Why should the English have all the fun? Coffee might be today’s fashionable drink, but tea is the ultimate classic cuppa and when enjoyed with a scone topped with jam and cream you have the necessary ingredients for a Devonshire tea.
Well-known blogger Lady Brisbane takes a look at five Ipswich venues where you can enjoy this much loved English tradition.
Queens Park Cafe
Occupying prime position in Queens Park, Queensland’s first official park, the Queens Park Cafe serves Devonshire tea daily.
Sit on the cafes deck overlooking the green grassy hills and trees of the park and enjoy your tea and scones in the peaceful surroundings.
Location – Queens Park, Ipswich.
Open – Monday to Sunday 8am to 5pm.
Fourthchild
Located in the Top of Town precinct on Brisbane Street, Fourthchild Café Restaurant and Lounge Bar serves delicious house made scones accompanied with jam and Chantilly cream.
Baked in-house, the scones are a substantial size and served warm alongside a pot of tea of your choice, order your Devonshire tea and watch the world pass by from the footpath tables or sit inside the exposed brick cafe.
Location – 126 Brisbane Street, Ipswich.
Open – Monday to Sunday from 7am.
Wolston Farmhouse
Enjoy a Sunday drive to Wolston House, Brisbane’s oldest surviving farmhouse and browse through this National Trust treasure yourself or take a tour with a volunteer guide.
While the onsite cafe is currently not operational, visitors can purchase scones and tea (or coffee) from the volunteers, then enjoy their Devonshire tea in the garden while admiring the 169 year old house and surrounding countryside.
Location – 223 Grindle Road, Wacol.
Open – Sunday only from 10am to 2pm.
Retro Diner
Step back in time to the 1950s and 60s when you step inside this American styled, Retro Diner.
Serving breakfast through to dinner as well as a range of home baked plain and flavoured scones, including orange and cardamom and even fruit mince, this is the place to go if you want to sip your tea while sitting at a Laminex table watching the hit TV show Happy Days.
Location – 195 Brisbane Street, Ipswich.
Open – Monday to Sunday from 7am.
The Cottage Restaurant
Built in 1861 and occupying a charming Queensland cottage, The Cottage Restaurant sits perched on the crest of Limestone Street offering sweeping views over Ipswich.
Serving the most exquisite Devonshire tea from Tuesday to Friday, just think warm, freshly baked scones served with a generous bowl of jam and cream alongside a perfectly sized pot of tea for one, and this is the ultimate tea and scone experience.
All you need to do is sit back, indulge and enjoy the view.
Location – 108 Limestone Street, Ipswich.
Open – Morning tea served Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 11.30am.
New to Ipswich, and working my way around each of these places and sampling their Devonshire Teas sounds like a great way to explore the city!