On a chilly Saturday morning, I met up with a friend in West Village to enjoy a nice cup of tea. We met at Paquita and were immediately taken in by the cozy atmosphere of the place. This tea house is pretty small, but didn’t feel overly crowded except for the occasional moment where someone had to reach over us to grab a tea canister off the wall in front of us.

The walls of Paquita are chock-full of loose leaf tea canisters and a small cup next to them which you can smell to get an idea of what the tea is like. Attached to each canister is a handwritten note that says the name and a brief description of the tea. To select the tea you want, you need to walk around and pick out your tea from those canisters. It was a little overwhelming given the vast options they had, but once you get over that, it is fun to walk around and see the different types they had in the store. Once you select which tea you want to drink, they’ll bring you a cup as well as a full tea pot for you to enjoy at your leisure.

Be warned that there are very limited seats — I’m talking eight max. inside. There are two regular tables and a long table connected to the wall with four small stools. They do also have an outdoor space with a few tables, as well as the option to grab a cup to go. While I was there, I sat at the long wall table. The stools were a little uncomfortable after awhile, but it wasn’t a deal breaker.

This is definitely not an “in and out” spot, so be prepared to be there for a little bit. The people working were really nice and helped create a very chill experience from the moment you sit down, to the moment you leave. If you do plan to go as well, it’s good to have a back up plan in case it’s already full. Since people tend to linger and they don’t take reservations, you may have to walk away if you’re not willing to wait and hope for the best.

I do recommend checking it out if you’re a fan of tea! There are some great options to drink and the ambiance is great for enjoying a cup of tea with a good friend.