The Dunbar House Tea Shop
1 Water Street
Sandwich, MA
508-833-2485
visit website
#5
of 49in MA
Hours
Winter & Spring: 11:00am to 4:30pm
Winter & Spring: 11:00am to 4:30pm
Summer & Autumn: 8:00am to 6:00pm
Overview
Since first opened in 1991, the Dunbar Tea Shop has been featured in many guides, newspapers and magazines from around the world, including The Boston Globe, The Cape Cod Times, The Washington Post, Yankee Magazine, National Geographic Traveler Magazine, Figaro(Japan), Cape Cod Life, Travel Magazine, Fodor’s, Frommer’s, Mobil, Access Guide, Insight Guide, Explorer’s Guide & Lonely Planet Guide to New England. The Dunbar Tea Shop has successfully blended the best of old England with the best of New England.
Since first opened in 1991, the Dunbar Tea Shop has been featured in many guides, newspapers and magazines from around the world, including The Boston Globe, The Cape Cod Times, The Washington Post, Yankee Magazine, National Geographic Traveler Magazine, Figaro(Japan), Cape Cod Life, Travel Magazine, Fodor’s, Frommer’s, Mobil, Access Guide, Insight Guide, Explorer’s Guide & Lonely Planet Guide to New England. The Dunbar Tea Shop has successfully blended the best of old England with the best of New England.
The building itself is the old Carriage House to the main house (circa 1740) and the tea room sits in an old wood paneled billiard and gentlemen’s smoking room. Now it is home to the clinking of tea cups rather than billiard balls and the aromas of baking pies, cakes, shortbreads and scones rather than pipe smoke. The tea room has a fireplace that we stoke up for the winter, and in the summer we seat customers in our patio and shady tea garden.
The Tea Shop has become an unique institution and an integral part of a trip to Sandwich. We have developed a great reputation over the years for our homemade goods, our selection of quality teas and our innovative menu. We also have a fine selection of British ales and European wines, ports and sherries.
Reviews
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Food: I had been looking forward to my visit to Dunbar. I was so disappointed. The sandwiches were not particularly good and, as another reviewer mentioned, the desserts seemed stale. My teapot cozy was even stained with food from a previous service. The place was definitely loud -- not a relaxing experience. I was actually finding myself frustrated that people were being charged a premium price for an experience that didn't deserve it. There are much better options available. I felt that they were charging for reputation, not for the actual service. |
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- L 11/16/09 |
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Food: Was at the tea shop last week with my wife. Wasn't sure what to expect from a Tea House, but my wife had heard good things, so we tried it. For a tea shop, I had a heck of a meal...and the best part...they had beer! I had a Speckled Hen beer with my beef stew. Perfect on a cold fall day. However, I must say, I have no clue what the last reviewer was talking about when it comes to fresh made food and deserts. My wife and I happen to strike up a conversation with Paula, the owner, about her food and she informed me she does all the cooking and everything is made fresh! The cakes, pies, scones, bars...everything. Given how the food tasted, I had to agree. My wife ordered the afternoon tea and I 'helped' her eat the deserts that came with it. They were awesome. All in all it was a very nice lunch and we will most certainly be back. (and I might even try the tea...who am I kidding, I'll have another Speckled Hen) |
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- Steve Jones 11/02/09 |
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Food:  The scones were delicious and our server was attentive and kind, but the place was an overall disappointment. The teas were unremarkable, the tea sandwiches were inedible, and the desserts looked like they were made a week ago and defrosted that morning. Other reviewers are correct about the acoustics in the main dining room--it was very loud. I can't believe this place achieved such a high ranking. |
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- S 10/13/09 |
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Food: Donbar's is a tradition in my family - a lovely place to enjoy a cup of tea or the whole afternoon tea experience. The village setting just adds to the appeal, you feel like you are in England. The food is homemade and fantastic, they have a little shop with all things tea as well as a small grocery section for British foods. They have their own teas for your selection as well as some traditional ones. It is WELL worth the trip! |
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- Jen Rakeman 09/26/09 |
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Food: The Dunbar Tea Shop is my favorite tea room on the Cape. The new addition is lovely but for some reason it is very noisey in that room.I have been there twice in the past month and the acoustics are not great. I prefer to sit in the Original room. It is quaint and cozy and quiet. Other then that the food is great and the tea is great. They also have a nice selection of gift items. |
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- Judy 06/09/09 |
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Food: My biggest complaint about this place was the hostess...perhaps the manager or owner. Would it have hurt her to crack a smile. We had to wait about 15 minutes for a table and through it all not once did she greet anyone warmly or give anyone the feelilng that she was happy to see them there. It was almost intimidating, The sandwiches were excellent as were the scones and we were lucky eough to be seated in a very nice table in the corner. Our waitress made no suggestions and barely spoke. |
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- shesallthat 04/01/09 |
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