Tea rooms in Rome

Where to drink tea in Rome: the full guide

Tea has never been the national drink in Rome, but the tea rooms here are worth the trip, and there are more of them than you'd think. There is the historic institution of Babington's, open since 1893 steps from Piazza di Spagna, where the cream tea ritual has stayed identical for over a century. There are more intimate, less touristy spots, like Dolce in the Africano neighborhood with over 50 loose-leaf tea varieties, or The British Corner in Pigneto, a vintage shop-teahouse off the beaten path. And then the less English variations: the Japanese ceremony at Hiromi La Maison, the Arabic tea and shisha at Sciam in the historic center, the Parisian fine pastry of Madeleine in Prati. Recent years have brought new openings built around tea specifically: BiblioTèq on Via dei Banchi Vecchi, Fabrica near San Giovanni, Qvinto in Tor di Quinto, Modo Roma on Via Ostiense, Caffè Novecento in the historic center, MadamaDorè along the Acquedotto Paolo and La Maison Du Plaisir, and the four Vivi locations at Piazza Navona, Piazza Venezia, Villa Pamphili and Monte Mario. Near Piazza di Spagna, Tre in Lucina pairs afternoon tea with its kitchen. If you want somewhere close to home, Il Gianfornaio is a bakery with a tea corner in seven different neighborhoods, from Prati to Parioli to Testaccio. Whether you're looking for an elegant spot for a first winter date or simply an afternoon break, here you'll find the address, website and how to book for each one.