***Please note that this business is now closed***
There are some people that just fully appreciate Afternoon Tea and Elevenses. Mr NQN is not one of them. So when I knew that I was visiting Dolls At The Mount for afternoon tea, I knew that I had to take along fellow afternoon tea aficionado Nic. You know Nic don’t you? She’s my Melbourne friend who painstakingly played lighting assistant when we dined at Maze restaurant. She also happens to have a family of keen sponge cake bakers so I knew that she would completely understand it here.
It was a place I had heard of months and months ago and I filed it away in the rollerdex in my head, knowing that I would somehow make it there-one day. Dolls At the Mount is a doll museum and afternoon tea place that was said to serve fantastic scones and it was just the kind of place that I knew that I would adore. And when Tourism Victoria asked me where I would like to visit I immediately open up the mental rollerdex and told them “Dolls on the Mount please!”.
It’s a rainy Melbourne day when I jump into the taxi and take the 30 minute ride out to Heidelberg. It’s drizzling lightly when we pull up in front of the cream colour cottage and a sign reads “doll repairs, afternoon tea”. Nic has just arrived too and we ring the door and a smiling Vivienne opens the door. “Welcome!” she says smiling and we make our way past the dolls in the front foyer to the warm and cosy dining room. We are to indulge in the special afternoon tea. I order an Earl Grey and Nic orders an English breakfast tea.
While we are waiting, we wander around into the doll’s room. Formerly Vivienne’s bedroom, her mum still lives here in the house towards the back. The doll’s room is a treasure trove and catalogue of dolls throughout the the ages. There are some absolute collector’s items including their oldest doll which is from the 1930′s. Vivienne’s mum was a former doll maker and some of her creations are featured here too.
There is also a collection of Vivienne’s Barbies as well as a stunning fashion doll. Several decades ago, before jet travel was invented and because there was limited space on the ships, fashion houses used to send dolls wearing a smaller version of a dress that they had designed for the upcoming season for buyers and seamstresses to copy. There is one of these dolls in the glass cabinet here.
Our table is set with jam and cream for the scones and Vivienne sets some floral teapots down with strainers and teacups. The loose leaf Earl Grey tea is sparklingly fragrant and she brings out a pot of hot water and places it on a side table.
The piece de resistance comes out. She brings out the two tier special afternoon tea (at $22.90 a person) and it is abundant with goodies. On the top there are freshly made pinwheel sandwiches. They are decorated with snow pea shoots and fresh flowers and come in a variety of fillings with both white and wholemeal bread.
Special Tea for two ($22.90 per person)
Vivienne tells us that the etiquette for pinwheel sandwiches is to “eat them like sushi” so we take her cue and select one. There’s smoked salmon and cream cheese, chicken and cranberry, tuna, roast beef and tomato, egg salad and ham, tomato and cheese. I try the smoked salmon, ham, tomato and cheese and the tuna sandwiches and they’re superbly fresh and soft and delicious.
“Oooh scones!” I say and I help myself to a warm scone and slather it with berry jam and whipped cream (alas clotted cream eludes me again). The icing sugar dusted scone is feather light and soft-an excellent scone indeed.
Now onto the sweet portion. Either restraint or greed is necessary to approach this alluringly colour tier. I choose the latter of course and start with the ginger fluff, a ginger flavoured sponge roll with fresh cream and raspberry jam which is soft and moreish. I then try the passionfruit sponge which is incredibly light and spongy. No wonder that the sponge recipe is famous and has been reprinted in newspapers. I next pinch the mini apple pie with an adorable little apple cut out in pastry at the top. The pastry is nice and crumbly with soft apple inside. My next to conquer? The lemon meringue tart which has a crispy short base and a lovely tangy lemon curd made by using fresh lemon juice and a soft, marshmallowy meringue topping. Last but not least is the vanilla cupcake with the sparkly lilac frosting which is fresh and just the right size-one bite if you’re feeling hungry or two if you’re being a lady.
“You must take a look at the bathroom while you are here” Vivienne says and I make a visit to the bathroom. Drawn on a wall is a list of “good names for Princesses” and at the bottom Vivivenne has added “Not Nigella”! Aww how lovely! As someone who watched Romper Room and forever wished that Miss Helena would read out her name but never did, this is even better (and it’s permanent!).
Haha I almost missed it at first! 
She tells us that Dolls At the Mount started by accident. Vivienne was taught how to cook from her Nanna and made fabulous things like kites made from brown paper, gingerbread houses and pancakes. Saturday was baking day where she would make cornish pasties and sponge cake in a wood stove that also warmed her clothes in Winter. She, her mother and brother lived elsewhere and held doll workshops for keen students. Within a short space of time they had had three burglaries all commited while they were out at work doing the workshops.
They decided to buy this cottage where they would hold workshops at home in an effort to get around these burglariess. At the end of the doll workshops students asked if there was a place where they could find a good cup of tea. She and her mum thought about it and decided that selling cups of tea would help with paying off the mortgage. The first food that they served was scones and they were a hit. Not only would students visit but the general public would and soon after they asked “So what’s for lunch?” and the business expanded from there and 15 years later it is now Elevenses and Afternoon tea!
Nic and I stay and chat for hours over our pots of tea. I wish I was 7 years old again and about to plan my birthday party.
So tell me Dear Reader, what was your favourite toy growing up?
NQN and Nic dined at Dolls At the Mount as guests of Dolls at the Mount.
Dolls At The Mount
54 Mount Street, Heidelberg, Victoria
Tel: + 61 (03) 9457 3356
Open 6 days a week (closed Mondays)
***Please note that this business is now closed***
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73 Comments | Add your own
What an adorable find, looks so cosy. Gosh I can’t think of a fav toy I remember playing outside a lot riding bikes and climbing trees, and of course watching my mum and gran bake.
Such fun, Lorraine! You go to the neatest places and eat the most delicious food. I LOVE teas and dolls and dollhouses. I wish I could have been there….
The food looks divine – I don’t know whether those dolls would make it creepy or not though, hmm.
My favourite toy growing up was a little brown bear my grandpa gave me when I was born – and eighteen years later it still has pride of place on my bed.
My goodness – how good do those scones look!
Sponge roll is one of my favourite foods, that one looks delicious
Ooooh, that afternoon tea looks scrumptious! I could do with some of those sandwiches and scones right now. I have to confess, though, that I find dolls a tad creepy.
My favourite toy was my yellow teddy, bought cheaply in a supermarket in Cooma where I was born. He sported a smart pair of green pants knitted by mum and, when his eyes came out, my dad coloured them in with a blue pen. I never knew anything was wrong with them, and still recall his vacant, blue expression with love and nostalgia. Mum confessed a couple of years ago that she tossed my musty yellow bear in the trash, and I felt like part of my past had been binned.
Poor ted.
What a lovely tea, Lorraine! The scones look to-die-for. My favorite toy growing up was without a doubt my barbie doll house.
Aww all reminds me of my Nanna!
Awww, be still my girly heart – so pretty!!! And accessible for me
I always wanted Miss Helena to read out my name too, and I was cut that she never did – it might have helped if my name was Sarah or Jane or some such, because then I would be tricked into thinking it was me, but alas, my name is not common, so I was left out in the cold. My favourite toy growing up – probably Beauty Secrets Barbie.
I have taken my daughter there to attend a birthday party. She stood on the table in the party room and from a great height, served ‘high tea’. The children loved it.
Those dolls are a little creepy but the food looks amazing! I want those cakes
He is half British tho and likes tea and scones hehehee
Must get out there one day but it will have be with some lady friends and not the boyfriend as I doubt such a place is manly enough for him
I had Sylvanian familes, which were my favorite toys. I was also given a chemistry set once, it was fantastic!
(Although I always dreamed of a pretend kitchen, my niece has one and I’m jealous…)
Woah! that’s a LOT of dolls
I love the wall of names.. lovely concept.
This looks like such a superior girly place to go. I love those sugared violets on the cakes.
I was always a bit worried about doll museums as a child. I felt so sorry for the poor dolls not being played with behind glass. But these dolls get to have tea parties every day! I would love a little lavender cupcake right now!
this place reminds me of the place in the blue mountains with all the teapots?
the scones look nice and fluffy, and the sandwiches rolled up are something different!
FANTASTIC!! I am so glad you have come here to Melbourne and tried this place out. A while ago I mentioned it to you – and now to see it online and appreciated is great. Havent been there in a while, might have to pop round soon
Oh NQN! Your posts are so whimsically prosed! My favourite toy as a child was my Holly Hobbie doll whom I would cuddle, read and talk to regularly.
Holly even featured on my curtains and my bedspread, she was a good friend indeed!
Thanks for another great post.
The dolls are very neat and the savory and sweet treats at the museum look terrific!
We took our then 5 year old to the Doll Museum in Paris last year and she loved it. They don’t have a tea salon but should!! This looks lovely.
Any as a child born in 1965, my fave toy was, of course, Barbie. Fashion icon, impossible figure, a shoe collection to die for plus her own motor home! My daughter’s Barbie has her own personal jet – Barbie Stream 1!!
That high tea set is lovely!!!
I don’t know if i would be comforatble eating with so many dolls staring at me =P I’ve been scared of big-eyed dolls since i was young.
When I saw your title I thought ‘I should take the cherub’. Have to say that although food sounds lovely, the dolls would give me the creeps and possibly nightmares!
This place has been around the corner from where I live for the last 10 years, and I only visited for the first time this year. I LOVED it! Simply loved how good the baking is, and the atmosphere of the place.
What a lovely little place! Especially love the story of how they came to be. The two-tier afternoon tea set is gorgeous! The only thing is that dolls creep me out and I don’t know how successful I’d be at ignoring them while having my afternoon tea!
Lorraine…so many dolls…and the food look awesome…such a fun time!
Sorry but the dolls would freak me out. Don’t know if I could sit there and eat in front of them. But the food looks yummy.
What an adorable looking place!
I have never heard of this place! the food looks AMAZING, although I think I would get creeped out eating with those dolls looking at me…
Can’t believe I haven’t heard of this place – will definately check it out.
My favorite toy is a toss up between my bike and my first teddy bear (which my daughter now has).
Oh My Gosh – that sounds like such a fun thing to do, its been ages since my bestie & I have done a dress up propa afternoon tea with all the best crockery n the like. I’m not a huge doll fan but can appreciate how wonderful it would be do see this & have a lovely tea party amongst the dollies.
thanks for sharing Lorraine
This looks like a fun time! I could only imagine what my little daughter would think if I brought her to this doll tea house. xo
Awww, 10yo me would have LOVED that place and poring over the dolls! 23yo me just wants that ginger sponge roll
What a lovely place – will definitely be trying to visit there when I am in Melbourne – a nice girlfriend catchup spot.
My grandparents sent me a teddy from the UK when I was born and he has traveled with me for the last 52 years. I collect bears but he still has pride of place despite looking a little worse for wear.
What a gorgeous place! I am so sad that I have only had an afternoon tea once in my life, and it wasn’t great
My favourite toy was my Spot the Dog plush toy!
Not gonna lie, those dolls spawned haunting memories of Chucky in my mind.
Killer dolls aside, that food looks like it might be worth fighting off a horde of murdering dolls.
I’m sorry but most dolls inhabit the same realm of freaky awfulness as clowns do for me. Given how lovely the food looks, I may be willing to get past this to eat here… maybe..
My favourite toy was my magic Champ teddy, who still lives in my room and is looking after me right now. Who needs a doctor when you’ve got a Magic Champ?
Could be a good place to visit in the school holidays with my daughter, might sit with my back to all of those dolls though! Favourite toy was my red wooden pram with handpainted side panels and a red leather hood! It was second hand and I got it for Christmas when I was five and I don’t think any present has ever topped it. I soooo wish I still had it.
What an adorable place. And I have never ever seen scones that tall before. Very regal looking. I wonder how they get them to rise so high like that.
how did you eat with all those eyes staring at you? some of those dolls are a tad creepy.
What a dear place to visit! Such pretty dolls and those scones looks really scrumptious.
Oh this looks stunning. My favourite toy as a kid was a green home made go-kart which my brother and I rode all over in the blue gum plantation – now gone with houses built there. i love the ‘tea’ but would prefer savoury food. So I would have the sandwiches, scones but savoury rather than sweet. Love the old dolls. they are absolutely gorgeous.
Adorable! What a wonderful way to while away an afternoon..
Eeeep the little cakes look gorgeous… but the slight excess of dolls kinda creeps me out!
I’m glad you had a good time though!
Have to say am not the biggest doll fan – but the high tea looks amazing, we might have to head that way for a cuppa and a cucumber sandwich!
Mmm, I could do afternoon tea all day. Though whipped cream just doesn’t do scones any justice. The closest I’ve found to clotted cream is the sweet marscapone they sell at Hand-made desserts at St Peters.
I too used to wish I would hear my name on Romper Room, but never heard ‘Antonia’ called out
Wow – it almost seems like too much for two people (I said almost
). I would be very happy those scones – they look amazing.
Looks like a great high tea and relatively cheap too. But to be honest, those dolls are a bit creepy, especially the first one! :/
Now THIS is what I call a High Tea, I love how much attention has been paid to make each element exquisite, the rolled sandwiches, the gorgeous iced cakes and real sponge cake!
I would love to take my sister there, she has always had a huge doll collection. I’m more of a stuffed toy girl myself. I still have my original panda teddy from when I was born. A few years ago my dad had him ‘redone’ for me. I love him still, but the old sawdust smell isn’t there now.
That tea selection really does look lovley, I truly haven’t seen one that nice for a very long time, and the personal service is a very rare thing nowadays too.
The food looks great, I’d love to visit.Such a good price as well.Can’t remember my favorite toy, it was so long ago.
What a charming locale…I’d have tea there any day ;o)
Strange how I can appreciate dolls as an adult more so than when I was a child.
I was more arts and craft as opposed to having a favourite toy.
Have a great day Lorraine and flavourful wishes,
Claudia
What a lovely place…! I had quite a few dolls growing up, but after some time I found them rather freaky (too much horror films I guess
), but the teapots, cups and the ‘Special Tea for Two’ are gorgeous…!
Oh I love a good afternoon tea (or Elevenses
)
Glad to see my name made the list for Queens & Princesses!
How fun! I imagine it would be like playing tea party as a child with all the dolls there. The sweeets look and sound wonderful!
What a gorgeous place to have tea. A little reloaded of dolls for a man like me but the special tea for two can forget everything
All the best,
Gera
i don’t know if i could eat with those things staring at me…
Some of the dolls a little creepy, but the food and tea looks wonderful. Nice and cosy atmsophere.
Had to read this post pronto when I read Dolls. I love them and can’t understand why so many of your readers are freaked out by them, too many scary movies have scarred them for life.lol
Love the afternoon tea, all the food looks so tasty and as an added bonus, years of Doll history to appreciate.
My favourite toy as a child was a fuschia, velvet padded doll lounge suit, I soooo wish I had it still
After reading this, a friend and I have made a date to go to this place! I’m a bit disappointed with myself that I am an avid doll lover and live in Melbourne for so many years and didn’t know of this place!!
definitely a place for ladies!
I actually went there on Sunday for a friends Kitchen Tea. Absolutely amazing, we had that room to ourselves, and had the most devine afternoon tea. We also had homemade sausage rolls, quiches and little filo triangles as well.
Not realising the extent of what was included, by the time the ‘dessert’ came out we were loaded with savouries and scones, but I managed to ‘take one for the team’ and try the yo-yo’s, cherry ripe balls.
Such an amazing place, and so many toys from when I was growing up, with only a few Chucky like dolls thank goodness!!
I must go there – it looks so cute and cosy – just hope a small toddler will be ok at such a place
and I love the names – when I was little I wanted to hear my name at the end of romper room too
Noddy and scones. Sounds like heaven to me!
And my favourite toy was my Krissy doll. And my girls loved to play with her too.
I am so excited you visited here!
This place is just a short walk from my house and I have such great memories of visiting there when I was younger. We went back a few weeks ago and were blown away again by the beautiful service, food and dolls!
It is definitely worth a visit! (and note that it is almost next to Heidelberg Railway Station!)
I have been there on numerous occasions for high tea. It is one of my favourite things to do, the food is fantastic and the ambiance warm and enveloping. The dolls do not intrude into your tea, they are only around the private room. Anyone who is freaked out should just remain in the main dining area not private room. I hope you all adore it as much as I always do.
Me too Rosie
I was lucky enough to have lived just around the corner from this beautiful place for a few years, and visited it a little too often! I still maintain that their raspberry jam is THE BEST I’ve EVER had!
I love Dolls on the Mount and they are definitely the “Best” scones ever. Last time I got extras to take home. I am looking forward to taking my granddaughter there when she is old enough
My Grandmother and I went to Dolls on the Mount last Saturday. We were upset to find that it had closed. Before we left we had a little peep in the window and the Mess left there for someone to clean up was heart breaking. Its very sad to think that such a wonderful secret spot to have a piece of cake and tea was closed so suddenly. I really was looking forward to taking my grandmother out on her Birthday.
Hi, I was really looking forward to a special day here with my mum & daughter, bought a gift certificate for Mothers day, went to book it in only to find they are now closed & not responding to emails & the phone has been disconnected, very dissapointing to see that they cannt even be bothered to refund a pre purchased gift certificate when they must have had some idea they were closing at the time I purchased it!!!!!!
I have know this place for years! It is beautiful and the hospitality was perfectly friendly and inviting. I am so sad to learn Dolls has closed. I wish them every happiness as they return it to their home. Thank you for sharing your home for so long with us.
My sister found ‘Dolls at the Mount’ when she was walking from where she was staying while I was in hospital from surgery. She told me about the ‘Dolls House’ as I call it, and I wanted was to get out of hospital and go to the ‘Dolls House’ after all she had told me. I am a doll collector and I love the morning teas and playing ladies. I was so excited and it was all more then I expected. It is now 12 months since my Birthday and getting out of hospital, Mum wanted to take me on Sunday 13/11/11, what a shame. I really wanted to go back with Mum and my sister as we all come from QLD. This is the BEST time I have ever had on my birthday (being 13/11/2010) and considering I was still in pain and could not balance well etc. I will never forget our visit.
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