Image credit: Gemma Slattery
Rundle Street has just welcomed a new resident hoping to bring some warmth with its teas, bound to make anyone melt with delight.
Curiositeas Tea Room only just opened its doors last week, with the intention of making its mark on the famed street.
Located next to the RSPCA Op Shop, the tea room welcomes you with gorgeous signage that prepares you for the adventure that is yet to come.
As you walk up the flight of stairs, you feel as though you are Alice falling up the rabbit-hole. Once you enter the space, you are greeted with wall-to-ceiling knick-knacks that tell their own story separate from your own.
Owner Shannaka Houghton has followed through with her dream of one day opening a tea room. But the road to this dream wasn’t smooth sailing.
“I’m trying all of this for the first time. I have a background in web development, but what informed me more about my dream was working as a manager in hospitality.
“Once I had my daughter I started just blending my own teas, and then I realised that maybe one day I could open a tea room of my own,” Shannaka says.
Vego’s were Curiositeas predecessor, that filled all of your vegan wants and needs. Once Shannaka took over the space, she realised that it would be a great idea to remain faithful to the plant-based cafe and root her tea room with those same principles.
“I looked at the Sir Cafe floor plans a couple of years ago when they were selling, and I just fell in love with the floor plan. Since Vego’s had such a legacy in the vegan space, I wanted the menu to be completely plant-based.
“Although I do have dairy milk on hand, I felt a responsibility to take over the much-loved space and honour its previous business’s mission statement along with the community,” Shannaka says.
Not only is the venue’s design the literal embodiment of my Pinterest board, but the aesthetic lends itself to the tea room’s wonderful bespoke menu, that promises the ultimate high tea affair.
“There are so many things that I’m excited to showcase on the menu, one of my favourites is the ‘Reu-gan’ which is a vegan take on the classic Reuban sandwich, made with vegan cheese, corned jackfruit sauerkraut and served with our special dressing.
“I was born in Canada and most of my family are from there so I’m really excited about our Pumpkin Pie Porridge because Pumpkin Pie is something you grow up with in North America,” Shannaka continues.
Each tea on the menu is not only hand-made but is based on an ancient fairytale or mythological tale. The magic is in the details, so be sure to see if you can decipher each hidden meaning.
Ultimately, Curiositeas Tea Room wants you to be transported off a busy street and into a place of calm and peacefulness.
Having a moment with your cup of tea emboldens you to meditate on moments past, present and future. So why not experience your own moment of meditation at Adelaide’s newest tea room?
Visit Curiositeas Tea Room on Level 1/240 Rundle St, Adelaide SA 5000.
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