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Girly high tea at Martha's Pantry

Category: Reviews  |  Post by: Andrea Wong
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Martha's Pantry - cake layer:: So D'lish. New Zealand's food blog website

I had a few hours free from my busy eating schedule during Visa Wellington On A Plate. So what did I do? ... I went to high tea with a friend at Martha's Pantry! What better way to spend the few hours between lunch and dinner, than having a nice chat with a friend over a cuppa tea and little dainty treats. (Needless to say, I hit the gym once I got back to Auckland!)

As I walked the length of Cuba Street, I discovered a whole area that I hadn't been to before. Even though I have been to Wellington many many times, I don't think that I've walked up the far end of Cuba Street before. It's a very cool area that I need to explore more on my next trip to Wellington.

But back to Martha's Pantry. I almost walked straight past it, as it is tucked around the corner just off the far end of Cuba Street on the new bypass. If it wasn't for the little sign swinging in the Wellington breeze and pot plants outside, I would have missed it altogether. But it is a bit of an institution, so even if I did get lost, I knew that anyone I asked could point me in the right direction.

From this understated street presence, once you walk in the door you are hit with an incredible place filled with pink, soft femininity. Looking around, I saw tables of well-dressed girls of all ages, sitting straight-backed and sipping cups of tea from fine bone china tea cups and nibbling treats from tiered cake stands.

Martha's Pantry - room :: So D'lish. New Zealand's food blog website

My first reactions were "wow, incredible! So feminine. Very pretty." I did experience an odd feeling for a split second, as pink girly things really isn't my style and it felt like I had been shrunk and put into one of my primary school friend's doll houses. But I shook off that feeling and quickly got into the spirit of Martha's Pantry and loved the girly experience.

I like the way that the owners, sisters Anita and Ondine, have given Martha's Pantry a look, a concept and doused very aspect of their cafe with it. All the little details reinforce their theme, right down to the staff's aprons and makeup. They took an idea and embraced it, immersed themselves in it, owned it. And it works.

This is a place where you definitely have to book during the weekends. When I arrived at 3pm on a Sunday, it was almost full and by the time we started eating, the place was completely full and they had to turn away some walk-in customers.

Cup, saucer, cake plate :: So D'lish. New Zealand's food blog website

The tables are set with fine-bone china trios (cup, saucer and plate), collectible spoons and dinky little sugar pots. The list of teas that we could choose from was a decent one - I settled on the vanilla rooibos while Ms K went for the lemon ginger kawa. Like everything else at Martha's, the tea came out with a little charming twist - each tea pot had its own hand knitted tea cosy and tea bag charm.

Martha's Pantry - cute details :: So D'lish. New Zealand's food blog website

Not long after, the tiered cake stand came out of the kitchen and it really did look a delight. Cute, dainty looking sweets and delicate sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, and little hot savoury bites filled the three layers.

Martha's Pantry 3-tiered cake stand:: So D'lish. New Zealand's food blog website   

Ms K and I had a wonderful catch up, our conversations paused every now and then by the important decision of what to eat next (sweet or savoury?). The sandwiches were simple but well made, the little savouries of chicken pizzas and feta tarts were delicious little flavour-packed bites. I quite like the way that you can choose to have a savoury, then a little sweet bite, then back to savoury. It makes the high tea feel more like a discovery, rather than a linear journey.

Martha's Pantry :: So D'lish. New Zealand's food blog website

But being a real sweet tooth, the high light for me is always going to be the sweet things. My favourite things were the double chocolate brownie and melting moment, followed closely by the mini chicken pizza.

I thoroughly enjoyed the high tea at Martha's Pantry. It is not only the delicious food that Anita and Ondine serve up but also the warm, homely, feminine feeling that they have created. It is an experience that almost any girl (or guy) would appreciate - even a non-girly-girl like myself. 


Martha's Pantry - sandwich selection :: So D'lish. New Zealand's food blog website Martha's Pantry cute details:: So D'lish. New Zealand's food blog website

Martha's Pantry
High tea: $25 (bookings recommended)

276 Cuba Street
Wellington

Tuesday to Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm
Saturday and Sunday 10.00am - 5.00pm

Phone: (04) 385 7228

Thanks to Postively Wellington Tourism for hosting me for the opening weekend of Visa Wellington On A Plate.

Related post: The lowdown on high tea in Auckland

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  • 31/07/2014 5:48 a.m.
    Betty Jo Boram

    Question: Are you able to accommodate vegetarians?
  • 19/02/2014 8:25 a.m.
    Sharon Findlay

    I was wondering how many people you could accommodate as I was wanting to celebrate my 50th birthday there but just wanting to know how many you could squeeze in (max)? Also is there any parking outside?
  • 18/12/2013 7:02 p.m.
    Jordan

    Hey I would like to purchase the high tea for 2 as a gift, do you guys do vouchers?
  • 13/06/2013 10:26 a.m.
    Sheree Dewbery

    Hi there

    I'm organising a bridal shower for the 27 July 2013. This will be for around 8 people, could you let me know if you have any slots available for this?

    Thanks
    Sheree
  • 12/05/2013 2:09 p.m.
    Linda

    Hi, can you please e mail a proposed 'high tea' menu and cost p/p for my daughters 14 th birthday, for a few friends. Cheers
  • 06/05/2013 5:57 p.m.
    Nicola

    I would like to check the availability for 20 people for the 25th of May 2013 to have high tea? Pregnancy friendly treats too please? Look forward to hearing from you. Thanks :)
  • 01/04/2013 10:37 a.m.
    Robyn

    I would like to make a booking for 5 people for high-tea on 7 April at 2.00pm. Many thanks
  • 07/08/2012 2:05 p.m.
    Chelsea

    Hi there,
    It is my friends birthday on 11 August 2012, I am wanting to book a table for around 10 people. I am wanting Afternoon Tea options. Please get back to me with costings and menu options.

    Thanks
  • 22/07/2012 7:45 a.m.
    Annabelle

    Hello,

    I am looking into Afternoon Tea options for a friends Baby Shower.

    Could you please confirm if you could accomodate the following:
    - 19/18 or 25/26 August
    - 10-15 people
    - Gluten free options
    - Pregnancy friendly options

    I look forward to hearing from you.

    Cheers,
    Annabelle
  • 08/12/2011 1:11 p.m.
    Leah

    Enjoyed a lovely evening for a hen's night at Martha's (well we started our night there) it was so nice and the staff were just wonderful. The food was great, would recommend to any visitors.
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