We’ve been passing this place along the Beira Lake for a year and it’s never been open. Now it is. Mackwoods has opened a tea bar (look out Dilmah’s and Heladiv)
Tea Breeze has an amazing location but an unimaginative menu and decor. The tea itself is fine, but nothing else is mind-blowing.
Location
Tea Breeze is on Perahera Mawatha, which winds down the Beira Lake towards Temple Trees. It’s a great location, great view and the Beira looks and smells good these days. It’s a beautiful townhouse type space and it feels and looks very cool.
It’s a small space but they’ve made good use of it. There’s a gift shop and seating downstairs and the best view upstairs. Note that the stairs are precarious. Each table seems to have an Ashok Ferrey book on it and the walls are covered with paintings from the Green Path Art Pola (which are not very good). Regarding that, it’d be nice if they sold better art, or bought a few good pieces rather than a lot of generic ones.
But nevermind that, the view over the Beira is lovely and feels positively urbane.
The Food/Drink
The tea itself is fine, it’s tea. The High Tea (Rs. 600), however, didn’t come with jam or butter (they said they hadn’t got yet) and was generally unimpressive. They do tea milkshakes which are OK if a bit sweet. Basically the food and drink wasn’t really in gear by the time we came.
Judging by the menu, however, they aren’t really pushing it. The Dilmah t-Lounge menu is a work of art, both in terms of printing and conceptualization of food and drink. Plus it has booze (soon). Tea Breeze is basically just tea and tea milkshakes and some desserty bites. Nothing amazing.
The Service
It’s just opened so the service is excellent. Early is always the best time to go, but not so early that they don’t have butter.
Conclusion
Worth a visit for the location alone, but the menu is uninspiring.
