Dobra Tea

I have been here a few times with my best friend. I enjoy the atmosphere and the tea is always great! We go here every time he visits.

This place is horrible. Everytime I’ve wanted to come with my friends the staff has been rude… not my place

Omg, the worst service known to mankind. Don’t come here unless you plan on spending the day on one cup of tea. It’s almost funny how terrible the service was. We came in and got seated for two around the same time another couple came in, and we both rang our little bells on deaf ears. We waited about 30 minutes before getting our orders taken. The other couple had it even worse because the server never cleaned off the table from the previous customer and somehow thought the current patrons were served. Lol! Anyway, after about 20 minutes waiting for our teas, our time was up and had to leave town. So we asked for it to go and then they were like okay well the teas to go are double the price at $ 12 and change. So if we sat and it would have been $ 6.50 for two. And the couple at the other table still didn’t get their order by the time we left. So this review is for them too. Haha

I love this tea house and it is the perfect spot to take a break and relax while in Burlington. It is especially good on cold days as I have found they keep the place pretty warm (like 72 degrees).
There are usually a few food treats to choose from on the counters. While they don’t have much for choices, they usually have a gluten free option and their lemon cake is fantastic.
The service takes their time so do not expect your tea in a hurry. The menu of teas is extensive and delicious. You can also ask them about the teas, they’re very knowledgable and love to help. Dobra’s staff could possibly be some of the most relaxed people I have ever met.
The place is larger than it looks and has some booths with floor seating.
I make a point to stop in every time I am in Burlington. Its so delicious and relaxing!

my girlfriend and i stumbled onto this gem on our recent trip[ to vermont, totally by luck. It is cozy, charming and staffed by some very knowledgable folks.
They have wonderful little bites of food to help soak up all the caffeine from the 100’s of amazing teas, all in there only little service devices.
it reminded me of being in China (just the great respect for the product).
we left with a smile and with a much quicker step as i think i drank two pots more than i should have because it was so good.
the perfect place for a rainy day and the staff is very good at leaving you alone and letting you sit as long as you want, you get your little bell to ask for service, otherwise you can just sit and relax.

I love Dobra’s atmosphere. It is warm, comfortable, relaxed, and eclectic. Their tea menu is extensive, and I have enjoyed everything that I have tried. Go here for a mellow, unhurried experience with a good book or friend.

Nice little cozy place to enjoy a nice warm tea in the winter or a cold one in the warm months of the summer in Vermont. As you can in, there’s a nice calming ambiance that helps you relax. I’ve often see folks conduct small intimate meetings or coming in to get some work done in tranquility. I’ve tried their soups and really like the simplicity of the Miso soup with some white rice. Come on and check it out for yourself!

The best way to lose hours of time while enjoying good conversation and relaxing with delicious teas from around the world.
The second you walk into dobra tea, you’ll notice the difference between the energy of church St and the lax inviting vibes of dobra tea.
The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable and always happy to help you make a decision from their extensive menu of teas.
Whenever I make it to Burlington, Dobra tea is my first stop. I’ve been to the Portland, ME location in the past (not sure if it’s still there, this was a while back) and Burlington has a certain charm that stands out and keeps luring me back every time I make it to the area.

Dobra is another one of those places in Burlington with a very unique ambience. A place you should definitely try out to see if you like it. Depending on when you go, your experience might be very different.
The space is small. I think it’s interior incorporates a lot of bamboo. Tables are small and simple. There are a few areas where you can sit on the floor on pillows instead of in chairs.
Servers are very hands off. They won’t bother you unless you ring your bell and even then sometimes service can be slow.
There are some friends that I visit Dobra with and I always have a very nice time. There are other friends I would never go to Dobra with. It’s just not their speed.
As for me, I don’t drink a lot of tea, but when I go, I usually drink something without caffeine (caffeine makes me jittery). I find I enjoy myself most when I go there with a regular. The highpoint of my Dobra visits is the hummus, stuffed grape leaves and other middle eastern foods they serve there. Very tasty, if not pretty pricey. I believe all the food they serve there is made in house or locally. A lot of attention is paid to making sure things are organic and local.
My friends who are really in to teas are fun to accompany because they always have something interesting to tell me. According to friends in the know, the owner of Dobra travels the world quite frequently purchasing teas. Also, there are three Dobras (I believe). In addition to the Burlington one, there is one in Portland, Oregon and another down south.
Not for everyone, but definitely a unique experience, do yourself a favor and visit Dobra on a quiet weekday afternoon. In the evening it can be quite packed. Another fun time to go is around brunch when many of the other local restaurants are quite busy. Be prepared for low key, slowish service and a pretty quiet atmosphere.

A cute, cozy little spot. There are several tables, and a few more private areas including some floor tables. The ambiance is relaxing. The employees discourage the use of cell phones (mostly just phone calls or videos), which contributes to the relaxing environment.
The whole place smells wonderful. If you’re not an avid tea aficionado, they can help you select a tea and prepare it once it arrives (loose leaf can be confusing for first timers). It was about $ 5.50-$ 6.50 for most options.
The bubble tea is different than some may be used to — it has no ice, and is not very cold. However, it is delicious! The green tea bubbly tea is lightly sweetened, and served only on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Overall, a great spot on Church Street to get away from the crowds for a bit.

Get ready to read.
The menu is a book, but a book full of information and descriptions of each tea. They offer a lot.
They give you a bell to ring when you’re ready to order. I’m not a big tea nut, but my sister suggested we stop in. The tea I got reminded me of Tazo Passion Tea and it was pretty good. No one had any complaints. We also tried some of the bakes goods and they were really tasty. Maple glazed donut, baklava, and some kind of lemon cake I think it was, that was really good.
My only complaint was how dim the lighting was. Usually it’s nice but it was to much. Staff was friendly. They also had teas and tea related items you could buy. Prices ranged from around $ 5 and up for tea.

Amazing selection of loose leaf teas from all over the world! I’ve only tried the Chinese teas, but the server always has recommendations so just tell her what you like. There are a few options for tea: 1) choose a seat, be presented with a tea menu with extensive options, 2) choose a tea from the to-​go menu in the front, and 3) opt for a tea ceremony (something really want to try). The to-​go teas come in a paper cup while the pot of tea comes in a small spot with water for many many steepings. I’ve tried the first two options and both give a good selection of teas. There is even the option of bubble tea for $ 6 now to go! Be patient though as teas take time to steep so it won’t be as quick as your average cup of coffee to prepare.
Not sure what you like and want to let your nose decide for you? No problem! Go to the side where you pay and sample to your heart’s content the teas they have out. They even let me smell the fresh ones because the ones out are stale.
I know my Chinese teas so I can vouch for their authenticity and quality here. This is a great place to come in to read a good book and just escape from the world. It’s also great for a relaxing place to meet up with a friend or date. I love the zen atmosphere that can totally relax you. There is no wifi and cell phones need to be on silent so it’s much quieter than a normal café. Another thing I love is that you pay via iPad where you can tip, sign, and get your receipt via email or text message. Very convenient. I’m also a fan of the bathroom, which fits the theme of the rest of Dobra with a unique faucet and its own charm.
Unfortunately, you do pay for the atmosphere and at more than $ 7 including tip for a person, it’s a bit pricey. Even the most high quality teas don’t cost that much for a teaspoon. I also don’t like how they give you a small cup of warm water over a fire. I wish the temperature could be higher for multiple steepings. You really do need boiling water. These are the only reasons it wasn’t five star for me.
Despite the cons, I do think I will return to this place on many occasions when I want to get lost in a book and meet up with a friend. I think ~$ 6.75 per pot for 2 people is more reasonable than $ 5.75 for one person.
Happy tea drinking!

Fellow Unilocaler Mariko treated me to tea and snacks here last week! It’s certainly more than I’d pay for a paper cup of tea to go from a regular café, but we stayed to chat and people-​watch, the tea was flavorful, and the presentation was beautiful — worth it for the relaxed atmosphere. We each got the Memories of Prague tray — a pot of black tea with little cups of cream and honey — and shared a hummus platter which came with yummy hummus, veggies, and pita. We sat outside because the weather was nice. The inside looked cozy with mood lighting too. I’ll have to go back sometime and try one of the other teas from their extremely extensive menu. Thanks, Mariko! :)

I have been here multiple times and can honestly say that this place is a pretentious hipster spot, totally unfriendly and outrageously priced. It’s rare that I have such a bad feeling about a place, and I kept coming back to try and like it because I am a tea lover.
I am shaking my head as I write these words because just the tiniest bit of warmth coming from the snotty staff would go a long way.
And did I mention the prices? a complete turn-​off. I ordered the tulsi masala (think chai) and they charged me extra for milk and honey!
I keep wanting to find a way to use the word «douche-​y» because if I had to sum it up, that would be the word I would use.
Too bad, because their tea selection is amazing.

J’aurais pu mettre 5* car c’était vraiment bon.
On a pris chacun un cheesecake (chocolat et framboise) et ils étaient tout simplement délicieux ! En plus pour info ils étaient vegan ;)
Niveau boisson ce fut un thé rouge très bon et un Chai Latte excellent. De ma maigre expérience le meilleur Chai Latté que j’ai goutté !
Le service était classique, rien à redire.
Mais je né met pas 5* car j’ai trouvé ça un peu cher … Presque 30 USD pour cela (taxe et tips inclus) ca fait un peu mal au porte monnaie.
Cependant je né peux que confirmer la qualité de ces produits donc je né suis en aucun cas déçu de mon expérience la bas et je le conseille si vous avez la possibilité de le tester :)

Wonderful calming escape from a day of milling about town. Very welcoming staff. Enjoyed a soothing masala tea, mezze plate (with dolmas, hummus, baba ganoush, olives) with lavash bread. Perfect portions to tide one over. Make sure you are not in a rush the pace is intentionally serene… Try to get the corner space where one can just sit in sukha asana _/\_

Dobra is a perfect hiding spot.
I really enjoy stopping in at Dobra. It is very much an institution. I am always impressed with the knowledge of everyone that works there.
One can go into Dobra with little or incredible knowledge of tea and always be content. There is a consistency here that is hard to find elsewhere.
Wonderful Dobra.

What a beautifully designed little tea shop! I wish something like this existed closer to home.
We arrived and grabbed a seat where we were presented with menus and a bell to ring when we were ready to order. After mulling over 40+ pages of teas (who knew there were so many?) we ordered the masala chai with milk, and the Kashmiri tea with coconut milk. Both were good, but definitely not brewed at the strength that we brew at home, so it was missing a bit more of the kick we liked. We also got some tea biscuits which were vegan and gluten free– and just delightful!
The space is so peaceful you feel guilty for taking out your phones– which leaves the place feeling quite comfortable. If the chairs were made for those of us with more to love, I’d say it was perfect. Not perfect, but this place comes close! Make sure you check it out!

You know what dobra means in Polish? It means GOOD… now the secret is out. These pplz have some good tea.
School is out, go get some tea, suckas.

Just as I imagined — pillows for lounging, charming elements like a table side bell to place your order, huge and informative menu that could equally serve as the Bible of Tea, granola-​eating patrons and employees and a coziness that is certain to thaw you out no matter how could it is outside. Located just off the bustling Church Street, I have been meaning to visit this well-​rated tea haven for quite some time.
The whole ordering, consumption, etc. process makes you feel welcome enough to stay all afternoon. I opted for the Jasmine Pearls tea and my date, the Chai. I can’t speak for the Chai but the Jasmine Tea was just what I was hoping for — light and refreshing with a pot of hot water to keep the party flame alive.
According to my accomplice, the matcha ice cream is where it’s at — in fact, she told me it is only made for Dobra by a local creamery. I’ll have to try it and some of the other sweets the next time I’m in town. Fun fact: they also have matcha chapstick. For the diehard tea fan…

I didn’t have any idea when I started going to Dobra in Portland that it was a small chain, so imagine my delight when I came across another one in Burlington one winter day.
This place has a fantastic selection of tea organized in a book with an index, and the staff know how to steep it properly. Water refills come in a little glass pot with a candle underneath to keep the temperature stable. If you’re into tea and in the area, I cannot recommend this place highly enough. If you like tea okay and want to expand your horizons, the staff are friendly and will help you try things out.
The menu is all vegetarian with many vegan and gluten-​free options marked and other allergens, including soy, are easy to avoid.
Seating includes both traditional chairs and tables, and also cushions on raised platforms around low tables.