Rosefinch Mercantile & Tea Room

08/12/2026

No food photography awards for us this morning, but plenty of deliciousness for you!!

Our customers have been raving about Annanda's soups, especially the red lentil one! And Haritha's ham and cheese sandwiches on Izzy's focaccia bread have been flying out of the fridge as quickly as he can make them (which is why this is the only pic we have of one).

Izzy also did a ton of baking into the wee hours of the morning, so we've got all kinds of their imaginative sweets and savouries down there, including a very dreamy chocolate chip marshallow cookie.

Come by for a meal or a snack, and to wish Carly a happy 17th birthday!! We'll save you a seat!

08/11/2026

For the last month we've been trying to get our insurance company to let us put this adorable airplane teeter totter in our backyard.

Great news! One dozen emails later, we finally got permission.

It might take us a little while to get it assembled and installed and the new policy signed off on, but we're so excited.

Now we just have to decide where the best place in the backyard is to put it!. Suggestions welcome!!

08/09/2026

I love this interview! I sincerely recommend skipping my long-winded answers (everyone has already heard too much from me), and just reading what Haritha has to say.

My favourite quote from him:
"A few weeks ago, someone was here with their dad. They were talking with whoever was working behind the counter about cute little small town stuff, and the dad just really wanted to talk to someone about his new 4Runner. I was in the kitchen, and I heard him trying to talk about it, and I said, 'I’m gonna take this one for the team.' He was just so stoked to find someone who knew even vaguely what he was talking about. It’s really funny when I'm the manliest person in the room. I’m like, 'Please don’t let him ask me too many questions about sports now. If I take off this apron, he’s going to see my shirt emblazoned with cats.'"

An interview with the couple behind Rosefinch Mercantile, a café combating loneliness in small-town Nova Scotia.

08/08/2026

I talk a lot about how nice it is for us to see our space through the eyes of others. Here is a view we don't often get, though. This drawing was done by a lovely camper guest, who stayed here with his wife and children for a couple of nights.

Book your own stay here: http://rosefinch.co/camper

They found out about us by searching "hidden gems Nova Scotia", which is so great to hear. They planned their entire two week trip to Nova Scotia around their nights in our camper, and were so thrilled to be here. Their enthusiasm was such a joy!

Big thanks to Marc for sketching this imagine then sending it to us!! ♥️

08/08/2026

I remember being obsessed with Suttles and Seawinds the first time I lived in Nova Scotia. It's so fun to see that they have posted a travel guide to Port Medway. I hope it brings lots of their customers to our village!

This summer, we’re embarking on an adventure through the stunning towns and attractions of Nova Scotia's South Shore. From charming local eateries and iconic lighthouses to picturesque beaches and cozy B&Bs, join us as we uncover the reasons we take such pride in calling this beautiful place h...

08/07/2026

The Bookmobile will be in Port Medway today, parked next door to Rosefinch Mercantile from 1:45 to 2:45. Here are eight reasons to come check it out!

1. It is an entire library that drives itself to you! It's hard to explain how cool it is in there. You have to climb the steps and see for yourself.

2. We had incredible turnout last time, and we'd love to keep that momentum. Let's show South Shore Public Libraries that bringing the Bookmobile to Port Medway is the right call.

3. A library card is free, and you can get one right there. If you have been meaning to sort this out for a couple of years, this is a very low-effort day to finally do it.

4. The Bookmobile is the front door to the whole South Shore system, so if they don't have the thing you want, they can bring it next time.

5. Our backyard is a beautiful place to spend time. Poke around the greenhouse, and bring your books to the hammock under the apple tree.

6. We've got lattes (and more)! A dreamy tea or coffee photographs beautifully next to a stack of books you're pleased with.

7. You can return the books that have been living in your car since June. Nobody is going to say a word to you about it. (I am talking to myself here as much as to anyone else.)

8. You can do your post office errand while you're here and then spend the rest of the day feeling like a person who has their life together. Which, for the record, you do.

08/06/2026

Our friend Stacy sent us this old picture of our store, though it's not quite as old as her dress makes it seem! It's from 2002, when the building was known as "Ameena's Port Store".

Also that year: Port Medway Lighthouse Park officially opened in October 2002, Liverpool’s Astor Theatre celebrated its 100th birthday, average rent in the Region of Queens was $457, and Queens County had just 11,723 residents according to the 2001 Census!

Some other highlights from the whole province:

John Hamm was Premier
Nova Scotia had approximately 943,500 residents
Provincial minimum wage was $5.80 an hour
Elliot Page was in Marion Bridge + Trailer Park Boys
Halifax hosted the G7 finance ministers

What were you up to in 2002??

08/05/2026

We have much beautiful food today thanks to a late night baking shift by . Their lemon and orange thumbprint cookies are so pretty I feel borderline emotional about it. They've also made "everything bagel" cream cheese rolls, sausage sweet pepper and scallion breakfast muffins, as well as two kinds of scones: gouda & green onion, and nectarine & honey.

We really are lucky to have such an incredible crew here! And lucky to have so many positive folks who come in here every day and let us know how special this place is.

Come see for yourself at 1615 Port Medway Road! And check out the Medway Head Lighthouse while you are here! It's a lovely drive down Long Cove Road, and on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday you can climb to the top for stunning views!

08/04/2026

When we decided to start serving our tiered trays of scones, sweets and savouries, Shalisa made sure we knew to call it Afternoon Tea. Not High Tea, no matter how much grander that might sound!

Shalisa was, of course, correct. And the only person whose approval I was thinking of more was my beloved Welsh grandmother Betty. She has been gone for a long time, but I still don't want to let her down. So Afternoon Tea it is!

Despite the meal’s aristocratic roots, we never wanted ours to feel exclusive. We’ve worked hard to keep it as affordable as we can, so as many people as possible can experience the delight of of teapots, tiny treats and good company. (And truly we aren't fussed about what you call it!)

Click through for a little history lesson, then book your own at http://rosefinch.co/tea 🫖