Moscow Tea Room

Forgot to check-​in! With good reasons.
I visited Moscow Tea Room on May 14^th for a friend’s Bachelorette party. Myself and 2 other girls arrived at 11h30pm. The bouncer was friendly and seemed to know exactly what we were here for, so he directed us to the back where other girl friends were already seated. We had 3 tables with booths in the far corner. There was a small group at the table next to us but they left shortly after our arrival.
It was not busy, there were small groups of people hanging around, chatting with drinks. I was delighted to see there was a courtyard! It was very pretty with dark furniture, some lamps and even a small fire pit!
The waitress was quick to come greet us. The girls had already ordered bottle service so she just kept bringing more and more glasses as more friends joined us.
At one point through the night, the Bachelor party joined us. We had already been drinking and were dancing in the empty space next to our tables. The music was loud and fantastic! I wouldn’t have pictures this venue to have good beats to dance, but it did! I couldn’t tell if it was pre-​mixed playlist or if there was a DJ. I never made my way up to the 2^nd floor to investigate.
The waitress was always coming and going, weaving her way through our now very big group to bring more glasses, take away empty bottles and make sure we weren’t running out of anything. We were always topped up on water and cranberry to mix with our alcohol.
The bathroom in the basement were easy enough to get to and were not in bad states.
I had never been here before, and don’t know anyone who had been. I had no idea what to expect for a night gathering type of venue but I was really happy with it. We didn’t have any problems, we were not disturbed by anyone other than the waitress looking after us. It was a great party to celebrate our friends who were getting married.
I would go here again for future Bachelorette/​Birthday/​Celebration.

From the outside one can imagine that this place hosts an interior that’s dimly lit and luxurious. From the inside, tea lovers might be confused by the mix of opulence (from red velvet curtains and chandeliers) to the British punk vibes one might get from an updated Firkin pub.
I didn’t find the menu very interesting, but then I was visiting on a day that felt like –44 degrees. All I really wanted was a hot cup of tea. In this, they did not disappoint! We ordered the the cinnamon plum tea. It comes in a pot that serves 4 cups. We also ordered candied nuts. Most money I’ve spent on nuts ever. And the first time I’ve bought them outside of a grocery store. Some of them were a bit too toasted/​burnt.
I found the tea to be perfect. The nuts, which we only ordered to have a light snack, can be missed. The service is wonderful, and the atmosphere was warm. This is a great date spot, whether it be with a partner or a friend.

Super fun place. Not sure why it’s only dubbed a tea room and sandwich shop since the night scene is a good time. Gorgeous red décor around the venue and wrapped around the bartenders. Fun lounge, young to mid professionals crowd, ?DJ on the weekends? The only place that was alive on a Thursday night and fun crowd. Great owners, real social and welcoming. Had a lot of fun.

I basically was drawn into here because of the décor and that it’s a TEA ROOM. I was so excited to find a tea room! I saw the colorful seating from outside as I was walking by, and wanted to visit just based on that :) The restaurant will for sure win you over as you walk in. The ceilings are high and the walls are covered in beautiful paintings. The furniture is bright and colorful and quite different from anything else I’ve seen in Ottawa.
I went during a less busy time on Sunday at noon, so we basically had our choice of seats. I think this place gets more busy at night as a bar. This place surprised me with its huge bar. It’s not a bad thing, but I just assumed from the name that it would be some sort of tea house. I came here to have a nice pot of tea. The tea menu is pretty small. Especially in comparison to their bar. It’s mostly black teas as well. So if you are like me and only drink green/​white tea, this place won’t have much for you. So I decided to order a latte instead and some scones. They were out of scones, but the latte was very good.
I might have misunderstood the meaning behind the tea room. I know that tea rooms are often just places to gather and socialize, hence the bar and more «club» like atmosphere.
It has a beautiful patio though and gorgeous décor and ambiance. Their patio is more secluded than the rest of the courtyard patios, so if you would like more quiet then I recommend coming here during the day.
Overall, if you are looking for a good tea place, I wouldn’t go here, but I would come here again for a coffee and the atmosphere during the more quieter times.

Are you looking for a place for cocktails, mixed drinks and wine? Perhaps somewhere to meet for a date? Moscow Tea Room should probably be on your radar. Moscow Tea Room is a nice little cocktail bar, located on sussex… somewhere you may want to go for a light meal, snack and drinks. Don’t expect big meals, and beer on tap– but they do offer bottles, I settled on Sapporo. In terms for food, I tried the ‘Vladimir Poutine’, cleverly named but in actuality was perogies with onions, beets, and goat cheese… it was well put together, and tasted good. The bar has a Russian theme (hence the perogies), and offers some pretty neat gimmicks like a vodka tasting flight. In a town like Ottawa dominated by pubs, Moscow Tea Room is a welcome change.

I’ve been here many times now, both during the week and on weekends. At no point has the place been super packed. (I can’t speak for how well it did in its first year).
The bartenders are all friendly and for the most part, very good looking. Apparently, this is what the owner is shooting for.
The prices are somewhat reasonable ($ 8.50 for a big bottle of Baltika; $ 11 for Moscow mules). Try the Kremlin, either with vodka or gin. Delicious.
The place is kind of small inside, but they have plenty of comfortable outdoor seating in the back.
The music was pretty good and at least on one Saturday night I was there, it didn’t get too loud so we were all able to talk to one another without screaming.
During one visit, a group of 6 of us walked upstairs thinking that’s where the dance floor was but it turns out there really is no dance floor. Plus, we walked in on a private party not realizing it. They could have put a sign up so we didn’t look like idiots. Oh well.
Don’t let the many different vodkas on display fool you. Most of those bottles are empty and are just for show.
I can’t speak for their limited food menu.
Lastly, their Moscow mules aren’t served in the prototypical copper mug. That just kind of annoyed me for a place with «Moscow» in its title.

This place is great! We came here for a couple of drinks after dinner and I’m so glad we did!
I’ve heard many great things about this place but I never had the chance to visit. We were able to sit outside, which was nice. Our server was super nice as well, she was funny and very attentive. The drinks were fantastic! I didn’t eat anything there; I didn’t even glance at a food menu so I can’t comment on the food but I can only assume it’s just as good as the drinks!
The only gripe I have about this place is not that big of a deal but they should be cautious about who they let into their space. A group of about 30 incredibly drunk people swooped in about an hour after we got there and after asking us many times if we still needed our chairs, one of them actually asked us to leave so they could take our chairs! This isn’t really the fault of the establishment but a group that was that drunk shouldn’t have been served more alcohol. We did end up leaving. It’s a shame; it was so peaceful and beautiful then it turned into an overcrowded club atmosphere out of no where!
I will be back though! This place deserves way more than a second chance! I want that Secret Garden again!

Really not impressed. The atmosphere is so pretentious; the service isn’t very friendly, nice or welcoming; and everything is just overpriced.

Meh. I was stoked about this, but I think my expectations were too high.
The location and the ambiance were great. Food and drinks were «meh». It just didn’t seem like the ambiance jives with the menu. Kale salad was good, cheese board was okay, kinda boring.
I heard that the place is better for drinks, not food. Should have done my research.

Following an afternoon of skating on the canal, we just happened to be walking down Sussex and discovered the Moscow Tea Room. This is not your typical English Victorian tea room. The main feature as you enter is an enormous bar, shelving that seems to hold fifty varieties of vodka, comfy couches and a décor that has a Russian feel to it. We learned that the owner had spent some time in Russia and had been quite taken with the tea rooms there that seemed more like a lounge than a coffee shop.
They offer a variety of teas, served in large pots with big cups and saucers. We also shared a scone with local strawberry jam. Our server told us that they try to support local producers.
One reviewer commented that the service was slow. I would counter that it was attentive but unhurried. We had a table by the window with comfortable couches. Good background music.
A pot of tea is $ 5.
I must say that I am curious as to how the place transforms in the evening. I expect that the vodka might take on a more important role.

The servers were pure joy, very pleasant and cheerful.
Had a great time, would defiantly recommend it.

This place is a jewel.
Perfectly situated on Sussex Drive in Ottawa, it offers a unique, opulent experience. The deep red textured walls, the gold picture frames, the stunning pieces of classic Russian portraits mixed with communist pop art. And that’s just the ambience, honey.
The menu is short and constrained but bursting with deliciousness: we had the pierogies with prosciutto. My husband had the roast beef («Boss») panini and I had the chicken panini (12 $) and my sister-​in-​law devoured the borscht (6 $). Everything was reasonably priced (it was lunch hour on a Wednesday). I also indulged in a cocktail: THe Red Square ($ 12). It was oh so good with Bourbon, cherry syrup and cinnamon syrup, served on ice.
There were a few tables, but we had the entire back of the restaurant — complete with plush red and gold sofas and Victorian-​style blue chairs — all to ourselves. THere was light music playing. THe server dropped the chips when she slid the plate onto my setting, but that didn’t even bother me, I was so seduced by the entire experience.
I am so excited about htis place, I’m taking a colleague for drinks tonight after work :)

I have nothing but positive things to say about this wonderful gem! To start, the décor is gorgeous. Beautiful art, chandeliers, AWESOME loungey tunes, a real classy joint. Furthermore, the bartender is a cocktail scientist. You’ll be hard-​pressed to find a more creative and knowledgeable bartender in this city. I celebrated my birthday here and was blown away by how friendly and accommodating the servers were. Service was a true ten, and it takes a lot for me to give such praise. The prices are modest considering the quality and classy atmosphere of the Moscow Tea Room. Ottawa really doesn’t have any true lounge bars like this one. It’s definitely ahead of the curve and best of all, the hipsters haven’t found it yet! A real gem. More of a 30-​and-​up vibe; a refined air to the place, so youngsters won’t enjoy themselves here. If you want to dress up and have a classy night at a true lounge bar, go to Moscow Tea Room. I’m actually apprehensive even writing this review in the fear that it will become too popular.

I stopped in here for lunch with my boyfriend after having walked by it a couple of times in the past. I’m very glad we finally made a point to go in!
The teas offered here are by a local ottawa company kimicha, one of my favourite, who make the best lemongrass tea. The friendly staff bring your tea to you with a sand timer to let you steep your tea to perfection. If you’re having a black tea they bring you milk that’s been frothed which I thought was a cool touch.
The food is very reasonably priced and super tastey. I had the borscht which brought me back to my Russian adventure years ago, I highly recommend this soup!
The one knock I have on this place is that the service is slow. Friendly! But slow. We waited a good 25 minutes to receive soup, salad, and a sandwich. When we finally got the bill, it took about 10 minutes for the waitress to come back with a machine.
In all, a great place for drinks, tea, coffee, and lunch. But if you’re on a timeline you may want to try some place else.

As a person who likes tea, it’s nice to have the option to go out with friends who want to drink and opt to have a nice loose-​leaf tea instead. Everyone wins!
It’s worth visiting here just to see how beautifully decorated the space is. It’s really impressive.

Who’s got the coolest textured blue chairs in Ottawa AND the best chocolate mousse I’ve had (made in house, which is even more impressive!)?
Well the answer is the Moscow Tea Room!
I’ve been here a couple of times, once in the daytime for tea and dessert and once at night with friends.
Both experiences were great.
The staff is friendly and knows the menu well. Even though I was dressed quite casually both times I came, the staff didn’t even blink an eye, which was very professional of them.
They also play some great music that really sets the tone for a lounge atmosphere.
My friend, who had drank the «worst old fashion ever» at the previous bar, said that they made it perfectly here, so they definitely know what they’re doing drinks wise.
I want to come back here to try some more things off the menu.
Chilled out atmosphere, super cool décor (the chairs here are just soo unique!), as well as the friendly staff means I’d definitely recommend this place and I’ll be retuning again soon!