
Morning tea at the Hopetoun Tea Rooms - an experience that leaves you oohing and aahing, wanting to go back for more…
I took the train, met my friend, Tess and we headed to Hopetoun Tea Rooms in the Block Arcade via the shoe shop where her boots were ready to take her walking a thousand steps more after a small repair..
We took a long time at the window display of cakes - neither of us huge fans of sweet decadence, so you won’t find sugar in our pantries, including the packaged foods with this hidden threat to good health. I cut sugar out long before it became a hot topic… So it was a big event for us.... but who could resist these delightfully delicious cakes and tarts. My agonising over choice - it’s not just about sugar - could drive a person to distraction, but prevent an upset digestive system for me.....
I took the train, met my friend, Tess and we headed to Hopetoun Tea Rooms in the Block Arcade via the shoe shop where her boots were ready to take her walking a thousand steps more after a small repair..
We took a long time at the window display of cakes - neither of us huge fans of sweet decadence, so you won’t find sugar in our pantries, including the packaged foods with this hidden threat to good health. I cut sugar out long before it became a hot topic… So it was a big event for us.... but who could resist these delightfully delicious cakes and tarts. My agonising over choice - it’s not just about sugar - could drive a person to distraction, but prevent an upset digestive system for me.....

Finally we headed inside to a table for two, to be treated like ladies from the days when the tea rooms were established in 1892, although we weren't dressed in that fashion. Lady Hopetoun was the the wife of Victoria's first governor (1889) and established the tea rooms along with the Victorian Ladies Work Association. This aimed to unify working class women through needle and thread. A stitch in time and for us, a time for tea..
A High Tea would give you even more of that old-world charm to your Hopetoun Tea Rooms visit, an indulgence offering pinwheel sandwiches, smoked salmon and dill cream cheese, sweets - as in the signature petit fours and scones with triple berry jam and double cream....
A High Tea would give you even more of that old-world charm to your Hopetoun Tea Rooms visit, an indulgence offering pinwheel sandwiches, smoked salmon and dill cream cheese, sweets - as in the signature petit fours and scones with triple berry jam and double cream....
We settled for Cha Cha Chai and Buddha's Finger for our choice on the organic tea list that included Bard's Tempest ( English breakfast of Ceylon & China black) and the romantic Mademoiselle Grey (Earl Grey & rose petals). From the cake range we settled for a slice of the chocolate fig tart and raspberry tartlet to share - hmm, yumm! all delightfully served by a young girl on her first day working there. With a big smile, she could also recommend the apple, peach & blackberry crumble..... Next time we said.. or maybe have the red velvet - a chocolate & raspberry sponge with cream cheese & strawberry filling...
The menu offers more than these divine creations. There's breakfast and lunch if morning / afternoon tea doesn't fit into your day. You could have a classic hearty breakfast or perhaps ricotta and cinnamon pikelets. Lunch might be a souffle or the traditional Ploughman's lunch..
A good brisk walk was next on the agenda and lunch would be late...
The menu offers more than these divine creations. There's breakfast and lunch if morning / afternoon tea doesn't fit into your day. You could have a classic hearty breakfast or perhaps ricotta and cinnamon pikelets. Lunch might be a souffle or the traditional Ploughman's lunch..
A good brisk walk was next on the agenda and lunch would be late...