Ming Tao Xuan - Montréal

This tea house restaurant is truly amazing! I would absolutely return, as it is a tea lover's paradise. They create their own special blends of tea for guests to enjoy on site, and also offer tea leaves for purchase to take home. The atmosphere is very lovely and distinctive, although I found myself hesitant to make any noise due to the peaceful ambiance.

There are plenty of choices available, including medicinal teas. The owners are extremely friendly. We were extremely impressed by the vegetarian chicken. Despite not being a vegetarian, I usually feel like something is missing when I eat vegetarian dishes... but they did an incredible job with the meat substitute. The teas are delightful and served in gorgeous teapots. They follow traditional methods by pouring the first batch over the teaware to warm it up. This is definitely a unique spot to visit during your tourist trip, especially if you haven't been to China in a while. (We are currently vacationing here)

I found this restaurant to be amazing and incredibly cozy. The atmosphere made me feel right at home. They have a wide selection of delicious teas, a large pot of hot water to brew your tea, and a very tasty (and small, perfect for me) cheesecake. The staff even takes the time to explain how to properly enjoy your tea. The only downside was a dirty fork, but considering the owners are an elderly couple, I wasn't too bothered by it. The restaurant only has 3 or 4 tables, and customers tend to take their time enjoying their tea, so it might be a problem if all tables are occupied. However, overall, it's a great place and I can't wait to come back.

This is a authentic tea place to try out the many tea leaf types ranging from oolong, black, white and green tea whose origins come from China or Japan. It is run by a older Cantonese couple who do all of the serving of the tea. Each person orders a tea leaf type. The menu also contains small savory appetizer dishes, cookies or crackers to pair with the tea. Once you chose your tea, they serve the tea on a wooden panel. The serving is done in front of you to show you how the tea should be prepared for drinking. They will do the first pour and you can continue to refresh your tea drink using the same tea leaves with the provided hot water. Overall, it's a very relaxing experience and will also allow you to experience a bit of Chinese tea culture.

It really is an experience like no other. We ordered the jasmine flower and green tea sets, as well some steamed buns. The couple who owns the establishment are very kind and eager to show you the art of tea drinking. The owner arrives at your table with your super cool tea drinking set, and proceeds to pour the hot water into a cup containing the tea leaves. This is then poured into a sieve and finally, you pour it into the drinking cup. The tea itself was very aromatic and light. I've never felt so tranquil and at ease. Sitting in front of a view of Old Montreal and sipping warm and fresh tea was one unforgettable experience.