Yoshoku, Waldorf Astoria (NYC) Afternoon Tea
Hey Steepers! Ready for some bougie tea? The newly reopened Waldorf Astoria has revived their iconic afternoon tea with a Japanese twist. After an eight-year wait, the Waldorf Astoria New York is officially reopened and they brought back with it an iconic afternoon tea experience. But don't expect the same old-school service; the hotel has ditched the old traditions for a "glow-up" led by Yoshoku, its new intimate Japanese dining room.
By blending Park Avenue luxury with Tokyo precision, the Waldorf has created a modern ritual that feels sophisticated, delightful, and ABSOLUTELY bougie. I absolutely LOVED it.
A Little Bit of History: The Waldorf Astoria NYC has such a rich and LONG history, I am only going to give you the highlights. Born from a 19th-century family feud, the original Waldorf Astoria began as two competing hotels on Fifth Avenue, built by cousins William Waldorf Astor and John Jacob Astor IV, before eventually merging into the world’s largest hotel. This first iteration became a symbol of Gilded Age opulence, but was demolished in 1929 to make way for the Empire State Building. Despite the onset of the Great Depression, the hotel was reborn in 1931 at its current Park Avenue location. As the "Greatest of Them All," this Art Deco masterpiece served as a global stage for world leaders like Winston Churchill, cultural icons like Frank Sinatra, and major historical milestones, including the introduction of the LP record and the negotiation of the Dead Sea Scrolls purchase.
In the 21st century, the hotel entered a transformative era following its $1.95 billion acquisition by Anbang Insurance Group in 2014. After closing in 2017 for a massive, multi-billion-dollar restoration, the landmark underwent a "once-in-a-lifetime" overhaul that converted half of the building into luxury condominiums while meticulously preserving its historic interiors. Despite financial hurdles and pandemic-related delays, the Waldorf Astoria officially reopened its doors in July 2025. In December 2025 they brought back their afternoon tea experience, with a twist. Led by chef Ry Nitzkowski, Yoshoku offers a "West meets East" menu, featuring refined dishes that mix a traditional afternoon tea experience with, what they state, as taking “quiet cues” from Kaiseki. I had to look it up, but kaiseki is a style of traditional Japanese cuisine in which a series of very small, intricate dishes are prepared.
The Experience: Let me just talk about the service first. From the moment you step in, everyone is so nice. The hostess, the manager, and the servers were all so polite and never rushed us at all. My friend and I were there for over two hours, and they even kept asking if we wanted more tea sandwiches. At first, I was going to say no because this was such a high-end experience and I didn’t want to see an extra charge on the bill, but y’all, it was not extra! My friend and I only got one more because they were so persistent, but the “extra” aspect really justifies the price tag in my opinion.
They brought us fresh pots of Japanese loose-leaf tea (though you can do a matcha latte or traditional matcha for an upcharge). We went with the recommendations: the Kumamoto Blended Wakoucha (a smooth black tea) and the Uji Genmaimatcha (a nutty green tea). Since it’s Japanese style, the cups are smaller than traditional sets, but they’ll steep fresh refills for you as often as you like.
Now, let’s break down the food. This tea had the traditional "tiers” of sweet, savories, and scones, but they weren't all displayed together. The scones and savories came out separately, and then the desserts arrived on this stunning display that looked like a bonsai tree covered in Japanese cherry blossoms.
The savories were traditional finger sandwiches but with a cool Japanese twist. There was an Egg Mimosa with yuzu mayo and shiso, and a Miso Cucumber served open-faced with white miso butter and matcha salt. The Smoked Trout with pickled daikon was great, and the Wagyu Pastrami was like a fancy take on a classic deli sandwich. But my absolute favorite was the Tsukemono. It used whipped sudachi, which is basically the zest and juice of a Japanese citrus (kind of like a lime’s more fragrant, sophisticated cousin) folded into cream cheese. It was so bright and refreshing with the house pickles! Fun fact, Tsukemono, literally means “pickled things!”
The sweets were a total showstopper. Everything was delicious, but the Macadamia Dulcey Cookie was the winner. I’m not trying to be basic with all the creative desserts, but it was not a simple cookie. It was thick and chewy, almost like a blondie. We also had:
Matcha Yuzu Cake: The perfect mix of earthy tea and tart citrus.
Soba Cha Maple Verrine: A creamy little glass of toasted buckwheat and maple.
Houjicha Hazelnut Choux: A fancy cream puff made with roasted green tea.
Nashi and Kuri: A light combo of Asian pear and Japanese chestnut pastry.
Even the scones were a 10/10. We had a Matcha White Chocolate one and a Classic Cream with sudachi zest (sudachi is a small, round, green citrus fruit), served with the traditional clotted cream and lemon and raspberry jams.
The service really topped it all off. When we left, I asked for the bathroom and was literally escorted there. Then, when we went to get our coats, they actually put them on for us! I wasn’t used to that level of service and was so caught off guard that I accidentally trapped my purse inside my jacket. (Note to self: put on the bag after the coat)! It was such a lovely experience with the kind of exceptional service you’d hope for at the Waldorf. This was actually my third Waldorf tea! I’ve done Las Vegas and DC too, and the service really holds up across the board!
As of Today: As mentioned, the Waldorf just reopened over the summer and the afternoon tea experience at Yoshoku, only started up last December. You can check out the menu here. The afternoon tea is available Tuesday to Saturday from 11am to 1:30pm. Reservations are recommended and weekend reservations tend to go fast. Currently the tea is $135 pp. If you are REALLY bougie you can upgrade to caviar service for a whopping $133 to $165 in addition to the $135. I did not indulge in this! There is a limit to my bougieness. There are also an assortment of drinks, cocktails, and mocktails you can add on.
My Rating: 5/5 teacups! As with all Waldorf Astoria Afternoon Teas, it is not inexpensive, but for a true tea enthusiast or just for a lovely afternoon out, it is DEFINITELY worth a try. Absolutely amazing service with lovely, yummy, fresh food and tea!
