Grace & Flavour Tea Emporium
Bubble tea, bagels, croffles and loose-leaf tea in an intimate historic setting on Rochester High Street.
Grace & Flavour Tea Emporium is not a tea room in the traditional sense as its name might first suggest. Here, bubble tea takes centre stage, alongside croffles, bagels, cakes and freshly brewed coffee. There is also a selection of loose-leaf teas available to buy.
A relatively new addition to Rochester High Street, this family-run tea room sits just a few doors down from the Victoria & Bull Hotel. Its setting is part of the appeal. Grace & Flavour occupies Penfold House, a Grade II listed building, parts of which may date from the early 16th century, although much of the building was rebuilt in the 17th century.
Outside, a bistro table and chairs offer a place to sit and watch the High Street. Step inside and the scale of the building quickly becomes apparent. A small counter sits to the left, with colourful bubble teas and glass jars of loose-leaf tea on display.
A narrow passage leads through to the back room, where an ornate fireplace forms the focal point, surrounded by leather chairs, dark wood and a few unexpected details. The room feels closer to a small parlour than a contemporary café. It is a quiet corner for reading, studying or simply catching up over coffee and something to eat.
At the back, a simple paved courtyard provides additional seating in this very peaceful setting. Large parasols offer shade during the warmer months, making this small outdoor space a useful retreat from the busier High Street.
The menu provides an interesting contrast to the historic surroundings. Bubble teas are the main attraction, while croffles, where croissant meets waffle, have become another popular choice. Toppings range from pistachio to bacon with maple syrup, alongside a supporting selection of bagels, cakes and other sweet bakes.
Grace & Flavour is also genuinely dog friendly. Dogs are warmly welcomed inside, not simply in the courtyard, making it a particularly useful stop for those exploring Rochester with a four-legged companion. Free pup cups are available too.
The atmosphere is cosy and unhurried. Away from some of the High Street’s livelier spots, this is somewhere to settle in for a while, particularly on a rainy afternoon or cold winter morning.
Perhaps the most memorable thing about Grace & Flavour is the meeting of old and new: bubble tea and croffles served inside an intimate building that has stood on Rochester High Street, in one form or another, for centuries.
