Tchai-Ovna is friendly, has lovely persian rugs on the wall, a choice of various types of seats, and great teas. The food is also good- I’ve had a couple of very good soups, and I like the platter of pitta bread with houmous and other interesting things.

This branch of Tchai Ovna is a little bit less haphazard feeling than the other branch in the west end. However, it’s still as warm and welcoming with a menu full of amazing teas and a good selection of vegetarian snacks and meals. If you’re at a loose end for a couple of hours, you could definitely do a lot worse than coming in here for a pot of tea.

There are two of these tea houses quietly tucked away in the suburbs of the city, and I promise you it’s well worth the effort to hunt them out. Both have an impressive range of teas from around the world laid out in a menu that is enjoyable to read for its own sake, packed as it is with interesting facts and trivia to help you make your choice.

I have yet to be disappointed. You can also buy their teas to take away with you, but in doing so you will miss the friendly, knowledgeable staff, the relaxed atmosphere, the selection of books and board games and the beautifully mismatched furniture. The whole place has the feeling of drinking tea in someone else’s house, a house full of character and laughter, so relax, put your feet up and have a cup of tea…