Dr. Bombay's Underwater Tea Party

"Remember Dr. Bombay, that therapist you used to go to who made you feel nuttier than ever? Well, this is the teashop he opened when he quit his practice. Or at least that’s what you might imagine when you walk into this eclectic space, which looks like a well-traveled, tchotchke-loving, aging intellectual’s living room. Choose from a variety of English-style teas (complete with the requisite scones and clotted cream), or order coffee, tea, pastries, and other rotating menu items a la carte. Proceeds from the sales of tea and used books benefit owner Katrell Christie’s charitable organization “The Learning Tea,” which provides scholarships and other support to impoverished young women in Darjeeling. Fun fact: Dr. Bombay’s is co-owned by “97.1 The River” DJ English Nick." - Rogers Eckersley Design

"When patrons order coffee or tea from Dr. Bombay’s Underwater Tea Party, a teashop in Atlanta’s Candler Park village, they don’t just leave caffeinated—they walk away knowing their purchase helped educate, clothe, and empower women in Darjeeling, India. Through the Learning Tea—a scholarship program initiated by Dr. Bombay’s owner—a portion of all the shop’s sales benefit women who age out of orphanages and cannot afford to pursue an education. Every year, up to 12 women receive scholarships covering their living, school, and medical expenses. Dr. Bombay’s also hosts monthly private Indian dinners; 100 percent of those proceeds support the Learning Tea as well. The names of loose-leaf tea tins for sale poignantly drive home this mission: A Darjeeling black tea is named “I Am 17 School Lunches,” and an Assam tea’s label reads “I Am 5 Pairs of Shoes,” for example. Philanthropy aside, there are plenty of reasons—sweet, savory, and literary—to visit Dr. Bombay’s. The menu includes ice cream, sandwiches, quiche, samosas, and an assortment of baked goods. Used books fill floor-to-ceiling cases and are available for one dollar each. Groups of up to 20 can reserve the cafe’s whimsical piano room for High Tea, which consists of hot tea and dainty snacks served on vintage china. The snack assortment consists of scones, clotted cream, jam, quiche, and finger sandwiches, punctuated with a serving of sorbet. The shop’s unique decor could keep patrons gazing for hours while they sit in funkily upholstered armchairs. Paper lanterns, upside-down parasols, origami cranes, and wooden bird cages hang from the ceiling, while vintage paintings cover the walls, making Dr. Bombay’s a colorful place to both eat well and do good. Know Before You Go As of August 2022, Dr. Bombay’s is open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Limited parking spaces along the front of the Candler Park village serve all those businesses’ customers. Street parking can be snagged on Brooks and Page avenues as well as Clifton Road." - bobbelangelo

"This charming Candler Park spot has it all: tea, coffee, books, pastries, and plenty of quiet nooks for reading or working. The afternoon tea here is one of the most affordable in town at $35 for two people. The tea includes a pot of tea and a three-tiered tray with pastries and finger sandwiches. Check out Dr. Bombay’s philanthropic arm called “the Learning Tea” with monthly programs benefitting scholarships for women in India." - Eater Staff

"This bookshelf-lined Candler Park cafe is kind of like entering a real life Mad Hatter’s tea party. It’s technically more of a tea house than coffee shop, but if you’re looking to sit and sip a hot beverage, whether tea or coffee, in an antique armchair under a paper lantern and umbrella-covered ceiling, this is the best (and probably only) spot to go. You can also call ahead for a proper high tea reservation to get the full treatment, which includes tiered trays of scones, clotted cream, jam, quiche, and finger sandwiches followed by a tasting of sorbet. Ask yourself or your friends some unanswerable questions and stay a while." - Neal Cohen