Didsbury's finest independent cafe bar offering fresh, locally sourced produce, loose leaf tea, along with speciality beers, wines & spirits from around the world. While away the hours perusing the vast selection of quality second hand books available for sale in the adjoining Didsbury Village Bookshop.
Free wifi for customers, artwork exhibitions from local Manchester artists and an awesome soundtrack. We are open again! Taking it one day at a time and closely monitoring official guidance. We are continuing with our increased cleaning regime whilst also reducing the new number of tables inside and outside the cafe.
Free wifi for customers, artwork exhibitions from local Manchester artists and an awesome soundtrack. We are open again! Taking it one day at a time and closely monitoring official guidance. We are continuing with our increased cleaning regime whilst also reducing the new number of tables inside and outside the cafe.
Reviews (23)
Paul Humphreys
Jan 15, 2022
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Great selection of teas including some interesting herbal infusions plus excellent coffees. The art of Tea also does food but we have not eaten here so are unable to comment. When we first came, a few years ago the cakes were amazing but the trend to more healthy options has spoilt them and we certainly have the cake much less often. They have a range of paintings and prints by local artists arranged on the walls and they are for sale too. The atmosphere is laid back and cosy and a mixed bag of upcycled tables chairs and crockery adds to a lovely arty vibe. There is an interesting 2nd hand bookshop
Conor Giblin
Nov 26, 2021
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Had a lovely meal here with friends recently - the staff are friendly and helpful, nice cosy atmosphere, only a few tables so I would suggest booking in advance if you can. Good selection of drinks including teas, non-alcoholic drinks, wine etc. Good location just down the road from the main Didsbury village. I had the Florentine pizza which was delicious (plenty of olives) and a Mezze sharing platter for starter, which was just the right amount to share between 3-4 people.
Yasmin Bruce
Oct 21, 2021
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Richard Harrison
Sep 17, 2021
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Rachel Llewellyn
Jul 14, 2021
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We had a delightful evening at The Art of Tea. We had a couple of the "dip" plates which are served with crostini and salad. They were delicious, plentiful and excellent value. I like to be out in the evening but don't drink alcohol so it was wonderful to be out in a special location drinking tea! Highly recommended
Jamie Carroll
Jun 09, 2021
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Nice little cafe, more on the expensive side of reasonable for food but the quality is good and the staff are friendly. They have just the right amount of a delicious selection of dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are some tasty cakes too and as you'd expect they serve a variety of teas. The atmosphere is chilled although it is a little cramped and some of the tables have a focus around fitting in with the design than practicality (you can't always get your legs under because some have expanded leaves with too many legs). They did run out of tea pots when we were there so perhaps they
Chaz Josephs
Apr 14, 2021
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Amberly M.
Jul 17, 2018
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HELP WANTED! I'll be traveling to Manchester, Liverpool, and London for a week in late November and would really appreciate some good recommendations for music shops, bookstores, coffee shops, and places to eat! I really like places that are quirky and out of the box so if you live in any of these areas and have suggestions please reach out!
Thanks! :)
-Amberly
Thanks! :)
-Amberly
Glen M.
Jul 13, 2016
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Look, I have to go back to get the fourth star.
On the plus side:
It's called the Art of Tea
It's got secondhand books. Loads of books. And a frame shop. Although the books are in some sort of alleged order but really higgledy piggledy and not particularly cheap and, for some reason, a load of Leave.EU flyers on the floor.
They seem to specialise more in coffee and beer than the tea.
It's local beer, which is nice! But then it's funny beer - one of them was made with jasmine tea and they've all got odd flavours and none of them... quite worked.
But I'd go back
On the plus side:
It's called the Art of Tea
It's got secondhand books. Loads of books. And a frame shop. Although the books are in some sort of alleged order but really higgledy piggledy and not particularly cheap and, for some reason, a load of Leave.EU flyers on the floor.
They seem to specialise more in coffee and beer than the tea.
It's local beer, which is nice! But then it's funny beer - one of them was made with jasmine tea and they've all got odd flavours and none of them... quite worked.
But I'd go back
Marie U.
Jan 03, 2016
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So so lovely in here. Took my friend who doesn't come to Didsbury very often because it's so cosy and relaxing. A great place to pass the time and catch up with friends. We were lucky enough to grab the comfy sofas too, which also adds to how you feel.
The staff here are all hipsters, but not in the "I'm far too cool to talk to you" way which can sometimes happen. A lovely girl cleared our table, made conversation but seemed genuinely interested I'm what we had to say which was sweet, and definitely made us immediately feel at home.
I opted for a latte which
The staff here are all hipsters, but not in the "I'm far too cool to talk to you" way which can sometimes happen. A lovely girl cleared our table, made conversation but seemed genuinely interested I'm what we had to say which was sweet, and definitely made us immediately feel at home.
I opted for a latte which
Ash S.
Jul 31, 2014
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My first time visit and I was super impressed by the ambiance in and even outside the venue.
I sat outside on a small but cute woody chair with my Iced Lemon Matcha Tea (ÂŁ2.70) and enjoyed it! It was lemony, not too sweet and quite light...better than green tea.
Lovely staff and I would definitely come back.
Great for artists/designers and even hipster ;)
I sat outside on a small but cute woody chair with my Iced Lemon Matcha Tea (ÂŁ2.70) and enjoyed it! It was lemony, not too sweet and quite light...better than green tea.
Lovely staff and I would definitely come back.
Great for artists/designers and even hipster ;)
John C.
Apr 09, 2014
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The Art of Tea is another of my regular haunts in Didsbury. I am partial to quality loose leaf tea and speciality coffee and I usually visit this place a couple of times a month. However it's always to drink beer and not tea!
I love this little venue, it's small, intimate and the staff and owners are a really nice bunch of people and always attentive.
The beer selection could be better. They only have one draft line and that is for Vedett lager. The bottle selection have a few beers that seem to change to keep things fresh but over the past few months the variety of the bottle selection
I love this little venue, it's small, intimate and the staff and owners are a really nice bunch of people and always attentive.
The beer selection could be better. They only have one draft line and that is for Vedett lager. The bottle selection have a few beers that seem to change to keep things fresh but over the past few months the variety of the bottle selection
Ian M.
Jan 16, 2014
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Jo J.
Nov 26, 2013
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My favourite drinking haunt in Didsbury!
The Art of Tea is a quirky little café bar in Didsbury Village. I tend to stay clear of Didsbury village as it has far too many chain pubs and bars for my liking, but the Art of Tea is a little gem. Set back just off the main strip of the village on Barlow Moore Road.
I tend to go for a few casual glasses of wine during the week. The house white wine is very nice and they have a very good selection of beer. I have not eaten here yet, however, the food does look very scrummy. What makes this place slightly different is that you go to the bar, order
The Art of Tea is a quirky little café bar in Didsbury Village. I tend to stay clear of Didsbury village as it has far too many chain pubs and bars for my liking, but the Art of Tea is a little gem. Set back just off the main strip of the village on Barlow Moore Road.
I tend to go for a few casual glasses of wine during the week. The house white wine is very nice and they have a very good selection of beer. I have not eaten here yet, however, the food does look very scrummy. What makes this place slightly different is that you go to the bar, order
Qype User Badger
Jul 03, 2011
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The Art of Tea is a delightful place to while away a lazy afternoon - subdued and calming ambience; perfect for chilling out and chatting with friends or relaxng with a book.
Array of art work to gaze at (and buy if desired) and quaint little book shop where many a hidden treasure can be unearthed.
Good selection of teas available to suit all palates and a tasty selection of food.
Highly recommended if you're ever in Didsbury village
Array of art work to gaze at (and buy if desired) and quaint little book shop where many a hidden treasure can be unearthed.
Good selection of teas available to suit all palates and a tasty selection of food.
Highly recommended if you're ever in Didsbury village
Ed J.
Jan 19, 2011
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I live about a 10 minute stroll from here, so after popping in fo breakfast at the nearby Wetherspoons to watch England lose in the first one day match, I thought Id walk on an extra 2 minutes and see what the fuss was about.
First thing was confusion - do I sit down and wait to have my order taken, go to the incongruous looking bar? Having sat in a chair hat would take me anout 10 minutes to get back out of, my dcision was taken for me, although the guy at the bar did come to take my order. Then came the thing that led to the 3 stars - surprisingly poor chice of tea - not even a lapsong souchong
First thing was confusion - do I sit down and wait to have my order taken, go to the incongruous looking bar? Having sat in a chair hat would take me anout 10 minutes to get back out of, my dcision was taken for me, although the guy at the bar did come to take my order. Then came the thing that led to the 3 stars - surprisingly poor chice of tea - not even a lapsong souchong
Kirsten P.
Jan 25, 2010
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This shop is set at the top of Barlow Moor Road, a couple of minute's walk from the main East Didsbury drag on the Wilmslow Road. However, the popularity of this place alongside the protests and grafitti drawn on the new Costa in Didsbury Village do seem to illustrate the point that the residents of Didsbury would prefer to sup tea and coffee somewhere with character than another carbon copy Costa.
I recently went to China, where I was disappointed at the range of teas available in tea shops. It was good tea, but there was something about the reputation of China that made me expect more
I recently went to China, where I was disappointed at the range of teas available in tea shops. It was good tea, but there was something about the reputation of China that made me expect more
Qype User Jenny
Jan 25, 2010
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I spent an enjoyable hour at The Art of Tea on Saturday afternoon. Someone had already snagged the comfy sofa but we managed to grab a table by the window.
The first thing you notice about this place is that everything is mismatched, from the furniture, to the vases on the tables, to the teacups and saucers. But it all seems to hang together and adds a sense of informality and cosiness. The walls are adorned with assorted original artwork, all of which is available to buy.
The second thing you notice is that it's not all about the tea. In fact the menu includes quite a modest range,
The first thing you notice about this place is that everything is mismatched, from the furniture, to the vases on the tables, to the teacups and saucers. But it all seems to hang together and adds a sense of informality and cosiness. The walls are adorned with assorted original artwork, all of which is available to buy.
The second thing you notice is that it's not all about the tea. In fact the menu includes quite a modest range,
Rebecca D.
Jan 11, 2010
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For a while after graduation, jobless and pretty much homeless, I found myself sort-of squatting at a friend's house in Didsbury. Well, I was a welcome guest, but it sounds kind of romantic in a hard-knock-life kinda way if I say I was squatting. During my short residence in Didsbury, I spent approximately 65% of my waking hours in the Art of Tea, an adorable little teashop on Barlow Moor Road. Why did I spend so much time there? Well, my friend's house was cold and usually empty, and the internet was on the blink. So hie'd I hence to the Art of Tea, to use their warmth and internet
Alison B.
Nov 30, 2009
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I quite like The Art of Tea, I like to take my copy of the Guardian in there on a Saturday and sometimes mince around looking at the books for sale, after having tea and home-made cake of course! You will also like this place if you are adverse to the coffee chains - Angela is right, the coffee is none too shabby either, but the decor is shabby chic/oldy worldy, and the crockery you get your cakes (yes, plural)placed on is seriously cute.
There is also a picture framers in the back and he does not charge the earth to get your classic film posters framed!
There is also a picture framers in the back and he does not charge the earth to get your classic film posters framed!
Angela B.
Oct 21, 2009
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This place is a little further out of the centre, in Didsbury, but is well worth a mention. Designed much like a cosy cottage, it's a real home from home where you'll feel welcome to spend hours and hours.
During the day you can lounge around here, work on your computer (as there's free internet access) or just sit back and read the paper or browse the bookshop. They offer a full range of teas and cakes as well as a homely food menu and in the evening there's wonderful music, world beers served and special events including art exhibitions.
One thing I would say is the choice
During the day you can lounge around here, work on your computer (as there's free internet access) or just sit back and read the paper or browse the bookshop. They offer a full range of teas and cakes as well as a homely food menu and in the evening there's wonderful music, world beers served and special events including art exhibitions.
One thing I would say is the choice
Qype User Purpl
Oct 16, 2008
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What a sweet old cafe, with a record and book shop at the back. Everything is served on different unusual pieces of crockery and the tables are placed quite close to each other, again all of different shapes and heights which gives the atmosphere a homely feel to it, however the food was not overly impressive. They haven't changed the menu in over a year and the cakes can sometimes be a bit dry.
However, the staff are always pleasant and the book shop is an added bonus.
However, the staff are always pleasant and the book shop is an added bonus.
Qype User Cdotpl
Aug 20, 2008
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This place is like a cafe throwback but in a good way. It's inviting from the outside and as you enter the albeit cramped confines, the slalom of stairs and counter lead your eye and feet onwards as you try to take it all in. You turn around and before you know it you've been ambushed by tables and chairs, the atmosphere is thick and distinctive, and you sit down to gather yourself once again.
The clientele is diverse ranging from families with young children to your typical Guardian readers.
The menu consists of a good selection of beverages including smoothies, juices, coffes
The clientele is diverse ranging from families with young children to your typical Guardian readers.
The menu consists of a good selection of beverages including smoothies, juices, coffes
