The Bayleaf restaurant recently launched an exclusive Wine & Tea Room. It is a classical and interesting setting with a tasting space for enthusiasts to enjoy prestigious wines, along with gourmet food and artisan teas. This concept of Harpo’s is a totally different to what we usually see and it sets the mood for wine tasting in total relaxation and offers you the opportunity of enjoying a selection of 50 ‘Single-Estate’ teas. 

Speaking to Life Online, MD of Bayleaf, Harpo said, “It has been my vision to one day feature a specialty wine room serving gourmet food paired with fine wines. Joining up with the artisan Teas by TEAELI adds more value to my concept. It gives me great pleasure to launch this at my signature restaurant, the Bayleaf”. 

On one wall of this little area with just one large table for 12 pax, are ceiling high chillers with a wine range from internationally recognised wineries, chilled to perfection. It features old world French, Italian wines and an excellent selection of new world Australian, South African, Chilean, and Argentinean wines for one to enjoy. 

Along with the wine selection, a gourmet menu offers authentic cold cut platters, Italian cheese platters and antipasti as starters. The menu of mains includes Australian beef tenderloin, lamb cutlets, salmon and duck presented on slate plates and served with special accompaniments. The dessert menu has delicacies such as Italian panforte, tiramisu, semifreddo and zabaglione. 

The tea specials are by TEAELI, Sri Lanka's first designer tea brand with a collection of over 50 varieties of teas. While it features some of the finest Pure (non flavoured) Teas of Ceylon including rare handmade teas, the specialty artisan tea is also on offer. It is blended with real herbs, spices, fruits, nuts and even chocolate to create different flavoured tea blends. Dushyantha De Silva the man behind TEAELI who is absolutely passionate about his teas, explained to us the intricate details of how this special tea is blended. We tasted the mint tea which I must say was absolutely delicious. 

The high tea menu with finger sandwiches, scones and a selection of sweets which is also part of the tea experience and is served daily from 2:00PM - 6:00PM. 

Here’s a cosy and comfortable place to visit when you feel like enjoying high end wines, gourmet cuisine and exquisite teas. 

The Bayleaf is located at 79, R G Senanayake Avenue, Colombo 07. 

Photographs by Damith Wickremesinghe