Los Angeles might run on caffeine, but CHAGEE wants to change the pace. Pronounced “Cha-G,” this modern tea house opened its first U.S. flagship at Westfield Century City with a celebration that was part grand opening, part cultural reset. For a city known for fast drinks and faster lifestyles, CHAGEE invites Angelenos to sit still—and sip.
From May 9 to 11, the brand hosted a weekend-long activation that transformed The Atrium into a full-sensory tea experience. Guests lined up for complimentary pours of the brand’s global bestseller, the BOYA Tea Latte—light, floral, and layered with Yunnan high-mountain green tea and Fujian’s white-tip leaves. At the center of the launch was a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by model, actress, and author Emily Ratajkowski, who helped usher in this next chapter for a tea empire that already spans over 6,400 stores worldwide.
Step inside the flagship, and it’s clear this isn’t your typical mall tea stop. The interiors are wrapped in natural wood, balanced lighting, and elegant floral arrangements that speak more to Kyoto than Century City. Lantern-like pendant lights hang from above, casting a warm glow over minimalist booths softened by greenery. The walls tell a quiet story—etched illustrations and curated tea artifacts tracing the 4,000-year evolution of tea, modernized for a digital generation.
CHAGEE’s mission is more than aesthetic. Their vision is to create a global lifestyle around tea—serving 15 billion cups annually across 100 countries while helping people slow down and reconnect. The drinks reflect that care. In addition to the BOYA, the Peach Oolong Tea Latte—fruity, smooth, and laced with Golden Guanyin oolong—is a fan favorite. Everything is brewed using CHAGEE’s AI-powered automated tea brewing machine, which syncs with customer orders to deliver the exact pour, every time. Behind the scenes, tea extraction technology unlocks hidden flavor depths through high-pressure steeping, drawing out nuanced notes often lost in traditional brews.
But the flavor isn’t just in the cup. CHAGEE’s in-store pastry selection includes jasmine tea cruffins, flaky croissants, ricotta cake, and chewy chocolate chip cookies—small luxuries meant to pair, not compete, with their drinks.
Outside, visitors snapped photos under CHAGEE’s custom-designed façade, decorated with botanical line art and the brand’s red logo. Inside, groups lingered in conversation, some curious about the brand’s tech, others simply sipping and enjoying a rare moment of calm in one of L.A.’s busiest shopping districts.
Whether you’re a longtime devotee or someone looking for to your usual habit, CHAGEE offers something thoughtful, sensory, and refreshingly modern. Come for the creamy lattes. Stay for the quiet they bring.
Sip, linger and let the space do what it was built for—help you slow down and reconnect over something simple and good. To learn more or explore CHAGEE’s full menu, visit www.chagee.us
Address: Westfield Century City Mall, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles
Time: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Friday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
Photo credits: Photos courtesy of CHAGEE
