The 10 Best Bubble Tea Shops in NYC
New York loves bubble tea, the Taiwanese sweet-milk-and-tea-based drink, and the city is saturated with bubble tea shops. However, bubble tea is not just a drink; it’s culture, and if you love this tea or want to indulge in it for the first time, then we have a round-up of the best for you to try—this summer.
Here are the 10 best bubble tea shops in NYC!
Psst.Looking for more sweet treats to try this summer? Check out 14 Best New York Candy Shops Kids Will Love
M Tea – Long Island City
23-01 41st Ave Store 1D, Queens, NY 11101
Open 11 am – 9 pm daily
M Tea is popular for its signature Fruit Teas, Dragon Fruit Tea, Golden Pineapple Tea, and Avocado Tea, as well as the classic milk and creme brulee teas. In addition to their bubble tea, they offer beautifully prepared french style pastries such as Lychee Mousse, Tiramisu, and Jello Cakes.
Yaya Tea – Chinatown
51 Chrystie St, New York, NY 10002
Open 10:30am – 8:30pm daily. Delivery available.
Yaya Tea has an impressive selection of fruit teas, milk teas, and a customizable menu where you can choose a tea and add up to 3 flavors. Their popular teas include Better Life (Strawberry, Lychee, and Pineapple Green Tea), Sunrise (Strawberry and Mango White Tea), and Boyfriend (Mango and Lychee White Tea). In addition, get 10% off any small drink when you reuse their glass bottles!
Tiger Sugar – Chinatown
197 Canal St, New York, NY 10013
Open 11:30 am – 8:30 pm Monday to Thursday, 11 am – 9 pm Friday to Sunday
Often sporting hour-long lines, this popular spot for bubble tea is well-known for its Brown Sugar Boba, a drink where boba is cooked with brown sugar, and then cold milk is poured on top. It’s a refreshing cold drink that is creamy and delicious.
Gong Cha – Flatbush
1570 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11210
Open 10:30am – 9:30pm daily
This Taiwanese chain store is one of the most recognized bubble tea brands around the world. They have unique and creative flavors, from Lemon Wintermelon Basil Seeds to Taro to Watermelon Milk Tea. Also, enjoy their specialty Milk Foam, a slightly salted cream topping on freshly brewed tea.
PaTea – Union Square
227 E 14th St, New York, NY 10003
Open 12 – 9 pm Sunday to Thursday, 12 – 10 pm Friday and Saturday
Pa Tea offers fruit-flavored teas, milk teas, brown sugar milk, and slushies. Their unique flavors include Rose Milk Tea, Salted Caramel Oolong Milk Tea, and Hazelnut Milk Tea. They offer a free upgrade to stubby, a size bigger than large, for those who order a large.
I’Milky – Midtown
992 6th Ave, New York, NY 10018
Open 10:30am – 9:30pm Monday to Thursday, 10:30am – 10pm Friday, 12 – 9:30pm Saturday, 12 – 8pm Sunday. Dine in available
This Tawainese women-led store offers fresh milk and fruit teas using premium tea leaves, local farm-fresh milk, and cane sugar. Their menu includes Brown Sugar Bubble Milk, Yogurt Green Tea, Strawberry, Mango, and Taro Milk. Customers can also buy bubble tea kits and bento boxes.
Tea and Milk – Astoria
32-02 34th Avenue, Astoria, New York 11106
Open 12 – 8 pm Sunday to Wednesday, 12 – 9 pm Thursday to Saturday
Tea and Milk’s signature homemade Taro Root Milk tea is popular and perfect for taro lovers. The store offers unique flavors from around the world, such as Fuji Apple Chia Green Tea, Nilgiri Black tea from India, and Grandma’s Masala Chai. An additional location opened recently in Chelsea Market.
Kung Fu Tea – Elmhurst
86-12 Justice Ave, Elmhurst NY 11373
Open 12 – 8 pm Monday to Sunday
This popular boba chain store has over 35 locations across New York City. Customers can customize drinks with fun toppings, sugar levels, and ice levels. Choose from toppings such as pudding, nata jelly, red bean, and tapioca. In addition, its new “Hot Boba Summer” menu offers Mango Creamsicle, Caramel Milk tea, and Lemon Almond Pie.
The Alley– Cooper Square
68 Cooper Sq, New York, NY 10003
Open 12- 8 pm Monday to Thursday, 12- 9 pm Friday to Sunday
The Alley welcomes you to watch as they prepare their tapioca from scratch! Popular drinks on their menu include Royal No.9 Milk Tea and Brown Sugar Deerioca Milk. There is an additional location in Flushing.
If Cha Tea – Flushing
136-11 38th Ave, Flushing, NY 11354
Open 11 am – 8 pm daily
If Cha Teas is known for their fresh fruit teas, topped to the brim with sliced fruits. Check out their fun toppings like rainbow jelly and popping mango, juice-filled bubbles that pop in your mouth!
