Located in the Independence Arcade in Colombo, Sri Lanka, the tea lounge was originally an unused space which was a part of ruins dating back to the British Period. It originally came up 3 decades ago as the Auditor General’s Office which was later destroyed. For years, the arcade remained closed until the Government decided to rent out the frontal space for commercial use, which was when Dilmah Teas bought over a plot for the setup of the lounge.

The space is very inviting due to the presence of numerous arched openings running along the walls but still manages to retain an introvert feel to it. The brown wooden doors and the white walls on the outside are made to subtly merge with the surrounding space of the colonial arcade. The concept was to design a tea stall inspired by the Parisian Cafes but retain the touch of Middle East Asia through it’s dark wood interiors and lattice worked arched window work. There’s a certain warmth to the space and it works well for a quick bite during the day or an evening tea. The false ceiling with written history of tea and its types adds a modern touch to the space. The tea café also accommodates a well arrayed section for the sale of different types of tea leaves and products.