Dobrá Tea

I want to love the experience! I am a tea lover and love vegetarian food. To give a brief synopsis: we walk up to counter and no one says anything to us as we stand there waiting. The 3 staff members behind the counter seem absorbed — but might be able to gather enough attention to extend a greeting… After looking at 2 different paper menus that are sitting at the counter, we eventually asked one of the staff how to go about ordering. We were given 2 larger menus (not the same as those sitting on the counter) and we were instructed to go to a table and told that someone would be with us. After sitting for a full 20 minutes at a table with no service — I return to the counter to ask again how we should go about placing an order. I am told by a different staff member that we need to ring a bell for service and I’m asked: «didn’t someone give you a bell? they should have given you a bell !» We are then given a bell to ring and are instructed to return to the table (forearms are sticking to the old glue (?) around the outer surface of the plastic coated tabletop…) A few minutes later another staff came to take our order of 2 teas and 2 snacks. About 20 minutes later, one of the teas arrives. My friend wants to be polite and wait for my tea to arrive (so that we can sip together) — but I tell her to go ahead so that hers doesn’t get cold. 10 minutes later, my tea arrives. The tea was fine. We wait for the snacks for another 10 minutes or so and realize that they have probably forgotten them, at which point I remember «the bell». So, when the server is nearby, I ring the bell for a bit at a moderate volume. She doesn’t look over and starts to walk away. My friend tells me to ring it louder. I feel foolish for making a racket, but go ahead and ring it more loudly. This succeeded in getting the attention of the server — who we then ask about the snacks that we had ordered. «Oh! okay…» she says — and returns 5 minutes later with the nuts and fruit. When we were finished, we then waited for the check — and then guessed that it was likely not coming — so we go again to the counter and learn that we pay there. Upon paying, (a full hour and a half after walking in), the original person who took our order exclaims: «Oh, nuts and fruit! — I’ll pack it up for you „to go“ !» She is then told by the other server «No, I brought it to them»…etc. You get the picture. Dislike the bell, dislike no greeting or orientation upon entering, no instruction to pay at the counter when done, poor communication between staff, poorly timed and long wait times for simple items. Did not find this «relaxing» at all. Perhaps a single staff person per shift who is dedicated ONLY to paying attention to customers (greeting, orienting to their system, taking orders, filling orders etc.) would resolve this unusual service. That could free up the other staff to focus on timing of teas etc.

As soon as you walk in, you feel the relaxed vibe. The tea is prepared with careful detail and tastes amazing. I ordered an earl grey tea and my friend ordered a mate latte. Both were delicious, but after tasting the mate latte, I have to admit I was a bit jealous. I would definitely recommend this tearoom and wish there was a similar place in the Boston area.

Dobra Tea is awesome! I wish we had one in Boston! I’ve visited Dobra in Portland a couple of times, and have never been disappointed. The food is excellent, and their tea selection is unrivaled. Great place to sit and spend some quality time with a good friend!

Most of the staff is very friendly and helpful. When you come to Dobra, expect to be relaxed. Games, uplifting music, a wide variety of amazing teas. The Forrest Dragon is one of my go-to’s. It’s rice milk, honey, mint and matcha over ice. Sometimes I get Yerba mate and sit in the back for hours on end. Great place, definitely take the time to stop by!

Stopped in late on a Saturday for «date night» with my wife. I was a little leery, as I am typically much more of a coffee guy and this place seemed a little «out there» for me. That could not have been further from the truth. The menu of teas and snacks are unique, but well explained in a way that makes them considerably less intimidating. For a place that «wasn’t my style» I have to admit that I knew virtually every song that came over the sound system. The Rooibos chai and hummus plate we had were delicious and the whole experience was just relaxing and enjoyable. Absolutely added to my list of local gems!

This place was amazing. If you’re not a huge tea drinker, and I’m not, the assortment of teas can be slightly overwhelming — don’t hesitate to ask for suggestions, these folks know their stuff. The atmosphere was great — not crowded or loud; a fun place to meet up with friends, and a nice change from the typical bar scene. The teas are reasonably priced, too.

I loved the atmosphere in this place. As you walk in the wonderful smell of brewed teas welcomes you. It is a cozy place where people can read or hang out with their friends. They have a wide variety of teas from all over the world. You can drink it there or buy loose leave tea to brew yourself at home. They even have Turkish tea from Rize, so they got me there.

This tea house might be one of my favorite places on earth. Just imagine, a Friday night during the holiday season, and you’re looking for a quiet, calm place for dessert. I never expect cafes to have particularly great tea or know how to make it and what to put in it, but I am often excited when an establishment has such knowledge and accoutrements. So, when we happened upon Dobra Tea in the heart of Portland, I was floored. There had to have been over 100 kinds of tea on the menu… yes, they have a TEA menu. They also offer table service, pastries (I believe these are from local bakeries/​shops) and a gong for when it’s closing time. I was struck by the relaxing atmosphere, even with a table of 6 or so teenagers (must be the straight-​edge crowd) on a Friday night. They also have an interesting honor-​system way of paying. At the end of the night, everyone lined up at the cash register to report what they had ordered and already consumed. Fascinating.
Come to find out, this is actually a «chain» and have locations throughout Europe and the U.S. I saw one only a few weeks later in Burlington, VT (typical) and here is a blurb from the website:
The origins of Dobra Tea began in Prague during the last few years of Communism. A group of young tea drinkers began meeting to sample rare Indian, Chinese, and Japanese teas which had been smuggled into Czechoslovakia. Due to a shortage of foreign currency, these teas were only available to the government and military elite. Then came the «Velvet Revolution» and the fall of Communism in 1989. In 1992, the «Society of Tea Devotees» was formed and the following year we opened the first Bohemian-​style tearoom in Prague, Dobra Cajovna.
So cool!

If you fancy tea, this is the place for you. My husband and I have become quite the tea purveyors over the years — we fancy tea the way others fancy wine.
The staff here is very knowledge about all the teas they have to offer, and they’re happy to chat and answer any questions. Both times we’ve been here, we’ve only gotten hot tea to go, as well as bought some loose teas to enjoy at home. The inside has a very Asian/​middle eastern/​Yoga vibe that is welcoming and mildly exotic.
My husband and I had already planned to come here to get some hot tea, but after we saw their nifty chalkboard sign outside, I knew that we were in the right place (thanks to their adorable pun).
I’m not able to comment on the in-​house service or the food menu, but we do hope to come back to enjoy all they have to offer very soon.

I had a delicious cup of chai with soy milk. I purchased some Jasmine tea to go. The staff there seemed knowledgable and friendly. I didn’t try any of the food though,
so I can’t say review it in it’s entirety. I did notice that there were vegan and GF options listed. I’ll have to go back to try some food and other kinds of tea!

I love tea, loose-​leaf tea from far-​away lands. Ever since I moved here I was looking for a replacement for my home town tea room. One of my absolute favorites is Makaibari Green which is grown exclusively on the Makaibari Farm in India, it’s organic and biodynamic. Unfortunately it isn’t available in most shops, darn exclusivity.
When I first came to this place I immediately loved the vibe. It is cozy and warm thus enhancing the overall tea experience. The staff is very friendly and most importantly, well versed in tea. All teas have their own personality and way they should be prepared, guidance is imperative. I left with a bag of Tulsi and will absolutely be back.

The food was decent, the tea was good.
However.
8 of us came for a birthday tea time. We all ordered food to a waitress (1). Over an hour in, the birthday girl, and a guest were still waiting for their «Babylon» orders. We inquired about the missing food to the (blonde) waitress (2). The waitress replied: «I do not know anything about Babylons.». She added, «She (waitress 1) probably just forgot to write it down, so we did not cook it!» She (waitress 1) did not make any attempt to apologize for, or attempt to fix the mix up. The birthday girl had to engage, and state that she no longer wanted the order, but rather just skip to the «Matcha chocolate cheesecake», the waitress proceeded to leave stating: «One Matcha and no Babylons» without even asking the other guest what she wanted. We had to call her back to let her know that the other guest was still hungry and still wanted her order; to which she grunted.
After waitress 1, came to bring the birthday girl her cake, I asked her if we could also have deserts (They never inquired if we wanted deserts)’ to which she replied: «Well, actually we are closing the desert section in 2 minutes, so if you want to order desert, you better hurry up before the two minutes end.»
Only when we received the deserts did the other guest finally receive her food (she did not have time to order a desert).
One of the waitress was overwhelmed and did not know what she was doing, the other waitress did not give a #uck about the customers, and made a point to show it.
I would never go there again, no matter if the food was good or not.
P. S. I have since then, heard similar stories from different people.

Wonderful place to relax, enjoy great tea prepared with care by knowing staff, and refresh with tasty treats.

Delicious tea and great all-​vegetarian menu. Perfect for a healthy light lunch/​snack. Very calming, relaxing vibe. If sitting on a pillow on the floor is your trip, you can even do that. Staff was super nice and will give you a little bell to ring when you need them. :)
Highly recommended.

I used to love Dobra. I am a longtime patron of five or so years, but the new location is wonderful for business and terrible for customers. I no longer know the staff and no effort is made to maintain the atmosphere of a tea house. It is as loud as a bar in here. That would have been unheard of two years ago. I no longer re commend Dobra as a place to meet with friends, although it breaks my heart to say goodbye.

Impossible to really explain the place. They have different sections, each representing various locations around the world.
We were in the Ethiopian/​Moroccan style seating section. We took our shoes off, sat on the cushions, rang the bell when ready to order. Dobra not only provides an extensive menu but delivers on every single drink/​food.
It was an amazing experience fueled by peaceful ambiance, mouth-​watering food, nostalgic smell of teas, and great company.

Introvert Scale: ¹⁰⁄₁₀
Chill Scale: ¹⁰⁄₁₀
I get scared when I hear the word Tea. I know nothing and can’t really figure out how to enjoy it, and to top it all off we have a strange hipster fetish devouring all the tea it finds.
This place is everything you want in a tea shop. Cozy, quiet, relaxing. Honestly, you pay for the atmosphere as much as the tea. But I love that you won’t find any pretentiousness or intimidating patrons/​employees.
This is my third time here. It’s become a meeting spot for a friend and I that only get to connect once a year. We’re both pretty simple people, so nothing better than a good conversation and a (s)pot of tea. We enjoyed sitting under the wooden structure (I won’t try to name it). It allows you to sit on the floor on some cushions and it’s just a different experience than most.
Knowing nothing about tea, it’s nice knowing I can stop in here and that no matter who is working, they’ll be patient, explain anything I need and balance meeting our needs and leaving us alone.
I’d come in here alone, but only if I had no agenda. I feel like Dobra isn’t made for you to finish those emails or send the spreadsheet. It’s meant for you to relax. I would gladly sit in there and stare at the wall for an hour or two.
Not for a big rowdy group. Best place in the old port for some reflection, book reading, or ethereal chatting with a friend.
Great tea. Great service. Great prices. Great environment. Great times!

This place captures the very purest ideas of a tea shop. I love the tea, the snacks, and the staff. I can go there alone with a book or with friends; it has a great atmosphere for both but careful – it gets busy sometimes and you don’t wanna be that person taking up a seating for 4 ;)
Also if you think it’s too hot for tea I recommend the Staroborshov (hope i spelled that right) or the white peony for cold drinks.

It’s hard to capture Dobra in a review.
This is the third location we’ve visited, and somehow they were able to stay true to their identity. To step foot inside Dobra is to step into a place where time slows down, and the heady aromas of tea and food lift your spirits to a higher place.
These people really know their tea, but they also really know how to craft a relaxing, invigorating environment into which you can escape from the stresses of the outside world.
Go for the tea and food, but stay for the peace and tranquility.
Oh, and that tea and food? Excellent. And vegan/​gluten/​allergy friendly, too.
This is your new favorite place.

If only they could capture the constant comfort and serenity Dobrá Tea exudes in some tea leaves, put a price on it, and wrap it in a bow, I’d throw all my money at them and thank them too!
I came here because I needed a relaxing atmosphere with free wifi to start my grad school applications. What I got from Dobrá was tenfold greater! The day was dreary and I was suffering from a case of the blahs. As I ran in frantically try to get to work and out of the rain, I was greeted with rich warm colors, soft cushy pillows and chairs, and the perfect level of background noise. My server suggested I try the Feng Huang Dan Cong (Phoenix Bird) tea. Talk about rising from the ashes! Throughout the four cups of tea I got from that pot I felt my energy and focus return. Possibly a purely physiological effect, but who cares, it worked. I was able to get a great start in large part because of the superior quality loose leaf tea and the zen ambiance here.
Side note: I ain’t no fool, I bought some of that Phoenix Bird tea home with me! Applications are a long road, I’ll need a cup full of zen along the way.

I absolutely love this place! It’s rare to find an authentic tea room like this, not even in Boston! Their tea selection is crazy, so many choices and super authentic. Staff are very down to earth and kind. The environment is cozy, perfect place to relax. Their food is also fantastic!

Love the vibe in here, amazing tea selection with back stories, friendly staff, and board games. My favorite is adams ceylon tea with bohemian nuggets.

Welcome to the world of relaxing cafes without coffee. I am a non coffee guy and this place is unique and heavenly to me. But I can guarantee that anyone who walks in will find them in a relaxing and tranquil spot to unwind. Their tea list is definitely intimidating but their menu is whole book that details in length the various kinds of tea, roasting processes and fit. They range from no fermentation green tea to highly earthy fermented (and hence higher caffeine than coffees) pur tea that will get you up and going. Either ways there is a lot of reading and it is certainly difficult to choose your drink.
Do understand though that this is a Czech chain whose owner collects and curates tealeaves and serving vessels from around the world. The level of attention that goes into serving a drink and training the people who make the drink for you is incredible. This is not a place to grab your quick cup with a tea bag bag in hot water. Getting a personal Chinese tea ceremony here (about $ 7) educated me about the level of thought that goes into my sip.
Don’t be shy in asking your servers for recommendations based on your mood. They are very knowledgeable and helpful.
My favorites are — homely milky chai, weed smelling sweet Tuareg, sip n stare at a flowering Chrysanthemum, Long Jing green.
Tip –This place is good to detox and hydrate after the finest monk brewed Belgian ales at Novares Res one block down.

Chocolate matcha cheesecake and a lovely very smoky blend of black teas called Russian Caravan. The ambience was vey comfortable and cozy with multiple ways to sit depending on your preference or physical needs. The menu is immense and informative, so much so that I enjoyed reading it while I drank my tea.
If I were local I could learn so much about tea here. If you are, take advantage so I can live vicariously through you!
Bathroom was a gender neutral single stall, which is lovely, but I am not sure it’s wheelchair accessible so maybe call ahead to double check if you need that.

I reviewed Dobrá at their previous location and have been pleased to find that they are just as fabulous in the new space, if not more so. The same overall aesthetic predominates with cushions on platforms, wicker chairs, a pair of couches, and a squishy pink armchair that I absolutely adore but rarely get to sit in because other people have also realized how comfortable it is. Where the old space was entirely interior, the new space opens directly onto the street with a large front window and a narrow but tall window in back, offering natural light. The tile floor could have left this space colder both physically and psychologically, but the rugs really bring it together.
When you go in, take a seat and someone will bring you a menu and a bell. Ring when you’re ready to order. There are places to hang your coat and a shelf of games for folks who want to play chess or Settlers of Catan.
The menu is essentially unchanged from before, offering light vegetarian fare and marking vegan and gluten-​free items. It’s also easy to avoid soy, corn, and pretty much anything else and staff are great with questions.
The reason to come, of course, is the tea. The menu is copious to the point of being overwhelming, organized both by country and by types of tea and with loving descriptions of each. If you’re new to tea and only know a few things you like, start with what you know and then try things that are near it in the menu. If you’re feeling more adventurous, flip the pages and stick your finger in.
The blended drinks are particularly notable and many of them are house specials that I’ve never encountered anywhere else. You can of course get chai, but also a number of other blended hot and cool tea drinks and if you’re getting a blended drink or a drink that normally comes with milk, you have multiple options and aren’t limited to just soy or dairy.
The bathroom is unisex. It would be difficult to use with a wheelchair. There is not a changing table.
Sometimes on weekends the place fills up and service slows down a little, but the thing to remember here is that good tea takes time and you’re here to relax, and not to snap your fingers and yell GARÇON like you’re at some terrible French café. Breathe, enjoy, and your tea will come.

I don’t feel intimidated often, but if there’s one place in town where I feel totally out of place (but so desperately want to be one of the cool kids in the know), it’s at Dobra Tea (which calls itself a bohemian style tearoom). My anglophile soul drinks tea really only one way: I chuck a bag of black tea into a cup, pour scalding water over it, and chug it (milk and sugar optional).
The first time I came here I felt as awkward and out of place as the first time I went to a topless beach in Spain. It felt foreign to remove my bikini top, but it felt just as uncomfortable to be the only person at the beach fully clothed. Eventually… I acclimated to the culture and didn’t give it (being topless) a second thought. This analogy makes sense, I promise…
If you’ve never been to Dobra Tea before, you might feel awkward upon entering. If you’re staying to enjoy your tea, you simply sit down at a table and ring your little bell (it feels unnatural to beckon people over like this, but everyone here is doing it — it’s the culture they’ve created here). I won’t lie, the book of available teas is also overwhelming. There are soooooo mannnnnny opppptttioooons. (over 100). Luckily the first time I came here was with a tea aficionado. She encouraged me to to go with something I knew — for me, outside of black, I feel entirely comfortable with jasmine tea. Even if you don’t come here with someone who knows tea — just ask. The staff here is beyond knowledgable and can help steer you in the right direction regarding flavor profile, etc.
Within a few moments, our server came back with two cups of tea with little covers on them (following the flow here, make sure when you lift your cover you inhale the warm aroma that’s released). Shortly after she returned with two separate pots of hot water, because different teas require different temperature water to bring out the best properties (something I learned here). Our server told us the best steep times for our different teas, and how much to increase it by with each pour. It’s information overload, but if you love wine, craft beer, and locally roasted coffee… it’s hard not to also love what Dobra Tea is doing here, because it’s the same kind of precision and care that goes into the aforementioned beverages.
Be prepared, though — drinking tea here is a luxury; it’s an event. One pot at $ 5-​ish dollars (SUCH an amazing deal, by the way) took over an hour to drink.
I only tried a red bean paste mochi, but it went deliriously well with the tea. Dobra Tea offers an amazing selection of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-​free foods — all of which I’m excited to come back and try!