A well established staple, I knew I had to have tea here on my recent trip to Victoria. The hotel is 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. read more

Good experience to try one time but I don't see myself doing it again. This is the iconic tourist activity 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) read more

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Sometimes a place actually exceeds its high reputation. Such is the case with Tea at The Empress. We were seated immediately by the attentive hostess and greeted promptly and pleasantly by our sever, a friendly and welcoming gentleman. It was only minutes before our tea pots arrived, the steeping assisted by the mini three section hourglass timer. Milk and sugar were provided. How could so many creative and delicious sandwiches, savouries, scones and desserts fit on one 3-plate tea tray? Yes, they were all there...so hard to know where to start! The Coronation Chicken was outstanding as were the fresh scone with clotted cream, strawberry jam and lemon curd. The upstairs tea room was open, spacious and comfortable. read more

As soon as you walk into the Empress, you transported back in time with its rich wood and gold accents. The ambience is on point. We had amazing service and the waiter explained everything in detail to us and went through the tea flavors the food accompanying the tea was also delicious, including warm scones, cucumbers, sandwiches, and a variety of desserts. If you are in Victoria, if only for the day, you must go have tea! You will need to have a reservation. 10/10 recommend!! read more

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Afternoon Tea at the Empress was lovely. We enjoyed ourselves very much. Reservations are highly recommended. It was walking distance from our hotel so we need not to worry about parking. You can enjoy the tea and pastries in the Empress' sophisticatedly decorated lounge. We went during the Christmas Holidays so it was even more special. You must dress for the occasion: no sportswear or beachwear. Here at the Empress you can enjoy a collection of teas including their exclusive Empress Blend paired with delicious scones, finger sandwiches, pastries and other sweets. Price: do some people they may say it's pricey for "just tea and pastries." But I say it's just right for the such a wonderful experience. I recommend it to anyone who loves tea and pastries or to someone who hasn't experienced afternoon or high tea. If I have the chance I'll come back here again. Customer Service: top notch. That's is all. read more

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If you find yourself in Victoria BC, be sure to make a reservation for Tea at The Empress...it's not just tea, it's a whole experience! Our server Raymond was the main reason it was so enjoyable. He was kind & knowledgeable and gave us great suggestions for what teas to choose and also went out of his way to find out what was going on that day in front of the Capitol building across the way. Did I mention we were seated at the window? The raisin scones were a highlight of the food, the chicken curry sandwich was a favorite, and there was a treat made with honey harvested from the beehives on property at The Empress...everything was delicious. Don't forget to head over to the tea shop and get some tea to take home. We stayed at The Empress and had gone to the shop the day before. They have samples of all the tea so you can smell them. The seasonal strawberry rhubarb smelled so good and came with a high recommendation from Raymond as well. This was truly an experience you shouldn't miss! read more

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Worth the experience, but slightly over priced. Food was filling and hands down the scone/jam pairing was divine. Reservations are necessary and very accommodating to food allergies. Noise level minimal considering being an open room/walk through. read more

Tea at The Empress - Tea time! - Tea Rooms Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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Tea at The Empress is served at the 2nd flr Lobby Lounge. Its an open lounge where you can people watch as visitors of the Express walk through. Carollers were singing by the hallway when we went. Make reservations in advance. High tea starts at $109pp. We came during winter holiday so it was Christmas themed. The scone was served with clotted cream, jam, and lemon curd options which were all really good. The savoury bites were delicious and filling. The desserts were mostly good, not overly sweet. However it did include fruit cake (that was not our favorite but it's because we don't like fruit cake in general), and the Eggnog Ornament dessert was falling apart and on the softer side than expected. Raymond was our server and provided lovely service, frequently checking on us. The tea he recommended, #4 Lady Londonnery, was delicious. Hubby got the #10 Blue Suede Shoes which was a cool blue color and was also really good. read more

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A unique and wonderful tea experience that's worth the price. My husband came here for my birthday and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The experience is in the hotel lobby lounge. The space is decorated in classic Edwardian style and exudes elegance. There was even a live piano during our tea time. The tea sets were ornate and beautiful. Their tea menu features LOT35 and is exclusive to Fairmont. We opted for the tea with a glass of champagne, which was a Laurent Perrier Brut Cuvée. Their tea selection was impressive! The high tea tower consisted of fruit, scones, finger sandwiches, tarts, cakes, and puffed pastries. They include condiments such as cream and jam for the scones and pastries. This was indeed a lot of food and our server was kind enough to box up our leftovers. Tea at the Empress is a premium high tea experience. Reservations is a must and I recommend booking ahead of time. read more

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High Tea in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada... A long time ago, my mom and I enjoyed High Tea at The Empress... it was a wonderful experience that I wanted to share with my niece. I booked a reservation online and drove from Seattle to Victoria... We arrived at The Empress Hotel via a Vancouver ferry. Parking in the structure Empress Hotel was a bit of a walk sice there's a convention center linked to the hotel. Tea at the Empress is located in the lobby of the hotel. It's open-air, high-ceilinged, and spacious! It's elegance and dignity! Our server was top-notch! She was friendly, professional, and attentive! We really enjoyed this fancy experience and dressed up for the occasion! read more

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I know it's only January, but Tea at the Empress might just be my peak of 2026. This fancy-smancy hotel on Vancouver Island is famous for its tea-time. In fact, Queen Elizabeth frequented this biz. This entire experience was top-notch. I had originally debated the price tag ($109 per person) but I promise you it's worth it. We arrived early to snag a seat by the window overlooking the Victoria Harbor. I highly recommend the same if you're looking to elevate this already over-the-top experience. The Afternoon Tea comes with a tea of choice and a tower of the most delectable pastries. Each pastry was so unique and crafted to perfection. I personally loved the bottom tier, which had the most delicious scones. I was surprised to hear that people finish these pots in one-sitting. I ended up with a pretty extreme caffeine buzz by cup #4. I also appreciate that they don't have a strict dress code. It can be tough to travel with upscale attire. Come as you are, just be sure you're not wearing a ball cap, open-toed shoes, or gym wear. Highly highly recommend. I'd easily do it again. read more

Ready for the royal treatment? Afternoon Tea at The Fairmont Empress absolutely delivers. The Lobby Lounge is stunning, bright, elegant, and full of that timeless charm the hotel is known for. It perfectly balances turn-of-the-century grace with modern refinement. The tea service itself was perfection. Every tier was beautifully presented: flaky scones with house-made strawberry jam, delicate pastries, honey straight from the hotel's own beehives, and perfectly crafted finger sandwiches. You can taste the care that goes into everything. A special shout-out to Malou, who made the experience unforgettable. She treated us like royalty, helping us choose the perfect teas, explaining the traditions behind the service, and even taking photos for us. It's rare to see that level of warmth and professionalism blended so naturally. If you're visiting Victoria, this is an experience you simply can't miss. Afternoon Tea at The Empress isn't just a meal, it's a tradition, and one worth savoring. read more

Tea at The Empress - Desserts & Pasties - Tea Rooms Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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After being disappointed by tea at fairmont Olympic i was so looking forward to the tea at the empress and i was not disappointed at all! Our server Lorne was amazing and even gave us suggestions of things to see around town. I was pleased with the seasoning on everything. My favorite sandwiches were the cucumber and the chicken salad. The cucumber sandwich was simple yet executed perfectly. The lavender shortbread cookie was so unassuming but so amazing and melted in the mouth. Our favorite desserts were the winter honey mousse and the raspberry and rose empress tea mousse. Each dessert was truly something we had never tried before. We went on a Friday afternoon and it wasn't very busy but they had live piano music. We were seated by the window which was great for people watching and seeing the waterfront. This definitely tops all the afternoon teas I've ever had and I cant wait to come back read more

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This is a terrific place to have afternoon tea. I have been before a few years back, but recently came back with my friend. It was her first time and my first time in a long time, and we could not have had a better experience! It was easy to make a reservation on OpenTable, comfortable, and good service even though it's always fairly busy. We tried a couple of different teas and really enjoyed them. And of course, their traditional sandwiches, scones, and treats were fantastic. Beautiful day and a beautiful location for a special experience. There's just something amazing about coming to the Empress in Victoria for tea. It's one of those things everyone should do and it's worth repeating. Highly recommend! read more

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So you are at an iconic hotel (allegedly one of the top 20 in the world). High tea should be a memorable experience, right. Honestly, of the four teas we were served only one (the so called fruitcake) was distinctive. The nibbles were disappointing. I had been so looking forward to the scones--barely had any raisins and they were rather dry. Not flaky or puffy. Our service answered all of our questions and we never felt rushed but I've had better in Edinburgh, just for comparison. read more

We had the benefit of being served by a woman who has worked at this location for 27 years straight, so she knew her stuff. She was absolutely delightful and we appreciated every interaction with her. The finger sandwiches, scones, and treats that come with the afternoon tea were all absolutely perfect. Much too much to eat in one sitting, so we took at least half of our goodies back to the hotel with us. I found the dining room to be rather loud, (and it's important to note that it was completely full), but it may also just be something with the acoustics. We had a beautiful view from the window where we were sitting, and the dining room itself, as well as the table settings, were beautiful as well. read more

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First off the building is beautiful and well appointed for the holidays. The staff is friendly and welcoming and helps to set the mood. The tea selection is very good and the teas themselves are wonderful. The scones are delicious as are the pastries. Such a wonderful experience I'm thinking this is worth another trip in the future. read more

Tea at The Empress - Dinning room - Tea Rooms Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

The Tea ceremony at the Empress offers a lovely and elegant experience in a truly beautiful historic setting. The presentation is refined, the tea selection is excellent (especially enjoyed the Earl Grey unique flavors), and the view of the harbor adds a special charm. The selection of pastries has a very good variety. Shout out to salmon paste bites and the scones. That said, it does feel a bit overvalued for what you actually get, and reservations need to be made well in advance if you want a good time slot. Finding the bathroom is another story - it's like navigating a maze through the hotel's corridors. Still, overall a memorable and classic Victoria experience worth trying once. read more

I have never done a high tea experience before and so on our trip to Canada we did afternoon tea twice at two different locations. Around where we live in the U.S. the tea rooms do not do this except perhaps one and it seems like a considerable amount of time is needed to make that happen as opposed to afternoon tea in Canada where it is more routine. The afternoon tea session we had here was wonderful as our group of four as well as the meeting of a friend proved to be a great way to catch up. We had three different teas to drink as we worked up the three tier plates of snacks consisting of scones, savory bite sized sandwiches and sweet pastry like bites up at the top. A very fun and enjoyable experience to be sure especially since it was a new one to add to memory. The food and of course the tea was amazing to eat and drink and the semi formal setting at the tea room added some real charm. It's something I highly recommend especially if you are from the U.S. as this kind of dining experience is much, much less common. read more

Tea at The Empress - We immensely enjoyed our high tea experience at the Empress! - Tea Rooms Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

What a great experience! Great food, great service, and ambiance. This was recommended by many of my friends and glad I was able to get in and experience tea at the empress. Make sure you make reservations. They have such a wide selection of teas and a set menu, however you are able to adjust the items they give you if you have any allergies or food preferences. Highly recommend this and it's right across the water where you could walk off your calories. More than enough food even though they look like small bites. Highly recommend this experience. read more

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I have mixed feelings. The idea and history behind it is so cool and worth doing at least once. We made reservations and we sat down. No one came to check on us for about 15-20 minutes. Once they finally checked on us, it felt like everything was rushed. I was expecting it to be a "fancy" experience but workers were clanking and making tons of noises while setting up tables near us. It's definitely over priced for what you get and I do afternoon teas often! Like I said, worth checking out once but probably wouldn't do it again. read more

Every time I visit Victoria, I always think about this place's afternoon tea. With more than 100 years of history, it is one of the most famous afternoon tea spots in British Columbia. I finally had the chance to visit this tea room! We could choose a tea from the selection menu, and I chose Rose Petal, which was one of Princess Diana's favorites. It had a lovely rose flavor and was very, very good. Then, the afternoon tea was delivered to my table. I started with the scone, served with strawberry jam and clotted cream. The scone was just okay, but the clotted cream and jam added more flavor, making it much better. Next, I moved on to the savory items. I had sandwiches with chicken, ham, and cucumber with cream cheese. I really liked the chicken sandwich. After that, I tried the smoked salmon, which was excellent. Finally, I had the quiche--it had a very creamy texture and was delicious. My favorite section--dessert! The pear macaron was very flavorful, with the perfect balance of chewiness and softness. The banana and tonka bean crémeux was my favorite, with its creamy texture and incredible taste. The pistachio opera was a bit disappointing; the sponge wasn't soft enough, and the flavor was weak. The chocolate raspberry madeleine, on the other hand, was absolutely delicious--nicely soft with a strong flavor. The bergamot and rosewater tart was very unique and also delicious. The ambiance was gorgeous, and the service was attentive. With over 100 years of history and several visits from British royalty, afternoon tea at the Empress is truly special. Overall, I am very satisfied with my experience--it was memorable and one of the best afternoon teas I've had. read more

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Amazing experience at one of the best locations in Victoria. The little bites were delicious & tea selection was outstanding. Our server Raymond was beyond nice & accommodating! Must do experience for a date while in Victoria. Seats by the window allow a great view of the harbor! read more

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There is no doubt that the price for afternoon tea is very expensive. However, we did have a wonderful time and the food was both plenty and delicious. I'm not a tea fan, but was still able to find one that I liked (orange vanilla grove). One of the highlights of the meal was definitely the scones! We had a younger child so we also had the kid version of the tea. It was definitely a better option for him. read more

Tea at The Empress - Children's tea - Tea Rooms Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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The food was beautiful, tasty, and elegant. Service was very friendly, helpful, and professional. read more

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The tea and food were amazing! The service was lacking. Our waitress had a faux Scottish accent and failed to remove the tea bags from each pot. She also did not box up our leftovers. Quite disappointing. read more

Tea at The Empress - Tea for two - Tea Rooms Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

Super cool experience! The setting makes you feel like you're in an episode of Bridgerton. The service was fantastic and our waiter was very interactive and polite! The tea was great and kept warm over a tea light candle. And the assortment of bites did not disappoint! My favorite was the scone and my wife's was the macaron. Definitely a pricey experience, not sure if I'd return for that reason but definitely happy we did it! read more

Tea at The Empress - Assortment of small bites - Tea Rooms Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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My husband's life long dream was to have a formal tea at the Empress hotel. Over the top Georgian architecture and a sumptuous three story tower of scones, finger sandwiches, and desserts impressed all of us at the tea. My nine year old son was amazed at the beauty of the pastry treats. Service was top notch. read more

Wow. The high tea at the empress was beyond impressive and delicious!!! We did the champagne upgrade as well. Incredible and attentive service. read more

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Who doesn't enjoy an elegant tea at the Empress?!!! The service was exceptional and the venue is oh so elegant. Tea sammies, tartes, and dessert deliciousness. Very, very pricey. Don't know that I'd do it again, but it was a once in a lifetime experience. Oh and the tea was good! read more

Tea at the empress was great! Our server Raymond made the experience very special! We booked it on a Friday afternoon and it was quiet and relaxing. The chicken salad and cucumber sandwiches were our favorite. Don't miss tea at the empress! read more

Tea at The Empress - Tea Rooms Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

High yea at the Empress is so fun! This is the second time I have done it and I was impressed both times. The food is delicious. The tea is great. There are tons of teas to pick from. The service is amazing. The hotel is beautiful and the tea area is great. The grounds are gorgeous. This is a must do when in Victoria. read more

I drank the entire pot of tea - Blue Suede Shoe is the best! Lorne was fantastic. He performed a lovely service to my parents earlier this year and fate brought him to serve me too. Him and the other team members did an excellent job. The food was quaint and I could not get enough of the desserts. The savory items were also good. The pianist was also excellent as he flowed through each well-known melody. I was seated where I had a view of the entire tea room as well as the outside. If they offer the history book of The Empress give it a look. There are quite of a few pictures of what the tea room used to resemble. I would 100% return. read more

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We finally gave in to our decadent desires and made reservations for high tea here. They offer so many options for every taste and everyone in our party left relaxed, satiated, and stuffed! They are kind enough here to send patrons home with their leftovers - well appreciated the next day! Our servers were very knowledgeable and made good suggestions that helped us decide which teas to try. So glad we finally got to experience this timeless treasure! read more

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What a special experience to have high tea at the Empress Hotel. It was a little pricey but not something you do everyday. The variety of teas to choose form were vast and the tea scones and sandwiches were exquisite. However, by the time you get to the third level platter which is the desserts we were too full to enjoy all of them. The clotted cream for the scones was just as I remember it in London and the chicken curry sandwich and the cucumber sandwich was savory and tasty! Take the time to walk around Victoria as it is quant and cute and picturesque. read more

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Tea at the Empress was phenomenal! You always underestimate the amount of food they give you and the time frame you stop eating before but man o man they had to darn near roll us ladies out of there we were so full! Our server Marlene was very sweet and took time recommending the best teas. The ambiance was great. Some guy was playing the piano and Disney songs as well. It was a beautiful typical coastal foggy rainy day and tea was perfect! Highly encourage anyone to stop in! The gift shop is amazing as well! read more

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The service and quality of the food for the High Tea at the Empress are amazing. We booked the day before and were able to secure a lovely table by the window. Our server, Guy, was so helpful and knowledgeable about the teas and offered great suggestions. There were so many teas to choose from! Fortunately, that was the only choice we had to make. The tea goodies included scones with jam and clotted cream, finger sandwiches, and, of course, a variety of delicious sweets. By the time we got to the sweets, we were getting quite full, and the sweets were so very rich. It was almost overwhelming. The price of the high tea is over $100 per adult, which seems quite high, and that was without drinks or including the tip. This was a great experience, but I doubt we would do it again due to the cost. read more

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If you want to feel like British royalty then Tea at the Empress is a must. They have an actual tea on their menu that was Princess Diana's favourite. It is a black tea that has hints of rose which are so fragrant and pleasant. The table setting/china is incredibly classy making you feel that extra bit of special. I eat every bite of the mini sandwiches down to the crumbs with the coronation chicken being my top choice. It's like a chicken salad but curry flavoured, very rich and delicious, I could eat a whole tray of just that. You have your typical cucumber and cream cheese, salmon/lox variation and a simplistic ham and cheese. The various desserts are light and sweet like most afternoon teas but unfortunately I can never indulge enough to complete the amount, no matter how tiny they are. The service is fairly quick but incredibly polite catering to your every whim. If you visit or even if you live in Victoria, having tea at the empress is an absolute treat you must indulge in. read more

Tea at The Empress - Tea Rooms Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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High tea at the Empress was a cute experience. The tea set was pretty and the teas were excellent quality. We got the Empress blend, the rose congou emperor, Liza hill darjeeling and the blue suede shoes. The empress blend with milk and sugar and the darjeeling were our group's favourites. The scone was wonderful - not too dense and melts on your tongue and goes so well with the jam and clotted cream. The savoury items were also good - my favourite being the mushroom quiche. Lastly, my favourite of the desserts was the pistachio opera cake. The other items were too sweet for my taste but were gorgeous to look at. I think this is a nice experience - although I think the ambience could be grander for the amount you're paying. It felt very compacted. Service was ok - but not the most friendly read more

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We had afternoon tea at The Empress and it is just as impressive as other 5 star reviews will lead you to believe. Raymond, the tea sommelier, was our server and his suggestions were superb. Our favorite was the plate of savory treats, but it was all delicious. read more

Tea at The Empress - Champagne with the first tea service. - Tea Rooms Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia