At Samovar Tea Lounge, it’s never simply business as usual. Each of this native San Francisco tea mecca’s three locations reflects the company’s mission, the surrounding neighborhood’s culture, and—above all—the essence of the tea service.

With the internal mantra of “Practice Peace, Drink Tea”, all of Samovar’s locations view serving the highest quality teas as an art form and even a vehicle for the greater good. Providing an unhurried, calming atmosphere and selecting from an inventory of more than 35 teas and tisanes, the staff can suggest a lone pot or find the perfect compromise between guests with varying tastes. Inventive, tasty, and healthy, Samovar’s cuisine and baked goods are hardly an afterthought, occupying a full page of the menu.

The first Samovar Tea Lounge opened in the Mission-Castro neighborhood in 2001, during the peak of the dot-com bust. Following in 2006 and 2009 were Samovar Yerba Buena, which revived the former home of a failed Starbucks, and Samovar Zen Valley, at the corner of Laguna and Page Streets. Each location caters to the needs and desires of the local patrons, offering a familiar smile to the Castro’s friendly residents or slowing down the frenetic pace of Downtown’s constant commuters.

4 stars and 545 reviews on Yelp

"I love Samovar Tea Lounges. They are an instant escape from the chaos of the city into a calm world where time moves a little slower. I love being able to take my time ordering, drink my tea thoughtfully, and eat my (delicious) food slowly." - Yelp Reviewer Lara C., San Francisco, CA, 6/28/2010
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"Tea is an art form at Samovar and being the tea-lover I am, I appreciate the care and thought that went into creating these wonderful blends. I love that there are "tea pairings" for certain dishes and desserts!" - Elite Yelp Reviewer Lisa V., Pasadena, CA, 2/15/2011
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"I had the Moorish Platter with veggie and cheese kebabs, mint salad, stuffed grape leaves and chevre-stuffed dates. Oh my. So good, somehow very light and very filling and incredibly flavorful." - Yelp Reviewer Lowen B., San Francisco, CA, 9/8/2010
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I've been coming here for years and the food and service has always been consistent... their chevre-stuffed dates should be illegal. And if that doesn't sell you, they have quite possibly the best chai in the city." - Yelp Reviewer Courtney B., San Francisco, CA, 3/15/2010
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