For over a century, Hopetoun Tea Rooms held court in Melbourne’s Block Arcade, its glittering cake displays drawing visitors through arched glass doorways like a sweet spell. After closing abruptly in March 2020, the beloved institution has spent years quietly rebuilding at a new address—and while the full tea rooms remain under renovation, there’s now a working bakeshop where you can get a taste of what’s coming back.

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Established: 1892 · Original Location: Block Arcade, Melbourne CBD · Current Main Site: 421 Bourke Street (under renovation) · Bake Shop Address: 22 McKillop Street · Status: Renovation ongoing

Quick snapshot

1Current status
2History highlights
  • Founded in 1892 by the Victorian Ladies’ Work Association under Lady Hopetoun’s patronage (Australian Food Timeline)
  • 128-year run in Block Arcade ended 19 March 2020 (Hopetoun Tea Rooms Official About)
  • Renovated in Victorian style in 1976 with emerald and black William Morris-inspired wallpaper (Hopetoun Tea Rooms Official About)
3Visit now
  • Bake shop at 22 McKillop Street serves cakes and afternoon tea (Hopetoun Tea Rooms Official)
  • Check Instagram for renovation updates before visiting (Hopetoun Tea Rooms Official)
  • Full three-level tea rooms coming to 421 Bourke Street: ground floor, bookings-only high tea on level one, function room for 30 on level two (CBD News)
4What to watch
  • The Block Arcade site was taken over by the Cohen family and reopened as The Tea Rooms 1892 in December 2020 (Tripadvisor)
  • New owner Vikramjeet Singh brings a tea plantation background from India (Australian Food Timeline)
  • Renovations designed by Sydney-based Landini Associates (Commercial Real Estate)

Five key facts anchor the story of Melbourne’s most storied tea institution—from its 1892 founding to its current rebirth.

Fact Detail
Established 1892
Original site Block Arcade, Collins Street entrance
Closure in Block Arcade 19 March 2020
New address 421 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Bake shop 20-22 McKillop Street (opened July 2023)
Kozminsky Building year 1859
Current owner Vikramjeet Singh
Block Arcade successor The Tea Rooms 1892 (opened December 2020)

What has happened to Hopetoun Tea Rooms?

The pandemic delivered the final blow to a venue that had already been struggling with lease negotiations. Hopetoun Tea Rooms closed permanently in the Block Arcade on 19 March 2020, ending 128 years of operation in the heritage arcade (Hopetoun Tea Rooms Official About). The business entered receivership that same year after failing to resolve its landlord dispute.

Move from Block Arcade

Unable to stay in the Block Arcade, new owner Vikramjeet Singh—who had acquired the business through receivership—relocated to a historic building at 421 Bourke Street. Kozminsky Jewellers had occupied that address from 1975 until their relocation in 2018, vacating the heritage-listed three-storey structure built in 1859 (Hopetoun Tea Rooms Official About). The new location sits near the Bourke Street Mall, close to NAB headquarters and the Cbus Tower.

The catch

The original Block Arcade site didn’t stay vacant. The Cohen family, who own the arcade, launched their own tea rooms in December 2020 under the name The Tea Rooms 1892 at 282-284 Collins Street, claiming continuity with the 1892 founding tradition (The Tea Rooms 1892 Official).

Current renovation status

The main Hopetoun Tea Rooms at 421 Bourke Street are currently under renovation. When complete, the three-level space will feature a public tea rooms on the ground floor, bookings-only high tea on level one, and a function room accommodating 30 guests on level two (CBD News). Landini Associates, a Sydney-based architectural firm, is handling the design (Commercial Real Estate). The original timeline aimed for Easter 2021, but renovations have continued well past that target.

Bake shop alternative

For visitors eager to taste Hopetoun’s offerings today, the Bakeshop at 20-22 McKillop Street has been operational since July 2023 (CBD News). The fit-out was handled by Melbourne-based Raven Architects (Raven Architects). The bake shop offers online ordering for cakes and a selection of 24 teas, giving Melburnians a preview of what’s eventually coming to Bourke Street.

Bottom line: Hopetoun Tea Rooms left the Block Arcade in March 2020 and is rebuilding at 421 Bourke Street—but visitors can already get a taste at the McKillop Street bakeshop.

What are Hopetoun Tea Rooms famous for?

Hopetoun built its reputation on the ceremonial ritual of afternoon tea, served in a setting dripping with Victorian opulence. The venue’s famous cake displays—glass cases brimming with elaborate pastries—became an iconic Melbourne sight, drawing visitors who lingered over tiered stands of finger sandwiches, scones, and cream cakes.

Historic high tea tradition

The tradition traces back to 1892, when the Victorian Ladies’ Work Association established the venue under Lady Hopetoun’s patronage. The tea rooms were part of a broader charitable mission but quickly evolved into a destination for Melbourne’s polite society. Tea was measured, scones were fresh, and etiquette mattered—rules that persist in formal afternoon tea service today.

Classic cakes and scones

Hopetoun’s counter displays became its calling card: towers of strawberry cream cakes, Victorian sponge slices, and freshly baked scones with clotted cream. The emerald and black William Morris-inspired wallpaper installed during a 1976 renovation reinforced the Victorian fantasy, turning each visit into a step back in time (Hopetoun Tea Rooms Official About).

Melbourne icon since 1892

The venue’s longevity made it a touchstone of Melbourne’s cultural identity. CBD News described the bakeshop relaunch as “captivating Melburnians once again” at its new CBD home (CBD News). Whether the fully renovated Bourke Street space can recapture that magic remains to be seen.

Hopetoun Tea Rooms History

The story of Hopetoun Tea Rooms is inseparable from the story of the Block Arcade itself—a heritage shopping gallery constructed in 1892 in one of Melbourne’s earliest land sales, negotiated by Henry Batman.

Origins in 1892

The Victorian Ladies’ Work Association established the original tea rooms in 1892, patroned by Lady Hopetoun, after whom the venue was eventually named. The Ladies’ Association disbanded in 1907, but the tea rooms continued under their chosen name (The Tea Rooms 1892 Official). Hopetoun moved into the arcade’s current quarters in 1907 and remained there through more than a century of Melbourne’s history.

Block Arcade era

The Block Arcade hosted four tea rooms in 1894, but Hopetoun outlasted them all. The venue survived world wars, economic fluctuations, and shifting café culture to become one of the few remaining institutions of Melbourne’s Victorian golden age. The 1976 Victorian-style renovation—emerald wallpaper, gilt mirrors, ornate dado rails—cemented the venue’s theatrical atmosphere (Wikipedia).

Recent changes

COVID-19 and a failed lease negotiation ended the Block Arcade chapter in March 2020. The Cohen family, who own the arcade, subsequently opened The Tea Rooms 1892 in December 2020, maintaining the tradition at the original address (Tripadvisor). Meanwhile, Hopetoun’s new chapter began taking shape at Bourke Street, with the bakeshop opening in July 2023 as a bridge between the old and the new.

“The iconic Hopetoun Tea Rooms, renowned for its enchanting cake displays, is captivating Melbournians once again at its new CBD home.”

— CBD News

Hopetoun Tea Rooms Menu and Afternoon Tea

Afternoon tea at Hopetoun has always been a per-person affair—a fixed-price set that arrives on tiered stands, eaten with the ritual finger sandwich at the bottom and the richest cake at the top. While the full menu for the renovated Bourke Street venue hasn’t been released, the bakeshop offers a preview of what the brand stands for.

High tea options

Afternoon tea sets at Hopetoun include a selection of finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with clotted cream and jam, and a rotating selection of cakes and pastries. Tea service centers on a curated menu of loose-leaf varieties—the bakeshop currently offers 24 different teas online (Hopetoun Tea Rooms Official).

What’s included

The classic afternoon tea set typically includes two tiers: savory fillings (cucumber and cream cheese, smoked salmon, egg and cress) on the bottom tier, and scones with clotted cream and fruit preserves alongside mini cakes on the top. The experience emphasizes ceremony over quantity—visitors are expected to linger.

The upshot

Afternoon tea etiquette at Hopetoun traditionally frowns on rushing through the meal. The order of eating—savory to sweet, from bottom to top of the stand—is part of the ritual. Dress codes have historically been smart casual, though jeans are generally acceptable for the more relaxed bakeshop setting.

Pricing per person

Exact pricing for the renovated Bourke Street venue hasn’t been confirmed. Historical afternoon tea at the Block Arcade location typically ran between AUD $45–$65 per person for a full set, with premium upgrades available. The bakeshop at McKillop Street offers individual cakes and pastries at lower price points, providing an accessible entry point while renovations continue.

Hopetoun Tea Rooms Location and Opening Hours

The Hopetoun brand now operates across two addresses in Melbourne’s CBD—the bakeshop you can visit today, and the main venue still taking shape on Bourke Street.

New location details

The main Hopetoun Tea Rooms are planned for 421 Bourke Street, a heritage-listed three-storey building constructed in 1859 (Hopetoun Tea Rooms Official About). The address places the venue near the Bourke Street Mall, a short walk from Melbourne’s major tram interchanges and retail district.

Opening hours

The Bake Shop at 20-22 McKillop Street operates during standard CBD business hours, with online ordering available through the official website. The main tea rooms at Bourke Street have not announced a reopening date as renovations continue.

What to watch

The original Easter 2021 target for the Bourke Street opening has long passed, and no revised date has been publicly confirmed. Visitors should check the official website or Instagram before planning a trip to the main address.

How to visit now

The most reliable way to experience Hopetoun today is the Bake Shop at 20-22 McKillop Street. Online ordering allows pickup of cakes and teas without visiting in person. For visitors who want the full Victorian atmosphere, The Tea Rooms 1892 in the Block Arcade offers a heritage experience maintained by the arcade’s owners—though it is a separate business from Hopetoun.

Bottom line: The Bake Shop at 20-22 McKillop Street is your only option for Hopetoun today—order ahead online or walk in during business hours.

Confirmed facts

  • Hopetoun closed in Block Arcade on 19 December 2020
  • New address is 421 Bourke Street, Melbourne
  • Bake Shop opened July 2023 at McKillop Street
  • Vikramjeet Singh acquired the business post-receivership
  • The Tea Rooms 1892 opened in Block Arcade December 2020

What’s unclear

  • No confirmed reopening date for main Bourke Street venue
  • Full menu for renovated tea rooms not released
  • Current 2024 renovation status beyond “ongoing”
  • Pricing structure for high tea at new location

“Now they’ve settled on the lovely historic Kozminsky building and are taking over all the space over three levels.”

— Commercial Real Estate

For Melburnians who remember queuing past the emerald wallpaper for a slice of Victoria sponge, the wait for Hopetoun’s full return has been long. The Bake Shop offers a bridge—but the real test comes when those three levels of Bourke Street tea rooms finally open their doors.

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Frequently asked questions

Is afternoon tea charged per person?

Yes, afternoon tea at Hopetoun is traditionally priced as a per-person set menu rather than shared plates. The fixed-price format includes multiple courses served on tiered stands.

What’s the best way to approach the tiered service at Hopetoun?

The proper approach is to work from the bottom tier to the top, savoring the progression from savory to sweet. Using fingers for finger sandwiches and the correct hand for scones maintains the tradition.

What is proper afternoon tea etiquette at Hopetoun?

Rushing through the meal is the primary breach of afternoon tea etiquette. The ritual assumes leisurely service—you work from the bottom tier to the top, savoring the progression from savory to sweet.

Can I wear jeans to afternoon tea?

Smart casual is the traditional dress code, and jeans are generally acceptable at Hopetoun, particularly at the more relaxed Bake Shop setting. The full tea rooms at Bourke Street may reintroduce a more formal dress expectation when they reopen.

Where is the Bake Shop located?

The Hopetoun Bake Shop is located at 20-22 McKillop Street, Melbourne (corner of Bourke and McKillop), just a short walk from the planned main venue at 421 Bourke Street.

What happened to the Block Arcade location?

Hopetoun vacated the Block Arcade in March 2020 due to the pandemic and failed lease negotiations. The Cohen family, who own the arcade, subsequently opened The Tea Rooms 1892 at 282-284 Collins Street in December 2020—a separate business that maintains the tea room tradition at the original address.