Dobra Tea

These guys are the tea experts. Knowledgeable and, even though I’m a tea drinker, these guys are tea purists. Great selection — probably the best in the region — and great in-​house «teaing» experience somewhere between Morocco and Japan. Everything from the custom tea ware to the encyclopedic menu of tea shows great care. They provide you with an education as well as a nice relaxing cup.

Wonderful cozy ambiance with the funnest little sitting areas and the BEST CHAI I’ve had in America.
For reference, I lived in India for 3 months :).
Getting someone to get your order is a bit of an ordeal but just learn to be a princess with your ringing bell and they come right over.
I always order the Chai tea and it come hot in a clay cup. The flavors are amazing and it is the perfect sweetness level. Be careful with the hot beverage and take your time sipping :).
One of my favorite places to meet up with friends in squirrel hill.

Love this place! If you are a tea lover, you need to come here. For someone who’s been to China and India, and lived in the UK, I’m very picky about my tea. You can choose the region, the varietal, the potency, etc. The super friendly staff is knowledgeable and they truly want you to enjoy your tea (they won’t try to upsell you or anything like that).
The Gong Fu Cha is an awesome experience if you’ve never had a traditional tea ceremony. The chai and the masala tea are both amazing if you’re into that kind of flavor.
The selection of Pu’er is incredible, and if you’re someone who is really into Chinese tea, you will appreciate it. It’s fermented and has all sorts of healthy qualities, plus it is really earthly and just delicious.
The redbean desert is a perfect little sweet to end the meal. This place is the best, I’m here at least once a week, nothing more I can say but it’s my favorite place in da burgh.
Also, don’t be that person on your cell phone for 20 mins, this is a tea shop not starbucks!

Wow, I had no idea a place like this existed in Pittsburgh! There are so many coffee shops in the city, but only a few tea shops and this one being one of them. It’s such a neat concept too. They give you a bell and a menu, you choose a seat and ring the bell when you’re ready to order. The menu is HUGE and it’s a little overwhelming (for those like me who don’t know much about tea), but it includes a description for everything! Me and my group ordered both hot teas and iced teas. The hot teas came out in tea kettles, the staff pour you your first cup and the remainder is for you to pour. The iced tea came out in one glass. The amount of tea they give you, you can tell they want you to stay for a while and relax. My recommendation is to sit as close to the front as possible because in our case, we sat in the way back and the staff could not hear our bell when we were ready to order. If you like tea, this is a great place to learn and try new kinds!

It is a nice place to chill and catch up with friends. They have different setting of tables/​seats. On the front of the café they have their regular seating (two chairs and a table) where you can bring your laptop and work. On the back of the place they have floor seating which is good for people who are meeting to catch up.
They have a variety of options for tea. My personal favorite is the bubble tea which is usually available on the weekends. I’ve tried most of their snacks and they’re all average.

I was in from out of town and loved this place. The atmosphere is amazing. Reminded me of some time I spent in Nepal. Great, intimate seating. You get to ring a bell when you’re ready to order. The tea was really good and the snacks were reasonable. I’m going back… today!

I am completely obsessed with this cozy tea haven!
Dobra has a good hundred options of teas to choose from and the staff is consistently helpful and nice. Additionally, the vibe is very relaxing and warm, and totally different than any other coffee shop in the Pittsburgh area. I love the music they play as well.
Definitely worth trying the Chai Chai Chai (traditional Indian tea) or the Tulsi tea. Don’t miss the hummus that they offer from Greek Gourmet, either.

Dobra tea is located at the corner of Beacon St and Murray Ave. There is a pay parking lot nearby. I went in and noticed all the various teas. A man helped me and told me to sit anywhere. It was lunchtime and hardly anyone was there.
I noticed a sign that said, «please silence your mobile device.» I couldn’t understand why because I did hear folks in conversation. Nevertheless, the place has a Middle Eastern theme to it. I was given a menu that lists all their teas. It has sections in it that are divided by type and a detailed description of each. Their teas are white, black, green, Asian, African, and Japanese influences to name a few. In the back of the menu there were some food options. I was handed a «bell» by which I could summon him for what I needed.
I asked about their teas and sampling some. He said they don’t do samples but asked what I preferred. I settled for a plum tea and was told that a pot would be about 10 oz. I also ordered a slice of pumpkin bread. My tea came in a small teapot along with a tiny cup to drink it from. The tea was supposed to have plum leaves in it but it tasted like plain black tea and very bland. The pumpkin bread was a very small piece but was very good. I rang my bell and asked for some honey just to give it some flavor.
I noticed a man at a nearby table with a different teapot. I learned that they try to match the teapots to the type of tea you ordered. When I was done I asked my server how to pay and he told me to come to the front of the store. There they have a gift shop and of course you can buy loose tea in a bag for about $ 5.00 per ounce. The teapots on sale were similar to the ones served but were very pricey. I did mention to him how bland my tea was and he apologized by saying he probably didn’t steep it that much.
Meantime I looked on the counter and there were tiny cups of different types of loose tea for purchase. He told me that since they had been sitting out I wouldn’t be able to smell them but could smell any of my choice. I asked to do that with a few and learned that if I could have done this in the beginning it would have helped me choose a better tea. There was one I really liked with cinnamon in it. He sells that tea but you have to add your own cinnamon. I paid my bill and decided to leave since it was under $ 10.00.
Needless to say it was a fair visit. I like how it is served and the atmosphere but if you are unacquainted with tea then this place would not be your best bet.

Relaxing, zen atmosphere. Good energy. Wonderfully attentive staff. And great tea to boot! :)

Dobra Tea is a beautiful combination of extensive tea collection and ornate décor.
I had a Chinese Green Tea — the first one on the list — that was accompanied by detailed directions on how to let the leaves steep by my server. It was like a schooling on teas, and I really appreciated it. I also might have eaten an entire Goat Cheese, Pita, Olive/​Tomato platter all by myself.
I would definitely go back. It’s peaceful there and can accommodate large groups or loners like me.

This is also a great little tea shop in Squirrel Hill. You can tell that the leadership really put in the effort of making the experience authentic. I got a Chinese tea and my brother ordered Turkish and even the presentation represented the tradition of each teas’s origin.
I’d recommend the hummus, as well as a couple pieces of baklava.

I had a meet-​up with a friend of mine to discuss health and books. It was my first time their and I couldn’t express how wonderful this shop is. I will emphatically suggest that friends go here based on the stellar service, selection and atmosphere.
The sitting areas were enclosed and opening with soft comfortable pillows.
The tea selection was suggested by a gentleman that had a wide knowledge of all the teas and we received our pots of tea quiet quickly.
It’s a place I could sit and drink many pots of tea all day discussing a variety of topics with friends and strangers.
The prices were exceptional and I suggest you bike over instead of driving so you can bike through schenley or frick park after a wonderful evening.

Excellent tea, great service! Cozy atmosphere, clean and indirect lighting give it ambiance. The décor is quasi-​Moroccan/​Turkish, with little alcoves for groups to sit. Extensive tea list, if you like tea this is THE place to go!

Cool chill vibe in here for hanging out and working. Very large and diverse collection of tea, good coffee and their pita and hummus. Usually playing excellent music with live shows in the back. Check them out at ‘electro belly dance troupe’.

My favorite tea place in town! I love the vibe and the music — great place to study or catch up with an old friend. The music is mainly jazz or other instrumentals so it’s great for focusing on work or whatever your friend is saying haha.
The price is pretty worth it when splitting a pot of tea with friends. Gets a bit more expensive with single serving iced teas and snacks, but everything is top quality so I’d like to think it’s worth it! Also awesome to try out different exotic teas without investing in an entire canister before finding out you don’t actually like it very much.
I would recommend trying the masala tea, genmaicha matcha, forest dragon iced tea, and their bubble teas!

Visited Dobra for the first time today to get some work done with a friend. The atmosphere is really quaint and unique — you totally forget that you’re in Pittsburgh once you step in! They have various types of seating as well. You can opt for regular tables and chairs or sit on the floor with low tables with dividers to ensure privacy.
We got the brown rice+matcha tea in a pot. I loved how rich the tea was and the fact hat they allow free hot water refills is a plus!
Overall, it’s a GREAT place to catch up with a friend, do work, or just for a quiet escape (: will definitely come back to try their wide array of tea!

The good:
Delicious, authentic tea house ambiance and experience here. Huge menu, lots of options, and reasonable prices for a pot of tea. The ice teas and smoothies are also good even if a tad overpriced. The presentation of everything was top notch, and the place really looked fantastic. Very chill vibes coming from there.
The bad:
I feel like a world class entitled jackass ringing a bell for someone to come wait on me. It feels condescending and makes me uncomfortable to the point where if I’d return I would most likely get something to go in order to avoid that whole mess.
Because of the layout of the place, the kitchen and tea prep area is almost entirely out of view from all the other patrons. This wouldn’t be a problem if they have a traditional US serving structure (e.g. Each server has an assigned section and waits only on tables in that section), but because of the ring-a-bell-and-I’ll-come-out-of-the-closed-off-prep-area-and-wander-around-wondering-where-the-ding-came-from, the service is EXTREMELY inefficient and slow.
The ugly:
For as large as this restaurant is and how busy they get, they are laughably understaffed. During my visit there were two gentlemen waiting tables and one dedicated tea person slinging drinks and filling snack orders. When the server didn’t immediately need to take someone’s order, they were helping make drinks. Often times all three staff members were in the kitchen making drinks/​snacks for folks and 4 bells would go off. The server would finish the seemingly complicated drink, serve it, and then wander around and ask random people if they rang for service. The problem with this is that if a server asked a table who didnt ring their bell if everything was going alright and that table ended up needing something, you’re stuck waiting even longer for them to get it together.
Once they cleared their drink queue, the servers didn’t seem that attentive the things like clearing dishes, getting refills, bringing the check. They were perfectly content shooting the breeze amongst themselves and being cool with a half dozen pair of eyes staring daggers into the backs of their heads.
The baklava was entirely wack.
The music was too loud for the calm tea house vibe they were going for. I also had the unfortunate luck of sitting in one of those wicker tables in the front of the place and it was terribly uncomfortable. It’s a good thing I was in great company or else I would have written this place off altogether. I’ll be back for something to go if I’m ever back that way, but no way am I suffering through that crappy service again.

Normally one to study at Te Café, my friend and I wanted a change of scenery to study for finals. Enter Dobra Tea.
We arrived at opening on a Sunday morning, and they were about 20 minutes late to open. The space does not seem to be air-​conditioned so heads up if you can’t deal with that. I liked the fans over the air conditioning so this was a plus for me.
First, I ordered a pot of the Cinnamon Rooibos tea, and it was spectacular. It was full of flavor and one of the best teas I have ever tried. The little tea cups and pots were cute, but this does lead to less tea which is a bummer. The honey that came with the tea was extra delicious too.
The atmosphere was a bit weird here. This is definitely a place to come with a group and to socialize. The cliental was mostly middle-​aged, loud, gossipy women when we went in. Also, the music was not good, which killed the atmosphere. The servers also had a bit of an air but none of this would stop me from coming back.
I will say, the whole ringing a bell for your server seems a bit disrespectful to me, but what do I know? They accept credit!

An authentic experience! There are a variety of little cubbies/​rooms so you and your party have a private area to sit and enjoy your tea/​snacks and the ambience and décor made me love it the second we walked in. Each one is adorned with pillows and cushions for a comfortable stay.
I ordered the matcha green tea and saw as they used proper techniques to prepare it.
The chai pie was also delicious and unexpected. I also enjoyed the hummus plate quite a bit.
The most trying part of the experience was simply choosing what to order from a menu the length of a short novel but from my experience, you’ll be highly satisfied with anything, as well as with the service and experience. There is a small bell at room that you ring when you need anything — how fancy ;)
Especially suggested if you’re a tea lover or want a place to chat, read, or relax!

This place has become my favorite spot for tea in Pittsburgh. I haven’t found any other place here with the same set up– a true tea house with properly served/​brewed tea and the perfect ambience (alcoves where you sit on the floor, sans shoes!).
The tea selection is impressive, if not daunting, but the staff is friendly, quick and offer plenty of advice. Personally I stick with the Japanese green teas and one of the Turkish black coffees. Prices are quite reasonable too. The chai, I’ve heard, is good but I make it plenty at home so I don’t often get it. Make sure to get in one of the alcoves if you want the true experience. Some have plugs and there’s free wifi.