The Tea Room Gunners’ Barracks *UPDATED*
Image: With the weather practically screaming picnic, I thought it high time I returned to this wonderfully outdoorsy venue. As luck would have it though, the day I picked turned out to be rainy, so I appreciated their recently renovated (and insulated) retractable verandah roof.
With the weather practically screaming picnic, I thought it high time I returned to this wonderfully outdoorsy venue. As luck would have it though, the day I picked turned out to be rainy, so I appreciated their recently renovated (and insulated) retractable verandah roof. It’s not just the roof – the interior’s also been given the once-over. The new soft grey colour palate makes a hero of the view, and my dining companion’s Vivienne Westwood number. (I think it’ll probably be even more attractive to Sydney’s bridal set.) Despite hearing news of their recent 14/20 in the Good Food Guide, I arrived determined to simply enjoy their Champagne Afternoon Tea ($60/head). It’s a classic multi-tiered affair that arrives with tea (in my case, a fragrant Indian blend called Spicy Vanilla Dream), and that all-important piccolo of dry Pommery French Champagne. From the oven we were beguiled with flavoursome chickpea samosas, and golden scones, which easily outdid my recent visit to the InterContinental. While it’s hard to ignore the elegant Opera slice, the springy, spice-rich carrot cake convinced me to give this much-maligned cake its proper due. Staff exude a warm confidence that embodies the same attention to detail as their new royal Australian wallpaper.
The Tea Room Gunners’ Barracks
End Of Suakin Drive, Mosman
Ph: (02) 8962 5900 www.thetearoom.com.au
High Tea $$$
