For tea lovers in Hamilton, a short jaunt out to Abigail’s Tea House in St.George is a must.
St. George is a quaint little town north of Brantford and makes for an excellent day trip just outside of the city. It’s an easy, traffic-free drive out into the country, where you’ll come across the adorable town of St. George…almost out of the blue!
The main strip of St. George has a few shops and antique stores to peruse, but the draw (at least for tea fiends like me) is Abigail’s Tea House. A charming historic building on the corner of the Main Street; Abigail’s calls this home.
Inside the tea house, colourful wallpaper and bright green tables with fuchsia accents fill the space. Giant bird cage lights, with sparkling chandeliers inside, grace the antique-style tin ceiling. It’s a very different sort of decor from the traditional tea room, but it works for the Abigail’s brand.
For lunch, enjoy single dishes like Chicken Waldorf or Ploughman’s Plate, go for the dessert options for lunch (I won’t judge), or do the full-blown high tea with two or three tiers of goodies, sweet and savoury.
Of course, I had to go with the high tea style option when visiting and was surprised with three pre-courses of a mini fruit salad, a cheesy pimento spread and crackers, and a mini chicken Waldorf. Following these courses came a two-tiered plethora of deliciousness, including 6 mini tea sandwiches, and freshly baked scones with jam and clotted cream.
Each day, the Abigail’s team chooses five quality loose leaf teas to feature – which they explain to you in detail when you first arrive, helping you choose a flavour perfect for you. The teas are then served in beautiful vintage tea pots.
Shout-outs to the team (owners Lorene and Ivan White) for being super friendly hosts, and Lorene, for making every table feel as if they are dining in her private dining room. The customer service here is top-notch.
Abigail’s isn’t inexpensive, so be ready! But if you’re looking for the traditional high tea, instagrammable style lunch, you have come to the right place. Call ahead for reservations, they can get pretty busy.
Pinky’s up!
Abigail’s Tea House
www.abigailsteahouse.com
2 Main Street South, St. George Hamilton
519-448-3999
HOURS
April – December: Tuesday through Sunday – 11 am until 4 pm
January – March: Tuesday through Saturday – 11 am until 4 pm
Do you have a favourite tea room in the area? Share it with us in the comments below!
