverside Park: Walk west to our sister venue, The Ellington in the Park at 105th Street — a casual outdoor perch directly above the Hudson River for a sunset drink.

4. Evening (Fridays only): Live Jazz at The Ellington: Return to 2745 Broadway for our Friday night jazz. If you booked a late tea, you are already here.

5. Theater Connection: The 1 train from 96th Street puts you in the theater district in under 15 minutes, making us one of the most convenient pre-theater tea options for a Broadway matinee.

Common Questions about Our Service

Is this afternoon tea or high tea? Technically, we serve afternoon tea the classic three-tier format. However, we also describe it as high tea because our portions are generous enough to serve as a light lunch or a pre-theater meal near Columbia University.

Can we host private events like bridal showers? Yes. Our glass-enclosed private dining room has become one of the Upper West Side’s most sought-after settings for birthday celebrations and bridal showers.

What makes The Ellington different from The Plaza or Baccarat? Price, neighborhood, and authenticity. At $30 per person, we are a fraction of the cost of Midtown luxury teas  without sacrificing quality. We are a working restaurant and jazz venue in the neighborhood Duke Ellington called home. That story is real, and it tastes different.

What Our Guests are Saying

"Amazing food and really excellent service — Nahid went above and beyond to make our experience enjoyable!" — Tonya S

"Fantastic restaurant! Nahid was such a kind and helpful server, and the prices were incredible for such great quality food." — Havana G

"The perfect stop before our Saturday matinee — the attention to detail is exceptional and the $30 price point is the best value we've found in the city." — Sarah M

Book Your Afternoon Tea Experience Now

Also from our family: The Ellington in the Park (Riverside Park, 105th St), The Red Lion (West Village), Tara Rose, and Tara Mor — home of the best Guinness in NYC.