Hatters Tea House

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Posted 2012-08-12 by Joel Callen ⇒ follow

Amongst the op shops and takeaway joints that litter the Ettalong peninsula nestles perhaps the cutest teashop on the Central Coast. Hatters Tea Shop offers the perfect place to meet friends for a weekly catch up, or to spend a happy hour or two indulging in a High Tea.

Stepping through the door, you are greeted with a mismatch of furniture and art. To me, it seemed that lost treasures had fallen through the hole into Wonderland to take their place in this delightful café.

Just past the counter, through a beaded curtain in the back is a small courtyard where you can sit and enjoy the sun and your tea while the kids draw on the chalk wall or play a quick game of croquet (what else?).

The food on offer includes a tempting range of cakes, slices, and the usual café fare - all freshly baked. I enjoyed a slice of their carrot cake and my fellow adventurer has not stopped raving about her sticky date cupcake.

Despite the quirky decoration and delectable baked treats, it is their selection of beverages where Hatters really shines. With 38 different varieties of loose leaf tea for you to try there or take home and enjoy later, you're spoiled for choice. Also on offer is the unique siphon coffee experience, which involves watching your coffee brew at your table.

And for the kids (or 24 year-old writers who have never grown up) there is a selection of milkshakes and smoothies. The most exciting part of my whole afternoon was that my milkshake came served with a striped paper straw. For some reason, it was the perfect touch and made my inner child giggle with joy. My friend's tea came served in mismatched crockery accompanied by a ladybug timer.

For those with a sweet tooth and a fondness for playing with one's food, Hatters' Hot Chocolate On A Spoon is an experience you simply cannot miss. A chunk of Belgian chocolate comes to you on a spoon. You then melt the chocolate in your mug of steaming hot milk. With options to choose from such as March Hare (milk chocolate with pink marshmallows) and Queen of Hearts (chilli dark chocolate), you'll have an endless supply of reasons to come back and visit to sample the whole mouth-watering range.

So if you've got the time, step through the rabbit hole into . You'll certainly be glad you did.