Cosy Tea Time!

Hello, everyone! Pardon the lack of recipe posts the past three weeks as your self-confessed social butterfly blogger here was busy foodspotting. I have been on either a solo food adventure or catching up and sharing good meals with friends. A handful of them actually suggested that it is about time I share all these great food spots I frequent. My reply would be the same for each of them. “I am not a food critic. What do I say or write?” To which one of them said to me, write what you just told me now ( referring to how I described with gusto the very enjoyable meal I had for lunch). She said that with all these great cafes and restaurants I go to, it will be very selfish of me ( she said selfish in a very endearing way so I forgave her for that) not to share them with the rest of the foodie world. Well, she has got a point there. As a food adventurer, I would love to know the good food places to try. So, here goes the food-love sharing. I am the type of person who only endorses what I truly love and enjoy. One of my indulgences is tea time – high tea, low tea or Devonshire tea. It is just appropriate really that my first food adventure post would be about my favourite tea room in Sydney. Actually, make that the whole of Australia!

Ladies ( and gentlemen who love tea time), meet The Tea Cosy!

The tea room is tucked into the back of The Irish Design Shop at The Rocks along George Street in Sydney.

I told my friend that if I do food review posts, I would rather let the photos do the talking. Less words, more visuals. But with so many good things to say about The Tea Cosy, you have to forgive me if this will be a bit wordy. So, what do I love about the place? Let me count the ways and start with the lovely manager, Ash and her staff. You see, a good dining experience for me is not just all about the food. Serve me a well plated food but if I could not get at least a smile from the waitstaff, that kinda spoils the atmosphere. Not at The Tea Cosy. I have been to this place lots of times and each time, the staff were all smiles and lovely. I have been here on afternoons when I could choose a spot because it wasn’t too busy and have been here on busy days when I had to queue and wait for a table. I am happy to say that on both occasions, the service was consistent. I have been greeted and acknowledged with warm smiles and friendly attitude. And I really appreciate things like that.

Now, I must admit that the first time I learned that such tea room existed at The Rocks, I was over the moon. Yes, I am a regular at The Rocks but did not know of this place until less than a year ago. What a shame! Thank goodness for social media, I found The Tea Cosy on Instagram when Ash liked one of my posts about The Rocks Village Bizaare. I had to click back on the link when I saw the account name, The Tea Cosy. It had me at tea, seriously! One of the two things that really caught my attention was the interior of this cottage-like tea room. I am obsessed with anything country or vintage or things and places that exude nostalgia. And for me, The Tea Cosy is all that.

Soon as I found out about this place, I phoned them and asked where they are located and what days/time they open. That weekend in November of last year was the start of my love affair with The Tea Cosy. I went with a couple of girlfriends and boy was I like a little child in awe of the place. I know. I may sound silly but I really like old architecture and this one did not disappoint. The tea room is after all, a heritage-listed 180-year old building. The facade is very inviting with its sign screaming ‘freshly baked scones”, you should not dismiss this if you are a scone and jam and cream lover. As you enter, you will walk past the Celtic shop, which if I may suggest, have a browse at on your way out. They sell lovely items including their famous tea cosies and homemade jams. You have three options where to enjoy your meal. The main room downstairs where you place your order, at the courtyard or make your way upstairs where you can sit on the balcony and enjoy the view of The Rocks area while having your tea and scones. Leading upstairs, take time to admire the staircase adorn with teapots “dressed” in hand-knitted cosies. On a clear sunny day though, I would recommend finding yourself a spot at the courtyard.

Check out the hallway with a cupboard display of beautiful tea cosies.

The very cosy tea room. Love the fireplace and interior!

The lovely staircase with lovely teapots in cosies! — The staircase with lovely teapots in cosies!

Pop's Place or Nanna's Nook. Choose where you want your next tea group function. — Pop’s Place or Nanna’s Nook. Choose where you want your next group function.

The courtyard. Having tea and scones is a must here whenever the weather permits.

As I have mentioned, the cottage-like vintage look of the place was one of the two things that caught my attention. So, what was the other one? The scones served with homemade jams and double cream, of course! The first time I went here with two girlfriends, we ordered the Devonshire tea, ribbon sandwiches, ploughman’s lunch and a jug of their homemade iced tea. Lovely, lovely, lovely! I kept coming coming back since. I love how they come up with different scone flavours. I would also recommend having high tea and get to enjoy an assortment of lovely morsels, ribbon sandwiches, scones and two orders of tea of your choice. The ploughman’s lunch is perfect with its serves of cold meats, cheeses, apple wedges, dates, chutney and scones and jam. All the iced tea flavours are refreshingly good. My favourite is the lemongrass and ginger with apple. For a serve of hot tea, I always ask for Barry’s Irish. I love its strong flavour. As for the jams, the pear and vanilla is my favourite and pretty much goes with any flavour of scone. I remember having it with winter-spiced scones they had during, well you guess it right, winter season! The scones? I love all the flavours they do and the seasonal ones they made, like the lamington- flavoured scones for Australia Day. As you can tell, I have covered all seasons and holidays having scones and jams at The Tea Cosy. I have brought friends and families here because I really believe they would be missing out on something good if they do not come here for a tea experience. Having said that, I have yet to enjoy afternoon tea at The Tea Cosy with my most favourite boy, my son! Not exactly a boy anymore as he just turned 18 last month. Guess what? I do not have to wait that long as next week, he is coming with me for tea time. Scones and jams with my favourite boy at my favourite tea room. Perfect!