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Whether visiting the Art Gallery of NSW’s vast and varied collection or one of the many constantly changing exhibitions, you could say that there is something for everyone here. Although a constant flow of visitors pass through the doors, the hushed tones akin to library visits make this a pleasant escape from city streets. Feeling peckish? Then head down to the Cafe at the Gallery on level one, which is one of two eateries at the gallery. A large light-filled cafe with an outdoor dining space, the hubbub from the diners feels loud and hectic after the semi-silent crowds in the galleries. Scones are served singularly. My scone is large; soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. It’s served with chilled whipped cream alongside standard strawberry jam – delicious! Cafe on Gallery is open late for Art After Hours on Wednesdays.
Scones: 
Jam: 
Cream:
Tea: A basic range of loose-leaf teas served in a small teapot
Price: $$
Overall: A superb art collection matched with an inviting cafe.
Location: Art Gallery of NSW, Art Gallery Rd, Sydney NSW 2000
Ph: 02 9225 1700 artgallery.nsw.gov.au
Reviewed in May 2017
‘Cafe Cino’
A great central location in Sydney’s CBD, Caffe Cino is your typical generic lobby style cafe in a busy five-star hotel. The public spaces at Sydney’s Hilton Hotel are lovely and light filled and the lobby is a hive of activity. Short on ambience, the cafe serves an average Devonshire Tea with small scones heated in the microwave. The airy whipped cream is non-eventful but the best thing is the Beerenberg jam that is served in its own jar. Maybe try something else on the menu.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: Good sized pot with a limited selection of loose-leaf teas.
Price: $$$
Overall: Light, airy and open.
Location: The Lobby, The Hilton Hotel, 488 George St, Sydney NSW 2000
Ph: 02 9266 2000 hiltonsydney.com.au
Reviewed in December 2011
‘Caffe Contessa’
You may not notice Caffe Contessa, especially if you are making a beeline for The Tea Salon, which incidentally is only a hop, step and a jump away on the same floor. The cafe offers High Teas among other things as well as date scones. When I ask how they are served, I am told with butter and jam – cream one dollar extra. I was already committed to the date scones, but little did I know that they were served toasted. Not a fan of toasted scones, it’s hard to get past the sweetness of the dates, the inferior quality jam and the can cream all together. It’s a pleasant corner in Westfield for a cuppa nonetheless.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small selection of Tea Drop pyramid bag teas served in a small pot.
Price: $$
Overall: Visit if you like toasted scones.
Location: Westfield Sydney, Level 4, Pitt Ln, Sydney NSW 2000 Ph: 02 8072 8003
Reviewed August 2014
‘Cafe Victoria’
In the Myers department store in Sydney’s CBD, I find the location of Cafe Victoria quite peculiar. In my mind the feminine touches, classical music and promises of High Tea would be more suitable to a clientele more predisposed to gowns and intimates rather than suits and shirts? Maybe it’s for weary girlfriends, partners and wives who are waiting for their other half to make a decision on whether to take the handkerchief or a tie to wear with their suit? The cafe in the corner of the menswear department has a cosy design but the pièce de résistance is the bar and stools running along the picture windows. I do love a view, and this city view looks straight across George and Market streets to the Queen Victoria Building and the busy intersection below. It’s obviously my lucky day as this is the first time I have seen scones available at this cafe. My sultana scone is, politely put, average, and quite hard on the outside. The small serving of ultra sweet jam and cream from a can is rather disappointing. The only worthy mention goes to the Tea Tonic tea and that city view!
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A selection of Tea Tonic loose-leaf teas served in a small pot.
Price: $$
Overall: Take advantage of the windows and view, especially if you have been indoors for too long.
Location: Myers Department Store, Level 3, 436 George St, Sydney NSW 2000
Ph: 02 9238 9560
Reviewed August 2014
‘Cellini’s Cafe & Restaurant’
It’s always a pleasant experience spending time at the Queen Victoria Building (QVB), and it’s surprising how many cafes in the QVB serve scones. Like the majority of these cafes, Cellini’s Bar & Restaurant spills out onto the concourse to make the most of the glorious building. There’s always the option to eat in the cafe otherwise sit out to absorb the QVB vibe. The scones look good and are fine enough but aren’t super fresh. The strawberry jam is slightly better than average, and the cream, although fresh, is quite light as it’s from a cream canister. It’s not a bad spread, and there’s enough tea to keep you going if you want to sit for a while, but there are more flash places to break scones.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A good and interesting range of loose-leaf teas served in a good-sized teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: The QVB is always a pleasant place to hang out.
Location: Queen Victoria Building, Level 2, Shop 46-48 George St, Sydney NSW 2000
Ph: 02 9264 4671 cellinis.net.au
Reviewed September 2018
‘Cicchetti Wine Bar’
It’s a bit weird eating a Devonshire Tea at a wine bar when there is a fabulous tea room one level up. That’s the Queen Victoria Building (QVB), full of interesting possibilities. The higher you go towards the QVB’s ornate ceiling, the more the busyness of the city dissipates. Cicchetti Wine Bar attracts those wanting wine with lunch. You might say it has a split personality; lunch and afternoon tea haven by day, then turns into a chilled hangout for a wine or two from Thursday to Saturday evenings. They do plug High Teas, but it is possible to just get a Devonshire Tea – so don’t be pressured into or put off by thinking you have to have the whole shebang. The fresh creamy scones hit the spot, and I think that perhaps it’s okay to eat scones in a wine bar after all! The blueberry compote is fruit rich with only a hint of sweetness, and the slightly sweet and thickly whipped cream is the perfect accompaniment. Great effort with the pretty tea ware and the iron tea pot that is one size up from the usual teeny tiny one used in some cafes.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A slightly better than basic range of loose-leaf teas served in a decent sized Japanese iron teapot.
Price: $$$$
Overall: It’s a lovely spread, but for the price, it’s not quite the quality or the ambience of some other tea rooms in the QVB.
Location: QVB, Level 2, 455 George St, Sydney NSW 2000 Ph: 02 8084 5470 cicchettiwinebar.com.au
Reviewed October 2018
‘City Extra’
Franchise and 24/7 cafe/restaurants in highly trafficked tourist areas in major cities are not the kind of places I have scored decent scones. So it is with very low expectations that I slide in to a seat at City Extra, Circular Quay. Fortunately it’s not overly busy this particular Saturday afternoon and we nab an outdoor table overlooking the busy Circular Quay thoroughfare filled with ferry commuters, and locals and visitors ambling along enjoying the winter sun and all that the busy hub offers. The inside booths and array of pancakes on the menu makes City Extra feel very American, and back when it opened in 1986, it did feel just that. I don’t expect to find scones on the menu, so I have never bothered to stop by, which is a shame as the scones are crispy and fresh out of the oven, no soggy microwaved scones here. They do taste a bit salty to me, but my partner doesn’t pick it up. I do notice on the busy menu, it’s designed to look like a folded newspaper, that all items are made on the premises. Call me cynical, but I don’t always believe what I read. However, in the scone case, I think they are right! The jam is average, and the fresh cream is from a whipping siphon and is particularly light. But with scones this good, the jam and cream don’t spoil the spread. The Circular Quay venue has extended trading hours but City Extra Parramatta is open 24/7.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small selection of Twinings tea bags served in a small pot.
Price: $$
Overall: A handy location with extended trading hours right at Circular Quay.
Location: E4 East Podium Circular Quay, Sydney NSW 2000 Ph: 02 9241 1422 cityextra.com.au
Reviewed May 2015
‘Crossroads Bar’
Tucked away high above Market Street in Sydney’s CBD, you’d be forgiven for not knowing where the Swissotel Sydney is. Pass through the easily missed door at street level and ride the escalator to the eighth floor and a whole big open hotel world awaits. The Crossroads Bar, in front of the hotel reception, is the main hub and acts as a bar and all day dining venue. It’s open and bright, helped by a sizeable chunk of floor to ceiling windows that overlook Market Street. The tables by the window are very popular and if you miss out on one of these there are also several intimate pods (the modern day booths) to sit at. It’s Monday afternoon and very busy with many customers enjoying High Tea, so I have a more than expected wait for both service and my scones. I can’t help but notice that my Devonshire Tea looks more Oriental than English and I am half expecting a set of chopsticks to be presented. The plain and sultana scones are both small, and exceptionally crusty on the outside with not much on the inside. There is also an aftertaste that reminds me of pancakes made from premixed batter. The jam is a little runny and the cream, said to be ‘Sydney organic honey cream’, although lovely, I can’t quite taste the difference to plain whipped cream.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A variety of Sir Thomas Lipton loose-leaf teas served in a heavy pot.
Price: $$$
Overall: A respite from the hustle and bustle of Sydney’s CBD.
Location: Swissotel Sydney, 68 Market St Sydney NSW 2000
Ph: 02 9238 8888 swissotel.com/hotels/sydney/
Reviewed in August 2013
‘D’ough Espresso’
Another scone offering in Sydney’s CBD is D’ough Espresso in The Galleries opposite Sydney’s QVB. Date and plain scones are listed on the breakfast menu but when I turn up mid afternoon there is only one plain scone left. Ordering a tea and scone, I ask how they are served having learned my lesson in ordering scones in city cafes. I ask them not to toast my scone and to ditch the butter and replace it with cream. None of this is a problem and I take a seat. My tea arrives in a mug that is three-quarters full, and after perusing the menu I realise that you can get a pot, but I am not even asked by the cashier. The scone arrives cut in half but luckily not toasted. The cream is from a can and extremely light and the Beerenberg jam is in portion controlled packets.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small selection of T2 tea bag teas served in a mug or teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: It’s not the best CBD option, but if you are short of time.
Location: The Galleries, Lower Ground, 500 George St, Sydney NSW 2000 Ph: 02 9265 6888
Reviewed October 2014
‘Dovetail Cafe’
Located in the heart of the bustling shopping precinct that is World Square in Sydney’s CBD, Dovetail Cafe is strategically positioned to receive a heavy flow of passing pedestrian traffic. Not sure whether it’s named after the pseudo dovetail joints on display on the outer walls of the cafe, or the silhouettes of doves (as in birds) positioned around the place. The interior of the cafe maintains the random dove theme, and sticks with a bright, modern cafe look. The scones aren’t on the menu but are a reliable staple. They’re mediocre – neither good nor bad – and will suffice if you’re really hankering for one and don’t want to traipse up town. The one lousy strawberry sachet of jam is a disappointment and doesn’t meet my jam requirements, so I ask for another. The cream tastes like a synthetic whipped cream from a can, which is super light. Probably not the best choice of DT in the City.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A basic range of T2 loose-leaf teas served in a teapot, plus some ‘hand picked fine Chinese teas’.
Price: $$
Overall: A buzzy cafe easily located in bustling World Square.
Location: World Square, 9/644 George St, Sydney NSW 2000 Ph: 02 8387 6257 dovetailcafe.com.au
Reviewed in September 2017
‘Expresso Bar @ David Jones Foodhall’
Finding a cafe that serves scones is like finding a needle in a haystack sometimes. With time to spare between appointments I decide to try to sniff out some scones in the David Jones Foodhall in Market Street. After pinning for London over tins of Harrods and Fortnum & Mason teas, I locate what I’m looking for at Expresso Bar, a European style coffee bar opposite a cake shop with cabinets loaded with decadent cakes and pastries. Although outside, the mercury is nudging the mid 30s, I’m as cool as a cucumber and late enough to miss the lunchtime crowds. There is no set ‘Devonshire Tea’ on the menu but rather, you can order as many scones as you like at $3.00 a pop and that includes the cream and jam, plus add a tea, or coffee for that matter, after all it is an ‘Expresso Bar’. With plain and sultana scones to choose from, I go with the plain, and although not mind-blowing, it’s light and tasty – just the right texture without making you feel like you’ve eaten a horse. The miniature jar of Beerenberg raspberry jam is the perfect amount for one scone, but the cream tastes like it’s straight from the can, too light, too airy and not enough by a long shot – unless you’re on a diet that is.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A choice of a bunch of Twining’s tea bags served in a small pot.
Price: $$
Overall: A busy thoroughfare with great people watching possibilities.
Location: David Jones, 65-77 Market St, Sydney NSW 2000 Ph: 02 9266 5544 davidjones.com.au/Store-Services/Food/Food-hall
Reviewed in October 2013
‘Foodoo Coffee Lounge’
Tucked amongst the bed, bath and kitchen ware on level 5 of Myers Sydney City is relaxed Foodoo Coffee Lounge, which is an oasis for shoppers who need a break from chasing after Christmas sales. I’ve been past the cafe before, checking for scones at different times of the year, but this is the first time I have seen the cafe’s cabinets so well stocked. Maybe it’s due to the busy Christmas period, I’m not sure, but I find scones wedged in the corner. Impressive are the 15 choices of Tea Tonic loose-leaf teas – a shame the teapots aren’t a tad bigger though. You can order as many scones as you like, so I try one and it arrives with one portion of jam, which is definitely not enough, and a big squirt of cream from a can. The scone isn’t bad at all and would punch above average if served with better quality jam and cream. When I asked, there was no problem getting more jam for the other half of the scone.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A surprisingly great choice of Tea Tonic loose-leaf teas and some tea bag varieties.
Price: $$
Overall: A nice spot for a cup of Tea Tonic tea, but skip the scone.
Location: Level 5, 436 George St, Sydney 2000 NSW Ph: 02 9238 9111
Reviewed in December 2013
‘Hyde Park Barracks Cafe’
Built in 1819 by the convict architect Francis Greenway, the World Heritage Listed Hyde Park Barracks, now a museum, started its life housing convicts. From 1848 it became an Immigration Depot for single female immigrants and then a female asylum from 1862 to 1886. The government moved in and used some of the buildings as law courts up until as late as 1979. The wonderful heritage barracks and buildings as well as its spacious courtyard, that is more reminiscent of army parades than convicts have had a colourful life and now operates as a museum. After an interesting poke around the museum, take tea and scones in a building that acted as former solitary confinement cells, and then later as a court room. On the mezzanine level be sure to look up and witness the only remaining original dome-like ceiling. Sit in or outside and enjoy the historical ambience that feels a world away from the hectic pace of the CBD. The scones are on the brunch menu and are baked to order, so they ask for 10 minutes preparation time. The scones are large and of course fresh from the oven, but taste more muffin/cake than a traditional scone. The tart rather than sweet strawberry jam is house made and don’t be put off by the dark red hue, it’s the real deal. The cream is definitely freshly whipped, but not the way I like it – the old-fashioned way with an electric mixer. Instead it’s very light and I suppose out of a whipping cream siphon. Scones are available from 9.00 – 11.45am daily.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A range of Tea Craft loose-leaf teas served in an Asian inspired teapot.
Price: $$$
Overall: Sophisticated and relaxed dining a stones throw from the city centre.
Location: Queens Square, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000
Ph: 02 9222 1815 hydeparkbarrackscafe.com.au
Reviewed in May 2015
‘Kusuka Cafe’
Hectic Chinatown slowly peters out the further you go down Sussex Street towards the bridge. As Chinese eateries give way to a more varied cuisine, Kusuka Cafe pops up. A bright corner cafe, the all around floor to ceiling windows affords some worthy people watching on a Friday and Saturday evening. With a definite Asian influence, the menu is varied and my neighbour’s drinks are decked out with fairy floss and all sorts of sugary things. It’s an odd place to serve scones, but there they are alongside a few other slices of cake. I’m not impressed that the scone arrives lightly toasted rather than lightly warmed. As far as I’m concerned, it’s not a scone at all! Although the presentation is impressive – I’ve not seen cream served in a glass like this before, nor the jam in a flip top jar. What’s not impressive is the quality. The jam is sickly sweet, the cheap kind, and the cream is light and airy and probably from a can. The best thing about the spread is the tea. My rose white tea is top-notch and brewed perfectly. Closed Thursday, Friday and Sundays.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A handful of good quality loose-leaf teas with the addition of three more interesting blends served in a good-sized teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: A mellow alternative in hectic Chinatown.
Location: Unit 12/339 Sussex St, Sydney NSW 2000 Ph: 02 8033 0532
Reviewed June 2018
‘La Rose Café’
Over the years I have kept an eye out for the likelihood of scones being served at La Rose Cafe in Myers Sydney City. The café looks over the beauty department on the ground floor and shares the Mezzanine level with women’s lingerie and sleepwear. Since it’s all about women, you would think that scones are available, but this is the first time I see them (it is the middle of winter). However, I don’t know why they have bothered, as these forlorn little buggers, individually wrapped in plastic, look very unappealing. And even more unappealing is the one small sachet of Kraft strawberry jam and the small squirt of super sweet can cream they are served with. The highlight of the overpriced endeavour is the pot of Tea Tonic tea, although the coffee cup and small teapot doesn’t do my coconut tea justice. When I visit there is a special – ‘scone and coffee for $7.50’ but I have to pay a bit extra to have the Tea Tonic tea.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A surprisingly extensive selection of Tea Tonic loose-leaf teas served in a small pot.
Price: $$
Overall: An ideal location if you need a quiet break from the women’s lingerie department but skip the scone special.
Location: Myer, Mezzanine Level, 436 George St, Sydney NSW 2000
Ph: 02 9238 9111 myer.com.au
Reviewed July 2015
‘Met2 Cafeteria’
Met2 Cafeteria on the top-level of the iconic Woolworths at Town Hall Station, is not only a rare find but also a blast from the retro past. It reminds me of my childhood in the 1970’s when I ate salty crinkled cut hot chips in a bucket that I put on a plastic tray and slid along the cold stainless steel rungs to the cashier in the yellow uniform. That was at the Coles/K Mart in Waratah, Newcastle, and I wonder if it’s still there? Like American diners, supermarket cafeterias are nostalgic bolt holes and Met2 is the only one in existence that I know of. Sitting serenely atop the busiest Woolies in Australia – well, definitely Sydney – the café shares a floor with a photo lab and a kind of Internet café and whatever Woolies is trying to spruik that week. Not many people know about it, as most don’t make it past the ground floor. There are booths and a menu that reads like RSL restaurant menus, think chicken vol-an-vont, fish Mornay and all types of steaks, and I love it. If only the staff dressed in pastel coloured uniforms that were so popular in the 70s and 80s, which would really top it off! The scone on the other hand is far from enticing; more sweet bread roll than light fluffy scone. The jam is at the better end of the average spectrum but the cream is the star, fresh and thick. Go for the fun of it!
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A basic range of tea bag teas served in a small pot.
Price: $$
Overall: A nostalgic trip down memory lane.
Location: Woolworths Town Hall, Level 4, Cnr Park & George St, Sydney NSW 2000
Ph: 02 9264 1927
Reviewed September 2015
‘Old Viennese Coffee House’
What impress me are the windows. I just love the massive top to bottom original windows on Level 1 of the QVB. As I sip tea and chat, they allow a birds-eye view of the Westfield Tower wedged in amongst the high-rise buildings. The opera music competes with the murmur of the diners and is pleasant rather than offensive, even if you’re not a fan. It’s just hit lunchtime when I visit, but the service is swift and efficient, a Viennese trait perhaps, and we’re not waiting long before we’re munching on scones. I’m not keen on yellow plates, I don’t now why but they just don’t suit, they remind me of 1970s Formica laminated kitchen bench tops. Overall, the presentation, quality and taste is pretty average. The scones are neither good nor bad, and the cream is very light. My friend and I can’t decide whether it’s from a can or from a cream whipping canister, but after much debate we decide on the latter as it does taste fresh but very light. The jam is my favourite part of the spread, not too syrupy, but tasty nonetheless.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small selection of Twinnings tea bags served in a small pot.
Price: $$
Overall: Efficient service but don’t expect to be transported to Vienna, Austria.
Location: The Albert Walk, Shop 2, Level 1, Queen Victoria Building, Sydney NSW 2000
Ph: 02 9267 5746
oldviennacoffeehouse.com.au
Reviewed May 2014
‘The Bakers Oven Café’
Nothing beats a stroll through Sydney’s historic heartland, The Rocks, filled with cobbled walkways, classic pubs and shops geared to tourists. There are a multitude of eateries, which in the most part are overpriced and geared to the tourist market. The Bakers Oven Cafe’s large shop window stacked with cakes and pastries has been wooing passersby for longer than I can remember. Recently I noticed their stack of scones so decide to give it a try. The cafe has been spruced up and now has footpath seating out the front and quite a large area spilling on to the Nurses Walk out the back. The wholemeal and sultana scones are served with jam and butter, so I ask for cream and am quickly told it’s an extra $2.50. There really isn’t a choice in the matter, there has to be scones, jam and cream, so I order away. You can sense a tourist cafe a mile off, and I have my misgivings. The large single scone arrives cut and toasted, with sachets of butter, one sachet of jam (I ask for one more) and a bowl of cream. The scone is disappointing, more fruit bread with an aftertaste than soft fluffy scone, and my $2.50 bowl of spray can cream is melting at such a fast rate I need a straw. My underwhelming, I am being polite here, Devonshire Tea ends up coming in at $13.50, which is a rip off considering the quality and quantity.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A handful of Lipton tea bag choices.
Price: $$$
Overall: Overpriced and underwhelming.
Location: 121 George St, The Rocks NSW 2000 Ph: 02 9247 9978
Reviewed in November 2013
‘The Devonshire Tea Community Café’
Open on Surry Hills Market days (1st Saturday of the month) between 10am and 3pm, this superb city secret doesn’t disappoint. Situated on level 1 of the architecturally award-winning library and community centre, the open kitchen bustling with beaming welcoming faces churn out a serious amount of scones. The incredibly fresh scones are slightly crusty with no nasty after taste, and the whipped cream is real i.e. not from a can. Run by a few volunteers and paid staff, I can’t believe that a $6 Devonshire Tea can exist amongst the expensive trendy cafes in the area. Check for other goodies like a bargain $5 bowl of homemade soup with bread roll while you’re there.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: Stock standard Tetley teabag.
Price: $$
Overall: Lovely community atmosphere.
Location: Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre, Level 1, 405 Crown St, Surry Hills NSW 2010 Ph: 02 9356 4977 shnc.org
Reviewed in June 2012
‘The Gallery Tea Lounge’
With views across the road to Hyde Park, the Gallery Tea Lounge at Sydney’s Sheraton on the Park Hotel is an easy place to slip in to for a quiet bite to eat. The casual atmosphere and book-lined wall gives the open space a reading room vibe so outside of main dining times it’s a pleasant place to hang out. The service is far too efficient or is it that my companion and I are too slow in opening the menus? Our large pots of tea arrive promptly and just before the plate of four smallish scones accompanied with three juicy strawberries. The raisin and plain scones are crispy on the outside and are good but nothing remarkable. What impresses me is the clotted cream; thick, rich and almost like butter. It’s definitely the highlight. To me all five-star hotel scones tend to taste the same: bland, but I am hoping to be proved wrong some day.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A great range of Twinings and Penelope Sach herbal loose-leaf teas.
Price: $$$$
Overall: Pricey for what you get.
Location: Lobby Level, Sheraton on the Park, 161 Elizabeth St, Sydney NSW 2000
Ph: 02 9286 6000
sheratonontheparksydney.com/thegallerytealounge
Reviewed in September 2013
‘The Palace Tea Room’
A visit to The Palace Tea Room needs to be shared with at least one friend rather than going solo. Why? Because it’s just so damn good. It’s the kind of place where you can escape hectic Sydney, especially the lower thoroughfare levels of the QVB and nestle in for a few hours for a good ‘catch up’. Set in the upper echelons of the historical Queen Victoria Building, The Palace Tea Room is essentially a Tea Room serving all manner of afternoon teas plus more substantial meals. The space is filled with natural light and chandeliers hang from the ceiling to give the place an air of decadence. It feels a bit empty when we arrive but the vibe amps up a notch as tables fill and the clink of teacup to saucer and the chatter of satisfied customers fills the air. There’s seating in the main part of the restaurant with ample tables lining the banister outside for a more QVB appreciation experience. We’re impressed with the Wedgewood tea ware that’s all floral and shades of pink. The scones arrive fresh from the oven. One plain and one raisin, and I’ve got to say that they are superb! Crispy on the outside with delicate folds of scone heaven on the inside. To top it off, the cream is double thick and the housemade strawberry jam is tart rather than sickly sweet, which personally I love. There’s not a lot of jam and cream, considering there are four good-sized scones, but there’s no problem getting a top up. I visit on a weekday, but you may want to book a table on the weekends as I can only assume it would be a popular place. Quality doesn’t come cheap, but when you try as many scones as I do, it’s easy to recognise a stand out one – and this is one of them.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A diverse range of loose-leaf teas served in classic Wedgewood teapots.
Price: $$$$
Overall: Understated top quality elegance with professional and friendly service.
Location: Queen Victoria Building, Shop L1 20-22, L1, George St, Sydney NSW 2000
Ph: 02 9283 2222
thepalacetearooms.com.au
Reviewed May 2014
‘The Sconery’
With a name like The Sconery, you know there’s going to be scones on the menu. Well, there are scones, but you won’t find them on the menu. Instead, the plain, raisin, and white chocolate and cranberry scones are stacked high on a cake plate, so there’s no mistaking them, even on approach. Tucked away in Chippendale, in between busy City Road, Cleveland Street and Broadway, The Sconery doesn’t attract passing traffic, unless it’s a local – or someone in the know, like myself (a friend told me about it). Adjacent to a leafy park, it has tables spilling out into a front courtyard, which is lovely if you don’t want to sit indoors. I go traditional and order a plain scone, which is a good size and dense. I am told that a lot of people ask for scone toast, which is basically the scone cut in half and both sides are put in a toaster press, mmm, odd. The Brtish owner, Jason, is a pastry chef and runs scone and cupcake baking classes on the premises and tells me he makes the clotted cream and the strawberry/raspberry jam. The clotted cream is definitely a nice touch – impressive.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A few choices of loose-leaf tea.
Price: $$
Overall: A hidden spot away from the mayhem.
Location: 71/65 Myrtle St, Chippendale NSW 2008 Ph: 02 9319 7728 thesconery.com.au
Reviewed in November 2013
‘The Tea Cosy’
I’ve been to The Tea Cosy in The Rocks many times, and if I wasn’t in the habit of sniffing out new places to have scones, I would be visiting a lot more often. This time round, I take a gluten-free friend who is literally gagging for a scone fix to try The Teas Cosy’s gluten-free offering. It is important however to pre-order as there isn’t always a batch of gluten-free in the oven. The place is literally pumping out scones to a full house, and even though there are a couple of parties upstairs, we nab the last table for two downstairs. There are four flavours today including one savoury. I go with a currant and an apple crumble scone, which are not long out of the oven; crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. There are nine flavours of jam to choose from and have the bloodplum, which is rich and fruity and goes perfectly with the fresh scones and double thick cream. My gluten-free buddy is lost for words, but manages a “the best scones I’ve ever had.” So as a gluten gal, I suppose she means that they don’t taste like cardboard and are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside – just like mine but gluten-free.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: 19 varieties of loose-leaf teas served in a tea cosy covered pot.
Price: $$$
Overall: For tea, tradition and tea cosies – where else is there?
Location: 33 George St, The Rocks NSW 2000 Ph: 02 9247 4955 theteacosy.com.au
Reviewed in November 2014
‘The Tea Salon’
Stroll past high-end designer stores on level four of the swanky Westfield Sydney and you’ll stumble upon The Tea Salon. It’s all very pink and white, with splashes of purple and green creating a truly feminine feel. There’s quite a menu; 10 scone varieties, both sweet and savoury, including a gluten-free option. If a glass of Moet is more your thing then there’s a selection of champagne and other alcoholic beverages to choose from. This is my second visit in two years. During my first visit I tried a cinnamon/raisin scone served with strawberry jam and thick cream, however it was dry with a nasty after taste. My friend ordered the date/orange scone, served with thick cream and a burnt marmalade jam, and wasn’t impressed for much the same reasons as myself. Normally I’m not a fan of marmalade but I actually liked this, as it wasn’t too ‘breakfast marmalade-ish’. Due to recent positive scone reports I decided on a second visit, but this time to taste the plain scones. Not so plain as I taste a hint of lemon or orange zest. The strawberry jam isn’t bad and the double thick cream gives it a fine finish. Love the dainty teacups and teapots and if any of the flavoured scones takes your fancy, you can buy take home packs.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A selection of loose-leaf teas including a few herbal varieties.
Price: $$$
Overall: A chick magnate kinda place.
Location: Westfield Sydney, Level 4 (Designer Gallery), Cnr Pitt St Mall & Market St, Sydney NSW 2000 Ph: 02 9357 4488 theteasalon.com.au
Reviewed in March 2014
‘The White Rabbit Gallery Tea House’
Hidden within the narrow streets of Chippendale, The White Rabbit Gallery and it’s Tea House is a welcome retreat from city life and traffic heavy thoroughfares that surround the compact inner city suburb. The gallery’s collection is one of the world’s largest and most significant collections of contemporary Chinese art, and to top it off, it’s privately owned! Before settling in for tea, peruse the collection that is exhibited over three floors, otherwise there’s a small gift shop selling an array of typical art gallery gifts. The simple design of the Tea House creates tranquility but the crème de la crème of the space are the mishmash of empty birdcages suspended from the ceiling. Scones are sold singularly rather than as pairs, and only one batch are baked per day. I suggest calling ahead if going specifically for scones, as the first time I turned up they hadn’t baked them due to an event the evening before. On the day I visit, my scone is slightly burnt on the bottom, but otherwise it has a lovely robust texture and tell-tale signs of crispness when straight from the oven. The jam is especially sweet, even for jam, and is neither good nor bad. The lightly whipped cream is more than likely from a cream canister. Closed Monday and Tuesday, and for two-week blocks throughout the year for exhibition changes.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: An extensive range of Chinese and Taiwanese loose-leaf teas served in a teapot and a thimble-sized cup. Choose from white, oolong, and green teas, as well as flower teas such as chrysanthemum. Have as many hot water refills as you and your tea will take.
Price: $$
Overall: A slice of culture and tranquility in the hectic inner city.
Location: 30 Balfour St, Chippendale NSW 2008 Ph: 02 8399 2867 whiterabbitcollection.org
Reviewed September 2017
What makes shopping at Birkenhead Point Outlet Centre bearable is it’s harbourside location and light filled space. Even the restaurants and cafes are pleasant, boasting water views. Far away from the hectic Food Court, Cafe Birkenhead is more sedate even though the large industrial style space seems very popular. There’s enough room and water views for everyone, even during the Christmas shopping period. After an impressive lunch, I am shocked when my scones arrive – they look ridiculous. The two huge steaming lumps are more akin to bread rolls than delicate scones, and are accompanied by two tiny packets of Kraft jam, and a bowl of Dairy Whip cream that is quickly dissolving. The scones (?) are slightly sweet and are at least fresh, but taste nothing like scones. The waitress is back with more packets of low quality jam within moments of asking, and the cream? Super light and melting rapidly. But at least it’s 97 per cent ‘real’ cream. This spread is embarrassing considering the cafe offers decent food, with generous servings and at good prices.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small selection of Madura tea bags served in a small tea pot.
Price: $$
Overall: A light industrial space with delicate touches including a bonza view.
Location: Birkenhead Point Outlet Centre, 70a/19 Roseby St Drummoyne NSW 2047
Ph: 02 9181 4339 cafebirkenhead.com.au
Reviewed in December 2016
‘Ciao Thyme’
I’m no baker, but this doesn’t look like a lemonade scone – well, not one that I have had before. And actually, it doesn’t really taste like a scone either, tasting more like a square muffin or loaf. But this is what a lemonade scone served with jam and cream looks like at Ciao Thyme in Balmain. A cute corner cafe situated a few blocks towards the eastern end of Darling Street and far enough away from the busy-ness of Balmain, it feels positively relaxing. In this part of town, it’s hard not to notice the heritage that’s evident in the plethora of sandstone buildings and cute terraces and cottages dating back to Sydney’s early years. I am having such a pleasant experience that I don’t mind that my scone is a little weird, as my strawberry jam is better than your average and the Chantilly cream is just about right.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A good selection of loose-leaf teas served in handle free plunger pot.
Price: $$
Overall: A cute, chilled out and airy cafe in the quiet part of town.
Location: 212 Darling St, Balmain NSW 2041 Ph: 02 9555 5455
Reviewed January 2015
‘Garden House Cafe’
Tucked away in suburbia, The Flower Power Garden Centre in Enfield is part of a larger complex, including a fruit and veg shop, and pet care supplies, that are all accessed via the one car park. Once in the garden centre shop, the garden world is your oyster. As well as pesticides, gardening tools and potting mix, buy scented candles, terrariums and cushions – an endless supply of gift ideas. Then there are the plants and the garden furniture; it’s difficult to leave empty-handed. The cafe is buzzing, and although the sun is shining, everyone seems crammed indoors rather than the sunny courtyard. Date or plain scones are available, but I stick with the plain. The scone is light, and you may want to order two if hungry. The raspberry compote, which is neither tart nor sweet, provides a change from standard jams, however a bigger portion wouldn’t go astray. The double thick dollop cream is a nice touch, and there’s more than enough to go around.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small range of unusual Calmer Sutra loose leaf tea blends served in a tea pot. Choose from blends with names such as Peppermyrtle, Black Velvet, Emerald Bloom, Floral Field, Lady Melba, and Evermore.
Price: $$
Overall: A buzzy vibe with plenty of garden centre-style shopping.
Location: Flower Power Garden Centre, 27 Mitchell St, Enfield NSW 2136
Ph: 02 9747 5555 gardenhousecafe.com.au
Reviewed in August 2017
‘Grandma’s at McEvoy’
Things have certainly changed since my first Devonshire Tea at Grandma’s. Back then it was called Grandma’s Little Bakery, at a different Alexandria location, and the only Grandma’s outlet in Sydney. Nowadays it’s all happening with another Sydney location in Rosebery (sadly they don’t serve scones). Not that it needs any help with drawing in the crowds, Grandma’s at McEvoy is in a prime Alexandria location and offers indoor seating in its cavernous cafe, and limited outdoor picnic table seating alongside the driveway. The scones are slightly crisp on the outside and have a rustic texture, so don’t expect light and fluffy. The balance between taste and texture is spot on and pairs well with the rich raspberry jam and the super thick, almost clotted cream. I’m not a fan of the jam and cream being served in plastic take-away containers; it cheapens the dining experience. Isn’t it already enough that we have to queue to order and than fight for a table? Grandma’s, like the rest of the inner city, is trending. It is incredibly busy in Alexandria on the weekends; the traffic is mostly at a standstill out front and parking spots are scarce. If you can, walk or like we did, ride a bike to Grandma’s. The cafe is popular and the staff stretched, which shows up with us waiting a further 15 minutes (no lie) for our teas after our scones arrive. And one last thing. If only scones were served daily rather than just on weekends, maybe, just maybe, the tea might arrive with the scones.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small selection of T2 silk tea bags served in a teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: Grandma would be proud at how funky she has become!
Location: 140-142 McEvoy St, Alexandria NSW 2015 Ph: 02 9699 1862 grandmas.com.au
Reviewed October 2017
‘Peter’s of Kensington Cafe’
Everyone loves to wander and gaze at all the pretty kitchen and homeware items at Peter’s of Kensington. Only a smidgen of the size as the flagship store in Kensington, the compact store adds value to a shopping stint at Birkenhead Point Outlet Mall. These days there is nothing ‘outlet-like’ about it, with similar prices offered at mainstream shopping malls. Adjacent to the store in an open space where shoppers can gaze over the main atrium and enjoy the daylight from glass ceilings, the Peter’s of Kensington Cafe is a pleasant place to hang out in. A blackboard invites diners in for a Devonshire Tea, and taking a look around, many have taken the suggestion seriously. The single scone has a creamy texture with a hint of sweetness. It’s paired with fresh cream that’s dispensed from a cream canister (therefore is fly-away light) and a standard cafe strawberry jam. It’s a bummer the tea is served with thick-rimmed coffee cups, as just in the entrance of the store dainty tea cups beckon.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A basic choice of loose-leaf teas served in a small teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: Light and bright with a touch of Peter’s of Kensington class.
Location: Birkenhead Point, Shop 50-51, 19 Roseby St,
Ph: 02 9662 1099
Reviewed August 2018
‘Sideways Deli Café’
It’s always nice to come across feeding holes popular with the locals. I promise I’m not eavesdropping but it seems as though Dulwich Hill folks have no qualms about sharing, which makes me feel as though Sideways Deli Cafe is a meeting spot to catch up on the gossip. There’s lots of seating in the cafe’s airy and bright interior, but I choose one of the many outdoor tables on the footpath. Perched on a roundabout, it feels like it offers easy access as proven by today’s buzzy atmosphere. There are lots of tasty looking treats on the counter, including a plate full of freshly baked scones. I will be so bold as to say that they are fresh, because they taste sensational. So light and fluffy with a creamy taste, I wish I ordered two and not just one. The strawberry jam is tart and not sickly sweet and reminds me of a homemade variety rather than a commercially bought one, but I could be wrong. Nonetheless, it gets my tick of approval. The cream however, although fresh, is too light for me. This spread would really shine with a thicker whipped cream – but that’s just me.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A good variety of Tea Craft loose-leaf teas served in a decent sized pot.
Price: $$
Overall: A popular hidden gem in the quiet streets of suburban Dulwich Hill.
Location: 37 Constitution Rd, Dulwich Hill NSW 2203 Ph: 02 9560 1425 sidewaysdelicafe.com.au
Reviewed January 2015
‘The Café Sienna’
The only reason I had heard of The Cafe Sienna in Annandale is because of the High Tea deal I saw on one of the cheap coupon websites. When I called to ask whether I could order scones on their own, I couldn’t quite get my message across so I decided to just pop in anyway. Located on a quiet leafy street corner in lovely Annandale, the beautifully restored corner store with sky-high ceilings and large picture windows is a pleasant place to hang out in or outside. I slide in next to a table that is reserved and set for high tea with a dainty tea cup and saucer, which causes me great disappointment when I end up with a thick rimmed coffee cup instead. It’s not just me that has been duped; the lady outside gets the same cup with her pot of T2 tea. Although I ask at the counter about the scones, a menu is still shoved into my hand even though there are no scones listed. I tell the waitress what I want, and guessing its part of a high tea wrongly assume the scones will be bite size. Instead my two scones arrive the size of dinner rolls, so I send one back. The bread roll looking scone is steaming hot (from the microwave) with a dry top. They are neither ravingly good nor scathingly bad, just average, which is a real shame as the chilled thickly whipped cream is sensational. The cherry jam is plentiful and different but it is mostly sickly sweet syrup than rich fruit. A place to linger with free Wi-Fi on offer.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: 18 choices of T2 loose-leaf teas served in a good-sized teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: A sneaky cafe tucked away in the mellow Annandale streets.
Location: 61 Annandale St, Annandale NSW 2038 Ph: 02 9560 2698 thecafesienna.com.au
Reviewed June, 2014
‘The Coffee Emporium’
No matter how stylish and appealing you try to make a franchise café or restaurant look or sound on their website, if you can’t deliver decent quality goods, even if it is just scones, jam and cream, then how can you expect repeat customers? It’s one of my pet hates of eating in shopping malls – almost every eatery is a franchise. Located on Level One at Westfield Shopping Mall in Burwood, The Coffee Emporium is one of a few choices I find for scones. I’m sorry to say but these are some of the worst scones I have ever had. Dry and basically stale, they arrive cut in half and spruced up with a sprinkle of icing sugar. The half of scone I manage to eat leaves a bad taste in my mouth, which is often associated with scones that are baked to sit for days on end in a cake cabinet and taste like it’s made from a packet mix. The jam is average and the sweet faux cream is from a can. The whole lot tastes sickly sweet and synthetic. If you insist on giving them a try yourself, other Coffee Emporium franchises are located in Westfield and other shopping malls in Sydney, Wollongong and Melbourne.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: The usual variety of teas. Listed on the menu as plunger tea, but when it arrives it is actually loose-leaf tea in a teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: A typical franchise serving up a lousy Devonshire Tea.
Location: Level 1 Westfield Burwood, 100 Burwood Rd, Burwood NSW 2134
Ph: 02 8084 0946 thecoffeeemporium.com.au
Reviewed March, 2015
‘The Cove & Co Dining’
As soon as we see The Cove Dining Co my friend and I ‘ooh and ah’ as we walk across the lawn and through the luscious garden. The old historic building started out as an ornamental Pavilion on a waterfront estate back in the early 1900s, then became a weekend recreational playground used by Grace Bros employees (think bowling greens, tennis courts, cricket pitches and a small golf course). In 1917 until 1991, the Swiss chocolate giant, Nestle, built a chocolate factory adjacent to the building and used it as offices then a recreational clubhouse for factory employees. Since then, the building has been brought back to its former glory but unfortunately is hemmed in on two sides by residential apartments, a tennis court and swimming pool. Nonetheless, it’s a great find in – if you aren’t from the area – a secret Sydney suburb. There’s lot to keep you occupied as you wait for your meal. Ovvio organic teas and Princess Pantry jams/relishes to browse through plus a general sticky beak around the high ceiling open plan property. My scones arrive times three – nice – and are homemade, fresh and creamy. The waitress tells me the jam is Granny Smith apple and strawberry but I would never have picked it. The cream is freshly whipped, and thick enough but melts in the morning heat and girlie conversation.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small selection of organic loose-leaf teas by Ovvio served in a small pot
Price: $$
Overall: A tucked away secret slice of history.
Location: 378 Great North Rd, Abbotsford NSW 2046 Ph: 02 9712 5638 thecovediningco.com.au
Reviewed in November 2014
Technically its still winter, but it’s hitting 28 degrees in Sydney’s west. Sydney Olympic Park is huge, I’d forgotten how huge as I haven’t driven around it for years. Skirting the edge of the Silverwater Correctional Complex, I head down to Blaxland River Park that hugs the edge of the Parramatta River and sits adjacent to the Newington Armory. If you visit on the weekend, you can explore the 100 or so heritage buildings that were part of the former Royal Australian Naval Armament Depot (RANAD) for a century. The Armory Wharf Cafe sits right on the river out the front of the main gatehouse. It’s built to blend in to the landscape rather than stand out, and the shade cover of the outdoors sitting area gives it a military feel. I order the scone, which is really two in one. It’s soft and dense, but a little rubbery on the outside. It’s served with a very small amount of ultra light cream and mixed berry compote. Personally, I would prefer it served with some rich jam as it is difficult to get the compote on to a piece of the ginormous scone. Every so often the Rivercat rumbles by, but never stops at the wharf, so check the timetable if you’re thinking of incorporating a visit with a ride on the Rivercat. Parents will love the nearby playground that’s filled with stuff to keep kids occupied for hours.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: Several varieties of loose-leaf teas including a few unusual herbal blends.
Price: $$
Overall: Great spot by the Parramatta River.
Location: Blaxland Riverside Park, Jamieson St Newington NSW 2127 Ph: 02 9714 7513 armorywharfcafe.com
Reviewed in August 2013
‘@ Noah’s Café’
DFOs aren’t what they used to be. These days they are no different from Westfield in the fact that they have become slick shopping malls, where you can often, but not always, snap up a bargain. DFO Homebush is much more user-friendly these days – the extra car parking helps, but the high-end shops are way beyond my budget. Although that section of the mall is lovely and quiet! Tucked away in a light and quiet corner (not in the high-end shopping area) is @ Noah’s Cafe. It’s not an in-your-face-eatery, like most there, which is a nice change. Weekends are hectic, so any quietish corner where you can catch your breath is welcome. The seating is ample and roomy and for natural light and glimpses to green pastures, sit in the outside area of the café. Surprisingly the scones are okay. I’m always dubious when at cafes in shopping malls, as you never do know how long the scones/cakes have been in the cabinet. They aren’t the homemade kind, but fresh and tasty enough if you have a scone craving. The let down is the less than average strawberry jam and the sweet and highly processed cream sprayed straight out of a can; disappointing.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small selection of SereniTea tea bags served in a cool teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: Tucked away far enough for a rest from the shopping circuit.
Location: DFO Homebush, 3-5 Underwood Rd, Homebush NSW 2140 Ph: 02 9748 9800 dfo.com.au/Homebush/
Reviewed May 2015
‘City Extra’
Just one of two City Extra outlets in Sydney, this one in Parramatta is subdued compared to the Circular Quay location. It’s virtually empty at lunchtime on Saturday. Located on the Church Street restaurant strip, City Extra is perfectly placed in the middle of the action and remains open 24/7 for late night munchies. The menu claims that all food is baked fresh on the premises daily, and that includes the scones. Really, how hard is it to bake scones to order? You don’t heat up pancakes? This spread is identical to the one I had in Circular Quay, which says something about City Extra’s consistency. The scones are crispy on the outside and soft in the middle, and although they’re probably made from a commercial scone mix (I don’t know – just saying), the scones rank up there as some of the better one’s I’ve eaten. But what can make or break a Devonshire Tea worth eating is the quality of the jam and cream. Here the jam and the fresh light cream are adequate, but not a stand out feature. But bravo for the freshly baked scones!
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A basic selection of Twinnings tea bags served in a standard tea pot.
Price: $$
Overall: The ‘go to’ place for an after hours scone craving.
Location: 301 Church St, Parramatta NSW 2150 Ph: 02 9633 1188 cityextra.com.au
Reviewed in April 2016
‘CWA Tea Room’
Everyone has to visit Sydney’s Royal Easter Show at least once in their lives. I’m proud to say that finally I take the plunge in 2014, and as they say, better late than never. There’s something for everyone: thrilling carnival rides, ridiculously huge farm animals, shopping, entertainment, competitions, lots and lots of different types of food to try, and then there’s the CWA Tea Room. Manned by volunteers, the Tea Room pumped out a phenomenal 40,000 scones at the 2013 show over 14 days. Those numbers are insane and it just goes to show that a lot of people love a good homemade scone! Serving this many scones means that things are kept simple. The jam is served in portion-controlled packs, but at least the Beerenberg jam is a rung up from the usual Kraft variety. The cream is delectable: thickly whipped, chilled, with a hint of sweetness. For the ultimate piping hot scones straight out of the oven, keep your eyes peeled on the sign that lets you know when the scones will be ready. Otherwise, whilst waiting to be devoured (which isn’t long), the scones are kept under a cloth to keep in the freshness. If you want to take home the secrets to the CWA success and make your own award-winning scones, pick up the CWA Recipe Book ($22) and a jar of homemade jam. The annual Easter Show is held for 14 days over the NSW school holidays and the Tea Room operates from 9.30am to 6pm daily over the whole duration.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A choice of Premium Blend, English Breakfast and Green Madura tea bags served in a small pot.
Price: $$
Overall: An Easter Show institution, what is the Show without the CWA ladies?
Location: Hall 2, P5, The Royal Easter Show, Olympic Park, Homebush NSW 2140 eastershow.com.au
Reviewed April 2014
‘Elizabeth Farm Tearooms’
I was a little surprised with the Elizabeth Farm Tearooms as I didn’t expect it to be in a modern purpose-built cafe as it doesn’t quite capture the 1830s charm of the rest of the property. Nonetheless with such delectable fresh scones, it’s easy to overlook the sterile cafe. I visited on a winter’s day, so possibly in warmer weather it would be much more pleasant seated in the courtyard. With large pots of tea to quench your thirst and good jam and cream, this delicious Devonshire Tea is worthy of a try. Wander through historic Elizabeth Farm House, former residence of John and Elizabeth Macarthur of wool pioneer fame, which is open from Friday to Sunday.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: Selection of black and herbal loose leaf teas served in large pots.
Price: $$
Overall: Well worth a visit.
Location: 70 Alice St, Rosehill NSW 2142 Ph: 028239 2442 hht.net.au
Reviewed in May 2012
‘Elm Tree Cafe’
The cafe is tucked away in a quiet courtyard off a side street so not easy to find. On the day that I visit there is a choice of plain and date scones. I go for the date scones, which are tasty but microwaved to an inch of their life. What a shame, as I am liking the relaxed courtyard and the polka dot crockery and proper teacup and saucer. The small amount and lack of quality of the cream is disgraceful, way too light. The jam is passable and not really enough of it. Impressed with the presentation though.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A variety of loose-leaf teas served in a cute pot.
Price: $$
Overall: Love the cute crockery.
Location: 7/39 John St, Camden NSW 2570 Ph: 02 4655 6767
Reviewed in November 2011
‘Gatehouse Tea Room’
Residents of Parramatta not only have a gorgeous park to run, cycle or meander through, but two historic locations to enjoy scones that are in spitting distance of each other (see review of Lachlan’s Cafe in Old Government House). The UNESCO World Heritage Listed Gatehouse was built in 1887 during Parramatta’s colonial heyday, and now houses the Gatehouse Tea Rooms that have been in operation since October 2013. It’s a gorgeous property with seating in a couple of restored rooms, along the verandah and in the garden in good weather. It’s a popular venue for High Teas, but also specialises in morning and afternoon teas including a pricey Devonshire Tea. Some scone fans sitting at the next table are raving about the scones, saying they are tasty and with no aftertaste. However for me, these ‘American style’ scones (so says the cafe owner) are not my favourite kind. They are baked in a tray and sliced in squares, more cake-like than traditional scone. They are also slightly toasted, which to me, changes the scone and disguises things that I contribute to a good scone: fluffiness etc. The cafe owner says that they changed to a traditional scone recipe but received so many complaints that they changed back to this style. The jam is very average, but the freshly whipped cream is lovely and thick, and to me is the stand out of this spread. The dainty teacup and saucer and thick white tablecloth and napkin make the experience feel special, however I feel it is quite expensive at $19. Open Tuesday to Sunday.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A good selection of black, green and herbal loose-leaf teas served in a pot.
Price: $$$
Overall: The perfect setting for a relaxed morning or afternoon tea.
Location: Macquarie St Gatehouse, Corner of Pitt St & Macquarie St, Parramatta Park NSW 2150 Ph: 02 9635 1515 gatehousetearooms.com.au
Reviewed September 2014
‘Kelly’s Café’
Not one to hang out in any kind of ‘club’ restaurant or cafe, I was inspired to make a detour from the M4 and explore the mighty Penrith Panthers entertainment complex. A complex it is – there’s even a hotel next door! From the outside, the imposing building looks more office complex than entertainment domain, with larger-than-life statues of black panthers guarding the entrance. The multi-levels house restaurants, showrooms and gaming rooms, bars and clubs, and offices, which at 10am are quiet. If Kelly’s Cafe is deserted, as it is during my visit, the large open dining area feels more cafeteria than cosy cafe. The bright Vegas-style lights of the cavernous gaming room that’s adjacent to the cafe pulse and ping, and if you aren’t that way inclined can be a bit much. The scones are neither good nor bad, and don’t taste particularly fresh. The two sachets of jam are a copout (I ask for a few more), and the cream, although tastes like real cream, is lightly whipped and aerated. I appreciate the two biscuits with my cuppa, and it adds a nice touch.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A range of Pickwick tea bags and several T2 loose-leaf teas (although not in T2 cannisters) served in a teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: The cafe you go to when you don’t want to be too far from the gaming tables.
Location: Penrith Panthers, 123 Mulgoa Rd, Penrith NSW 2750 Ph: 02 4720 5529 penrith.panthers.com.au
Reviewed in November 2016
‘King Henry’s Court’
It’s all happening at King Henry’s Court. Operating out of an original church dating back to the 1860’s, the café/restaurant/function space/gift shop is a hive of entrepreneurial activity. Today there are no Hen’s, Birthday or Anniversary Parties happening, but there’s a steady stream of locals heading through the front door for lunch. On the left hand side upon first entering the historic church, there’s a section devoted to inexpensive trinkets and giftware. Actually, it’s hard to know where the gift shop ends and the restaurant begins. Trinkets hang from and cover every available surface throughout the building – or are they part of the decorations? I don’t linger long enough (I’m on my way to the restrooms) to find out – my loitering might upset the full house of diners. It’s officially one of the last few days of winter and I pull up a chair in the front courtyard, leaving the majority of the diners to their trinkets, and soak up the sun. The scones are a bit dry and don’t taste particularly fresh even though it’s just pushing noon. The strawberry jam is average – super sweet – and although the whipped cream could be thicker, is the standout for me. The service is outstanding. I watch super friendly and efficient staff effortlessly assist elderly patrons and mothers with prams, especially as they tackle the front steps.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A basic range of Dilmah tea bags served in a very small Japanese iron teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: A popular and centrally located local hangout.
Location: 74 Henry St, Penrith NSW 2750 Ph: 02 4721 1155 kinghenryscourt.com.au
Reviewed August 2015
‘Lachlan’s Cafe in Old Government House’
It’s not fashionable to turn up too early or without a booking for a Devonshire Tea at the Old Government House. I find out the hard way that they are served after 3pm on the weekends as the cafe is busy with lunch. Fortunately, the staff are kind and friendly and I promise not to flaunt the fact that I am eating the most delectable scones! Lachlan Cafe is a little gem in the middle of beautiful Parramatta Park, a long way from the Saturday traffic grind. The cafe is superbly set on the long verandah and in some separate dining rooms in the old garrison barracks tucked away behind National Trust’s Old Government House. The scones are light, fluffy and almost creamy – straight out of the oven I am told. There’s ample jam and cream to smother the scones with but a shame they don’t have loose-leaf tea to compliment such a high quality serve of scones. Take a tour of the House before or after taking tea.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A teabag is served in a small pot.
Price: $$
Overall: A must try!
Location: Old Government House, Parramatta Park, Parramatta NSW 2124
Ph:1300 596 286
lachlans.com.au
Reviewed in June 2012
‘Le Jardin Cafe’
The Tahmoor Garden Centre is tucked away off the Old Hume Highway and unless driving past or actually looking for it, you wouldn’t know it was there. It’s a compact garden centre with the attached Le Jardin Cafe a real treat. Sit out on the timber deck or inside where decorations lean toward a French influence. The scones are stupidly fresh and fluffy, and I am guessing not long out of the oven. The good quality raspberry jam is tart rather than sweet and my only gripe is there just isn’t enough to go around and I could do with a smidgen more. The whipped cream is super thick, bonus, but has a strange texture, almost like mock cream, although I’m assured it isn’t.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A range of Highland Merchant loose-leaf teas served in a teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: A sweet garden centre with a French inspired cafe.
Location: Ph: 02 4684 2000 tahmoorgardencentre.com.au
Reviewed July 2019
‘Oliver Brown Belgian Chocolate Café’
There are a bunch of Oliver Brown Belgian Chocolate Cafes scattered throughout Sydney serving chocolate fondues and all manner of chocoholic delights. Predominantly attached to shopping centres, the Oliver Brown franchise is designed for those with a sweet tooth. When I pop in to check whether they have scones, I don’t expect to see a jar of them on the counter. Normally the scones are served with butter and a Kraft packet of tasteless strawberry jam, but I ask about cream and for an extra dollar I am given a bowl of whipped sweet cream, the kind that’s found on your hot or iced chocolate. The scone isn’t half bad, although quite sweet. It’s the lousy jam and cream that actually really let’s it down. Come for the chocolate fountains instead. The Oliver Brown franchise started in Sydney so are most prolific here, but they have expanded to the ACT, Queensland and there’s even one in China!
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A variety of loose-leaf teas served in a small pot.
Price: $$
Overall: It is a chocolate cafe after all.
Location: Shop 51, Rhodes Waterside Shopping Centre, 1 Rider Blvd, Rhodes NSW 2138 Ph: 02 8757 3655 oliverbrown.com.au
Reviewed May 2014
‘Melaleuca House’
As a first time visitor to the Australian Botanic Garden in Mt Annan, several things impress me. Firstly, it’s a pleasant day trip from the city (outside of the hot summer months) and the area is home to some unusual things. From the higher points in the Gardens, Sydney’s CBD looms on the horizon and in the opposite direction are the Blue Mountains. Close by you look over pockets of suburbia as Sydney expands ever further towards Canberra. This is Sydney’s southwest, and if you keep your head down, i.e. not looking to the horizon, you could be a million miles from anywhere. Set in 416 hectares of hills and lakes, the Australian Botanic Garden displays over 4000 plants and features the odd outdoor sculpture blended in to the landscape. The Human Sun Dial and the Blue Tree as well as pockets of species-specific forests make the Garden an interesting place for a cycle, walk or picnic. Amongst it all and not far from the PlantBank (a research laboratory) is Melaleuca House, which acts as a cafe, restaurant and function centre. It’s built for all temperatures in mind: comfortable and cosy inside, covered seating on the deck and a relaxed and shady courtyard so parents can keep an eye on kids in the nearby playground. The jumbo scone makes up for a double serving and is surprisingly soft and fluffy, tasting, as it should rather than how it looks (like a bread roll). Although the jam is sweet and sickly, the thickly whipped cream is a bonus and helps boost the overall quality of the spread.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: Several choices of pyramid tea bag tea served in a small pot.
Price: $$
Overall: A surprisingly pleasant urban escape.
Location: The Australian Botanic Garden, Mt Annan Dr, Narellan NSW 2567
Ph: 02 4648 3318
melaleucahouse.com.au
Reviewed in July 2017
‘Peppercorn Cafe’
The Peppercorn Cafe is strategically positioned on Mulgoa road, making it super easy to pull over, park up and dine. Located just south of the village shopping centre, the cute timber house has a lovely wrap around verandah, which is perfect for balmy days. If you like to hear what your dining companion has to say, opt for the verandah; the timber floors indoors aren’t great for acoustics. It’s a shame as I am fond of properties like this that have soul and lived a life. After a quick peruse of the art adorning the walls, we head outside. The scones are on the chewy side, which I can only put down to being in the microwave for longer than necessary. The strawberry jam is good enough, but the cream, although fresh, is on the light side.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small variety of Twinings tea bags served in a small teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: Not the best spread – but if you are passing by.
Location: 1319 Mulgoa Rd, Mulgoa NSW 2745 Ph: 02 4773 9224
Reviewed in July 2017
‘Squeeze & Grind’
After placing my order, I find my partner sitting in the ‘Hipsters Corner.’ There are no Hipsters in sight, and my partner definitely doesn’t cut the grade sans bushranger beard and weird haircut, it’s just that the sign says so. As I pull up my Astro Turf covered wire pew and place items that roll off a table placed at an impractical angle for a table, I am told we are staying put, as it’s the sunniest place in the house. And who doesn’t love a bit of winter sun? Squeeze & Grind on Camden’s main drag is a cool looking place, so I am surprised to see a breadboard of scones sitting on the counter. My spread arrives looking very impressive and after I manage to stop it from rolling off the table I take a closer inspection. The whole thing is unnecessarily over sweetened. I know it sounds ridiculous, but sickly sweet chocolate sauce that is more at home on a kiddies sundae should not be served anywhere near a scone – cross-contamination of flavours that do not pair well is inevitable. The jam is super sweet rather than fruity and the sugary cream is straight from a can. The scone isn’t bad, actually with the right accompaniments it would taste great, but the sickly chocolate syrup, jam and cream are overpowering. Diners can sniff and choose their tea of choice from the row of loose-leaf teas displayed in small spice jars on the counter.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: An interesting range of loose-leaf teas served in a good-sized pot.
Price: $$
Overall: A cool hip hang out.
Location: Shop 2/3, 180-186 Argyle St, Camden NSW 2570 Ph: 02 4655 5663 squeezeandgrind.com.au
Reviewed in November 2014
‘The Heritage Terrace Cafe’
On the edge of the Westfield Penrith food court and open to the outside, The Heritage Terrace cafe has a foot in both camps. There’s an entrance from the shopping centre, but the floor to ceiling glass walls and the open plan provides a view to the outside world. It has a typical Westfield cafe feel to it, but just goes under a different name. Order a serving to share if you aren’t famished. The two large dinner roll type scones aren’t bad, but are more bread than scone-like. The average strawberry jam and way-too-light-for-my-liking cream are served in eggcups – an interesting concept.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A basic selection of tea bags served in a small pot.
Price: $$
Overall: A handy location if shopping up a storm at Westfield Penrith.
Location: Westfield Penrith, 585 High St, Penrith NSW 2750 Ph: 02 4721 8142 theheritageterrace.com.au
Reviewed in July 2017
‘The Wild Dragonfly Cafe’
Mt Annan Flower Power delivers the same vast range of garden centre goodies as its sister outlets including an onsite cafe. The Wild Dragonfly Cafe sounds exotic, but there’s nothing exotic about a cafe that services a popular kiddies playground. The morning I visit there’s a birthday party going on, but fortunately they are holed up in a shady corner filled with tables. The rest of the cafe is more subdued and looks over rows of greenery for sale and towards the gift shop. I don’t see any scones but they are definitely on the menu. Order however many you like as there is no set ‘Devonshire Tea’. My scone arrives pre-sliced and although it tastes fresh, the heating process has made the scone gluggy and devoid of its former self. The condiments aren’t particularly impressive with average strawberry jam served alongside a dish of super light cream that is so light that it dissolves once it hits my warm scone.
Scones:
Jam: 
Cream:
Tea: A small selection of loose-leaf teas served in a teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: A buzzing cafe that’s popular with families.
Location: Flower Power Garden Centre, 320 Narellan Rd, Mount Annan NSW 2567
Ph: 02 4647 3788 flowerpower.com.au
Reviewed May 2018
‘Village Coffee Shop & Restaurant’
It’s nice to visit a cafe that retains a homely vibe rather than try to be like all the other cafes – hip and trendy. While most cafes are renovating and revamping, will those that remain as they have done when they first opened their doors decades before, become ‘the’ place to go? Village Coffee Shop & Restaurant is that sort of place. Without having a local’s knowledge, would I be wrong in saying that the whole family works in this cafe? It’s very popular, and as it fills I start to feel guilty for taking up a table for four. The scones look homemade, although when I take my first bite are a bit chewy, no doubt from the heating process, but if fresh, have lots of potential. The jam is, how can I say this – unusual. Sickly sweet and thick, reminding me of the jam consistency of my childhood when XL jam arrived in cans. The cream is my favourite; fresh and thickly whipped. So simple, yet so effective.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: Eight classic varieties of loose-leaf teas served in a small pot.
Price: $$
Overall: Homely and simple.
Location: 168 Argyle St, Camden NSW 2570 Ph: 02 4655 6285
Reviewed in November 2014
The Cosmopolitan Cafe has been around since 1985 (according to the menu), but I’ve never noticed it before. It’s not surprising as it’s not in my hood for a start, and I don’t generally hang out in cafes. Today the knowledge that there are scones to be had has drawn me in from the Bondi Junction end of Oxford Street. It feels like stepping back in time with the walls lined with retro booths and the clientele that seem as though they have been coming here for the last 30 years by the familiarity they have with some of the staff. In regards to the Devonshire Tea, I had an idea what I was in for from a photo I saw on a blog post. How else did I know that they had scones? The small scones arrive bearing a sweet smell and become quite dry as soon as they cool down from being microwaved. I leave most of the crumbly remains as the cheap jam and lighter than light spray can cream doesn’t do them justice.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small selection of some loose-leaf tea and teabags served in a small teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: Booths win me over every time.
Location: 203 Oxford St, Bondi Junction NSW 2022 Ph: 02 9387 6011
Reviewed in February 2014
‘Cousin Jacks Pasty Co.’
Cousin Jacks Pasty Co. situated on the mall in Bondi Junction is no doubt a popular institution with the Eastern suburb Brits who feel homesick for traditional Cornish pasties, and in this case a Cornish Cream Tea. Delivering award-winning pasties for over a year, Cousin Jacks have only recently added the Cream Tea to their menu, and as it is co-owned by a true blue Brit from Cornwell, expect to get the taste of the county. I try both the plain and sultana scones, which are served with plenty of strawberry jam and double thick dollop cream. The scones aren’t particularly light and fluffy, but more erring to the tough side. Maybe this is how they do scones in Cornwell? What do I know? I only know that I, and my tasting companions agree, we like our scones light, fluffy and creamy.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small selection of teabags served in a large teapot. Try the Cornish tea, Smugglers Brew – all the way from Cornwell.
Price: $$
Overall: Drop by for authentic Cornish fare.
Location: 5/175- 181 Oxford St, Bondi Junction NSW 2022 Ph: 02 8096 4304 cousinjackspastyco.com
Reviewed in February 2014
‘Dunbar House’
On a sunny summer’s day, Watson Bay is absolutely gorgeous and feels a million miles from the traffic congestion that I had to tackle to get here. It’s only when you look west towards the Harbour Bridge and the city skyline that you are reminded that indeed, this is Sydney. Perched on Sydney’s south head, Watsons Bay is a magnate for day-trippers from all over the globe. It has the best of both worlds; dramatic ocean views from the cliff tops over the infamous Gap, and the more serene vista of boats bobbing in calm harbour waters – either way, you’re spoilt for choice. For elegance you can’t miss the sophisticated Dunbar House that commands the southern edge of Robertson Park and has views over the bay and the city poking up in the distance. Luckily we arrive mid-morning on a weekday, park easily and nab a table on the verandah. Impressive crockery arrives, and my friend is audibly chuffed with her cute cup and saucer as well as the classy silver teapots. The plain and sultana scones are straight out of the oven and are steamy and soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. We can’t place the rich, fruity but tart jam. Thinking it may be plum; we’re told it is made-on-the-premises strawberry. I like it, none of the sweet syrupy synthetic stuff for me! The double thick cream pairs nicely with the ensemble, and I love the jam and cream cups.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A good selection of quality loose-leaf teas served in swanky teapots.
Price: $$$
Overall: Superb! It ticks all the right boxes.
Location: 9 Marine Pde, Watsons Bay NSW 2030 Ph: 02 9337 1226 dunbarhouse.com.au
Reviewed in December 2013
‘Gertrude & Petunias’
I catch a glimpse of Gertrude & Petunias as I drive by, and know instantly that this is the kind of place that will serve scones. Luckily for me I am on the mark, and the Devonshire Tea is set up and decorating the cake cabinet fittingly. The cafe exudes vintage Parisian tones, and feels like an antique shop once inhabited the space. Bold wallpaper, an assortment of mirrors, chandeliers and Parisian-style furnishings combine to create a chic space. My only pet peeve is that the tables look stark with not even a salt and peppershaker in sight, like the staff are about to lock the door and go home. A flower vase would do wonders to complete the furnishings and make the already-cosy cafe, even more welcoming. My two buttery scones are tender and melt-in-the-mouth delicious, and the right size for a snack. Is it, or isn’t it clotted cream? It’s so close, and come to think of it, this soft buttery cream might perhaps be a skewed Australian version? Whatever it is, along with the jam, there’s the right amount to slather two scones generously. As always, it’s a treat to sip tea from a proper China cup, and this has a matching plate and vintage-style cutlery. Who said the finer details don’t matter?
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small but interesting range of Ovvio Organic loose-leaf teas served in a small teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: A charming corner cafe with vintage overtones.
Location: 61 Todman Ave, Kensington NSW 2033 Ph: 02 9663 0951
Reviewed in September 2017
‘Peter’s of Kensington’
Peters of Kensington’s flagship store is oh so la-de-da! It reminds me of a paired back and very compact David Jones. It’s windowless like a casino, which means it’s very easy to lose track of time whilst wandering the floors and looking at stuff you don’t particularly need. The kitchenware department is very popular, and if you can’t find it here, then it probably doesn’t exist! Sharing the same floor of said kitchenware, the cafe is all subdued tones and clicking of cutlery, and sophisticated in a Harrods kind of way. There’s a very reasonable ‘scone special’ on the menu and means that scones at this cafe are a given. The scone isn’t bad, although it has spent 20 seconds too long in the microwave, therefore has a hint of ‘nuked’. The jam isn’t anything special but it’s better than average, and although the cream is fresh, it’s very light. Overall, I find the cafe quite endearing with a yesteryear vibe.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A range of loose-leaf teas served in a good-sized teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: Classic old-school department store cafe.
Location: 57 Anzac Parade, Kensington NSW 2033 Ph: 02 9662 1099 petersofkensington.com.au
Reviewed October 2017
‘Vaucluse House Tearooms’
Some say that some things never change, however at the Vaucluse House Tearooms this is certainly not the case. My last visit was four years ago, and comparing the images of the Devonshire Teas is remarkable. What does remain the same is the lovely relaxing ambience of this exquisite property tucked away in Sydney’s exclusive eastern suburbs. The sun-dappled courtyard is a major drawcard at anytime of the day, but it’s a real shame that the scones aren’t up to scratch. Four years ago they scored ‘average’, and today they don’t fair any better. They look great but are very dry. A couple of people in my party barely touch them, deeming them inedible. The three-berry jam is tasty but nothing exceptional and the clotted cream that saved this spread on my last visit has been replaced with double thick cream, or so it tastes like it. My experience with clotted cream has been very different. Surely discerning Brits would ask ‘where’s the clotted cream?’ that the menu clearly promises. Time your visit for a Friday or weekend, and take a tour of the historic Vaucluse House. Devonshire Teas are served until 12pm daily.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A good selection of loose-leaf teas.
Price: $$$
Overall: A beautiful historic establishment in a leafy and gorgeous park.
Location: Wentworth Ave, Vaucluse NSW 2030 Ph: 02 9388 8188 hht.net.au/visiting/cafes/
Reviewed in November 2014
‘Watsons Bay Tea Gardens’
Sharing the corner waterfront property with the public library, the Watsons Bay Tea Gardens is a lovely relaxed cafe just that little bit further away from the ferry wharf in the quieter direction. Opposite the free public bathing pool, the busy garden cafe offers the same million-dollar Sydney city views as the other eateries in Watsons Bay, with the added bonus of the ease of popping over for a quick swim, or maybe grabbing a book from the onsite library. The scones are okay. I don’t see any in the cake cabinet and they definitely aren’t fresh out of the oven, but more likely heated up in a microwave. The jam is the stock-standard variety, and will do, and the cream is freshly whipped. While you’re there, take a walk to Camp Cove for a swim and further along the path to South Head. Also check out the walking path past The Gap and to Vaucluse Lighthouse – magic.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A few choices of loose-leaf teas served in a plunger pot.
Price: $$
Overall: Simple cafe with killer views.
Location: 8 Marine Pde, Watsons Bay NSW 2030 Ph: 02 9337 6733 teagardenscafe.com
Reviewed in December 2013
It seems you need to be stationary to notice Betie’s Cafe. Apart from the times I’ve been stuck in gridlock traffic on the Princes Highway, I am always whizzing past. Betie’s Cafe sounds like the kind of place that would serve scones, so when I make the call I’m both delighted and not too surprised. On my visit there’s a convivial vibe, and it feels like a family affair including both staff and diners. Perhaps I am crashing a pre-Christmas Sunday lunch? If traffic noise doesn’t bother you, sit outside in the tiny courtyard otherwise bask in the warm hospitality indoors. The scones are delightful: light and fluffy and sprinkled with icing sugar. The homemade mixed berry jam is perfect, fruit rich and not sweet at all. The cream is very light, which is a bummer, because the rest is top-notch.
Scones: 
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A good range of loose-leaf teas served in a small teapot and complimented with a bone China teacup.
Price: $$
Overall: A surprising find in an unusual place.
Location: 309 Princes Hwy, Carlton NSW 2218 Ph: 02 9553 9125 betiescafe.com
Reviewed December, 2017
‘Bud Cafe’
Last year I planted an herb garden, and since then I’ve come to really appreciate garden centres. The good thing here is, garden centres are notoriously famous for having cafes attached to them that serve scones – I’m talking about nine times out of ten! And Flower Power in Taren Point is no exception. It sells all the usual goodies needed to plant and grow a successful garden, and has Bud Cafe, which is open and airy and just a few metres from the front door and carpark. Relaxed and friendly, the cafe is well-priced for good quality fare, and I can see why there is a steady flow of customers. Served with a dusting of icing sugar, the homemade scones are superb: creamy, fresh and totally more-ish. Accompanying them is a dish of chilled and firm Chantilly cream where you can actually taste the vanilla. The only let down are the two sachet’s of jam, which are insufficient and really, should never be served with good quality scones, or any scones for that matter.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small selection of T2 loose-leaf teas served in a standard sized teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: Well-priced and convenient, just what you want after an exhausting shopping expedition.
Location: Flower Power Garden Centre, Cnr Holt Rd & Taren Point Rd, Taren Point NSW 2229 Ph: 0415 283 283 flowerpower.com.au
Reviewed in January 2016
‘Café Bella Dee’
There’s no doubt about it, flowerpot scones are definitely a quirky way to have scones baked and delivered. At Cafe Bella Dee the potted scones are so popular that they take prime position on their menu. No ‘blackboard special’ or ‘every other day when the chef feels like it’ for these babies. Tucked away in the quiet streets of San Souci, and in walking distance of the pedestrian/cycle path that skirts Port Botany and the mouth of the Georges River, Cafe Bella Dee is a local secret spot ensconced in suburbia. Baked in a terracotta pot that I assume is not your usual garden variety, the scone has a consistency of a dense cake crossed with a scone. On the top, the scone is crispy but down towards the bottom of the pot it becomes soggy. The vanilla infused whipped cream tastes like Chantilly cream and is thick enough but the strawberry jam is average. Considering the size and density of the scone, there are definitely not enough of both. The spread is delivered on a breadboard with a newspaper-type place mat, which is cute and adds to the novelty.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A selection of T2 silk tea bag teas served in a good-sized teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: A lively suburban café well away from hectic Rocky Point Road.
Location: 36 Tuffy Ave, Sans Souci NSW 2219 Ph: 02 9583 9016
Reviewed June 2015
‘Hazelhurst Cafe’
Hazelhurst Regional Gallery & Arts Centre is tucked away in the back streets of Gymea, and I had no idea that it was there. The centre is a triple treat. There’s an art gallery, and the day I visit the local artist is in residence and on hand for a chat. There’s also a pottery exhibition in the arts centre, and some pottery for sale. However, it feels like the Hazelhurst Cafe is the centrepiece of the place and attracts a large crowd that fills every table. The tables spill out onto an attractive terrace that overlooks shady gardens, and although the place is embedded in suburbia, you wouldn’t know it. The cafe space is large, light and airy, and the outdoor terrace is a joy. The scones on the other hand don’t impress like the cafe does. The two fruit scones are dry and stale; they actually taste like they are from a supermarket or a bakery. The big dollop of Hanks triple berry jam is rich and tasty, and very good for a commercial jam. This paired with the equally big dollop of double thick cream, still can’t save the scones.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A decent selection of loose-leaf teas served in a Japanese iron teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: A lovely space, but shame about the scones.
Location: Hazelhurst Regional Gallery & Arts Centre, 782 Kingsway, Gymea NSW 2227
Ph: 02 8536 5700 hazelhurst.com.au
Reviewed October 2018
‘Lemongrass Express’
Unless you live in the area and are working on your garden, Plants Plus in Kingsgrove isn’t like many of the other nurseries around Sydney, namely those around Dural and Terry Hills that feel like a special destination. There’s a big indoor dining area and a sunny deck to suit all weather conditions. I visit on a sunny Saturday and the place is quiet with only a handful of diners in Lemongrass Express Cafe. I phone ahead before I make the schlep out there to see whether they serve scones. Although I have the thumbs up, it isn’t what I expect with a scone, tea or coffee sold as a $5.50 special. One small scone arrives already dressed with jam and cream. Where’s the fun in that? However, surprisingly the scone tastes good, home-baked rather than preserved and packaged, but the average jam and super light cream from an aerosol can doesn’t make an impression.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small selection of Twining and Lipton tea bags served in a small teapot.
Price: $
Overall: A quiet café in a tired nursery.
Location: Plants Plus Kingsgrove, 58 Moorefields Rd, Kingsgrove NSW 2208 Ph: 02 9554 5811
Reviewed June 2015
‘The Boatshed at Woronora’
Weave through Sydney’s southern suburbs, head over the Woronora River, and down to the very tidal Forbes Creek where the distinct blue and white The Boatshed at Woronora sits nestled between waterfront houses. Canoes spill out of the shed and lie in wait of high tide, while kayaks and other craft are stacked inside the shed. With only three tables outside in the sun, its first in, best dressed. The rest of the seating is within the actual boatshed, where diners share the space with life jackets and kayaks. This is a true blue working boatshed, and it’s wonderfully decked out in nautical nick-nacks. The homemade style scones are served at room temperature, and taste creamy and fresh. This in turn, alongside the plentiful thickly whipped cream, makes the mediocre strawberry jam negligible in affecting the overall taste experience.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A good range of Twinings tea bags served in a small teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: Combining location and quality scones – this place is a winner.
Location: 131 Prince Edward Park Rd, Woronora NSW 2232 Ph: 02 9545 2584
theboatshedatworonora.com.au
Reviewed in August, 2017
‘The Cronulla Pie Shop’
If you don’t count Bundeena village on the southern side of Port Hacking, Cronulla is about as far south as you can go and still be in Sydney. On weekends the beach destination is a hive of activity, and to cater to the hungry crowds, Cronulla has bucket loads of cafes. Take a stroll through the shopping precinct for a smorgasboard of choice. You’ll virtually trip over The Cronulla Pie Shop as it is smack bang in the middle of the pedestrian mall. The all-weather seating area, including heaters in winter, is tarted up with fresh flowers to make it feel more cafe than canvas marquee. If you can get past the fruit pies, the fresh fluffy scones are surprisingly good – it is a pie shop after all. So too is the double thick cream. The weakest link is the jam, which is neither memorable nor bad.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A selection of Madura tea bags served in a small teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: Handy location that’s cosy in winter and cool in summer.
Location: 33 Cronulla St, Cronulla NSW 2230 Ph: 02 9544 4209
Reviewed in August, 2016
‘The Laughing Goat Café’
Don’t be surprised if you see a goat wearing a shimmering gold coat (or something else) tied up out the front of The Laughing Goat Cafe. Undoubtedly it is the café’s mascot, but I leave my goat introductions until after my scones, and by then the goat is gone, so I am none the wiser. Having a goat around, or even eating at a cafe named after a goat, has to be lucky – it is the Year of the Goat after all, so my timing is impeccable. The Laughing Goat Cafe shares the same roof as Southern Antiques, taking over the space from Beties Cafe that did a pretty good Devonshire Tea. I’m glad they’ve kept the same lovely tea cups and saucers, that’s a plus, but the scones don’t cut the grade. My friend and I both agree they are quite bland and gluey, needless to say my friend has decided not to share. I know it’s all about presentation when it comes to food, but seriously? The cream? It’s straight out of a can, and when I see the waitress grab it off the counter I visually slump in disappointment, and it doesn’t work sprayed on to the plate like that. The jam doesn’t score much better, coming in below average. It looks like a popular hang out, so maybe the rest of the menu is superb!
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: Along with a few standard loose-leaf teas there are a further seven imaginative organic blends.
Price: $$
Overall: Perfectly located for a combined dining and shopping outing.
Location: 243 Princes Hwy, Kogarah NSW 2217 Ph: 02 8021 0550 thelaughinggoatcafe.com
Reviewed February 2015
‘The Teahouse Camelia Gardens’
When I ask for scones at Camelia Gardens Cafe, only one arrives. Maybe I don’t look hungry or the waitress thinks she is doing my waistline a favour, but it pans out that you can order as many as you like, and you should because they are good! The acoustics aren’t great the day I visit and it’s noisy with several large groups and families, so you can’t hear the sounds of nature from the surrounding gardens. The whole package is great, although the jam isn’t flash, but the scone and thick cream are divine. Wander through the gardens while you’re there.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: Loose leaf with a great variety of herbal teas.
Price: $$
Overall: Situated in tranquil gardens.
Location: Cnr President Ave & Kareena Rd, Caringbah NSW 2229 Ph: 02 9540 2018 teahouse.com.au
Reviewed in August, 2011
‘Willows Lounge Grill & Bar’
Of the three Tradies establishments in the southern reaches of Sydney, Tradies Gymea is the second location I have visited for scones. It’s the south Sydney answer to an RSL and with all the usual; restaurants, gambling, kids play areas, and even an Endota Spa! Willows Lounge Grill & Bar is your typical ‘club-style’ eatery. Cavernous and generic, the cafe is open throughout the day. However, outside of the main dining hours, it feels more comfortable to sit in the more slightly ‘cafe-style’ section that’s outside of the main dining room. This section overlooks reception and has glimpses of daylight from outside. It’s a basic spread with the large scone more bread roll than scone. The strawberry jam is passable, and the whipped cream from a canister, feather light.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small selection Sir Thomas Lipton’s teabags served in either a cup or a small teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: Only if you must.
Location: Tradies Gymea, 57 Manchester Rd, Gymea NSW 2227 Ph: 02 9540 1933
Reviewed October 2018
If looking from Sydney Harbour towards Balmoral beach, Balmoral Bathers Pavilion is unmistakable. It reminds me of an old black and white postcard I once bought in Hawaii that depicted a very untouched Waikiki Beach where the Moana Surfrider Hotel looked as though it was the only building along the. Not quite as big or elaborate, Bathers remains part of the very fabric of the harbourside suburb. Perched on the edge of picturesque Balmoral Beach and shaded by ancient Moreton Bay fig trees, the pavilion still stands as it has for nearly 90 years. With modernised bright and airy interiors, the building is divided into a swanky restaurant on one side and a more casual and affordable cafe and kiosk on the other. Spruiking uninterrupted (apart from the constant stream of people walking and jogging past) views of middle harbour towards Sydney heads, I am glad the council splurged and built this old dame as part of the Balmoral Beautification Scheme in 1929. Grab a seat by the window if you can, as the views to Sydney heads are amazing. The chef is savvy and has made the sultana scones just the right size for afternoon tea. Although on the runny side, the house made strawberry jam is pleasantly tart rather than sweet, and the whipped cream has a hint of vanilla, and is thick enough. Scones are available between 3-5pm daily.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A vast selection of loose-leaf teas served in whatever pot is going. My green tea is served in a plunger, whilst my friend’s English Breakfast is served in a tea pot.
Price: $$
Overall: Superb location at one of Sydney’s popular beaches.
Location: 4 The Esplanade, Balmoral NSW 2088 Ph: 02 9969 5050 batherspavilion.com.au
Reviewed in December, 2016
‘Bib & Bub Tea Room’
Nutcote, the former harbourside home of children’s author and illustrator May Gibbs of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie fame, is tucked away in an unassuming Neutral Bay street surrounded by towering apartment blocks of varying eras. The sliver of waterside property has a gorgeous garden and for nine dollars you can watch a 20-minute video and take a tour of the bungalow. The whole place feels otherworldly and it’s hard to believe you are in spitting distance of the city. I must admit, I’ve lived in the area for more than 13 years, and this is the first time I have visited Nutcote and primarily it’s for the Bib & Bub Tea Room. Run by volunteers, Nutcote is only open from Wednesday to Sunday, and at this stage the Tea Room only manages to serve tea, scones and cake on a Wednesday and Thursday due to a volunteer shortage. The setting is the drawcard and the scones, lacked the freshness you’d expect at a volunteer run tearoom. The cream is thickly whipped but the jam is below average. Nonetheless, it’s a superb place to hide out away from the madding Sydney crowds and don’t forget to pick up some great gifts in the little shop at the entrance.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small variety of teabags served in a small pot.
Price: $$
Overall: A hidden gem.
Location: 5 Wallaringa Ave, Neutral Bay NSW 2089 Ph: o2 9953 4453 nutcote.org
Reviewed in December, 2013
‘Boronia Tea Room’
Built in 1885, the grand Boronia House was originally one of two almost identical mansions built on four acres of land. These days, only one of the mansions remain, and after being used for varying purposes over the last 150 years, was refurbished in 2012 by Mosman Council, preserving a slice of Mosman heritage for the people. Boronia Tea Rooms is the latest reincarnation, and to this the property is well suited. Set in the beautifully and well-maintained Reservoir Park, the rooms are adorned with chandeliers and is bright and airy, with polished timber floors and French doors opening onto alfresco dining on the wrap around verandah. Although the outdoor area is lovely, still there are only about 30 metres of lawn separating you from hectic Military Road and your scones. Although not on the website, scones, jam and cream with a bottomless pot of tea is available. Mosman Catering are the latest outfit in charge (different to when I first visited in 2012), and the ‘Devonshire Tea’ on the menu, seems to be a mini High Tea. If it’s just the scones you are after, don’t hesitate to ask. A friend passing by the property alerted me to the fact they offer a $10 scone special. In saying that, don’t go in hungry. The scones, although fresh and crispy, are literally bite size. The jam is average, neither good nor bad, but this property is deserving of better. The cream is thick and chilled, and far surpasses the jam in quality. The vibe, decor and Cristina Re teacups are a standout.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: An arms long list of T2 loose-leaf teas served in a good-sized pot with refills.
Price: $$
Overall: The historical property and gardens are a perfect location to take tea.
Location: 624 Military Rd, Mosman NSW 2088 Ph: 02 9968 3311 boroniatearoom.com.au
Reviewed in December, 2016
‘Burnt Orange’
Since my last visit to Burnt Orange four years ago, the only big change I notice is the recent replacement of the downstairs gift shop with a function room/wedding venue. Shopaholics need not hang their heads though as there is still plenty of shopping to be had upstairs, with at least three rooms of the former Mosman Golf Club’s clubhouse jammed with giftware, clothes, tea ware, Christmas trinkets and a whole room reserved for children’s goodies. The sandstone structure is sensational and is nestled in bushland up the road from Mosman on the picturesque Middle Head. Scones are a firm fixture on the menu with a choice of plain, date, wholemeal and mixed berry. It’s a tough choice so I ask the maitre’d, who recommends the date scone. He also reminds me that they are served at room temperature and since this is the case, I am glad to be here in the morning, as I recall on my last visit the scone being dryish by the afternoon. The single large scone arrives accompanied with relatively thick Chantilly cream and the Burnt Orange housemade raspberry or mixed berry jam. At first the scone seems tough but once I start pulling it apart it’s heavy with dates and spice, and if you are more partial to the light and fluffy scone, you may be disappointed. However, considering the scones have been on the menu for at least four years, I don’t think Mosmanites are bothered one bit!
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A variety of loose-leaf teas served in a good-sized teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: An exquisite setting coupled with everything the modern scone loving person needs.
Location: 1109 Middle Head Rd, Mosman NSW 2088 Ph: 02 9969 1020 burntorange.com.au
Reviewed in December, 2014
‘Cafe Jam’
The new location for Cafe Jam has done wonders for the business. Not that the business wasn’t booming before, but the much larger, natural-light filled space plus a sunlit atrium has created a warm and welcoming cafe that any shopper to Bridgepoint will find hard to resist. Although I have passed by Cafe Jam at least once a week for several years I have never noticed the scones in the cabinet (maybe they weren’t there!). However, in this new location the bundle of scones are easily spotted from the walkway. The large, fresh and tasty scone is a surprise. A friend who had visited previously doesn’t rate them, but I think the scone is better than average and tastes better, than which it looks. The commercial raspberry jam is better than average, but before the waiter has a chance to put the jam on my table I send him away for more. Whether it’s Bourke or Mosman, surely diners prefer ‘real’ cream with their scone rather than a ‘synthetic’ cream? This one is straight from a can and in one word – terrible. Lastly, this is a small gripe, but a few tea cups would go down a treat, I’m not a fan of the super thick coffee cups for my tea.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A basic selection of Twining tea bags served in a teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: A bright and cheery cafe on the quieter top level of the shopping centre.
Location: Bridgepoint Shopping Centre, 1-3 Brady St, Mosman NSW 2088
Ph: 02 9960 1442 bridgepointmosman.com
Reviewed October, 2017
‘Cicco Bar’
This is another franchised cafe that is part of the Westfield and shopping centre fabric. Open plan like most of the cafes on the middle section of the floor, Cicco Bar serves the standards; eggs, coffee, cake and sandwiches. It’s calm and the tables are separate enough to allow privacy if you’ve brought your laptop. The plain and date scones make the menu that means they are not going anywhere soon. I try the plain scone, which is warm and gluey. It’s neither good nor bad, but forgettable. It’s served with standard cafe strawberry jam, and cream that tastes synthetic and super light. Actually, the only thing that this cream and real cream have in common, is the colour. Overall, it’s an average spread, which tends to be the norm in these types of franchised cafes.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small range of Chamellia tea bags served in a small pot.
Price: $$
Overall: Standard franchise café at the top of the Chase.
Location: Chatswood Chase, 345 Victoria Ave, Chatswood NSW 2067 Ph: 02 9419 8400
Reviewed in February, 2017
‘Jamaica Blue’
Serendipitously I find a review on Trip Advisor mentioning that Jamaica Blue serves Devonshire Teas. I’m not a ‘shopping mall kinda gal’, but my weekday visit to the upper levels of Chatswood Chase Shopping Mall in Sydney’s northern suburbs is quite relaxing and pleasant. Although it’s lunchtime, I have a choice of tables so I choose one opposite the swanky Oroton and Marcs shops, actually all the shops on this level are higher end, with Ralph Lauren on the other side. After ordering and paying at the counter, my tea promptly arrives then my warm scones, soon after. The scones are okay, fresh enough, but not quite the same as the enthusiastic reviewer’s description on Trip Advisor. The jam is low quality and the cream is way too light. If the cream and jam were improved it would actually be a good option to share for morning or afternoon tea (it’s a big serving). Jamaica Blue franchises are found all over Australia.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: Six varieties of Elmstock loose-leaf teas served in a good-sized pot.
Price: $$
Overall: Not a bad place to rest weary shopped out legs.
Location: Level 1, Chatswood Chase Shopping Centre, Chatswood NSW 2067
Ph: 02 9410 0522 jamaicablue.com.au
Reviewed in August, 2013
‘Kirribilli Village Café’
Known for its stunning harbour views, the Prime Minister’s Sydney digs, Luna Park and the best public swimming pool in Sydney (although the latter two are in Milson’s Point), my favourite Sydney suburb, Kirribilli, just got a little bit better. I have discovered a cafe where you can snack on either plain or date scones. The Kirribilli Village Cafe & Ristorante has been a firm fixture as eateries have continued to multiply over the past several years. Unpretentious and welcoming, Kirribilli maintains its village vibe whilst visitors traipse through on their way to snap spectacular night views of the city in lights or to be entertained at Luna Park. But if it’s scones you’re after, you won’t be disappointed. I only try the plain scones and for some odd reason (my friend has the same), both scones are – different. Both are too sweet, but one is denser like damper and the other is fluffy, more like you expect a scone to be. No biggie, but we think it’s weird. As the scones are quite sweet, the jam tastes even sweeter but is better than most. The cream is impressive, not quite, but it’s as good as clotted as you’re going to get Down Under. The monthly Kirribilli Market (held on the last Saturday of the month) is well worth a visit.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A few loose-leaf tea choices and several tea bag choices.
Price: $$
Overall: The corner location is THE place to be to people watch.
Location: Shop 1/3 Broughton St, Kirribilli NSW 2061 Ph: 02 9954 6015
Reviewed March, 2014
‘Mediterranean Paradise’
An indoor/outdoor cafe on a quiet thoroughfare connecting busy Military Road to the more serene Woolworths car park, Mediterranean Paradise is the latest cafe to take up residence in this prime location. The Greek cafe/restaurant is a welcome change to the Neutral Bay dining scene and rounds off the plethora of offerings. I miss the small sign attached to a menu board spruiking Maria’s scones on the way in, so am surprised to see a tray of scones sitting on the counter at a Greek restaurant. Scones aren’t on the very extensive menu, so I’m not sure whether they are a constant, or whether Maria bakes when she feels like it. My scone arrives split and lightly toasted. I’m not a fan of the toasted scone but nonetheless it tastes good, and probably would be better with a blast of heat in the oven. The average strawberry jam is paired with fresh cream dispensed from a cream canister that looks tidy, but is too light for me. It’s a friendly place and the presentation of the DT spread, is better than most.
Scones: 
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A selection of loose-leaf teas served in a lovely teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: Not a bad cafe in the middle of Neutral Bay away from noisy and hectic Military Road.
Location: Theo Arcade, 202-212 Military Rd, Neutral Bay NSW 2089 Ph: 02 9953 4623 business.site
Reviewed in January 2020
‘My Little Cupcake Tea Room’
You might say that a Tea Room with a name pertaining to cupcakes can be a little deceiving if you are on the lookout for scones. Don’t let the name dissuade you from stopping by, as there is lots of goodies on offer as well as said cupcakes. Decked out in pastel hues, the tea room is very pretty and unmistakably feminine – and really, it’s how we scone eaters like it. From the collection of souvenir spoons used throughout the spread, the tea cosies and bone China teaware to the floral napkins, it’s the small touches that impress me. Everything looks so lovely that I don’t want to disturb the presentation perfection. The creamy textured scones are lightly dusted with icing sugar and are the ideal size for a light morning or afternoon tea. With thickly whipped cream paired with a well-baked scone, it’s easy to ignore the stock standard quality jam. Closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small selection of teabags served in tea cosy covered teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: A pretty female bolthole.
Location: 62 Ben Boyd Rd, Neutral Bay NSW 2089 Ph: 02 9909 3908 mylittlecupcake.com.au
Reviewed in July, 2017
‘Shingle Inn’
I stumble across the Shingle Inn franchise by googling ‘scones in Chatswood’. Mall rats may already know the cafe chain, and by looking at the website, it has a strong presence in Queensland and in many Westfields in Sydney, with Chatswood having two! I must say that I struggle to find the cafe tucked in a quiet corner away from the hustle and bustle of the other dining outlets, which is a good sign if you want some peace. The comfy lounge chairs and booths covered in plush velour teemed with dark overtones in the cafe are a welcoming sight. The service is quick and professional, and in no time I am tucking in to my scone, which is basically a sweet bread roll. The strawberry jam is nondescript and the cream, straight out of a can, is light and sweet. The $4.30 for a small pot of Lipton’s tea annoys me. I have better quality tea at home and it’s a shame you only have a choice of supermarket teas at a cafe, especially since you are paying enough for it. Coffee drinkers usually get quality coffees, so why can’t tea drinkers? Anyway, enough said! Shingle Inn franchises can be found throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A variety of tea bags served in a small pot.
Price: $$
Overall: The dark decor creates a cosy atmosphere.
Location: Westfield Chatswood, Level 3, 1 Anderson St, Chatswood NSW 2067
Ph: 02 9411 6946 shingleinn.com
Reviewed in February, 2014
‘Soiree’
Soiree is foremost a successful cake creating and catering business, before a high-end cake shop and cafe. And we’re not talking about your run-of-the-mill cakes either; think decadent special occasion creations for big events like weddings and significant birthdays etc. I stroll past one Sunday, which is serendipitous; it’s the only day the cafe serves scones. Coinciding with ‘High Tea Sunday’, I am told that there are always scones in the house as they are baked for the High Teas. When I finally tear myself away from ogling the delectable sweet sensations on offer, I settle in at one of the indoor tables (there are some in the back garden and out on the footpath), I take in the semi Moulin Rouge decor. My scone is served cold (no heat on this baby), straight from the cake display cabinet that may even be chilled. I prefer my scones slightly warm, but this is how they tend to be served in the UK – at room temperature. Still, the texture is good and tastes like it has been made with quality products. The jam is better than average, although not by much, and the consistency quite thin. The cream tastes synthetic rather than creamy and rich, and is super light. The pretty tea ware is lovely and adds to the pleasure of sipping good quality tea.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: An interesting selection of T Totaler loose-leaf teas and hand-picked herbal varieties purchased in Turkey. The tea is served in a good-sized pot
Price: $$
Overall: The place for cake creations and for feeling decadent.
Location: 1/102 Alfred St S, Milsons Point NSW 2061 Ph: 02 9957 3527 soireecakes.com.au
Reviewed in October, 2016
‘Sugar ‘n’ Spice’
Sugar ‘n’ Spice is the latest cafe in Chatswood Chase’s to offer scones. The cafe is tucked away on Listed as a ‘Cream Tea’ on the menu, you’ll find it listed under ‘Fun on a Plate’, which is kind of true. Today’s scone selection includes plain, date, sultana, strawberry and chocolate mud. They all sound appealing and a few even intriguing. Steering away from my usual scone choice (I’m usually only given one – plain), I go for the most extreme – chocolate mud. I’m not a traditionalist, but I have to draw the line at chocolate mud scones. Call it anything, but, a scone? I don’t know. The scone is very small, perfect for a snack. It definitely lives up to its name as it’s dense and chocolate muddy, but has spent slightly too much time being reheated. I pair it with raspberry jam, although I am torn between the choice of apricot, veri veri and marmalade. The jam goes well with the chocolate, but it’s a double sugar hit. The cream is a stand out. At least whoever wrote the menu isn’t delusional; it says clotted cream, and it is. The gorgeous Royal Albert tea ware feels like it’s come straight out of a box, spanking new. Tea just tastes so good when sipped from good quality china.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A selection of T2 loose-leaf teas served in a nifty teapot where the teapot sits on top of the cup and the tea is filtered into the cup below. Beware of spillage though!
Price: $$
Overall: A left field approach to the traditional scone, jam and cream.
Location: 345 Victoria Ave, Chatswood NSW 2067 Ph: 02 9419 2217 sugarnspice.com.au
Reviewed in November, 2016
‘The Boathouse Balmoral Beach’
The Boathouse restaurant group knows a winning formula when it comes to feeding and watering hip crowds. All three venues have stunning locations in Sydney’s affluent northern beachside suburbs and the beachy chic decor is an obvious winner. At Balmoral Beach, the meal order queue is out the door, and you’re lucky to get in at lunchtime even during the week. Situated in the old Balmoral Boatshed, it’s definitely all about location, location, location! Sitting at one of the prime seating spots at the end of the timber pier, the water almost laps at your ankles. From here it’s a full view of beautiful Balmoral beach, and the tables that run parallel to the timber pier look over the enclosed swimming area. The scones, jam and cream are comparable to The Boathouse Shelly Beach, which is both commendable and a bummer. Commendable because it’s almost identical even down to the timing and service we all love consistency, and a bummer because I don’t like my pot of tea arriving ten minutes after my scones. The serving is definitely meant to be shared – the scones are big, and freshly baked, but served cold and already sliced in half. Slightly warm scones would be better and although the cream is fresh, it’s a bit light, and the jam average. The spread definitely wins brownie points for presentation and the lush strawberries are a treat.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: The standard variety of loose-leaf teas are served in cast iron Japanese style tea pot that is heavier than what it needs to be, with not a lot of tea.
Price: $$$
Overall: The location! What else is there?
Location: 2 The Esplanade, Balmoral NSW 2088 Ph: 02 9974 5440 theboathousebb.com.au
Reviewed September, 2015
‘The Library Café’
The Library Cafe in North Sydney is pumping. Local office workers drop in for a takeaway coffee, and loud funky tunes ensure that there’s nothing ‘library like’ about this place. A few minutes walk from Stanton Library and up the quiet end of Miller Street, the cafe gets its fair share of human traffic. The large scone is literally steaming and tastes fresh, but it’s more fluffy bread roll than scone. It smells sweet and to me, it’s a cheap version of a true scone, but not bad – I’ve had a lot worse. The jam is less than average and there’s not quite enough for the size of the scone. What I don’t understand is why a cafe would serve a jam that a customer wouldn’t even eat at home? The cream is super light and tastes real enough (which is a positive). Avoid the 3pm school finishing time, as the bus stop out the front as well as the cafe is heaving with local school kids.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small range of Tea Drop pyramid teabags served in a good-sized pot.
Price: $$
Overall: Buzzy and inviting, the location near the library and park, plus a busy bus stop helps.
Location: 240 Miller St, North Sydney 2060 Ph: 02 9922 5508
Reviewed in November, 2016
‘The Sydney Chocolate School & Coco Chocolate Studio’
Listed at the bottom of the High Tea Menu, it’s easy for this swanky Devonshire Tea to go under the radar. Going by the pseudonym, Coco Cream Tea to match the Chocolate establishments signature products, this is a fun experience. Served on a tiered platter, the quirky teacup at the top holds the cream and there’s three serves of Hanks Jams; passionfruit, apricot and strawberry, in teapot shaped dishes. The teapots, cups, saucers and serving plates are an eclectic mix of shabby chic crockery. Located in the newly renovated HMAS Penguin Military Barracks on Middle Head road, there’s a lovely view of Middle Harbour and across to the white sands of Neilson Park. It’s a small cosy spot and when I visit there is a chocolate making class underway. The scones are quite large so bigger jam and cream servings would be better. NB: As per the website, the Coco Cream Tea is available on weekends in spring/summer (Sept-May) by appointment only.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: Choice of Earl Grey, English Breakfast or Peppermint tea – tea bags.
Price: $$
Overall: Cute and cosy, with rugs to keep you warm in winter.
Location: Building 21, 1110 Middle Head Rd, Mosman NSW 2088 Ph: 02 99605848 cocochocolate.com.au
Reviewed in June, 2012
‘Woolwich Pier Hotel’
You wouldn’t expect to find scones on a pub menu, but if you’re heading to Hunters Hill or Woolwich Dock, the former dry dock and shipyard, for a stroll it’s well worth a stop. The place can get busy, especially when the weather’s fine and everyone is out to enjoy the harbour views, so if you want to grab a spot upstairs on the verandah of this 1885 hotel to make the most of the views, get in early (the restaurant opens at 12pm). The scones are served on a large breadboard with a dollop of double thick rich cream and three small jars of Beerenberg strawberry jam. With three scones, two sultana and one plain, it’s a meal in itself and there’s more than enough jam and cream to go around. It’s a bistro style pub so you have to order at the bar and pick up when the buzzer sounds. Try the indoor bistro and courtyard garden if you can’t nab and upstairs seat with a view.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A selection of T2 loose-leaf teas served in a small pot. Be ware if asking for English Breakfast, my friend got standard Liptons.
Price: $$
Overall: Popular pub in a swanky Sydney suburb.
Location: 2 Gale St, Woolwich NSW 2110 Ph: 02 9817 2204 woolwichpierhotel.com.au
Reviewed in June, 2013
With images of poker machines, sticky carpets and bain-marie lunches and dinners in mind, I head to the Dee Why RSL Club on Sydney’s northern beaches. You can imagine my surprise when I step through huge sliding doors to find a schmick if not cavernous club with not a bain-marie in sight. After a makeover a few years ago, Dee Why RSL is all floor to ceiling glass, water features and big open spaces and contemporary design and neutral tones. Although the club offers a plethora of drinking and dining choices, destination is Aqua Bar & Dining, the club’s all-day dining option. The cake cabinet is piled high with plain and date scones, and although there are two per serve – by chef’s orders, I must stick to only one option. This is a tad annoying, as I really don’t see the issue with not being able to have one of each. After much deliberation, I go with the date scones, which are fresh and moist. The lousy two tiny sachets of Kraft strawberry jam aren’t sufficient and the cream, although there’s plenty of it, is light and airy.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A basic range of Aurora tea bags
Price: $$
Overall: Bright, cheery and schmick.
Location: Dee Why RSL, 932 Pittwater Rd, Dee Why NSW 2099 Ph: 02 9454 4000 dyrsl.com.au
Reviewed in June 2016
‘Cafe Aqua’
I don’t have to do too much sweet-talking to get into the Balgowlah RSL club. Rules apply, and if you live within a five-kilometre radius of the club, it’s time to flash your badge or head back out the door. It’s a few minutes after opening, and I sneak in after a few punters arrive. As far as RSL clubs go, this one is small. Even though Cafe Aqua is in the middle of the building, I can still see daylight out past the bistro that’s only a few steps down from the cafe. The cafe is big enough so there’s no chance on missing out on seating but small enough to create a ‘cafe vibe’. After a 10-minute wait, the scones finally arrive; fresh and straight out of the oven. They are slightly crispy on the outside, and whether they are or are not, I don’t know, but they taste like they are made from a pre-packaged scone mix. Regardless, they are surprisingly good. There is lots of the super light cream and only two lousy portion controlled strawberry jams. I ask for two more almost immediately, and are given them without hesitation.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A basic range of Twining tea bags served in a small pot.
Price: $$ (member and non-member prices that differ by 50c)
Overall: Handy for a quick bite if you are already in the club.
Location: Balgowlah RSL, 30/38 Ethel St, Seaforth NSW 2092 Ph: 02 9949 5477
Reviewed October, 2017
‘Chelsea Tea House’
The ‘closed’ sign is up at the Chelsea Tea House but every table in the place is taken, food is still coming out of the kitchen and it’s not even 2pm. Ignoring the sign, I sniff out the scones that are sitting on the counter, and the chef is happy to plate some up although the place is closing. Most of the seating is in the shady and leafy courtyard out the front, which is what captures your attention if you’re passing by. It screams, ‘I want to eat here’! The scones are unusual, and at first glance look more like scrolls as they are fairly flat and have lots of currants on top and are spiked with cinnamon. I usually like berry compote, however this one is high on the syrup with barely a berry in sight, which makes it really challenging to put on the scone. The cream is freshly whipped and could be a tad thicker but it’s still a pretty good all-rounder. Open Monday to Sunday 7.15am to 2pm, and Friday and Saturday evenings.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: An interesting selection of Tippity organic loose-leaf teas served in a pot.
Price: $$
Overall: Lovely outdoor eatery.
Location: 2/48 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon NSW 2107 Ph: 02 9973 3090
Reviewed September, 2014
‘Collaroy Bakehouse’
Not much more than a hole-in-the-wall bakery, Collaroy Bakehouse sells the staples; bread, pies, and cakes. Just off busy Pittwater Road and across from the beach, the bakery also serves coffee so the few seats at the window and the tables outside are often occupied. Passing by, I duck in on the off-chance that there are scones with the trimmings. There’s no menu to speak of but I find a tray of fruit and plain scones in the cake cabinet with a handwritten note attached offering jam and cream. My plain scone arrives already dressed and I have no complaints as it is a small and basic bakery after all, not a cafe or restaurant. The scone comes the British way – unheated. It tastes fresh and is robust rather than light and fluffy, but definitely has a scone texture as opposed to a cake or bread roll. The strawberry jam is average, and although it’s sweet, there’s not a lot of it to be offensive. As it’s a chilly day the light and airy cream keeps it’s form, so once again doesn’t spoil a relatively good scone.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A basic range of tea bags served as small, medium or large. My ‘small’ tea came in a small coffee cup.
Price: $
Overall: Cheap and cheerful.
Location: 1119D Pittwater Rd, Collaroy NSW 2097 Ph: 02 9981 7848
Reviewed in July, 2016
‘Dunes Kiosk Palm Beach’
Pretty Governor Phillip Park is about as far as you can get your car north along Sydney’s shoreline. If you want to go further it is by foot up to Barrenjoey Head, the dominating feature of Palm Beach’s skyline. Palm Beach is the location for the television show, ‘Home and Away’s’ Summer Bay. Even the Surf Life Saving buggy has Summer Bay plastered across its bumper – just in case you didn’t know. Although I am grateful for all the wonderful Aussie talent that the show has turned out, I’m not a fan. Instead I’m here to absorb the posh and ‘I’m-still-in-Sydney-although-it-feels-like-I-am-a-million-miles-away’ vibe. Dunes Kiosk and Restaurant is in Governor Phillip Park just behind the ‘Summer Bay’ Surf Life Saving Club. It doesn’t have ocean views but is a sweet spot nonetheless. The Kiosk is attached to the pricey restaurant and has enough seating that’s either undercover, out on the grass (good for dogs), or in little cute beach booths. The scone is more bread roll than scone and is very ordinary. A shame a chef from next door can’t rustle up a batch of scones. The fresh cream is so light it almost dissolves mid-air and the single tiny sachet of jam is a joke for the size of the scone. I wish they would go easy on the cardboard; my tea doesn’t need two cups, especially since I am dining in. Their waste collection must be colossal!
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small selection of T2 pyramid teabags served in a paper takeaway cup.
Price: $$
Overall: Very disappointing quality but top points for the lovely location.
Location: 1193 Barrenjoey Rd, Palm Beach NSW 2108 Ph: 02 9974 3332 dunespalmbeach.com.au
Reviewed in April, 2016
‘Essence Cafe’
Stockland Balgowlah feels posh. The shops seem to have been carefully chosen with discerning shoppers in mind, and unlike most shopping malls, it feels – relaxed. Essence Cafe, however, is on a busy thoroughfare. It’s the quickest way to Coles from the car park entrance, so while dining in the open-plan cafe you can’t miss the filled grocery trolleys pass by. There are plain and fruit scones and I try one of each. The menu says that they are ‘toasty’. Definitely not toasted (thank goodness), but warm and fairly crusty on the outside. The fruit scone is more flavoursome than the plain, and I would have passed on the plain if I had known. The plain scone is exactly that – plain, but it tastes bland. The menu says that the jam is ‘real’ fruit jam. Yes, that’s true, but essentially it is still a cheap commercial variety rather than a fruity homemade one, and there isn’t enough to go around. The super light cream is from a cream canister and doesn’t help matters. No doubt with better quality jam and cream, this could have been a different experience.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small selection of loose-leaf organic teas served in a mid-size teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: A pleasant place for a quick break.
Location: Shop 2, Stockland Balgowlah, 197-215 Condamine St, Balgowlah NSW 2093
Ph: 0449 979 849
Reviewed in July, 2017
‘Expresso Heads’
I stick my head into the tiny space that is Expresso Heads in downtown Dee Why (that’s the commercial hub not the surf side one) to ask whether they have any scones. Not expecting a positive reply, the waitress says that they have sold out (it’s only 11.30am) but she’ll pop down the road and pick up some more from the bakery. It doesn’t sound positive, but she assures us that Devonshire Teas are certainly on the menu. And so they are. We settle under one of the shady umbrellas on the wide footpath, which incidentally houses about 99 per cent of the café seating. Once the bakery scones are transferred from discreet paper bag to plate, the transformation and presentation is quite surprising. The small crusty but soft on the inside scones are dusted with icing sugar so on first bite they taste a little sweet. True to the menu, the cream is impressively double thick, the strawberry jam acceptable and for those who like to calorie load and their scones well-lubricated – there’s butter. Later we wander down the street and discover that the scone source is Dee Why Hot Bread.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A few choices of T2 pyramid tea bags served in a good-sized pot.
Price: $$
Overall: A pleasant and friendly café in the hub of the Dee Why town action.
Location: Shop 1/11-13 Oaks Ave, Dee Why NSW 2099 Ph: 02 9982 4700
espresso-head.com
Reviewed February, 2015
‘Harlequin’s Cakes’
I’ve been passing Harlequin’s Cakes in Balgowlah for years now, and finally decided to make the Devonshire Tea call. Easily located on the road to Manly, the place is part bakery/part cafe, and specialises in cakes for all occasions. It’s a compact set up, with only three tables in a tastefully designed cafe area. There’s a coffee machine, a cake cabinet filled with favourites, and pies for those who prefer savoury to sweet. There’s even a sign especially for Devonshire Teas, and scones sit where everyone can see them; right on the counter. I’m early so the scone tray is bare as they are still cooling off out the back – fresh from the oven. I have a choice of plain, sultana and date, and try a plain and a sultana. They taste like a bakery scone rather than a creamy and fluffy nanna-style baked scone. Don’t get me wrong; they are still good, fresh but a bit more bread-like. The cream is chilled, firm, and slightly sweet, your typical cake filling cream (if that makes sense?). Unfortunately the strawberry jam is a bit below average, which is a shame, as it is the weakest link.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: Four choices of teabag tea served in a small pot.
Price: $$
Overall: Surprisingly good for a bakery and a comfy cafe to boot.
Location: 363 Sydney Rd, Balgowlah NSW 2093 Ph: 02 9948 7741
Reviewed in April, 2017
‘H2O Cafe Restaurant’
Without a doubt, H2O Cafe Restaurant‘s shore side location on Narrabeen Lakes must be the envy of the town. That is, to all the unfortunate enough not to have stunning lake views and a pole position for people watching. Perched on the edge of the walking track that circumnavigates the lake, the cafe spills out onto the lawn, keeping all eyes from buzzing Pittwater Road. Indoors, the space exudes a beachyvibe with great views of the lake. For fresh air and sunshine, grab a table under one of the umbrellas in summer or soak up the sun in the cooler months. The scones are the highlight of this spread. Actually if not for the scone’s creamy freshness, I’d say, “walk on by”. These chunky scones deserve quality accompaniments rather than the ordinary sweet strawberry jam and the super light cream it’s served with. To be fair, the cream is fresh, but is dispensed from a cream canister – hence the lightness.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A basic range of loose-leaf teas served in a small teapot.
Price: $$$
Overall: Great location, but overpriced.
Location: 3/1431 Pittwater Rd, Narrabeen NSW 2101 Ph: 02 9913 1360 h2ocafe.com.au
Reviewed October 2018
‘Jamaica Blue’
Even though the last revamp and extension was several years ago, I still can’t get my head around navigating Westfield Warringah Mall. I’m putting it down to infrequent shopping trips or perhaps I’m just too lazy to read the directory. Although not a ‘Mall Rat’, Westfield Warringah Mall is my preferred; full of natural light, spaces open to the skies and with lots of areas (some now with oversized cushions) to loll around in. Jamaica Blue (I didn’t even know it was this franchise until I ordered and paid) indiscreetly occupies central floor space under a glass ceiling. Light, bright and dare I say inviting, the cafe is a convenient option if it’s a scone you are after. Said scone is more bread roll than traditional scone, but in saying that, it doesn’t scrub up too badly. The jam is a sweet syrupy concoction and puts quality jam to shame. Although the cream is fresh, it’s light and no doubt from a cream canister and better suited to ice chocolates. Try not to get too lost in the labyrinthine shopping mall!
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A basic selection of Elmstock loose-leaf teas served in a teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: A coffee shop franchise that doesn’t feel like a cardboard cut out.
Location: Westfield Warringah Mall,
Ph: 02 9939 3281 jamaicablue.com.au
Reviewed June 2018
‘Palm Beach Paradise Café’
What a view! Descending Rock Bath Road into the southern end of Palm Beach at Cabbage Tree Boat Harbour is surreal in the glowing spring sunshine. I’ve just walked from Avalon Beach over Bangalley Head and Whale Beach and am looking forward to a Devonshire Tea. It’s Friday afternoon, and the weekend visitors have yet to arrive so you get to witness the beauty without the crowds and choke of traffic – it truly does feel like a world away from Sydney. I head first to 2108 Expresso, as I know they serve scones. Bingo, still available, but I am only allowed a takeaway as the cafe is closing – its only 2.35pm. Call me old-fashioned, but a scone is not like a meat pie – you don’t take it away to eat on the beach! The only other option on the ocean side is Palm Beach Paradise Cafe, which looks more like a fast food outlet than a cosy cafe in the city’s most elite suburb. A killer view matches it’s killer prices – $11.50 for one ordinary sultana scone, a skerrick of jam in a portion controlled container, a squirt of ultra light cream and a pot of hot water with a tea bag in it. I feel ripped off, but have to chuckle and remember where I am. All I can say is that I may have a little higher standard in scones than someone who can afford to drive a Lamborghini.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A few choices of tea bags served in a large pot.
Price: $$
Overall: Ridiculously priced and low quality.
Location: 1/24 Ocean Rd, Palm Beach NSW 2108 Ph: 02 9974 1003
Reviewed in September, 2013
‘Sanctuary Café and Restaurant’
I’m not sure what Flower Power Warriewood is like on the weekends, but during the week the crowds are non-existent and it’s a pleasure to potter around the plants and homewares, and to pick up herbs for the garden. This is my second visit to the Sanctuary Cafe and Restaurant in four years and things have changed – for the better. We’re told that they bake 90 scones every three days, but I don’t think they baked today. The scones are a vast improvement on the wholemeal ones I had in 2014. They are light with a slight crispiness from the heating. The Hanks jams are a treat, and I find myself tossing up between the fig and the sour cherry. The cream is thankfully fresh but too aerated. Good to see some good quality loose-leaf teas and a proper tea cup.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A good basic range of Tea Blossom loose-leaf teas plus a few interesting ones, served in a small Japanese iron teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: Check for the Devonshire Tea special.
Location: Flower Power Garden Centre Warriewood, 22 Macpherson St, Warriewood NSW 2102 Ph: 02 9979 2557 sanctuarycafe.com.au
Reviewed in October 2018
‘The Boathouse Palm Beach’
I’ve now been to all three The Boathouse restaurants on Sydney’s northern beaches. All are set in beautiful waterside locations, but Palm Beach is my favourite. Why? It’s virtually on The Pittwater and feels more like a boathouse than the others. Half of the seating looks over the Pittwater, and the other half is under shady umbrellas and trees in its own secluded courtyard. If the sweeping views across to West Head National Park aren’t enough, continue down the jetty that runs alongside the building, and immerse yourself further in the Pittwater experience. The menu is the same – I love the consistency. The scones are crispy and slightly toasted, and these are already cut in half. The spread errs on the generous side, and if you aren’t too hungry is enough to share. The jam and cream are good enough – the jam is average and the fresh cream is on the light side – but there’s room for improvement, and the handful of fresh strawberries are always a welcome treat. Try a yoga class in the space upstairs that offers million-dollar views to help find your Zen. Sunday dining incurs a 10 per cent surcharge.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A basic selection of quality loose-leaf teas served in a Japanese style cast iron teapot.
Price: $$$
Overall: The location over Pittwater actually feels like a boathouse.
Location: Governor Phillip Park, Barrenjoey Beach, Palm Beach NSW 2108
Ph: 02 9974 5440 theboathousepb.com.au
Reviewed in April 2016
‘The Boathouse Shelly Beach’
After the fine dining restaurant Le Kiosk closed its doors in 2014, it took another year until the former stone tearoom to finally open its doors. Opening earlier this month, The Boathouse Shelly Beach is the latest offering in the Boathouse portfolio. Beginning with The Boathouse Palm Beach and another at Balmoral Beach, this property takes a three-in-one approach, featuring a kiosk, cafe and restaurant that are open in the evening. Built in 1923, the tearoom not only provided refreshments for visitors to Shelly Beach, but also in the 1920s doubled as a dance hall and only the select were able to attend. So it’s only fitting that a former tearoom should serve scones, and by the looks of how quickly the scones are selling, the popular traditional British pastime lives on at Shelly Beach. The presentation is impressive. The tea arrives first with a small separate jar housing the tea leaves that are to be deposited into the teapot. Sweet. The scones are served on a breadboard and little glass jars are used for the jam and cream. Considering the size of the scones, there definitely needs to be more jam, which disappointingly is very ordinary. The cream is fresh and whipped, but could be thicker. The winners are the buttermilk scones: buttery and crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside – delicious! Points also go to the fresh strawberries, a nice touch. Make sure you get a table that looks across the beach towards Queenscliff, even on a rainy winters day the view is simply sensational. This is the only Devonshire Tea I have managed to find in Manly, proving that this hip beachside community is not too cool for scones after all.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: The standard variety of loose-leaf teas served in a cast iron kettle (Tetsubin in Japanese or nambu tekkie ironware). It looks good but doesn’t hold much tea.
Price: $$$
Overall: Superb ocean views and buzzing atmosphere make this a winner.
Location: 1 Marine Pde, Manly NSW 2095 Ph: 02 9934 9977 theboathousesb.com.au
Reviewed June 2015
‘The Boatshed Café and Bar’
Run, walk or cycle the 8km collection of steel boardwalks, gravel and cement paths, and footpaths that circumnavigates Narrabeen lagoon. In warm weather hit the water on a stand up paddleboard, kayak, windsurfer, paddle boat or join fisherman anchored in the deeper tidal channel. My cycle around the lake, which incidentally starts and finishes at Dee Why beach, coincides with Narrabeen Market Day and adds another interesting element to my visit. On the weekend this track is a well-worn path for families cruising around so it’s more of an amble than a fitness session. But don’t let the lack of calorie burning dissuade you from stopping at The Boatshed Cafe and Bar for a pot of tea and scones. Whether you’re cosy and warm upstairs gazing at the expansive views over the water, or in the outdoor seating area alongside the path, the location is impressive. The scones are homemade and although not mind-blowing, are tasty and fresh. What lets it down is the super-duper melt-before-reaching-the-scone cream, which we’re not sure, is from a can or from a lousy cream siphon, and the one teeny tiny jar of Beerenberg jam. I ask for more jam and am given one even tinier three-quarter filled Heinz sachet. Tight fisted or non-scone eaters? Either way, I wouldn’t order it again.
Scones:
Jam: to
Cream:
Tea: A selection of Temple Tea Co pyramid tea bags served in a pot that surprisingly is bigger than it looks.
Price: $$
Overall: Location, location, location.
Location: 11 Narrabeen St, Narrabeen NSW 2101 Ph: 02 9913 8938 theboatshedcafe.com.au
Reviewed June 2015
‘The Café at Alfresco Emporium’
Not a homeware shopping kind of gal, I must say I’ve passed Alfresco Emporium many times without a thought to stop and take a peek. After a Google search for scones in Collaroy, I land on their web page and then the next day in their cafe. What a find! No doubt savvy locals have been keeping this gem all to themselves, hoping it won’t get too popular so you won’t have to queue. We arrive about an hour before its early closing time of 3pm on a Sunday. It’s empty for all of two minutes then everyone decided to have afternoon tea at once. Although we got our orders in before the rush, there was still a bit of a wait. The scones looked mighty fine sitting in their own glass display, but on arrival are slightly dry and a bit chewy on the bottom from being heated up. No doubt, first thing in the morning, they would have been exceptional. The mixed berry jam is right up my alley – rich and tart. They have jars of it and other varieties for sale adjacent to the cafe. I just want to warn you not to get excited over the mention of ‘clotted cream’ on the menu. Simply – because it isn’t clotted cream. It’s double thick dollop style cream, which don’t get me wrong, is much better than some of the light whipped cream options you often get, but it’s false advertising.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: Six choices of Pure Tea loose-leaf served in a small pot.
Price: $$
Overall: The perfect place to shop ‘til you drop for homewares then chill in the cafe.
Location: 1021 Pittwater Rd, Collaroy NSW 2097 Ph: 02 9919 0619 alfrescoemporium.com.au/cafe-high-tea
Reviewed July 2014
‘Whale Beach Deli’
I know there’s been a drought for the past few years, but I’m not sure how business will be at Whale Beach Deli when the rain finally comes. Predominately an outside venue with only an indoor row of stools at a bar along the wall, I hope the shady umbrellas outside are waterproof. Unlike the other cafes in the Boathouse portfolio, Whale Beach Deli serves the same menu to a much smaller group of diners and without the ocean views (although poke your head around the side of the building and you can see the ocean). I have been to three of the Boathouses in Sydney, and this has to be the best serve of scones, jam and cream yet. To be honest, it’s usually quite ordinary. This time round the lightly toasted buttermilk scones (not sure why they have to be toasted) are creamy and fresh, and the jam is now made in house. Today it’s raspberry, and it’s tart and fruity like a good-quality jam should be. The cream is now the only weak link; too light and airy, and dissolves in the August winter sun. You can take home a jar of The Boathouse jam if it impresses.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A basic range of loose-leaf teas served in a Japanese iron teapot. My Earl Grey tea is served with a mound of lemon zest. Bonus!
Price: $$$
Overall: A laidback offshoot of the notoriously popular Boatshed conglomerate.
Location: Ph: 02 9974 5440
Reviewed August 2019
On the outside, the Beehive Cafe Restaurant looks pretty ordinary. The bland 80s brick building doesn’t do the cafe any favours, but once in the folds of the welcoming staff, that blandness disappears. What emerges is a warm and friendly vibe, which will draw you back time and again. The large outdoor dining area is cool for summer days, but the two indoor sections are better for chilly days. The scones are baked daily on the premises and are served lightly dusted with icing sugar. They have a creamy texture, and with every bite, melt in your mouth. The mixed berry jam is homemade and tart rather than overpoweringly sweet, as jam can be. Unfortunately, the fresh cream is dispensed from a cream canister and is too light for me. Wander around and explore Beecroft village before you leave, and there’s a cool toy store next door to the cafe.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A range of basic teabags served in a good-sized teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: A super friendly and accommodating cafe with yummy chef-made desserts.
Location: 4/1A Wongala Cres, Beecroft NSW 2119 Ph: 02 9980 7853 beehivecafe.com.au
Reviewed February 2019
‘Bees Knees Vintage Cafe’
Situated on the quiet side of the tracks, Bees Knees Vintage Cafe is definitely a change from the usual franchise eateries found in the Westfield Shopping Mall. The 1970s beach umbrella and outdoor setting (indoors), sets the scene for the overall decor. Secondhand oversized lounge suites set around coffee tables are perfect for groups, while more intimate and sensible dining furniture caters for couples. For outdoors, choose from footpath dining, or the garden out the back, which by the way, does not look inviting in broad daylight. Another semi-separate lounge area sits between the main dining hall and the loo out the back, so there’s something for everyone. I spy the scones on a table of sweets, but it’s not a good sign when the scones are individually wrapped in gladwrap. There’s a date and a plain scone to choose from, so I go for the plain, even though neither look appealing. It’s hard to explain, but the buttery and cake-like ‘scone’ looks nothing like a scone should, and that’s before it’s microwaved to death. The skerrick of el cheapo jam, and sickly sweet synthetic cream from a can don’t help matters either. The whole combo is a disaster and not even the quirky presentation can save it.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A selection of tea bag teas served in a cute cup/teapot duo.
Price: $$
Overall: Funky concept, but steer clear of the scones.
Location: 14 Coronation St, Hornsby NSW 2077 Ph: 02 9482 8012
Reviewed November 2017
‘Bobbin Inn Cafe’
It’s possible to arrive in the Bobbin Head section of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park by either car, boat or on foot. This easily accessible section of the National Park is a wonderful place to escape the city for some bushwalking, fishing, boating or simply for a picnic. The Bobbin Inn Cafe shares the historic art-deco Inn with a small National Parks office and has a large outdoor sitting area that allows diners to bask in the wintersun or take refuge under umbrellas in the summer. There’s a choice of plain and fruit scones that although are huge, aren’t outstanding, with the fruit scones not tasting very fruity. The aerated cream is way too light and although the jam is okay, there just isn’t enough to go around considering the size of the scones. Even though the Devonshire Tea doesn’t take top marks, I recommend a visit to the cafe nonetheless, just for the view and the overall ambience of being amongst nature.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: The few options available are tea bags served in a small pot.
Price: $$
Overall: A great city escape.
Location: Bobbin Head Rd, Bobbin Head NSW 2076 Ph: 02 9457 7170 bobbininncafe.com.au
Reviewed in August 2012
‘Bobbin Head Bakery’
If entering the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park via Bobbin Head Road, it’s worth pausing at one of the North Turramurra cafes on the way. The village-like cluster of businesses is tucked away in the leafy north shore suburb, which means that it may take non-locals like myself, a while to discover. After a brisk bush walk and a visit to the Sphinx memorial, rest at one of the village cafes before hitting the Sydney traffic slog back home. The Bobbin Head Bakery is also a large cafe with simple indoor and outdoor seating. Signage on the footpath spruiks Devonshire Teas, but the young girl behind the counter looks at me quizzically when I ask for one. I’m a little shocked when my scone arrives, as there is nothing ‘scone’ about this imposter. Already cut in half and slightly toasted, the supposed scone looks unappetising, and, to be honest, it’s embarrassing! It’s a sad day when an average raspberry jam and mock cream that should be relegated to the cream buns, rates higher than the star attraction (the scone). There’s also a lag in the arrival of my tea, and I feel awkward as I wait before I dress my pathetic looking scone.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A basic selection of Twining tea bags served in a teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: A typical bakery cafe vibe.
Location: 278 Bobbin Head Rd, North Turramurra NSW 2074 Ph: 02 9144 2335
Reviewed October 2017
‘Buongiorno Beecroft
The Buongiorno Beecroft is a small Italian cafe tucked away in an arcade in Beecroft shopping village. Before I order one of the sultana scones sitting on the counter, I ask how they are served just to be sure that I am having a Devonshire Tea. There’s a discussion in the servery about the pronunciation of ‘scone,’ which sounds absurd, like I am the first person to have ever ordered one. There’s also a small glitch with the tea order. Although I repeat my tea order twice, I still end up with the wrong tea. My scone arrives split in half and toasted, with a distinct sweet aroma. It’s hard to comment on a toasted scone; perhaps it’s to disguise the lack of freshness? The ordinary jam is super-duper sweet and so too is the squirt of cream straight from a can. Overall the whole shebang is too sweet.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A selection of six T4u loose-leaf teas and a range of tea bag teas served in a small pot.
Price: $$
Overall: A tucked away Italian themed cafe.
Location: 6-8 Hannah St, Beecroft NSW 2119 Ph: 02 9484 5034
Reviewed August 2014
‘Café Botanica’
To me, Cafe Botanica looks stark rather than warm and inviting. The scones sitting in the glass cake container on the counter aren’t particularly appealing, but I am determined to give this café a shot. It’s my second attempt at a Devonshire Tea here and I’m not being turned away this time – still an hour from closing time. The café must get large groups, as all tables are big enough for at least six diners, including the picnic bench-like tables in the annex. Sit at the large picture windows that look beyond the gravel car park to lush gardens and Swane’s Nursery. With a light sifting of icing sugar on the top, the scones have been transformed to light and fluffy pillows of loveliness. The strawberry jam is average but is good enough, and the cream is way too light for my taste but at least it’s fresh.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A selection of Twining tea bags served in a standard sized teapot or a few choices of loose-leaf tea in a plunger pot.
Price: $$
Overall: The café is more comfortable than its looks.
Location: Swane’s Nursery, 490 Galston Rd, Dural NSW 2158 Ph: 02 9653 9051
Reviewed June 2015
‘Cafe Mirabelle of Bonds’
Need a few plants for the garden? Perhaps some new cushions? Once you’re done racking up your credit card, grab a Devonshire Tea at the cafe at the far end of the homeware section. The date scones are okay, but would taste better a bit warmer. The blueberry jam is slightly odd, it doesn’t taste homemade, but it’s an unusual choice to accompany the scones. Impressed that the cream is thick and creamy and far from the common aerated type served at a lot of establishments! Judging by the size of the cafe, the trays of scones crammed into the cake cabinet and the number of reserved tables this particular Sunday, I’d say they do a roaring Sunday trade. Loved the Japanese lime and coconut tea.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small selection of black, fruit, herbal and green loose-leaf teas.
Price: $$
Overall: Good for a break from the shopping.
Location: Flower Power Nursery, 227 Mona Vale Rd, Terrey Hills NSW 2084
Ph: 02 9986 3551
flowerpower.com.au/locations/terrey-hills/cafe-mirabelle
Reviewed in August 2012
‘Café On Three’
Cafe On Three offers mall rats the best of both worlds. Firstly, if you need a break from the fluorescent lights, dine outdoors (or indoors) and breathe fresh air, and secondly, you don’t need to leave the confines of the mall to do so. Located on level 3 in David Jones in Westfields Hornsby, Cafe On Three is dangerously placed on the same floor as the kitchenware and teaware department. I say dangerously, because if you enjoy scones and tea, undoubtedly you might appreciate good quality teapots and pretty china cups and saucers, and everything that goes with them. After scones delicately dusted in icing sugar, served with chilled thickly whipped cream and average strawberry jam, who knows what could happen when you leave the cafe and walk amongst the likes of Wedgewood, Royal Albert, Maxwell & Williams, Cristina Rea, Salt & Pepper – need I go on?
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small selection of T2 loose-leaf teas served in a small pot.
Price: $$
Overall: A great escape from the mall time warp.
Location: David Jones, Westfield Hornsby, Level 3, 236 Pacific Hwy, Hornsby NSW 2077 Ph: 02 9472 3700 davidjones.com.au
Reviewed in April 2016
‘Cafe Relish’
Cafe Relish is like most of the cafes along this Richmond strip – much bigger than you think. Enter through the front door and the deli like appearance and single strip of seating down one wall is deceiving. Go through to the back, and the whole place opens up three-fold to a vast area of undercover outdoor seating. There are date, plain and blueberry and white chocolate scones available today. I decide to go left field and try the blueberry and white chocolate choice. The scone arrives already cut and coated in jam and cream. It’s been in the microwave for longer than necessary and the toppings dissolve rapidly. It’s not bad, once you get past the overheating, and not as sweet as I imagined, but I’m a plain scone kinda girl. The raspberry jam tastes better than most, but it’s hard to tell as it’s already on the scone and the cream is melting into it. The cream, whipped in a cream canister, is very light and takes no time to slide off the warm scone.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A basic range of loose-leaf teas served in a small teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: From the street side, the cafe looks cosy and inviting.
Location: 229 Windsor St, Richmond NSW 2753 Ph: 02 4578 7945
Reviewed October 2017
‘Cottage Point Kiosk’
It’s a glorious summer’s day and there’s no better place to be then on one of Sydney’s beaches or waterways. Whether you arrive by private boat or road, The Cottage Point Kiosk and General Store is popular with yachties and Sydneysiders looking for tranquility. Lying deep in the heart of the Ku-Ring- Gai Chase National Park, the Kiosk is perched on the edge of Cowan Creek that runs off the Hawkesbury River and is the perfect place for a chilled lunch or snack. A friend told me about the Devonshire Teas, so I was excited to try them and even more excited when I arrive to see Devonshire Tea signs plastered all over the Kiosk. I miss out on the date scones but the plain scones look homemade and crusty. However, within a few minutes of cooling down, the scones are little more than rock cakes and inedible, the jam is average and the cream too light for me, which is a shame considering the million dollar views.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A few varieties of tea bags served in a small pot.
Price: $$$
Overall: A magical Sydney escape.
Location: 1 Notting Ln, Cottage Point NSW 2084 Ph: 02 9456 3024 cottagepointkiosk.com.au
Reviewed in February 2014
‘Dragonfly Cafe’
I’ve often driven past Eden Gardens but have never thought to drop in to the cafe. Actually, as I hurried by, caught in the rush of Sydney traffic, it hadn’t passed my mind that there may be a cafe. With plenty of parking, mostly underground, the place feels geared up for masses of people. After I enter the extensive homewares gift shop and the huge cafe, I notice several function rooms with a wedding reception currently taking place. The cafe has lots of seating with the outdoor undercover area overlooking the garden centre. The cafe is open and airy, and if you decide to visit during a heatwave, is not air-conditioned. The Devonshire Tea arrives promptly and looks uncannily like a bread roll. Trying not to judge a book by its cover, I am surprised when I break open the scone it reveals a soft and fluffy centre. The strawberry jam is sickly sweet and the cream is so light that it melts before I can get it onto the scone. A larger pot or a side of hot water would be handy for the tea as nattering and eating is thirsty work.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A selection of Tea Tonic loose-leaf teas served in a small pot.
Price: $$
Overall: A pleasant oasis for a catch up and shop.
Location: Eden Gardens & Garden Centre, 301-307 Lane Cove Rd, North Ryde NSW 2113 Ph: 02 9491 9950 edengardens.com.au
Reviewed in January, 2013
‘Geranium Cottage Nursery and Café’
Perhaps I am hungry today – but I have to confess – these scones make it on to my ‘top pick’ list. Sitting out in the courtyard rather than on the enclosed deck of the cottage, is the best way to capture a bright and clear autumns day. Although the waitress is run off her feet, the delectable scones arrive fairly promptly. They are piping hot; slightly crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside with a distinct creamy texture and flavour. The cream is whipped to perfection – thick and rich, which leaves the typical supermarket jam the weakest link. I could easily devour a second serve as they are ever so light and more-ish. The cafe also has a definite ‘older’ adult feel to it and is extremely popular so make sure you book for meal times. Don’t forget to have a browse through the small plant nursery out the front and there’s also some local jam and Mudgee honey for sale. There’s a 10 per cent price hike on weekends and public holidays, but it’s already factored into the prices on the menu.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A range of loose-leaf teas served in a good-sized pot.
Price: $$
Overall: Some of the best scones in Sydney!
Location: 828 Old Northern Rd, Middle Dural NSW 2158 Ph: 02 9652 0475 geraniumcottage.com.au
Reviewed in April, 2013
‘Greenshades Café Restaurant’
I can’t believe I had never driven through Galston Gorge in Sydney’s northwest. To be honest, I’d never heard of it until a friend suggested we go to Dural on a scone quest. Driving from or to Hornsby Heights the road winds it’s way through the gorge in a series of switchbacks that has you crawling at 5kph around the bends, and the thick scrubby bush of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park acts as the backdrop to this lovely drive. Once in Galston it’s easy to find Greenshades Cafe Restaurant as it takes up a big corner block and looks like a nursery, but then not. The cafe/restaurant spills out from the indoor area, which is quite cosy, to the verandah and then to a bunch of tables in the garden that reminds me of a popular beer garden with the plastic chairs. The centre piece is a burbling fountain with a big kiddies playground in the corner, which is a bonus for families. My tasting companion’s mother is a fan of this place so when we rip open our first scone we’re disappointed before we’ve even tasted it. Visually it all looks really good, but the scones are leathery and dry and taste more like white bread than scone and are definitely not fresh this particular Thursday. The Beerenberg jam is good, better than most, but there’s not enough in the little jar. The real winner here is the thick King Island cream – what a bonus. It works out to be $13 for the Devonshire Tea, and considering todays quality, it’s far too expensive. Maybe the scones are better on the weekend?
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A variety of black and herbal loose-leaf teas.
Price: $$$
Overall: Relaxed garden setting where you can buy a statue for your garden if the notion arises.
Location: 353 Galston Rd, Galston NSW 2159 Ph: 02 9653 1500
Reviewed in November, 2012
‘Jimni’s Café’
Jimini’s Cafe is just outside the entrance to ALDI at Westfield Shopping Centre in Hornsby. The cafe’s seating spills out into the concourse so it’s easier to watch the shopping world go by. I’m happy to see that a Devonshire Tea is on the menu, however not so impressed when the scones come out soggy, and flat like the life had been sucked out of them. The cream is exceptionally light and the jam is a bit below average in quality. The cafe is literally adjacent to The Tea Centre, a store specialising in quality loose-leaf tea and everything that goes with it, and although Jimini’s has a few of The Tea Centre brews on offer, a few more wouldn’t go astray.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small selection of The Tea Centre loose-leaf teas served in a small pot.
Price: $$
Overall: A convenient option.
Location: Westfield Hornsby, 236 Pacific Hwy, Hornsby NSW 2077 Ph: 02 9476 2173 jiminis.com.au
Reviewed in April, 2016
‘Ladybird Café’
It’s hard to believe how many garden centres there are in Sydney, especially when you start taking notice of them. The sneaky Four Seasons Plant Bug Garden Centre in Mt Colah is a small centre, but sells the essentials. You can’t escape the well-stocked gift shop (even I picked up a few gifts here) and the cutely named Ladybird Cafe out the back. It’s a hot day when I visit and temperatures in northwest Sydney are well into the mid 30s. This is important to note, as the café is semi open, with only some fans to make a sweaty situation more comfortable. We made the most of the casual and unhurried atmosphere and strategically positioned ourselves between the fans. The small scones looked like mini bread rolls are brought in from an outside bakery. The jam is an average strawberry and the cream so light that it dissolves quickly in the humidity. My biggest gripe is that there isn’t enough jam and cream for both scones, and although I didn’t ask for any extra, I am sure the friendly staff would be happy to oblige.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A selection of Project T loose-leaf teas served in a plunger pot.
Price: $$
Overall: A cute cafe hidden amongst the plants.
Location: Four Seasons Plant Bug, 525 Pacific Hwy, Mount Colah NSW 2079 Ph: 02 9477 1222 plantbug.com.au
Reviewed in December, 2015
‘Passiontree Velvet’
The newly revamped section of the Macquarie Shopping Centre offers yet more ways to part with your cash. On my way to Passiontree Velvet, I must admit, I do get waylaid by all the pretty and shiny things. Who wouldn’t? Currently, this is Sydney’s only Passsiontree Velvet, but my second try after a visit to Westfields Carindale, Brisbane, earlier this year. The layout is same, the only difference is the lighting; the Macquarie Centre is moody and dim and feels cosy although it’s an open plan café in the middle of the concourse. I try both the plain and fruit scones, with a hint of microwave. They are also slightly dry, but it is after 3pm. The jam is slightly better than average, but still for $13.50, you would expect a bit more than good quality tea and double thick cream.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: An interesting selection of Harney & Sons loose-leaf teas served in a good-sized pot.
Price: $$$
Overall: A tea room vibe and the best on offer at the Macquarie Centre.
Location: Macquarie Shopping Centre, Corner Herring and Waterloo Rds, Macquarie Park NSW 2113
Reviewed September, 2015
‘Pie in the Sky’
The Pie in the Sky pie shop in Cowan, on the old windy road to Brooklyn on the Hawkesbury River was a petrol station in its former life and has all the tell-tale signs that it’s a favourite with motorbike riders. Maybe it’s the cafe’s convenient location for day-trippers? Perhaps the stunning view? Or is it the carpark that is often brimming with thousands of dollars worth of motorbikes? Then it has to be the extensive menu of hearty pies that the place is famous for, doesn’t it? Whatever it is, they must be doing something right as it’s tucked away for only those in the know to see. I stumble upon it on my way down to Brooklyn in the pouring rain, and needless to say it’s quiet. Amongst the long list of pies, I notice the scones and chuckle as I imagine a burly bloke in leather tucking into a plate. If only my boyfriend could see it, then he might stop the constant referencing to his privates transforming into women’s bits. You get the picture. The whole Devonshire Tea affair is average, with neither the scones nor the jam and cream making any impression with most of the crumbly scones staying untouched. Bravo for the copious amounts of cream and jam, there are no reasons we should be held back with the toppings!
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: Twinnings tea bags served in a good-sized pot
Price: $$
Overall: A handy rest stop with lots of room to move enroute to the Hawkesbury River.
Location: 1296 Pacific Hwy, Cowan NSW 2081 Ph: 02 9985 7018 pieintheskycowan.com.au
Reviewed February, 2014
‘Piemonte Café Restaurant’
I’ve hit the jackpot and somehow time my Saturday arrival at Piemonte Cafe Restaurant at the Terry Hills Flower Market perfectly. During a moment of calm between brunch and lunch I share the covered verandah area with only empty tables still holding evidence that there was indeed a lot of action earlier on. I can see the attraction for families as a large part of the verandah faces a kiddies play area, and I spy some chooks scratching about in a pen. The middle part of the restaurant looks more formal and is closed off from the noise and weather conditions. I guess you could say it’s the restaurant and the outside is the cafe, as it sure feels that way by the vibe. It’s a great idea as I’ve been to so many garden centre cafes and can’t converse because of a combination of bad acoustics and kiddies playgrounds that are basically in the middle of the dining area. The morning and afternoon tea deal: scones with coffee/tea are obviously popular as there’s a large batch of freshly baked scones on the counter. The scones are impressive, slightly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, but I’m just not a fan of the icing sugar sprinkled on top. It makes the whole shebang too sweet especially when the jam is cheap, sweet and syrupy, as is the case in this instance. The cream is really light and offers nothing to the quality or taste of the Devonshire Tea. There also isn’t enough jam and it gets a black mark for being served in a plastic container, as it makes the experience a little cheap and nasty.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A variety of loose-leaf teas served in a standard-sized pot.
Price: $$
Overall: A pleasant place for a break after shopping for gifts, flowers and plants.
Location: 287 Mona Vale Rd, Terry Hills NSW 2084 Ph: 02 9486 3677 piemonte.com.au
Reviewed September, 2014
‘Settlers Arms Inn’
The sleepy village of St Albans, tucked away in the beautiful Macdonald Valley, is somewhere between the Hawkesbury River and the Lower Hunter Valley. Surrounded by Yengo National Park, on weekends the village explodes with day-trippers and most descends on the Settlers Arms Inn. Built from convict-hewn sandstones, the Settlers Arms was established in 1836 and became a stopover for Cobb and Co. stagecoaches travelling between Sydney and Newcastle. It’s simple Georgian design and friendly staff makes the Settlers Arms a huge success, not to mention their superior pub food. The village is also close to the convict built Old Great North Road, which originally spanned 264 kilometres, and is open to hikers and cyclists – in case you’re up for an adventure. What the Devonshire Tea lacks in presentation, it makes up for in bucket loads of quality and taste. Creamy and fluffy scones, slightly better than average jam and rich thickly whipped cream – superb! Make a note that scones are not served between 11am and 3pm as the kitchen is too inundated with lunch orders, especially on weekends. A black mark also for the $6.00 pot of tea. I think it’s a bit steep considering it’s just a teabag and hot water. Loose-leaf tea, I can understand, but for a tea bag?
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: Choice of a cup or pot of tea. Not much variety, just standard tea bags.
Price: $$
Overall: Simple and friendly, oozing in history.
Location: 1 Wharf St, St Albans NSW 2775 Ph: 02 4568 2111 settlersarms.com.au
Reviewed in October, 2013
‘The Cook’s Garden’
A visit to Sydney’s leafy suburb of North Turramurra is as refreshing as taking a trip to the country. Pop down to Bobbin Head National Park, breathe in the fresh air and immerse yourself in nature on the edge of one of the Hawkesburys sensational waterways. It’s the perfect secret Sydney spot to revive, and on your way out it’s an easy stop at The Cook’s Garden restaurant/cafe/bar in the quaint North Turramurra suburb. We arrive just as lunch is winding up, which to me is the perfect time for afternoon tea, and we’re hustled towards the bar – not a particularly quaint spot for a family gathering with your 80-year old mother. The dining room looks perfectly fine but the staff wants to set up for dinner, and by chance we see the garden out back and invite ourselves to it. The garden is lovely and private and we discover is full of edible plants and herbs when we spy a chef collecting bay leaves. I think it’s easy to slip through the cracks here if you arrive between main meals, so don’t expect to be waited on, order at the bar (even if you are in the garden), which is out of sight. All that is forgotten when the scones arrive. My cup and teapot could use a polish but the scones are fresh and perfectly baked: crispy on the outside and soft on the inside with no nasty aftertaste. The Drunken Sailor mixed berry jam is a hit with the group who aren’t fans of the sickly sweet cheaper varieties and the double thick cream is a nice finish.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small selection (six) of teas served in a small pot.
Price: $$
Overall: It feels a long way from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Location: 272 Bobbin Head Rd, North Turramurra NSW 2074 Ph: 02 9144 5086
Reviewed in December, 2013
‘The Fig Tree Coffee House’
I’ve always loved Mother Earth Nursery. It’s on the quirky side in comparison to other plant nurseries in north-western Sydney, as it feels like the place is more dedicated to The Fig Tree Coffee House than the selling of plants and accessories. The main entrance through the rondavel with the lovely roof water feature is a standout. The indoor seating spills out from the rondavel into an extensive leafy courtyard, which is a green haven for mother earth lovers. Although on the day we visit the food is below par, the service is very good. The fresh scones look like small baps. There is noting particularly extraordinary about them but they are better than average. The homemade mixed berry jam is tart rather than sweet and is served with a strawberry garnish, which is kind of unnecessary considering the whipped cream is also served with a strawberry and blueberry garnish. It does make the presentation of the spread very enticing, however, maybe just stick to sprucing up the cream. Looking at the above image, the scone, jam and cream look delicious. However, I want to mention that along with the quality of the meal we had just had, the quality and flavour needs some improvement.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A basic range of loose-leaf teas served in a teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: A better than average scone and tea spread set in a beautiful garden setting.
Location: Mother Earth Nursery, 1A Annangrove Rd, Kenthurst NSW 2156
Ph: 02 9654 1423 fig-coffee-house.business.site
Reviewed November 2019
‘The Fox Cafe’
Situated far from the main Wahroonga shopping area, The Fox Cafe is in a small cluster of businesses not far from the Seven Adventist Hospital. Attracting a mix of locals and hospital visitors, the cafe is popular. Indoors can get noisy, so opt for the outdoor dining. The scone arrives already cut and totally unappetising. It’s dry and bread-like, and tastes like it’s made from a packet mix. The squirt from a can of super light cream and portion control jams only adds to the disappointing spread. It’s a shame as the cafe food is good, but just not the Devonshire Tea.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A basic range of Simplicity tea bags served in a decent sized iron teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: An unpretentious cafe in a quiet residential area.
Location: 2/178 Fox Valley Rd, Wahroonga NSW 2076 Ph: 02 9487 7406
Reviewed November 2018
‘The House of Herbs and Roses’
If you see the Devonshire Tea sign on the side of the road, stop, as you’ll be more than pleasantly surprised from what lies behind the front door. After a browse in the well-priced homeware store, make your way to the dining area out the back and take your time to peruse the extensive and quirky tea menu. I try the ‘Once Upon a Time’ tea – an eclectic combination of mint, vanilla and rooibos tea with choc pieces, and my companion the ‘Congo Bongo’ – mango and coconut black tea. The quirky tea menu aside, the whole shebang is sensational! A proper teacup and saucer, makes all the difference, as does the fresh flowers on the table. The jam is better than your average Cottee’s variety and the Chantilly cream is just about right, however a bigger serving of both would be better. The stars of the show of course are the scones – and so they should be! They are light, creamy and fluffy – just absolutely divine.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A fabulous and unusual selection of loose-leaf teas served in a small pot will hot water top ups available.
Price: $$
Overall: Simply sensational! Don’t judge the front of the property for what’s out the back!
Location: 745 Old Northern Rd, Dural NSW 2158 Ph: 02 9651 1027
Reviewed in April, 2013
‘The Loft Café’
I’m not a fan of shopping malls, but today’s inclement weather has driven me indoors. Spying a cafe not too far from but on the same floor as the cinema, I decide to take my chances with the fruit and plain scones I see sitting on top of the counter. I order one fruit scone as they are fairly big and it arrives sliced open like a bread roll. I ask for a second portion of jam, which the waitress happily dispenses, but wonder why I am even bothering with the calories, as it’s tasteless and dry, and the few random sultanas imbedded in the dry bread like texture only give it a hint of flavour. The light and airy cream doesn’t help either.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small variety of loose-leaf teas in a small pot.
Price: $
Overall: Steer clear and pop in to T2 Teahouse down the hall instead.
Location: Macquarie Centre, Level 4, Shop 427, 422/1 Waterloo Rd, Macquarie Park NSW 2113 Ph: 02 9870 7900
Reviewed in April, 2013
‘The Right Bite Cafe’
There are still a bunch of classic American-style diners dotted around the countryside going by the name of Paragon and Niagara. The Right Bite Cafe is not one of these, although it could be if it still retained its 1954 grace. There are plenty of nostalgic photos lining the walls displaying the good ole days, or you can read about their story in the menu while you wait! When I first arrive at the cafe and enquire about the scones, the barista is quick to point out that they are baked on the premises. Does that mean the other cafes along the Windsor Street strip serve scones that aren’t? The scone arrives way before my weak pot of tea, and I feel a little silly staring into my plate waiting for liquid refreshment. Although, it does give me time to inspect and I find the scone a bit dry and heavy, like it’s made from wholemeal flour. It’s not bad, but not what you would expect from a homemade scone. The corn syrup inspired strawberry jam has a few chunks of fruit, and although the cream is fresh, it’s whipped in a cream canister, which means – super light!
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small range of T2 loose-leaf teas served in a small teapot with a piece of shortbread on the side.
Price: $$
Overall: The history of the cafe is an interesting read.
Location: 219 Windsor St, Richmond NSW 2753 Ph: 02 4578 2696 business.site
Reviewed October, 2017
‘The Schoolmaster’s House’
Driving through the ‘Macquarie Towns’ of the Hawkesbury River region is a history lesson of the early colonial years. Settled in the early 1800s by free settlers, there’s not a lot left that points to the early settlement apart from a few buildings in the Australia Pioneer Village in Wilberforce. Rose Cottage, the oldest timber slab cottage in Australia, is still standing on its original site and is surrounded by the original houses relocated from other towns. Head further along the river to find the fascinating Ebenezer Church, cemetery and schoolhouse, and what’s left of an ancient gum tree, which was the former place of worship for the locals before the church was built. The Church was built in 1803 and is the oldest operating church in Australia. It’s tiny, and the British and Australian flags behind the altar remind me where we, as a nation, began. The adjacent schoolmaster’s residence (circa 1810) was built for very small people who aren’t afraid of steep ladder-like stairs and has some interesting tidbits such as furniture and photos from yesteryear, with records of the early settlers. This is also where you order a very simple but delicious Devonshire Tea that’s taken at one of the outdoor tables in the paved garden. The scones are made just like nanna’s, using a simple but tried and tested recipe producing light and fluffy scones. The cream is whipped thick and the jam is nothing flash but definitely not the sickly sweet synthetic kind. Wander the pretty grounds down to the shoreline of the Hawkesbury River and the cemetery that dates back to 1812.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A standard black tea (tea bag) served in a small pot. Ask, and the volunteer will pull out a box containing a variety of tea bags, that by the sounds of things, rarely gets pulled out. My green tea is served in a small cup.
Price: $
Overall: A step back to yesteryear.
Location: Ebenezer Church, 95 Coromandel Rd, Ebenezer NSW 2756 Ph: 02 4579 9235 ebenezerchurch.org.au
Reviewed June, 2015
‘The Station’
Previously known as Cafe Laurella, the owners have revamped this popular bright corner cafe and relaunched it as The Station. The floor-to-ceiling windows make the small space bright and airy and really allow you to check out all the mouth-watering sweets in the cabinet. I ask the barista how he copes working all day with a fresh tray of divine looking cinnamon scrolls in arms reach. The scones are by far not the most appetising sweets in the house, but we are The Devonshire Tea Guide after all not the Lemon Meringue Patrol (you get my drift). The lovely teacup and saucer is a bonus but really should be a given in cafes in 2014. Drinking tea in a thick-rimmed coffee cup is like drinking an expensive red wine out of a plastic cup – it just doesn’t work. The scone looks a bit too much like a bread roll but surprisingly tastes okay, but has no other redeeming qualities. The jam is average and a bit syrupy and although the cream is fresh, it’s been aerated not whipped, and far too light for me.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A selection of wonderful Tea Drop loose-leaf teas served in a good-sized pot.
Price: $$
Overall: The wicked desserts, and those cinnamon scrolls will get you in!
Location: 23 Coonanbarra Rd, Wahroonga NSW 2076 Ph: 02 9487 7233 thestationwahroonga.com.au
Reviewed in November, 2014
‘The Vines Cafe’
I do love tagging on a cafe visit after picking up a plant or two at a Flower Power Garden Centre. The most recent reincarnation of this cafe space at Flower Power Terrey Hills, The Vines Cafe, still serves scones to hungry shoppers. The layout of the cafe is little changed, with the kiddies playground at one end of the cafe, and a section around a corner that is far enough away kiddie activity so it’s possible to still have a conversation. Choose from plain or date scones, which are served with thick whipped cream, but unfortunately cheap jam. The scones are buttery and slightly crispy on the outside and are delicious, and it’s a shame that the jam is lousy.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small variety of tea drop silk tea bags.
Price: $$
Overall: A pleasant place to rest while garden shopping.
Location: Flower Power Garden Centre, 277 Mona Vale Rd, Terrey Hills NSW 2084
Ph: 02 8401 7555 flowerpower.com.au
Reviewed October 2018
‘The Ugly Mug Coffee House’
It’s impossible to feel hemmed in at the Ugly Mug Coffee House. With three spacious dining areas plus tables outdoors but undercover, it’s hard to imagine there would ever be a wait for a table. The vibe is funky casual, and there’s a steady flow of diners – does anyone work on a Friday in Richmond? Scones are on the menu, so you are guaranteed a daily dose. They are huge, and way too large for one serving, especially if you are alone. They present well, but to me, are chewy and bland. These are my first scones of the day and I am hungry, but they just don’t hit the spot. The strawberry jam is more jelly like than chunky fruit, and brings back fond memories XL jam from a can that I used to eat in the 70s. The double thick cream is thick and rich – a nice finish.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small range of T2 loose-leaf teas with a few interesting extras served in a small teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: A funky and popular hangout.
Location: 1/223 Windsor St, Richmond NSW 2753 Ph: 02 4578 9795 uglymug.com.au
Reviewed October, 2017
‘Wildpear Café’
The place is pumping; I now know what ladies who don’t work get up to on weekday afternoons. Wildpear Cafe is another of the lovely restaurants/garden centres to dine at in the Dural area. The meals that are passing by look exceptional, especially the desserts, and its obvious the place is big on presentation. My companion and I gasp when the Devonshire Tea arrives as it looks impressive: fruity homestyle jam, thick cream and big home-baked scones that are just screaming to be torn apart. Our unanimous vote is that the scones look better than what they taste as they are a bit on the bland side, if that makes sense? It doesn’t mean you should give it a miss; on the contrary, what’s wrong with a little blandness when all the other boxes are ticked?
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: A small range of loose-leaf teas in a good-sized pot.
Price: $$
Overall: Lovely deck overlooking the nursery.
Location: 658 Old Northern Rd, Dural NSW 2158 Ph: 02 9651 6600
Reviewed in November, 2012
‘Wise Monkey Cafe’
Sometimes the Wise Monkey Cafe can be mistaken for a bike shop going by the numbers of bikes racked up in front and the large groups of Lycra clad folk sipping coffees. The group I see are even sponsored by the cafe so they fit right in with jerseys that match the signage. I first noticed the cafe on a drive down to Berowra Waters and make a special trip this time, taking a diversion from the freeway to the original Pacific Highway. I call before I arrive, just to make sure the blackboard sign advertising scones last time wasn’t a one-off. “They’re in the oven,” I’m told. Although the scones are ‘just out of the oven’ they don’t particulary taste like it, and should taste better than what they do, coming in just above average. The jam and cream are sub standard, the jam being very sweet and lacking any inkling of fruit and the cream too light and airy. Perhaps if the jam and cream were of better quality the scones may have a better chance at tasting better. NB: When I visit the café is called Wellspring Expresso.
Scones:
Jam:
Cream:
Tea: Choose from either a cup or pot of loose-leaf tea.
Price: $$
Overall: Not a bad stop if you’re taking the back road to Brooklyn.
Location: 4 Berowra Waters Rd, Berowra NSW 2081 Ph: 02 9456 5006
Reviewed February, 2014
