While in Japantown recently I made it a point to visit Song Tea & Ceramics, just a couple of blocks away on Sutter Street. First of all, the space is gorgeous – more akin to an art gallery than a tea shop. Refined, modern, airy and understated, you can ogle the beautiful handmade teapots and teacups for sale while checking out the teas they have displayed on a set of open shelves along one wall. Just because it’s higher end quality does not mean that it’s stuffy or snobbish. In fact, the staff and general atmosphere is friendly and very welcoming. There is a space toward the front on one side with a table and chairs for tea tastings. Amanda was super friendly, helpful, and a treasure trove of tea knowledge. The teas here are Chinese and Taiwanese, chosen for their superior quality. The teas change according to what is best when the owner goes on a purchasing trip, so you can’t expect to see the exact same tea selection all the time. We ended up spending two hours there, browsing and tasting various teas. It was such a wonderful experience, if I lived closer I think I’d have to stop myself from going there every day! If you are in San Fran, I highly recommend checking it out – it’s so unique!
I used to go here quite frequently, but it’s gotten so popular, it’s too difficult to get a table anymore! People tend to hang out for long periods of time, bring their laptops, even have meetings.
That being said, the tea drinks are great – fun and very tasty. Pretty customizable as well with regard to additional flavor shots and milks. They even have a nice rewards program for the frequent visitor. Get a green tea muffin to nibble on with your tea – so delicious!
I was delighted that a David’s opened up so close to where I work. I go there more often than I should! Typical visit: go in to see what’s new, leave with a small shopping bag of three or more teas plus an iced tea to sip on. Nice staff, great service, but it can get a little busy at times, so don’t go if you’re in a rush! The only “con” I can think of is that it’s a tiny place, so there are only a few bar stools to hang out on. Great for grab and go.
