White Heather Tea Room is the highest rated Afternoon Tea in Victoria and came highly recommended…read moreon social media. We decided to visit for the special meal of our recent trip to Victoria, making a reservation at opening on a Thursday morning. It turns out in the off season a reservation isn't necessary - it never got too full during our 2 hours lounging around and slowly nibbling on food and sipping on tea. The staff are exceptionally pleasant and attentive, constantly refilling teapots and checking on customers. I especially love that when they bring out the tiered tray, they automatically ask for a phone to take a photo! Signature Muckle Tea ($66 CAD per person) - This firstly comes with three tea choices. Given how Brits traditionally drink tea (e.g. with a lot of sugar and cream), we were a bit skeptical with how this afternoon tea would work. We wanted three vastly different types of non-blended teas (ideally a selection of green, black, white, oolong, and puerh). White Heather does serve the first three types of tea. We figured black teas would be safest given brewing temperatures and times. Pai Mu Tan - Very, very subtle flavor. In fact I would say that even after several minutes of brew time, it only tastes like boiled water with slight astringency. But then after another couple of minutes becomes exceptionally astringent and very difficult to drink. A very finicky tea that probably isn't a good choice for afternoon tea. Orange Pekoe - Strong bold malty flavor without much in terms of fruitiness. Does become quite astringent as it becomes more overbrewed, but it takes a while before getting to that point (we also lifted the tea bags as much as possible out of the water to prevent overbrewing in the first place) Sencha - Exceptionally grassy fragrance making it very pleasant to drink. It holds up very well and never becomes too astringent or unpleasant. Surprising given how bitter it gets at home when I brew it at too high temperatures or for too long. Second brew doesn't give much flavor though. Given how many bites came on the three layer tower, I'll only be giving sparknotes rather than my usual full analysis. The waitress recommended eating from bottom tier up. Plain Scone + Raisin Scone - Both exceptionally fluffy and tender, easy to split in half. Served nice and warm with cream, lemon curd, and berry jam. Cheese Croustades - Interestingly different colors on the shell, one being much darker than the other. Both tastes and textures are the same though, being flaky but very hard and almost crunchy. Inside is a cheese mixture, tasting mostly of cheddar with mayo (similar to pimento cheese sans pimento). Some slivers of almonds on top. Mini Quiche - Really soft and buttery tart filled with sun dried tomato and topped with red bell pepper and what seems to be ricotta cheese, although given it's quiche is probably egg. Ham Pinwheel - Simple ham salad flecked with celery, red bell pepper, and pickles on flattened and rolled up sandwich bread. Not salty. Egg Salad Pinwheel - Similar to above, but with egg salad and pimento stuffed olives. The olive gives a welcome hit of salinity. Salmon Sconewich - Really sweet, possibly brown sugar glazed smoked salmon in a somewhat cheesy herbaly scone, tender and spread with cream cheese. Too sweet for a savory dish in my opinion, even with the stuffed olive on top. Cucumber Sandwich - Double decker sandwich, thinly sliced cucumber, tangy cream cheese spread on rye. Soft and fluffy, cucumber almost melts in the mouth. Chocolate Mousse - Delightfully rich and thick, definitely a high quality chocolate mouse given the texture and depth of chocolate flavor, graced with half a raspberry. At this point I was so stuffed that I couldn't eat another bite. I left the rest of the desserts for later (ended up eating them for dinner). Macaron - Really sweet and raspberry fruity, super soft, fingers easily break the surface with a light touch. Raspberry jam in the center of an Earl Grey cream, very sweet so my first few bites I couldn't get the bergamot flavor, but it comes out eating the frosting in isolation. Carrot Cake - Super dense, moist crumb with plenty of carrot flavor and some crushed walnut to break things up. Not too sweet. Tangy whipped cream cheese topping, light not heavy. Caramel Mini Cupcake - Denser bake but moist crumb, tastes more like vanilla than caramel to me. The cream on top perhaps has a hint of caramel? At least, it doesn't seem to be straight sugar. Lemon Tart - Super soft pastry shell with the same lemon curd as with the scones, then topped with cream. Scottish Shortbread - Very crumbly and buttery sweet dessert. Rich and delicious. I'm at the character limit so I'll just say this - White Heather gives a fantastic Afternoon Tea experience. It's a splurge that I certainly think was worth taking. Bathrooms - Two unisex rooms

The staff were very friendly, and generally service was good…read more The interior is well decorated, but there's no hiding the fact that it's on a busy street, making it one of the tea rooms with the least interesting views. Good selection of tea and it was fine. They seemed average, not bad, but don't really stand out either. I appreciated that they had a variety of choices for food including a gluten-free option. The quality of food was again okay. Nothing was bad, but nothing was great either. They toast the bread for the sandwiches is I personally don't like because by the time you get to it, it's cooled down, so it's a little hard without being freshly toasted. It's also a bit messy to eat open faced sandwiches that have a fair amount of toppings. Afternoon tea is not supposed to be messy. Overall, not bad, but also there are better places.

This place has it all, excellent service, great facility, small touches that are too numerous do go…read moreover and, to top it off, the quality of the product was hands down superior to the tea at Empress. The small setting brings something to this place too, hard to explain but it makes it nice. We taxi'ed from downtown for just a few bucks and walked back, easy stuff. We can't recommend this place more highly. Go!! The gardens are not spectacular at the moment due to the time of the year but we could see that when in season, it would be amazing. GO! What are you waiting for.

The gardens were fantastic! Well maintained with close in trails that give it a very close in…read moresecret garden feel. There is also a trail suitable for wheelchairs and other assistive devices. This is not a really large garden, but very well designed and laid out. The variety of species is fantastic and the flowering blossoms are everywhere. The tea itself is a different story as I'm a bit of a tea snob. There are no menus or choices for sandwiches or type of tea. I found the tea sandwiches to be dry and stale bread. Being a tea snob, I also prefer private seatings instead of 8 strangers at a table all reaching into the same tower of sandwiches for choices you didn't get to make. Non Europeans just don't understand the finer points of tea. This 'European seating' of strangers sharing a table works for western ideas of pubs, not for an afternoon tea. Five stars for the garden. 2 stars for the stale sandwiches and tepid unknown tea with no cozies or leaves strainers or spoons or choices...

A well established staple, I knew I had to have tea here on my recent trip to Victoria. The hotel…read moreis an architectural gem, and and even though the tea is in a lobby, it still achieves a polished feel. The tea selection is compelling and my choice, the rose congou emperor, was stellar. The sandwhiches and pastries were all quite high quality. However, where the tea really raises the bar is in the service itself. Our server was friendly, welcoming, and informative. It really lent an extra level of special to the whole experience.

Good experience to try one time but I don't see myself doing it again. This is the iconic tourist…read moreactivity to do in Victoria - afternoon tea at the Fairmont Empress. It can be a bit spendy as it starts at CA$109 per person before tax and tip - at least for me I allocated the entire $100 USD dining credit with the Amex fine hotels and resorts benefit on this. Reservations are almost mandatory for weekend and I'm glad I made one just in case, although it was rather risky due to the 48 hour cancellation policy if I fly in the morning of, but it worked out. They're strict on time - I made a 12pm reservation and they refused to seat me even though it was not busy at all at 11am opening and made me wait until exactly 12pm. A bit harsh when I contacted the hotel and made a note to the restaurant for my arrival details. I got the traditional afternoon tea for 1 so just tea and 3 tiers of scones, small bites, and desserts. It was quite nice of them to refill the entire tier of savory small bites even though I only requested 3, so that was a nice touch that somewhat made up the poor first impression. You can request more of certain items for free, just don't abuse the system basically The food with the 1 tier refill was more than enough food for me - the service was decent as they checked up on me during the meal. I nicely asked for the tea gift box that is only reserved for anniversaries and they accommodated, but this will almost unlikely happen in many situations so your mileage may vary. I did wait 20 minutes for the gift box as it wasn't a priority for them, so do what you will to see if it is worth the time (I at least was not in a rush)

An amazing amusement park full of tea!…read more I've never seen so many teas offered, with such an outstanding variety and creativity of tea blends. Even if tea is not your cup of tea you can't help but be amazed with Murchies. There's plenty of coffee varieties as well as very nice accessories and gifts...and that's just the retail area. The tea, coffee, bakery treats, plus breakfast and lunch items are extensive. The specialty tea and coffee drink creations are truly inspired. Deliciousness awaits you at Murchie's.

Have always loved visiting Murchies on every visit to Victoria. However, this time my visit was not…read moreso pleasant. We were there on a not so busy Thursday afternoon for a quick afternoon snack and tea. I ordered a bruschetta and mom ordered a blueberry tart and we both ordered earl Grey tea. As soon as we set our trays and was about to eat, we noticed a mouse running through the seating area (fairly without fear, probably in search of food). I immediately lost my appetite. However because I was starving I took a bite of my bruschetta. It tasted hard as a rock. The blueberry tart though was pretty good, mildly sweet and perfect. However couldn't really spend a lot of time here since the mouse was running around even with all the tables being filled with humans.

Ahhh what a beautiful garden over 100 years old!…read more The feeling I got walking in and seeing the sunken garden for the first time really felt like something straight out of the book "the secret garden". Expansive, exciting to explore the different paths and the abundance of daffodils and beautiful flowers was such a dream. We spent some time walking through the gardens and the grounds also took afternoon tea at their restaurant. Really beautiful experience with fresh orchids near the window and the beautiful greenhouse setting on a drizzly day felt so enchanting. Thank you garden staff for taking such good care of the place and making it so beautiful!

As a former British colony, afternoon tea in Canada should not be missed…read more You do not need to go to a fancy hotel or pay almost $100 or more per person to get the full experience of this cherished British custom. Even surrounded by the beauty of the rose garden on one side and the Italian garden on the other side, tea at the Dining Room outdoor patio was a reasonable 52.50CAD = $38.12 per person. English trifle, ginger scone with strawberry preserve and clotted cream, savory sandwiches and delicacies, homemade sweets and a pot each of Butchart Garden exclusive Bachelor Button and Teaberry Blend, this tea for two was enough for four. We were lucky arriving after the lunch rush so was able to get a seat even without reservations since it was a last-minute decision passing by when we were hungry. Would recommend making reservations if this a must do for you.

Afternoon tea's pretty fun to have…read more I went here with family as part of our Victoria trip with our reservation at around 12pm PST on a Saturday. The place was not too full when we got in, though all window seating overlooking Belleville Street was taken, so we got seating closer to one of their glass windows on the side. For the interior, it feels like a newly renovated mini dining hall but with a ton of natural lighting from a sunny day. There's also some front and porch seating too if the inside feels way too dim. The menu provides several kinds of tea sets, which come with everything listed for that set and a tea of your choice. Speaking of the tea, there's two pages dedicated to listing the numerous kinds of organic tea they have, mostly herbal and green tea. For four of us, we got two orders of the traditional afternoon tea ($65 each) and one order of the west coast afternoon tea ($69). Between the two sets, only the savory items were slightly different while the pastries and sweets were the same. Starting off with the teas: - The mystique has a mild taste of both peppermint and calendula. It was as minty as it was earthy and bitter. - The angelwater was far more spearminty than it was lavendery even though the tea had both. This was the most refreshing palette cleanser when I wanted to try the savory stuff after having the sweet stuff. - The philosopher's brew was my favorite. It reminded me of lemon ginger tea which I drink frequently. Both are citrusy though this tea had a lot more lavender taste going for it. There's a lot to describe for the afternoon tea sets we got: - Both sets came with a smoked salmon pastry that was easily one of my favorites. The texture of the bread that surrounded the salmon was absolute perfection. - Both the cucumber and egg/herb sandwiches were very standard but something about the place made them taste a lot more relaxing, probably because it's afternoon tea and it's supposed to be relaxing. - The shrimp and citrus sandwich felt more like another egg sandwich, which wasn't a problem for me. - Both kinds of scones worked well with the provided jam and cream. - Our set had matcha and strawberry macarons, which were pretty standard. Same goes for the creme brulee tart and chocolate brownie. - My other favorite was the summer berry tiramisu, which was mildly sweet while also having that mild coffee kick that wasn't as accentuated because of the frosting. This place is listed as a must for those visiting Victoria BC, and from this visit I can see why. On a bright, sunny day you can see some great views while having all of the aforementioned bites. Very high recommend!

I was so hesitant because I'm usually not your typical posh preppy person but I felt SO welcome and…read moreat home in the Tea House they had amazing tea and an experience beyond any other, truly warm and wonderful staff and amazing food on the ground level. I felt so silly for assuming such a nice hotel would judge. They didn't judge one bit. I have to mention that Megan who was at the front desk at the early morning hours, while I was wide awake due to jet lag, was my favorite human ever. Everything was super pretty in the building (I am ww solo traveler). If you are hesitant for any reason to eat here, don't hesitate in the future!

A small place with an even smaller crew churning out delicious plates and lattes (both coffee and…read moretea) left and right! Loved the veggie forward meals and the bacon and sausage add ons were fantastic! They have local makes for sale in their back cafe and I didn't taste anything of our plates and drinks that wasn't fresh and flavorful. Will add to our "To Do in Victoria every time" list

In a house that's old but oh so sweet, Nourish serves up…read morebrunch that's hard to beat. From cashew cheese on warm seeded bread, To risotto that's perfect and so well-spread. The kale salad with beets is a delight, Healthy and fresh, it's pure food bliss, right? With cashew cheesecake that's smooth and divine, Each bite is a treasure, a flavor so fine. But it's not just the food that'll win you over, It's the service that's warm and oh so proper. Chris, our waiter, made us feel like kings, As we dined on dishes that made our hearts sing. So come to this spot by the harbor's edge, Where heritage meets nourishment--let's pledge! For food that's fresh and flavors that last, Nourish Kitchen & Cafe's simply the best!

i'd been really looking forward to checking out jaga silk, and finally got the chance on a friday…read morebetween noon and 4:00 pm, their only open hours each week. tucked away in nootka court at 633 courtney street, just steps from the victoria bug zoo, this café has a reputation for its maccha milled right here in victoria. they also supply their teas to other cafés, host tastings and workshops, so there's clearly a strong focus on the craft and quality. i got there around 12:05 pm, and there was already a couple seated at the bar with two more people ahead of me. not surprisingly, a steady stream followed soon after, the kind of quiet rush you'd expect from a place that opens just four hours a week. the space feels warm and rustic, shelves lined with teacups, maccha bowls and brewing gear. it has that quiet charm that makes you observe and appreciate their maccha making technique and process. one side of the café displays neatly arranged maccha tins, ceramic bowls, and starter kits, each item speaking to the care that goes into their craft. three baristas were behind the counter, focused, but clearly stretched thin. the café was busy, someone was in training, and a bit of confusion at the register made things feel a little chaotic. i ordered the oku shimo maccha latte ($12) with oat milk and a black sesame daifuku ($5), my second maccha latte of the day, because apparently moderation doesn't apply when it comes to tea. the latte took a while and came out lukewarm, having sat while they sorted an overcharge. the foam art had already blurred by the time it reached me. my daifuku was forgotten until i asked about it about nine minutes later, when it finally arrived, with an apology, it was filled with red bean instead of black sesame. it tasted fine, just not what i was expecting. for $17, the quality and service didn't feel worth it. i left wishing it had matched the story i'd built up in my head, of a serene, intentional tea experience, steeped in care and ritual. everything about the space suggests harmony and mindfulness, but the execution didn't quite land. it's the kind of place you want to fall in love with, the kind that promises quiet beauty and reflection, but sometimes, even the most beautiful rituals can lose their rhythm.

Extremely friendly and helpful. I came in with a bit of a sour stomach ache, and the barrister made…read morea suggestion for something I would not have tried on my own-really wish I could tell you what it was, but it was fermented and a little bubble in it. Served in a chemistry beaker and a rocks glass-which I thought was clever. I didn't really 'love' the taste-but it did do the trick! Made my stomach feel much better. My daughter ordered a green frothy thing that she at first did not like ...and then it grew on her and she loved it. (served in a mason jar with a metal straw to be environmental-which I absolutely LOVE and will try and find one to buy for myself here in the states) Comfy little funky seating area with an old couch and chair

Staff is very friendly and accommodating. Nice modern looking bake shop. Bread pudding is very…read moreyummy. Must be served warm!

i really wanted to like this café, and honestly, i'd still recommend it for the aesthetics alone…read more the interior is beautiful, with glossy black and white checkered floors, soft white paneling, and a chandelier that adds a touch of elegance above the counter. natural light pours in from the tall front windows, illuminating the pastry case and giving the whole space a serene, gallery like feel. it's a calming spot to step into, and would be an ideal setting for a proper afternoon tea service. i ordered an almond croissant, french bread pudding, and the gateau du jour, green tea and vanilla, along with a yuzu maccha (sourced from jagasilk), all to go. the drink was the biggest disappointment, the yuzu flavour was absent, and the matcha itself was weak. on top of that, there's a small surcharge for ice (.50, which i did not expect) and oat milk (.50). the almond croissant looked promising with its golden shell and slivered almonds, though the nuts themselves weren't fully toasted, which made the topping feel a little underwhelming. the interior leaned more dense than the airy, flaky layers i'd been hoping for. this sometimes happens when the lamination doesn't quite hold or the proofing isn't ideal, not unusual with croissants, but still a letdown in contrast to its appearance. the green tea cake was beautifully presented, with neat layers of sponge and green tinted buttercream, but leaned on the sweeter side, with only a subtle whisper of green tea. the bread pudding, reheated at home, was the highlight, soft, custardy, and lifted by the vanilla cream sauce it came with. seating is limited but cozy, with a handful of small tables inside and a couple more out on the sidewalk. their selection is broad: whole cakes, slices, macarons, crème brûlée, tarts, cookies, all arranged neatly in the front window to tempt passersby. the café's charm lies in its design and atmosphere. it's worth a visit if you're nearby and want a chic spot to sit and relax, and i'd go back to try their other cakes, the display alone makes it hard not to.

silk road has always been my go to for teas whenever i'm in victoria. the blends are thoughtful,…read morethe quality consistent, and stepping inside feels like entering a calm, almost gallery like space. tall ceilings, exposed brick, and lacquered cabinets give it a serene, slightly old world charm, and the careful arrangement of colourful teacups, tins, and tea accessories makes it feel like a curated collection rather than a shop. it's the kind of place where you can linger for a while, taking in the details, inhaling the aromas, and feeling a sense of calm wash over you. the tea bar is well thought out, and the staff are knowledgeable and helpful, they're happy to explain blends, suggest teas based on your taste preferences, or guide you through proper steeping techniques. beyond teas, silk road also carries skincare, body products, and aromatherapy, making it a destination for a full sensory experience. i used to love the little rituals here: reading the detailed descriptions of each tea, opening the canisters to smell the aromas, scooping tea into the mini tins, and finishing with the label stickers that list the name and steeping time. those small, interactive touches made the experience feel playful and intimate, it wasn't just shopping, it was a ritual, a way to slow down and enjoy the moment. lately, however, some of these touches have quietly disappeared. i'm told there's been a shortage of the mini tins, my favourite tea has been discontinued, and the tactile, sensory elements that once made silk road feel so special aren't as prominent. even with these changes, it's still a beautiful shop worth visiting. the space itself encourages you to pause, explore, and appreciate the craft of tea, and the blends remain high quality. if you're seeking a serene, visually rich environment with thoughtful teas and attentive service, silk road delivers. just be aware that some of the hands on, ritualistic experiences that used to make it feel extra special may no longer be available. overall, silk road strikes a balance between elegance, calm, and quality, and for anyone serious about tea or looking for a peaceful spot to browse, it's still a worthwhile stop.

A very big, modern tea shop, located in the heart of Victoria Chinatown. It has been around for…read moremore than 30 years, starting first from this location. We stopped in before it was closing on a Wednesday. It has expanded since its original opening, with the main entrance housing its line of tea-infused skin and body care line of products. Next door is the tea room and tea bar, where you can smell and taste the various teas from around the world. We did pick up sample sizes of the mini ($4.99 CAD for a 10 cup supply); Mango Shade, Earl Green, and Darjeeling. Once packaged, you take it back to the front where you checkout. I was trying to remember what a tea shop is supposed to smell like...strangely I have no recollection of it. And the smell here was pretty sterile...assuming it is a lot better if fresh steeped tea was being served.