Tea Chests At

TEA CHESTS AT TENERIFFE HAS CLOSED AND IS REPLACED BY VIETNAMESE CAFE PHAT PHO.

Tea Chests at Teneriffe is a cool little café and tea lounge occupying the historic Hall’s Buildings (circa 1924) on Commercial Road.

The vibe here is laidback with an English flavour – high ceilings with pressed metal ceilings, classical music, Devonshire teas and with their signature pots of tea that come on their own little serving tray.

Inside there’s a funky retro style couch to kick back on with a cuppa and a magazine and a bi-fold window to pull up a stool and watch the world go by. The idea is that you can drop by any time of day for anything, be it a light breakfast, lunch or cake and coffee. And no need to leave children or dogs at home, because Tea Chests welcomes both.

In a coup for tea drinkers there’s a great range of teas available – 6 Origin Teas (Earl Grey, Forest Berry, Peppermint, Lemongrass Ginger and Green) and 6 flavours from Teardrops Australia (English Breakfast, Darjeeling Lavender Grey, Chamomile, Malabar Chai, and Oolong Rose). In addition there’s a small (and increasing) selection of delicious fruity iced teas available including forest berry and licorice mint.

Coffee lovers are not forgotten with well-brewed espresso available by the tulip, cup or mug, chai lattes and mochas as well as hot chocolate.

On the food front the café fare here is about the best value in the area with no dish over $12 and breakfasts coming in under $10. From the latter menu there’s smashed avo on toast, banana bread with melty butter, bacon and egg frittata with bush relish, toast of choice with spread or muesli with yoghurt and berry compote. Or for a liquid breakfast try the Green Juice – a healthful mix of spinach, green apple, lemon, banana, celery and ginger.

For lunch diners can choose from cheese and spinach filo, vegetable lasagne, vege quiche or quiche Lorraine, beef sausage roll, blue cheese arancini and the recommended pulled pork pie, all of which have to option of being served with a fresh green salad.

When it comes to something sweet there’s daily baked muffins, fluffy scones, caramel or vanilla slice, carrot or Mid Eastern orange cake or the must try Banoffee Pie.

Need to know – On weekends children are treated to food being served in a picnic setting.

Nice to know – On the cards are High Teas – coming soon.