Tea Time on Lark

Tea time

By Jessica Pasko

Tea lovers, you can rejoice. Albany's now got a place just for you. You'll no longer have to settle for the coffee house scene, because the Good Leaf Tea Company has opened a real, honest-to-goodness tea house on Lark Street.

The folks of Good Leaf already run a shop and café at the At the Warehouse, not to mention an online store, but now they've expanded the business with another shop and cafe in Center Square. The cafe, which opened just over a week and a half ago, occupies the space that once housed Lark Tattoo at 274 Lark.

Owner Michelle Marks has done a lovely job with the space, creating a relaxing little oasis that's decorated in an Asian-inspired, simplistic style. It's small but cozy, with seating for about 10 inside plus a couple of sidewalk tables out front. It's the perfect spot for, ahem, tea for two.

The selection is quite impressive. Marks has an array of more than 60 kinds of tea to choose from, not to mention specialty tea drinks like tea lattes, chai and bubble tea. And not only can you warm up (or cool down) with a nice cuppa, you can also buy some of the dry stuff to take home. Oh, and there's also plenty of tea accessories to boot, as well as delicious-looking chocolates from the Chocolate Gecko.

Bubble_Tea.jpgTheir bubble tea is especially delicious. Unlike many of the cloyingly sweet, candy-colored milkshake-like bubble teas found elsewhere, theirs is actually made with....gasp... real tea instead of a powdered mix. It's delicious and almost delicately flavored, without being overpoweringly heavy. Still, that doesn't mean it's easy not to drink it too fast! If you're not down with the tapioca pearls, you can also get it made with little coconut jujubes.

And because they don't hate on the tea-haters, they'll also gladly serve you up a cup of joe or a Brooklyn egg cream (apparently those are everywhere these days!)

Find It

The Good Leaf Tea Co.
274 Lark Street
Albany, NY 12207

Hours: Monday - Friday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 3-8 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Comments

What an excellent post!

I'm kicking myself, too. I was all over Lark Street this weekend and every single time I forgot to stop in!

The tea place is great - very relaxing to go and sit, play some chess, drink some healthy-ness.

We absolutely agree with your take on the bubble tea. We moved from the city where authentic bubble tea is aplenty and were pleased to find that this cafe offers something comparable. We use to settle for the bubble tea offered at the food court in Colonie Center, but this is much more preferable.

Hi there. Comments have been closed for this item. Still have something to say? Contact us.

The Scoop

For a decade All Over Albany was a place for interested and interesting people in New York's Capital Region. It was kind of like having a smart, savvy friend who could help you find out what's up. AOA stopped publishing at the end of 2018.

Recently on All Over Albany

Thank you!

When we started AOA a decade ago we had no idea what was going to happen. And it turned out better than we could have... (more)

Let's stay in touch

This all feels like the last day of camp or something. And we're going to miss you all so much. But we'd like to stay... (more)

A few things I think about this place

Working on AOA over the past decade has been a life-changing experience for me and it's shaped the way I think about so many things.... (more)

Albany tightened its rules for shoveling snowy sidewalks last winter -- so how'd that work out?

If winter ever gets its act together and drops more snow on us, there will be sidewalks to shovel. And shortly after that, Albany will... (more)

Tea with Jack McEneny

Last week we were fortunate enough to spend a few minutes with Jack McEneny -- former state Assemblyman, unofficial Albany historian, and genuinely nice guy.... (more)

Recent Comments

My three year old son absolutely loving riding the train around Huck Finn's (Hoffman's) Playland this summer.

Thank you!

...has 27 comments, most recently from Ashley

Let's stay in touch

...has 4 comments, most recently from mg

A look inside 2 Judson Street

...has 3 comments, most recently from Diane (Agans) Boyle

Everything changes: Alicia Lea

...has 2 comments, most recently from Chaz Boyark

A few things I think about this place

...has 13 comments, most recently from Katherine