Rita MacNeil’s Tea Room in Big Pond, Cape Breton

Locals and travellers alike wait for the Big Pond music festival every July to hear fiddlers play. I wasn’t in Cape Breton in July, so I went to Big Pond for a completely different reason: the Rita MacNeil Tea Room (8077 Highway 4, 902-828-2667).

Right along highway 4, I just kept driving until the signs started popping up for the tearoom. It’s set up as an attraction for those who are Rita MacNeil fans. But the significance is that Rita actually lived here with her children after it had functioned as a one room schoolhouse, built in 1939.

The interior now has a warm atmosphere filled with Rita MacNeil’s music, a gift shop, lots of photos and a quaint little tearoom. It serves Rita’s Tea Room Blend Tea to guests and, in the off season when the café part is closed, you can still have a complimentary cup while browsing.

Light meals are also available in the tearoom, like soups, sandwiches, quiche, pie and homemade desserts. Of course, there’s also a lovely tea selection.  

What I Liked:

• Step inside and all is warm and exactly what I thought Cape Breton would be like: friendly, down to earth and good people.
• The tearoom was closed when I went, but the room is decorated in country furnishings and is very cozy.
• If you’re a fan of Rita MacNeil, you can buy her music, see photos and awards she won, and just revel in the hospitable atmosphere.

Tags: Big Pond, Big Pond music, canada, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Rita MacNeil, Rita MacNeil fans, Tea Room