Portugal is renowned for its coffee shops and cafés on every corner … so it was refreshing to find something different nestled on a side street in Portimão – a traditional tea room with a rather nice selection of cakes .. well it would have been rude not to try them?!

It’s pretty easy to find this – the ‘A Casa da Isabel’ tea room – if you know where the ‘Largo December 1′ in Portimão is – we’ve blogged about this little park before Yarn Bombing in Portimão and Organic Produce in the Park – then stand with your back to the garden facing the Municipal Theatre .. turn left and walk down the main street the Rua Direita – about half way down on the left you will find this little tea room. 

There are three small tables outside – but the real delight lies inside this art nouveau style building – it really is like stepping back in time:

The selection of cakes is quite mouth-watering too:

They are very proud of their traditional recipes and cakes that they produce – and it is easy to see why with displays like this to tempt you:

The real treat though is the range of different teas available – traditional ‘black’ tea, herbal teas, fruit teas and ‘medicinal’ teas are all on the menu:

It was a hard choice – but our table was rather inviting once the waitress had arrived:

Their motto is “serve the customer as we like to be served” and everything was beautifully presented. It was time to slow down for a while and enjoy the ambience and setting. It really did feel like you were back in your granny’s front lounge having tea – the furniture, ornaments and little touches all add to the experience.

Even the little corridor down to the toilets is inviting – so many little things to look at!

Although going to the toilet is quite an experience as you need to ask for the key (chave) at the counter .. and you are presented with what has to be the largest and most decorative key fob in the history of toilets…

We had a lovely time sat whiling away an hour in here – and we’ve taken friends back there since and always found the food and service to be impeccable and the setting to be charming.

They even have their own website and Facebook Page  so do look them up and if you are in the area of Portimão then do spoil yourself .. you might even find us sat in the corner trying out more of the cakes .. purely for research purposes of course!