[Photograph: Kathy YL Chan]

The views alone are worth a visit to Asiate restaurant inside the Mandarin Oriental New York. But once you're there, it's the Mountain Berry Iced Tea ($9) that you'll be talking about. It's the hotel's signature tea (a hot version is offered at the spa), a slightly tart, deep purple berry tea coupled with mint leaves and plenty of fresh blueberries. You'll taste a bit of ginger for heat, a fragrant linger of lemongrass, and those subtle sweet notes comes from honey. It's the type of iced tea I could drink by the gallon during summer, but till then, I'll be back often for my fix.

Asiate at the Mandarin Oriental New York

80 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10023 (map)
212-805-8881
mandarinoriental.com

About the author: Originally from Honolulu, Kathy YL Chan blogs at Kathy YL Chan, where she chronicles her eats and travel adventures between Hawai'i, New York and beyond. She firmly believes that there is always room for dessert.