If you’re looking for a place with insanely good tea, quality food, or a quiet spot to study, Roji Tea Lounge should be on your radar. Complete with comfy couches and dim lighting, Roji is the perfect spot for a weekday date, or just to curl up with a book. The lounge is mostly known for its enormous selection of tea, which includes iced tea, bubble tea, hot tea, and anything in between. My two favorites are the lavender and rose teas, but you absolutely cannot go wrong with any tea here. They also have a variety of noodle bowls, appetizers, and desserts, all of which are vegan.

I’ve been to Roji on a couple of different occasions, and each time is better than the next. Soft music and low voices make for the most peaceful, calming atmosphere I’ve found in the city of Syracuse. There’s nowhere else you can grab a blanket and warm up with tea on a well-worn couch.

The food is also incredible. The noodle specials change frequently, but every dish is a winner. The tofu noodle bowl is a favorite of mine. This dish comes with bok choy, fried tofu, and noodles in a hot homemade vegetable broth. A spicier option on the menu is the soba noodle bowl, with sesame seeds, kale, and those signature long soba noodles. If you’re in the mood for something a little more DIY, the rice noodle bowl comes with fresh cilantro, carrots, cucumber, and fried tofu with peanut sauce for you to mix together for an insanely good dish.

Roji also offers a huge assortment of vegan desserts, such as the decadent chocolate cake with vegan whipped cream and raspberries, or the soy chocolate mousse, which I strongly believe everyone on Earth should try. If you can’t tell by now, there’s absolutely nothing bad about this place. From the extensive tea menu to the incredible noodle specials, Roji is truly a gem in Syracuse.

If you go:

Roji Tea Lounge

108 E Washington St, Suite 2, Syracuse, NY; (315) 428-0844.

Type of food: Asian

Hours: Monday, 3 p.m. – 11 p.m.; Tuesday to Sunday, 1 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Sit Down/Take Out/Both: Both.

Cost: $

Alcohol: No.