Harriets - Cambridge

Today I find myself in ‘Harriets’, a beautiful café-tearoom in the heart of Cambridge that offers, as its front window states, “a truly English experience”.

The interior of the tearoom is spacious and modern but with just a few touches that hark back to its traditional basing, making Harriets the perfect mix of past and present and an oasis in a crowded city. Upon entering, the first thing I noticed was the uniformed waiters and waitresses, who dressed in traditional black and white (like the ‘Nippies’ of the traditional tearooms, the menu explains) and are always happy to help with anything (even my annoying questions, of which there were a few) with a smile.

The large, booklet-like menu (well worth a cover to cover read) is handsomely presented and incredibly detailed including an ‘Introduction to Harriets’ a family owned tearoom based on the traditional tearooms or ‘corner houses’ of old London that Harriet herself used to frequent for a light lunch or afternoon tea. The front section of the menu also informs me that on select days (Saturdays eleven till four and Sundays eleven till three, says a helpful waitress) the tearoom is host to a pianist, who sits and plays the beautiful piano that is front and centre as you enter the front room. Looking further into the menu, the selection of teas is impressive with a great selection ranging from English Breakfast to ‘Blood Orange Tisane’ (‘Tisane’ is herbal tea to you and I) which, according to its description is “a 100% fruit tisane with apple, hibiscus and rosehip”. The menu is quaintly dotted with quotes such as “the mere chink of cups and saucers tunes the maid to a happy repose. Anon” and looking further on still I discover that the tearoom sells vouchers, cleverly disguised as ration books, should you want to give the gift of a light lunch or afternoon tea (the best gift you could possibly give, in my opinion!). The really sweet thing that made me smile was the poem, ‘An Ode to Afternoon Tea’, on the back cover of the menu about the joys of afternoon tea at Harriets.

As usual an important part of any café or tearoom is the desserts and Harriets is no exception with a great selection in the menu and a beautiful dessert display by the counter. Which, upon closer inspection are gorgeously made and decorated, covered in chocolate curls, pieces of fruit and all manner of marvellous looking treats.

I was fortunate enough to sit next to two lovely regulars who sang Harriets’ praises and promised to find and follow this blog (hello if you did manage to find me, ladies!).

This is by far my favourite tearoom in Cambridge and I am sure I will return many times (to become a regular in such a gorgeous place would be some kind of honour!) I highly recommend this wonderful tearoom to anyone who wishes to have a moment of calm with good food and good service. This is also the first tearoom I have ever left this blog address at, (under the teapot, of course) after hearing from the lovely lady next to me that Harriets has few reviews written about it, I thought I’d share this one around.

Website: harrientscafetearooms.co.uk
Address: 16-17 Green St, Cambridge, CB2 3JU