Review: Hammam Tea Room at Publika, Solaris Dutamas

One of KL’s most alluring new F&B attractions, Hammam Tea Room is a hidden oasis in Publika that’s intricately crafted to evoke old-fashioned Casablancan charm, complete with temptations personally prepared by Moroccan chefs.

This tea room opened this month, nestled beside the Hammam Spa on the upper reaches of Publika. For now, it feels like the perfect place to evade the crowds while soaking in a serene setting festooned with lamps, paintings & lovely wall & window art.

Set Meals

Hammam Tea Room’s soft-launch selection comprises set meals, with an a la carte menu expected to be launched after Ramadan.

Starters

Customers can have a two-course meal for RM45 or three courses for RM68; start with this Moroccan salad medley, featuring three types of enjoyably delicate-tasting salads.

Grilled chicken wings, satisfyingly juicy, made flavoursome with lime & the North African ‘ras el hanout’ spice mix.

Another possible starter: Seafood pastilla, a doughy pie with bits of fish, shrimp, calamari, black mushrooms & rice vermicelli with lemon-based tomato sauce.

Main Course

The main courses are the knock-out; very hearty & meaty. Two could share the lamb, admirably succulent, with couscous & seven vegetables.

Tired of regular baked eggs at KL’s cafes? Head to Hammam Tea Room, where you can have your runny yolk shakshuka-style instead, expertly executed in a ‘tajine’ earthenware pot with tangy beef kofta, plus flatbread to mop up the creaminess.

This one’s brilliant for lamb-lovers: A heap of shank meat, slow-cooked with lemon & lots of saffron, lending the unmistakable flavour & fragrance that ravishingly permeates every bit of the flesh & sauce.

Dessert

Wrap up with baklava, not as sugary as some other versions, but a fine sweet finish to a savoury meal.

Tea and Other Beverages

What about the tea? Hammam Tea Room boasts distinctive varieties; the most traditional is the classic Moroccan mint tea, a blend of gunpowder tea, mint, thyme & sage, paired with excellent natural-tasting honey. RM12.

Hand of Fatima ‘protection tea,’ a healing brew with ginger, lemon & echinacea. A taste of rejuvenation.

For breaking of the fast: Mini-smoothie of creamy avocado & crushed dried dates, a real pleasure.

Banania, the French chocolate beverage with banana flour for a fruity boost. RM12.50, served hot or cold.

Final Thoughts

The food at Hammam Tea Room is beautifully spiced for plenty of nuances. A terrific alternative for folks seeking a different sort of brunch.

Hammam Tea Room currently operates all day long, everyday, with last orders by 9 p.m. Service is sparkling here, ranking among the best at Solaris Dutamas; we visited incognito as walk-in customers on a weekday afternoon & were efficiently & warmly treated from start to finish.

Location and Operating Hours

Hammam Spa & Tea Room

Level G4, Publika, Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur. Take the escalator up from the centre. Hammam is two floors above MPH, one floor above Swich Cafe.

Tel: 03-6201-0882

View Hammam Spa & Tea Room’s directory page here.

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