When you think of Sydney’s harbour views, you think of Circular Quay. You think Luna Park. You think Taronga Zoo. You think Vaucluse.
But did you ever think that maybe, just maybe, there could be a hidden gem tucked safely behind rock-climbing trees and old war locations? Think my dear Watson, think.
While scouting for a wedding venue for (wait for it…) my sister’s upcoming wedding (ha! Gotcha!), we chanced upon The Tea Room at Gunner’s Barracks thanks to Karen of Citrus and Candy’s travelling feet and high recommendations. You would recognise this from the original The Tea Room in QVB – Gunners Barracks, however has the secluded location and the views!
So to take advantage of the Christmas holidays, my sisters and I braved the Military Rd traffic, past Neutral Bay, Cremorne and Mosman and thankfully found the right place beneath the army barracks and thick, thick foliage. After parking the car, The Tea Room was just a few steps down, a left here and a right there and voila! Who would’ve thought this hidden gem, at the edge of the East Coast of Australia, even existed? It’s just superb!
Luckily we managed to get a last minute boking beforehand as this particular lunch seating was busy – it was, after all, New Year’s Eve and we have been informed that the place will be closed for a private function by 2pm (probably some rich hotshots booking the whole place for the New Year’s fireworks. Lucky ducks!). We eased into our seats, and was quickly introduced to our waitstaff of the day… a friendly, yet very likeable French gentleman who took our orders with professionalism and a skip in his step.
We all ordered the Traditional Afternoon Tea with English Breakfast Tea. What was served before us was a delectable selection of both savoury tarts, pastries & sandwiches and sweet cakes, tarts & scones.
For those who know the three of us, they can understand our love for old English teacups and basically everything about English history and royalty. We grew up watching A Little Princess (Princess Sara) and Little Lord Fauntleroy (Cedie) back in the Philippines, and would always read Hello! magazines especially when Princess Diana was featured (which was almost on every issue while she was still alive). So you can just understand my sister’s delight and approval of The Tea Room for her upcoming wedding especially after being served with these:
I dream of the day I finally have a Royal Albert fine china collection
Real sugar cubes! (pardon my ignorance... but I love it!)
English Breakfast
Scones
Preserves & cream
Generously spread the cream and preserves!
Tea for Three?
Teacakes
Tarts & those delectable chocolate mousse cakes!
After the cakes and pastries and sandwiches and teas, we decided to have a look at the courtyard and surrounding areas just to have a better idea of the entire place. Let me just say – it was beautiful and perfect for my sister’s ideal wedding venue both for the ceremony and reception.
The Courtyard
The sisters
More views...
Did my sister like the place? Yes. Was it a great experience – food, service and all? Yes indeed! But most important of all, did she find the right venue for her wedding? Absolutely.
…
The Tea Room Gunners’ Barracks
End of Suakin Drive, Georges Heights (Mosman)
Tel (02) 8962 5900
Open Monday to Sunday from 11am
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23 Comments
I’ve been to the tea room in the QVB and it’s the best high tea I’ve been to so far. I didn’t know they had such amazing views from the Gunners Barracks Tea Room but it looks like the perfect place for a wedding. Congrats to your sister!
I’ve been both here and the original Tea Room at QVB and absolutely adore them for different reasons. The Gunners’ Barracks is very popular for weddings and I’m glad your sister loves it!
Gorgeous pics Trish! Did you get a new lens? I love the saturated colours, it makes the dainty little morsels really jump out at you!
This place is def one on my shortlist of possible wedding locations as well as QVB (and also the new Sergeant’s Mess in Chowder Bay). Not that I’m planning a wedding soon but it helps to be prepared lol.
Hehe you know, my mother has a very similar Royal Albert tea set and I use to sneak it out of the hutch to play with it (oh she’ll kill me if she ever found out!). At least with the afternoon tea, I’m allowed to have a real tea party with it! Can’t wait to try.
Oh and so glad you + your sis liked the place
*Sigh* I love the entire post. It makes me wanna wish I am there! The place looks so elegant….and the tea cakes? they look amazing!
Oh what a lovely post!!! obviously you found the perfect location for the wedding
) so happy for your sister.. gorgeous photos!
Lovely place! I have not heard of it but will definitely check it out soon.
Everything looks so pretty. Those little cakes are making me hungry.
OMG, this has been at the top of my high tea wishlist for ages! It looks so beautiful! Lucky you managing to get a booking, I tried to book a month ahead for my birthday last year and it was already booked out
nice pics dude! the teacakes look so cute!
I love those English teacups… I thought it was really you who was looking for a wedding venue!!!! Good luck to your sister and have fun planning the wedding!
Ohhhh! My mother has those teacups (but we are under strict instructions never to use them… for anything)! Congratulations to your sis & wheeee(!) at finding an ideal wedding location
i would love to have a wedding here, great photo’s trish love the colours
Looks like a fantastic wedding location, especially if they bring out the good china for it
Those cakes and pastries are so cute!! Looking for a wedding venue sounds fun…….
This place is amazing and I am glad you sister has chosen it as her wedding venue.
Lovely venue for a wedding and great pictures Trish!! You sister will have a fab wedding.! And I’ll definitely have to try and go here one day.
Has the wedding taken place? What was it like as a venue?
Hi Em, yes the venue took place last September and it was just an amazing place – everything it promised to be and more! We had a crisis when a couple of guests who didn’t RSVP turn up and they didn’t have any allocated seats, however the Tea Room wedding coordinator quickly whipped up 2 table seatings and all was well with the world! It’s a great venue for a small wedding – it will not disappoint!
Are you getting married? Are you looking for a venue? 
Trish x
Thanks for the response!
So glad to hear it went well and that they were able to accommodate you! We have actually booked the place for our wedding this year, but we live o/s so all of our planning is taking place via email and long distance phone calls.
Have you got any tips for the venue that you could pass on please? How many guests did your sister have? And was it during the day or night? Thanks
Also, I really love your site and blog, and all of your fab recipes! I’m a self-confessed foodie and have been privileged to eat in some amazing places around the world (even Noma!) and so I love how you have taken your passion and turned it into something you can share with the world. Keep it up!
Hi,
Thought I’d elbow my way in here as I stumbled across your website looking for more info/photos about The Tea Room Gunners’ Barracks.
By the way, Em, that’s funny what a coincidence, I am also booking TTRGB for our event (renewal of vows) but in March 2012 but live in Paris so know how frustrating it is to organise something like this from halfway around the world! How’s it going so far?
Trisha, congrats on the blog, I’m glad I came to it by chance, I will definitely have a better read through over the coming days. I am also half Filo, so there’s another coincidence! And yeah, I live in France, so my husband and I are big foodies haha! All the best with your site!
R
I love tea rooms, and thee things they serve are always so good! Plus you get to drink tea from a fine china cup and lift your pinky
You should come visit the UK – we’re full of tea rooms here!