Los Angeles’ Alfred Tea Room Is Lighting Up The City

With puns turned trademarked slogans like “Can’t we all just get oolong!”, “I love you so matcha”; and “Tea, yes. You, maybe.”, Alfred Tea Room has rapidly entered into the vernacular, tastebuds, and lives of Los Angelenos.

The bespoke Tea Room features 28 hot teas sourced from Tea People, Rishi, Smith Teamakers, and Leaves & Flowers, within a charming, plant-filled space. Founder and Creative Director Josh Zad has brought a sense of femininity, warmth, and authenticity back to Alfred St., just off Melrose Place. “Melrose Place has always been a sleepy, tree-lined street, and it has a unique charm that we wanted to emphasize with florals of all kinds,” he notes of the new project.

From the cactus- and aloe-shaped floral art that found its way on to Alfred’s teacups, backpacks, and designer collars alike, every inch of the space is thoughtfully curated. Straying away from the Nordic design that finds its way into most coffee houses and tea shops these days, Zad harnesses the power of plants to make Alfred Tea come alive– from the fresh flowers that are regularly brought into the space and via the tea they brew.

Entering Alfred Tea through ivy-lined doorways is like finding solace in a city that roars for similitude. In the land of repeat endeavor, it’s a tea shop that dares to be different. Zad’s other coffee shops, Alfred Coffee, also lend themselves to a unique cafe experience throughout various neighborhoods of Los Angeles–Melrose Place, Brentwood, Silverlake, and soon to be Studio City. But with the incredible interest that Angelinos have already shown for the new tea room, Alfred Tea may be expanding to further horizons soon.

With best sellers like a nitrogen-infused chai on draft– to say nothing of the company’s much-loved boba tea– it’s clear that Zad’s vision and all that surrounds this sweet little bustling haven has translated. This is a beautiful new cafe, and we can’t wait to see what blooms.