sample menu 2026
Full menu coming soon, from June 2026
SIGNATURE TEA & CAKE SET £8
Your choice of loose-leaf tea,
paired with a handmade cake.
THE TARA AFTERNOON TEA £22
A selection of sweet and savoury bites,
buttermilk scones, clotted cream & homemade jam,
served with your choice of loose-leaf tea.
HIMALAYAN HIGH TEA PLATTER £15
Hand-folded juicy momo, crisp shabaley pastries, and a warm spiced spinanch & potato wrap in soft flatbread. Served with chai.
SWEET (changing daily selection)
Flourless orange & almond cake (gf)
Honey lavender earl grey tea loaf
Carrot & tamarind cake with orange mascarpone
Triple Chocolate Brownie (gf,v)
Matcha & raspberry financier (gf)
Sesame chiffon cake
SEASONAL
Spring - Basque cheesecake with rhubarb compote
Summer - Strawberry shortcake
Autumn - French Apple & Rum Cake
Winter - Tea-poached plums, almond crumb (v) & creme fraiche
SAVOURY
Homemade scone & soup of the day
Steamed momo with chilli oil & mooli pickle (v)
Shabaley hand pie with seasonal slaw,
citrus & curry leaf dressing (v)
Cream cheese, onion & tomato & pesto pastry
fennel & beetroot confit, arugula & lemon salad
SANDWICHES
Cream cheese & cucumber, with coriander & mint relish
Spiced spinach & potato with coconut yoghurt (v)
Devilled egg & watercress
Cheddar with homemade tomato & chilli chutney
BITES
Cardamom & pistachio shortbread
Nigella & cumin salt crackers
Himalayan dried fruit
Salted almonds
Sourdough & butter
A Welcoming SPACE
IN THE HEART OF ISLINGTON
Our Commitment
We are dedicated to enriching community, bringing warmth and hospitality. At The Tara Tea House everyone is welcome to come together, feel at home, and explore opportunities for experiencing relaxation, connection, and personal flourishing.
Your Experience
The Tara Tea House is a tranquil space and refuge, for bringing a sense of ease and inner calm. Explore your senses with our exceptional, carefully chosen teas and delight in a lovingly crafted menu with a Himalayan influence. Give yourself permission to pause and find stillness amidst the chaos of the city.
The Location
The Tara Tea House is located within Rigpa Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Centre, which has been at the heart of the Caledonian Road in Islington, London, for over 30 years.
During lunchtime openings, you are most welcome to sit and meditate in our beautiful shrine room that has been blessed by many Tibetan Lamas. Countless visitors have spoken of the shrine room’s extraordinary atmosphere.
opening hours
Friday 11.00am - 5pm
Saturday 11.00am - 5pm
Sunday 11.00am - 5pm
Extended opening times for events and regular courses
OUR FOOD
Our food is made with care and nourishes body and heart. Each offering activates the senses in harmony and balance and is rooted in familiarity and comfort. Fresh daily specials are always on the menu, as well as flavors that invite delight, curiosity, and gentle exploration. We are guided by ethical reflection and a quiet respect for the world we share.
TEAS & INFUSIons
Our loose leaf teas are presented with reverence and appreciation for the natural world and the craftsmanship of Asia’s master tea makers. We are delighted to offer remarkable loose-leaf teas and infusions brought to you from world-renowned tea specialists JING, featuring both beloved classics and rare, distinctive varieties.
pay-it-forward
Our Pay-It-Forward scheme creates a supportive environment, turning a simple transaction into an act of community care, ensuring everyone has access to nourishment and connection. We stamp one of our Pay-It-Forward cards with your donation amount and keep it safe for scheme users to redeem. Support us in transforming transactions into acts of kindness.
WHAT's on: tara Tea house Events
Throughout the year Tara Tea House hosts pop-up and cultural events in collaboration with our partners. Calendar for 2026 coming soon.
RIGPA IN-HOUSE CATERING
The Tara Tea House is delighted to provide in-house catering for Rigpa Fellowship and private events. Please get in touch to discuss your special event menu.
