Babington’s is currently in the pink with a refurbishment that sees the walls festooned with cerise pink velvet brocade wallpaper – and new tea caddies the colour of sugared bonbons. Babington’s Tea Rooms were established in 1893 and was originally situated on the via Due Macelli, just a short walk away from its more familiar site at the foot of the Spanish Steps on the Piazza di Spagna.
Two enterprising young women – Isabel Cargill and Anna Maria Babington – set up the tea rooms with their savings, having arrived in the Eternal City determined to make a living.
Today, Babington’s is a must-see for visitors and the teashop exports its specially blended teas all over the world. However, personally, I prefer to fly to the Eternal City to buy my supplies of Royal Blend and Morning Tea!
If you are facing a strenuous day of sightseeing, there is also nothing better than a Babington’s brunch – on my recent visit, I tucked into a small homemade muffin with scrambled eggs, accompanied by a very necessary pot of Royal Blend tea, which was blended to commemorate a visit to Rome by Queen Elizabeth II.
The waitresses are decked out in traditional 19th century uniform – and now that the teashop has had a refurb, it is like taking brunch while sitting in a delicious box of chocolates, with exquisite cakes and pretty tins of tea lining the shelves of the tea rooms. You can also buy the traditional cream and red Babington’s tea canisters with the Babington’s cat logo on the front – or take a Babington’s mug home, available in a choice of pretty pastel shades. On this occasion, I added a pale violet mug to my collection for 12 euros. The mugs are boxed and make lovely presents.
My brunch with a pot of tea cost 22 euros.
Babington’s also has a fascinating booklet telling the history of the teashop and how it survived both world wars. Today, the tea rooms are run by co-founder Isabel Cargill’s great grandchildren.
If you love tea, if you love history, if you love tradition – and if you love pink – Babington’s is the place for you! Buon appetito!
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