Afternoon Tea Review - The Tea Cozy in Cambria

As you know, my highest priority when traveling is where I'm going to eat and have afternoon tea or at least a proper cup of tea. Before setting out, I like to line up the possibilities, allowing for spontaneous deviations from the list at any time, of course! A recent stay in Cambria on California's Central Coast called for a visit, my first, to The Tea Cozy.

The Tea Cozy is a quaint, but not overly precious, tearoom housed in a charming 117-year-old cottage at 4286 Bridge Street, just off Main Street in Cambria's East Village. A British couple, the Sewells, started The Tea Cozy in 1991, then retired and sold the business in 1999 to Barry and Lee Anne Went, who are active in the day-to-day operations. Barry was our server on our Sunday visit.

So many tearooms (apart from those in posh hotels) are too froufrou for my taste, laced and beribboned to within an inch of their lives. The Tea Cozy manages to attain its cozy charm with less fuss and bother, making it altogether more inviting to those men who feel completely out of place in the over-the-top femininity of some tearooms.

My two companions ordered from the lunch menu and were delighted with their meals. I ordered the Royal Tea and enjoyed a generous array of warm homemade scones, freshly made sandwiches and various biscuits (cookies) and pastries along with two or three pots of tea (I drink a LOT of tea!). On our way out we had a look at the shop, in a third room, where one can choose from quite an assortment of British groceries and other imported goods.

To make reservations, call 805-927-8765. For tea at home, see: How to Make a Proper Cup of Tea and Tea and Scones. Also, my guest post at Anglotopia, The Ultimate Anglophile's Complete Guide to Afternoon Tea.