Where: Candler Park, Atlanta, Georgia Style: Eclectic Book Nook Tea Selection: 35+ loose leaf and sacheted teas Teatimes: Friday 10 to 2 for walk-in teas only; Saturday to Sunday 10-5 (full tea service at 11, 2 or 5) Reservations: Required for full tea service only Contact: 404-474-1402; for parties of 8 or more: www.drbombays.com/reservations or events@drbombays.com Cost: $20 The Caroline Tea; $17.50 High Tea; $17 The Ivan Tea; $13 Cream Tea – menus here Destination Tea Tips: Dr. Bombay’s is a great place to drop in for a spontaneous spot of tea because only their “high tea” requires advance reservation. You can pop in anytime and pick and choose your own tea and goodies for a DIY tea or sample one of their other afternoon tea menus, served without the fancy table setting of their “high tea” service.
Dr. Bombay’s 2023 with repaint and takeout windowDr. Bombay’s 2016
Destination Tea Notes: Dr. Bombay’s is a vibrant, cozy haven, reminiscent of a shop you might find in the wizarding world’s Diagon Alley. Ensconced amongst book-lined walls, paper lanterns and hanging origami, friends visit while others type away busily on laptops. The scene is lively without being loud. Not only do you feel part of the local community, you are part of a global community, simply by patronizing Dr. Bombay’s. Favorite words from their thank you card: “Make Food. Serve Love…Thank you for being a part of this movement we call humanity.” As home to The Learning Tea, Dr. Bombay’s uses a portion of its proceeds to house and pay college tuition for female scholars in Darjeeling, India. YES! Oh, and their tea selection is yummy.
$1 books for sale support The Learning Tea
Needlepoint and painting art collage in the front room
Seating choices range from booths to long library tables, from armchair reading nooks to…
…the perfect reading spot.
We haven’t yet been entertained by a little live piano playing, but would welcome it.
Cozy up with a cup of tea and a good book at the rear of the second room.
Tea Selection
Each guest gets a large pot of their favorite tea (2016 selection pictured here)
Mix-n-match china on a colorful tablecloth designate our high tea seating at one of Dr. Bombay’s long communal tables.
Bright colors and Christmas china cup
Too many tempting and interesting teas! We finally settled on two of their exclusively blended “Vampyre Teas” – Jazilla (vanilla black with jasmine green tea “that could make you want to stomp around the city like a 16-story badass”) and Sunrise Sinsation (white tea with lemon, ginger and ginseng). Smartly, we also later paired the perfectly refreshing and summery white cucumber mint with our dessert course.
One pot of tea per two guests; additional pots are $4.25 each.
Scones and Spreads, Savories and Sweets
Giant coconut hibiscus scones were dense without being dry. Back in 2016, a generous pot of clotted cream made with a family recipe was the showstopper.
Housemade savories included cucumber butter and pimiento cheese (with a delicious kick) sandwiches, as well as a flavorful leek radish goat cheese quiche.
Our favorite of the desserts was the carrot cupcakes, which were accompanied by chocolate chip cookies, brownie bites and a mini scoop of green tea ice cream. And there’s the delicious clotted cream that is no more, from pre-pandemic days.
The Caroline Tea (no reservation required)
Order your walk-in tea menus at the counter or a la carte sandwiches, vegetarian dishes, scones, cakes, ice cream, tea or coffee.
Walk-ins can order the Caroline Tea at the counter, where each guest selects their tea and scone flavor. Keep in mind that this is a more casual afternoon tea, without linens and tiered tray.
Our teas (Almond Vanilla Black and Dragon Milk Oolong) were delicious, served in insulated pots that kept them warm. *Word to the wise: remove your tea bags after a couple minutes to prevent oversteeping.
Our tea sandwiches – pimiento and egg salad – were okay, the white bread a bit stale, and we agreed the standout was the red pepper and corn quiche.
For the scone course, we were sorry to see the tearoom’s fabulous family recipe clotted cream has been replaced with a whipped cream. The strawberry jam and cream were still a happy addition to our scones and moist, chocolatey brownies.
The day’s scone flavors were Rum Raisin, Chocolate Chip and Chai. We preferred the softer crumb of the Chocolate Chip scone to the dense Chai scone. You may want to take half your giant scone home.
Supporting The Learning Tea
All books are $1, proceeds go towards The Learning TeaLove this: “We brew scholars”
You can also support The Learning Tea by purchasing tea sourced directly from Dr. Bombay’s Darjeeling partner.
We love comments! Destination Tea's comment policy shares a guiding principle with afternoon tea etiquette: please be gracious. We welcome honest comments that are not rude or scathing.
