Press Tea
167 7th Ave. South
New York
Tel: 646.678.3909
Designers: Hambrecht Oleson, Su Ting Chen

After traveling to Malaysia, India, Taiwan, and Japan to generate their signature blends, the owners of Press Tea—a family-owned gourmet tea salon—set up shop in Manhattan, where they consciously blended in with the atmosphere of the West Village.

“We are trying to define gourmet tea in America,” said co-owner George Kuan. “Our goal is to grow from our first concept store to 10 to 15 stores in the next five years.”

The space was designed by Short Hills, New Jersey–based interiors firm Hambrecht Oleson in collaboration with Su Ting Chen. “We wanted to create a warm and inviting space that was more residential than commercial,” said Karen Oleson. “It’s a neighborhood cafe that is an eclectic mix of warm woods, grey tones, and copper elements to recall copper tea kettles.”

Ceramic floor tiles imported from Italy, an open window étagère decorated with tea accessories, and tea-stained wallpaper fill the café with a fusion of Western European and Eastern accents. Wicker chairs, wooden tables, and a velvet sofa offer customers a relaxing space to savor the homemade artisanal pastries. A wall clad in square panels of smoky mirrors, a hammered copper-plated counter, and a copper-trimmed storefront add to the homey feel and residential sconces, pendant lamps, and a chandelier provide a soft illumination perfect for reading or just feeling cozy.