Food, drinks and value for money – 5 stars

There are coffee shops and coffee shops so coming across a well laid out tea bar and in this case, Tea Avenue, was a refreshing experience.

Even though they are a tea bar, I felt their best and most interesting beverage was the Cookies and Cream milk shake with Oreo cookies (Rs 550) served in a glass like jar. It was creamy, chilled and delicious and a perfect substitute for a dessert.

The teas used at Tea Avenue are sourced locally while they also have Chinese teas. The Milk Tea with milk powder, fresh milk or condensed milk (Rs 350) is also a good option among their hot beverages. The milk tea poured in the manner of the the yaare, which, for a first timer can be interesting to watch.  I also loved their chilled and refreshing Peach Iced Tea (Rs 400). They also brew and serve Silver Tips (Rs 450).

Sajeev De Silva, Director, Tea Avenue, explained to me that the tea bar’s All Day Breakfast options are quite popular. Among the options are Waffles with Ice Cream (Rs 500) and Pancakes with Butter (Rs 300) to which you can add some fresh strawberries (Rs 100). The waffles were light and airy on the inside, and crunchy on the outside. I gave the ice cream a little time to soak into the waffles, which gave the flavours a good chance to blend in. The American style pancakes with butter and slightly tart strawberries gave the perfect balance of sweet and sour.

Among the savoury items on the menu is the simple and fresh Prawn Sandwich (Rs 700). You can choose between a Croissant, Ciabatta, herb bread, brown bread or multi-seed bread. The sandwich, which come stuffed with mayonnaise and a hint of chilli was delicious and filling and I felt it would have complimented a chilled glass of iced tea perfectly.

If you still prefer to have coffee instead, they serve coffees, which are imported. Tea Avenue is essentially a family business in partnership with a Singaporean company.

Ambiance – 5 stars

The sleek, laid back atmosphere created with the warm colours and wooden floors makes Tea Avenue a chilled out place to hang out and indulge.

Friendly staff – 5 stars

The staff are efficient, friendly and ready to serve with a smile.

Parking – 5 stars

Situated on the cross road where Wijerama Mawatha and Barnes Place meet there is room for parking within the premises and on the street as well.

Address: 55, Barnes Place, Colombo 7

Hours of operation: Monday to Sunday 10am to 11pm and till 1am on Fridays and Saturdays. They will operate from 6.30am to 11pm from January 2015.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeaAvenue1936

Website:http://www.tea-avenue.com

By Natasha Fernandopulle
Photos by Kanishke Ganewatte