Looking for the perfect escape after a long day? It’s time to experience the beauty of afternoon tea — reimagined with global flair.Pariza Mehta, co-owner of Latin Social and Ambli Kitchen + Bar alongside Ricardo Morffin and Kelly Morrison, has you covered. The team is known for delivering vibra nt, globally inspired menus at their flagship Ambli locations in Colorado Springs and Denver. Now at Latin Social, their newest addition to the city’s dining scene, they invite guests to slow down with Tapas Teatime, a Turkish-style tea experience layered with Mediterranean flavors.Latin Social is a sleek, ultra-modern space designed to evoke the warm hospitality found in countries lining the Mediterranean Coast — France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Turkey.“The majority of these countries share connections because of the Latin origin of their languages and the romance between food, family and culture,” Mehta said. “We wanted to capture that vibe.”Turkey, along with other Mediterranean destinations, is one of Mehta’s favorite stops in her wide-ranging travels. Tapas Teatime draws heavily from her family’s monthlong adventures abroad and from a childhood spent living in England, where she developed a lifelong love of afternoon tea.“For the past 10 years our family has taken trips to places like Spain, France, Portugal and Turkey,” she said. “I’ve been to Turkey three — maybe four — times. We’ve always gone to places with a similar culture of welcoming family and friends. In Turkey and in India, tea is always the first thing offered. I want to create that same warmth and hospitality in our restaurant.”During her most recent extended stay in Turkey, Mehta immersed herself in the country’s storied tea rituals — from mastering the multi-chamber teapot to understanding the meaning behind offering a cup of hot, deeply amber-colored çay (Turkish for tea). She returned with gleaming copper teapots, elaborate trays, delicate tulip-shaped glass cups and premium tea blends — everything needed to deliver an authentic Turkish-style presentation.In Turkey, tea is more than a beverage; it’s a welcome, a pause, an invitation to linger. Latin Social aims to bring that spirit home.“We — my team and I — are all in for giving our dining guests the best experience,” Mehta said. “The team appreciates what we co-owners are building at Latin Social. We’re creating an elevated style of service and hospitality. We’re also saying, ‘Welcome to our home.’”For the tea service, Morffin, executive chef at Latin Social and the Ambli restaurants, has crafted a small but thoughtful lineup of tapas inspired by Mediterranean regions. The dishes rotate monthly and weekly, encouraging guests to return and explore new combinations of flavors alongside the lightly brewed tea.“Ricardo is very talented,” Mehta said. “He takes an ordinary Mediterranean dish — like hummus, traditionally made with white sesame — and reimagines it with black sesame seeds. He then complements it with with traditional hummus, along with pomegranates, garlic paste and a fresh cucumber salad to create a modern, elevated dish.”She wasn’t overselling it. At a recent tasting, the glossy black hummus appeared alongside the seekh kebab tapa — a vibrant, unexpectedly rich partner to the minced steak kebab.Tapas Teatime features five or six “tapas snacks,” and the weekly rotation highlights flavors from across the globe: Week 1 Week 5: Turkey and Indonesia Week 2: Latin America Week 3: Italy and France Week 4: Greece and Spain“The rotation will repeat, but the dishes and flavors will change,” Mehta said. “And we will always have several cocktails each week’s theme to pair with the featured cuisines.”Just as much care has gone into the atmosphere. From the moment you push open the heavy, ornate wooden doors, you’re transported into a refined, inviting space. A dramatic chandelier draws the eye upward to soaring ceilings. Below it, a large horseshoe-shaped bar anchors the dining room, surrounded by plush booths, intimate tables, cozy sofas and low-back chairs. An open mezzanine offers additional lounge-style seating — perfect for relaxing with a book, journal or long conversation over tea. It’s a warm, stylish setting designed to help guests slow down.If you’ve been craving a moment of escape, Latin Social has the kettle on and the welcome ready. Step inside, sip slowly and let Tapas Teatime carry you far from the everyday. Latin Social on Tejon Street in Colorado Springs on December 4, 2025. (The Gazette, Michael G. Seamans) Latin Social on Tejon Street in Colorado Springs on December 4, 2025. (The Gazette, Michael G. Seamans) Latin Social on Tejon Street in Colorado Springs on December 4, 2025. (The Gazette, Michael G. Seamans) Latin Social on Tejon Street in Colorado Springs on December 4, 2025. (The Gazette, Michael G. Seamans) Latin Social on Tejon Street in Colorado Springs on December 4, 2025. (The Gazette, Michael G. Seamans) Latin Social on Tejon Street in Colorado Springs on December 4, 2025. (The Gazette, Michael G. Seamans) Latin Social on Tejon Street in Colorado Springs on December 4, 2025. (The Gazette, Michael G. Seamans) Latin Social on Tejon Street in Colorado Springs on December 4, 2025. (The Gazette, Michael G. Seamans) Latin Social on Tejon Street in Colorado Springs on December 4, 2025. (The Gazette, Michael G. Seamans) ...read more read less