Bala’s Scones at Bala’s Tea Haven (Jim Thompson’s Tea Room) in Cameron Highlands

 

Perched within the verdant grounds of Bala’s Holiday Chalet in Tanah Rata, Bala’s Tea Haven, also known as Jim Thompson’s Tea Room, exudes old-world British charm. Housed in a mock‑Tudor cottage built in 1935, the venue offers cosy indoor seating and a peaceful garden terrace surrounded by buzzing flora and fluttering songbirds 

Set in a lush garden, the venue gives guests a serene escape—complete with bird song and English tea‑time ambiance. The tearoom’s décor features mismatched bone china, rattan furniture, and a timeless, colonial-era feel .

Bala’s Tea Haven offers perhaps the most quintessential scones and tea experience in Cameron Highlands—rich in ambiance and nostalgia. While the price may be on the higher side and serving sizes modest, it delivers a delightful blend of fine baking, scenic surroundings, and colonial charm. A rainy-day visit here encapsulates the perfect Highland teatime.

🍰 The Scones Experience

What Makes Them Special: Warm, soft, and flaky, the freshly baked scones are served with dollops of clotted cream (or whipping cream) and homemade strawberry jam. Served traditionally—2 scones plus a pot of highland tea—typically priced RM32 per set. 

Bala’s Holiday Chalet is housed in a 1930s English colonial-style building, once a British school. Visitors are invited to sit either inside by the windows, soaking in the nostalgic atmosphere, or outside under the trees, surrounded by nature and cool highland breezes.

The tea garden and Tudor-style building are Instagram-worthy from every angle. Inside, vintage decor, lace curtains, and patterned china make for elegant food shots and moody highland portraits. If you're lucky, you’ll catch the sun breaking through the mist, casting golden light over your teapot.

🍰 Introducing Tea & Scones

At some point after taking over, Mr. Bala (K. Balakrishnan) introduced homemade scones and tea as part of a vision to “bring a touch of Britain to Malaysia”. His offerings — freshly baked scones with cream and jam for 45 years, served in the garden tearoom — gained prominence and were even featured in Malaysia Airlines’ in-flight magazine as “the best in the highlands”.