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    Tea at The Empress

    4.0 (427 reviews)
    PriceyTea Rooms
    Open 11:00 am - 5:45 pm

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    Recommended Reviews - Tea at The Empress

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    Fruity tea
    Holly R.

    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!!

    Jam
    Jemellee S.

    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.

    Strawberry rhubarb tea
    Shawn E.

    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!

    Tea time!
    Kate K.

    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.

    Mandy T.

    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.

    Karlo G.

    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.

    Place setting
    Nadine C.

    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!

    Desserts & Pasties
    Christine S.

    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.

    Cucumber sandwich
    Mae H.

    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

    Michelle D.

    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!

    Carlene P.

    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.

    Dinning room
    Michael F.

    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.

    We immensely enjoyed our high tea experience at the Empress!
    Alden C.

    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.

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    White Heather Tea Room - Top tier of the Muckle Tea for Two. These were so pretty--and soooo delicious!

    White Heather Tea Room

    4.6(141 reviews)
    3.1 km
    $$

    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.

    Photos
    White Heather Tea Room - Three tier Muckle Tea for Two. Chef trained at Le Cordon Bleu. Outstanding!

    Three tier Muckle Tea for Two. Chef trained at Le Cordon Bleu. Outstanding!

    White Heather Tea Room - Serving Tray

    Serving Tray

    White Heather Tea Room - Our Signature Muckle served for two. Featuring rotating desserts, four tea sandwiches, and lovely scones with savoury Hors d'oeuvre.

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    Our Signature Muckle served for two. Featuring rotating desserts, four tea sandwiches, and lovely scones with savoury Hors d'oeuvre.

    The Teahouse at Abkhazi Garden - View

    The Teahouse at Abkhazi Garden

    4.4(91 reviews)
    3.1 km
    $$

    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...

    Photos
    The Teahouse at Abkhazi Garden
    The Teahouse at Abkhazi Garden
    The Teahouse at Abkhazi Garden - Desserts!

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    Desserts!

    Butchart Gardens - The Dining Room

    Butchart Gardens - The Dining Room

    4.3(164 reviews)
    17.4 km
    $$$

    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.

    Photos
    Butchart Gardens - The Dining Room - Dining area

    Dining area

    Butchart Gardens - The Dining Room
    Butchart Gardens - The Dining Room

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    Pendray Tea House - Outside

    Pendray Tea House

    3.7(79 reviews)
    0.5 km
    $$$

    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!

    Photos
    Pendray Tea House
    Pendray Tea House
    Pendray Tea House - Simple elegant table setting

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    Simple elegant table setting

    JagaSilk Tea Bar - the latte came out lukewarm, the pour art had already blurred by the time it reached me

    JagaSilk Tea Bar

    4.6(16 reviews)
    0.2 km
    $$

    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

    Photos
    JagaSilk Tea Bar
    JagaSilk Tea Bar
    JagaSilk Tea Bar

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    La Roux - seating is limited but cozy, with a handful of small tables inside, black and white framed photos

    La Roux

    4.5(90 reviews)
    0.9 km
    $$

    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.

    Photos
    La Roux - Lovely items for sale from different artists

    Lovely items for sale from different artists

    La Roux
    La Roux

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    Silk Road Tea - Outside view

    Silk Road Tea

    4.1(67 reviews)
    0.8 km
    $$

    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.

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    Silk Road Tea
    Silk Road Tea
    Silk Road Tea

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    Hey Happy - Nitro cold brew.... I dream of this every morning!

    Hey Happy

    4.5(135 reviews)
    0.7 km
    $$

    Now I'm no coffee drinker, and I'm definitely not a matcha drinker but I wanted to be apart of my…read morefamily's coffee date so I opted for the matcha lemonade! Wow - I didn't realize it was blue lemonade! Soooo good! Halfway through I def got the matcha taste but it was so perfectly refreshing. My mom got a plain coffee with cream and sugar and said for just a coffee, it was good! My sister said her honey latte didn't have much of a honey flavour though - the staff was awesome too!

    hey happy has chill vibes from the moment you walk in. exposed brick, big front windows, and fun…read moretiered wooden seating give it a cosy but open feel. there's a steady rhythm of quiet chatter and keyboard tapping, lots of beanies and toques, plenty of laptops out, and a young hipster crowd settling in for long stretches. i grabbed a table with a little card that read "sanitized," which was a small but appreciated touch. i ordered the apple pie matcha, house apple pie syrup, ceremonial grade matcha, topped with cinnamon sugar dust. honestly, i wasn't a fan of the apple pie syrup. it leaned a bit artificial, sweetened with honey and overpowered the drink for me. that said, the matcha itself tasted good, but subtle, smooth, earthy, and decent quality. temperature wise it was more on the tepid side than properly warm, which didn't help. i'd probably try their strawberry matcha latte next time. i also got the hashbrown with herb mayo and added a soft poached egg. it comes as a tiny square, hard and crunchy on the outside with a solid crisp. when cut into, the yolk was cooked nicely with a soft jammy ooze that coated the hashbrown. the herb mayo added a creamy, savoury boost and brought extra flavour to each bite. overall, hey happy is a solid place to hang or work for a few hours. great seating setup options, relaxed atmosphere, and a crowd that makes it feel effortlessly cool.

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    Hey Happy - Bacon breakfast sandwich

    Bacon breakfast sandwich

    Hey Happy
    Hey Happy - Italiano

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    Italiano

    Tea at The Empress - tea - Updated May 2026

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