Quaint cafe with a gothic vibe. Staff were very friendly but the afternoon tea was pretty terrible. Most items were cold, including the scones. Some of the cakes were extremely dry and the teas are made with half the leaves they should have, which makes them super mild. I wanted to love it, but didn't. read more

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To start off when I went it was extremely busy there was four large parties so my friend and I got the smallest table in the corner I feel very uncomfortable and very tight in such a small space. If you come here looking for the high tea tower it's about $45 and includes some scones and little pastry items with a pot of tea however for $45 you're really not getting much. I found the prices here extremely high for the amount of food that you are getting. I ordered myself a brunch dish with purple cauliflower a slab of smoked tofu and a cauliflower crust however I found the entire dish extremely unflavourful and quite disappointing. Unfortunately this place left a little to desire that day as they didn't have AC so everyone who was there was just boiling the entire time. Couldn't really enjoy the tea experience because it was just so hot. Giving it 3 stars because the decor was beautiful and the servers were kind. read more

The Vanitea Room - Tea Rooms Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Not an honest establishment. The food was reasonable and their ability to accommodate allergies was good. However, we found this establishment to be dishonest. We visited during the HST holiday. When the bill came the HST was on the bill. We asked whether that was an error and the server said "you don't have to pay it". We then said to her that there was an HST holiday enacted and she asked us "so you don't want to pay it". We found this very very odd as every other restaurant we went to had it removed. Also who wants to pay taxes and the question is if the government is not collecting HST does this mean the restaurant is just pocketing the extra amount ? We found this to be very dishonest and will not return. All of our friends were also shocked as were other restaurants we told the story to. Would say if you go to this place check your bill very carefully read more

I made a reservation for Sunday brunch with a few friends, and good thing I did because the place was full when I got there! It's such a cute little spot right by my house and I had no idea. The decor is very cute, and I loved that they were playing R&B and Hip-hop cause that's my jam. The place was kind of small, which is hard with the covid restrictions. I don't think that the tables are 2 meters apart, but they put up plexiglass between all the tables. I got the WAP (Waffles and Poulet) and my friends got the Brisket Benny. I thought the WAP was delicious. The Korean fried chicken with the maple syrup was such a perfect combo since the Korean sauce usually has sugar added in Korean dishes anyway. The combination was just genius. It came with a small side of a salad but it was just ok. I wish the dish had a few more components, but I did enjoy it. My friends raved about the brisket Benny, so I will definitely have to come back to try it. The service was also super friendly. Our server was so bubbly and nice, and I really enjoyed chatting with her! Overall the decor, mood, and great service made this a wonderful experience. read more

The Vanitea Room - The WAP (Waffles ans Poulet) and Brisket Benedict (in the background) - Tea Rooms Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

The Vanitea Room is an excellent place for an afternoon tea for two as my bestie from out of town and I discovered. For $45 per person, we got a delectable selection of sweets and savouries with traditional butter scones, jam and our choice of tea from their Sloane Tea collection. Sooo good! I really like how Sloane Tea is a Canadian woman-owned business and how Vanitea supports them by offering their teas for purchase in tins as well as on their regular drink menu. I chose to get a pot of the Heavenly Cream tea, which was indeed heavenly to sip on - think of a creamier, richer Earl Grey. Out of all the little yummy morsels on our tea tray, I loved the beef meatballs with Korean BBQ sauce and the Mexican rice pudding best. Mmm! Our afternoon tea was a fun experience at a reasonable price for the quantity and quality that we got. We were looking for an afternoon tea that made us feel frufru fancy without breaking the bank to do so. Some afternoon tea experiences can be rather expensive, so this one was a welcomed option without sacrificing the wallet or missing out on a cool afternoon tea vibe. The decor and atmosphere are posh without being pretentious and we could tell it was quite a popular spot since it filled up quickly. I recommend booking your afternoon tea experience in advance to ensure that you get a table. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with my bestie over a hot cup of tea and delish little bites. I would come back here again in a heartbeat! read more

The Vanitea Room - Afternoon Tea for Two - Tea Rooms Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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I came here for drag brunch on the 26th of march. I got the $45 brunch package and it came with tea, a scone + jam and a scrumptious French toast. The staff were very friendly and attentive. Our waitress in particular was outstandingly kind. Very good show + atmosphere! The restaurant itself is very beautiful. read more

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Cute place but pretty tight. The benedicts biscuits are a bit too sweet to me. I reserved 2-3 weeks in advance, there was 4 of us but they made room for 3. The food came in cake stands. no room for the plates to be on the table so we had to eat and leave the food on the stand... loved the bottomless mimosas though read more

I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT RECOMMEND!!!! I and 5 of my friends came in for a brunch at this place on May 20th. Four of us had the brisket Benedict and in less than 3 hours of leaving the 4 of us in our separate locations began experiencing a really bad case of food poisoning. I and one of the 4 of us were together at her place and we literally began throwing up and stooling non stop for hours! In my entire life I have never experienced something like this, I kept throwing up everything, got extremely dehydrated and so did my friend (who right now has a throat infection btw) and my other 2 friends. This lasted till late at night. We had to call a doctor friend because we were too weak to even walk to the door let alone go to the hospital. This was a Saturday and until Tuesday of the following week I couldn't eat anything or keep anything down, I was basically running on just liquid and suffered extreme weakness and dizziness! That's not all, it gets worse, my friend who did the booking reaches out to them to tell them what had happened (meanwhile there was another person outside us who had written a review for that same day regarding the same brisket Benedict and how they suffered food poisoning as well, it's on google review), and the solution they offer us is a credit to come back to the restaurant and eat the same food that just took all four of us out, like for real that was their solution??!!! How wild is that?!! They couldn't even offer a refund or get to look into it, they didn't sound perturbed even in the slightest. I was literally fighting for my life for 3 days by food I ate at their restaurant and all these people could tell me was to come back and eat for free and basically try to bully us by email into not writing a review! Like wowww!!!! I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT RECOMMEND!!!! If there was something lower than one star that's what I'll give them. I'm not stopping you from going to this restaurant but know that if you choose to go you do so at your own risk and that they literally don't give a damn. Something was very wrong with the brisket Benedict and they are so dishonest and lack integrity and credibility to even admit it or take responsibility for it. read more

Came for the bottomless mimosas (they turned out to be juice) so we came for the bottomless Prosecco and stayed for the wasps. We got the 55$ brunch (steep) and the eggs Benedict come on a not so great corn bread. Be careful sitting outside if you have allergies, lots of wasps and not a lot of Prosecco fill ups. All in all, not my favourite brunch but my favourite place to have an anaphylactic reaction. Peace out, joe. read more

Disappointed and not worth the money. Came here for a date expecting a lot more. we pre-booked a 3 course meal with bottomless prosecco costing around $65 a person or $127 in total. Upon arrival the moment you walk-in to their indoor dining you are standing in the middle of the "dining room" there is no host stand or host/server near the door, on top of that the space is small so if someone in standing there you have to back up in order for someone to walk by you (making you back into tables/someone else) Therefore, we were waiting for someone to help us which took a good 5-10 mins as the three servers that were there were all too busy, one was on patio, one was talking to someone and one was in the kitchen/bar. None facing you or acknowledging you once entered. When they finally noticed us it was still a bit of a wait to get seated. When we got seated we were disappointed as we were sat at this plastic small table with a gold table cloth and very very small plastic chairs (They for sure had better tables that had cushion chairs and seats) The seat not only was uncomfortable but looked like they just sticked it in a corner to make "Extra seating" (advised that there were tables leaving/has payed the bills but we were not offered to wait as we noticed they were also struggling to decide on a table to give us) it only got worse from there as service was horrible, we were given a seating limit (which is understandable) but the verbiage given made it seem like they want us immediately up and out while other tables were allowed to stay seated after they payed their bills. We ended up not enjoying the meal as it was mediocre, AC wasn't really working and not a great overall experience. We only managed to stay there for 30 mins and the other tables that payed when we arrived were still seated with no intent to leave and as this was a prepaid experience we asked the server if anything needs to be done, they said no therefore we walked out, when exiting the door another server approached us saying "Did you pay?" when they are well aware and knew that we were doing the prepaid experience making it sound like we were walking out on a meal. DO NOT RECOMMEND rather be doing the Shangri-la Tea Room experience or actually buying from a local bakery instead. read more

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Note- this isn't a traditional high tea experience. It does not compare to le Château. It's a fun experience, as they put their own modern twist to the high tea, and cool decor/ambiance. Place is small, but cozy. I did not enjoy the top tier dessert plate. As it was very sweet. Bought it through Groupon. No parking lot. Parking is along the roads. read more

The Vanitea Room - Dessert Tray - Tea Rooms Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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The place and decor is great. I liked the environment which was super cute and nice. I had the eggs benny with the corn bread and I think it was brisket? It was pretty good but portions were too small, overpriced and the eggs were hard even tho the waitress said it would be easy. She was nice though and changed that for me. The tea was nice they have a great selection. Probably wouldn't return read more

The Vanitea Room - Tea Rooms Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

I've been to this gorgeous tea salon twice this week and both visits did not disappoint! The first time, I had the most scrumptious breakfast. I enjoyed exploring the huge selection of teas and settled on the Masala Chai tea latte which was creamy and sweet without the need to add anything to it. For breakfast I had the spring omelette with goat cheese and fresh tomato served with a side salad. It was light and fluffy and the perfect portion size. The second time was today for the Mad Hatter's Boozy Mother's Day Brunch - afternoon tea with bottomless mimosas and few extra nibbles. It was divine! We thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. The tea and food were fabulous and the attention to detail is truly outstanding. Hind and her team really made it a spectacular day for the wonderful women in my life! Pinkies up to The Vanitea Room! Ill be booking a boozy gals brunch again very soon. read more

The Vanitea Room - The Mad Hatter's Boozy Brunch (afternoon tea) selection for two Mother's Day. - Tea Rooms Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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I thoroughly enjoyed my time here. The food was not only presented beautifully, but tasted delicious. Our server ensured that no strawberries were present (allergen) on my sisters platter and offered alternatives to the scone selection because the dip was strawberry, instead of leaving out the dip which was incredibly thoughtful of her. The decor of the establishment was stunning without being overwhelming. The server was attentive and funny, I will definitely be returning to try their seasonal selection. read more

The Tea Room is beautiful, but if you're looking for a real and traditional Afternoon Tea experience, this is not the place to go. They have their own interpretation and their own concept, which is not bad, but you can't advertise it as a Traditional Afternoon Tea Experience. Make sure you ask to be explained about the food, because they forget to mention what's in the trays when they serve you, and you end up having to guess all the time. And above all, after experiencing some difficulties during my visit, I reached out to them to provide them with constructive feedback, and what I got was a nasty and passive aggressive reply, and a complete disregard to my comments! They're forget the golden rule in customer service: "The client is always right". read more

To start, the decor is quite simply stunning in this adorable little shop. I do mean "little," it's super cozy inside, but we didn't feel like our neighbours were all up in our business or anything. Tea selection was excellent and we were quite satisfied with our choices. Food? Amazing. NOT a traditional tea (where the hell was the cream, dammit?!) but still amazing. We alllllmost didn't miss the clotted cream. This would have been a slam dunk, but service, while friendly, was disinterested and very slow. Of course tea should be served at a leisurely pace, but when the whole table is clearly sitting at the ready, purses in hand... bill them. On the whole, a lovely experience. Will be back! read more

What a fun brunch place!! Very cute decor, great chill music and excellent service. We had the afternoon tea, which was both beautiful and delicious. Their brunch menu also looked amazing. Will definitely be back in the near future! read more

The Vanitea Room - Tea Rooms Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Alas, I will never be able to review this tea house, as the cancelled my reservation the morning of the booking. Unable to retrieve VM while in Canada, I appeared for the reservation to be told, with no apology, that they were "overbooked". There appeared to be a party. Vanitea, you could have handled this with more consideration and class than you did. read more

This is our third visit to Vanitea. Although they have no designated parking, we've never had difficulty getting a spot close by (city parking - $7). The place is small and chintzily (in the best sense) decorated. Maybe it's the covid barriers, but it seems more crowded than before. This was a Friday on a beautiful autumn afternoon, and the place was busy. Although we had a reservation, we had to wait in a lineup outside - not long, maybe 10 minutes. We asked to be moved from our first table, which was wonky, only to find ourselves at an equally unstable table right under the speakers, which made conversation a bit of a challenge. We had a Groupon coupon for the full afternoon tea. The teas were excellent as were the mimosas, which seemed to have a touch of mango. The 4 small sandwich triangles - ranging from beet to chicken - were very tasty, the substantial scones need a bit more jam than offered (although the jam was excellent.) The sweets (2 macaroons) and coffee-flavoured (cup)cakes were tasty, but my companion doesn't like things coffee-flavoured. The service was friendly, and although crowded and noisy, everyone seemed to be having a good time. If one were to pay the original advertised price of $122.04 , I wouldn't recommend it. But it was marked down to $85, and then again to $68,, which is about right, although offering a second mimosa would have been nice. They charge tax on the $85 price and add 18% gratuity, which I'm not used to, but is okay (I would have tipped a bit more). It's a cheery little place that is doing the best with what it has. read more

So excited to see another high tea location pop up in the downtown core area. The decor is "modern renaissance" and definitely lived up to that theme when you walk in and look around the room. The place is very cozy, but no attention is lost for detail - from the big Marie Antoinette inspired mural to the small porcelain cup trays carrying your bill, the ambience is very European inspired! I had hightea and a brunch here, and both times they were very accommodating to our parties dietary restrictions (vegan, dairy, gluten). They do their best to adapt the menu items to fit the diner. I had wanted a pancake with no dairy; they had tried but ultimately said the substitute was not holding up. I liked that they were upfront with what they can accommodate and where they can't, they at least tried. The menu is expected to change through the seasons. Their selection of teas are divine! The whole high tea experience feels very complete and not just limited to the food. Compared to Zoe's (chateau Laurier) and nectar, the other high tea locations, the sandwiches are a bit more creative, however the sweets can be a bit more on the sweet side. But if you are vegan or GF, you can still get a full tower of food to your needs, which is not always available at the other locations. Super friendly staff and very knowledgeable on the teas selection and pairings. Only downside is that it does get very busy on weekends with parties and groups. The place is super compact, and when there's a large group it does slow down quite a bit the rest of the room. Tip: reserve ahead (they are on open table) and avoid the rush hours. They open wed-Sunday until 5pm! read more

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It's usually hard to find tea spots that carry food, let alone great food! Vanitea checks all the boxes!! Great tea Delicious food Amazing service And a marvellous ambiance! It's the perfect place to meet with a friend and have a nice conversation! Hind, who I believe is one of the owners, was there when I went and she is absolutely lovely!! A must visit gem in Ottawa. read more

The Vanitea Room - Tea Rooms Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

We booked a table via OpenTable over a week prior, received multiple email confirmations and upon arrival were told we had no reservation and they had no space. Vanitea Room cancelled the reservation 45 min prior to our booking, the only notification of this was an email from OpenTable. My phone number was on the booking, have some respect for peoples time and call if you need to cancel the booking. Horribly unorganized and unprofessional, don't waste your time trying to make a reservation. read more

We went there to celebrate my daughter's birthday. I was very happy to note they had a gluten free option on their menu for the afternoon tea service. The food was delicious. The atmosphere was lovely. Be sure to make a reservation or you are not getting in on the weekend! We went on a Sunday and it was super busy with people waiting for their reservation time. Like I said, on the weekend, make sure you have a reservation! We made ours online and it was very easy. Will certainly be back. read more

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A friend and I went for the first time last week. It was so lovely! We decided on lunch and mimosas. I ordered the soup, which was served in a little teapot. It was a really cute touch. My friend had the sandwich and also lived it. The prosecco flavours change, last week was apple martini and strawberry cheesecake. We tried the strawberry cheesecake & it was unbelievable. I've been thinking about it all week! I can't wait to return! read more

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The folks at The Vanitea Room were great in accommodating my Groupon. They were unfortunately closed the last week of the Groupon due to unforeseen construction issues in the building beside them. I went with my mother and we thoroughly enjoyed the food and the venue. I would love to go back for their afternoon tea and small bites!!! A great place for any occasion! read more

WOW! Truly a hidden gem in Ottawa! The ambiance and experience when walking in and indulging in a cup of tea in beautiful porcelain cups is just marvellous. The menu was extensive and had many options for all; the food was cooked to perfection and tasted amazing. The owner was really welcoming and checked up on us at least 3 times. Would totally recommend to anyone wanting to try a high tea location in Ottawa! read more

The Vanitea Room - Brunch - Tea Rooms Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

I love the chic decor of Vanitea which is stunning. When I visited for high tea I found many of the dishes, in particular, the desserts to be too sweet so I didn't eat them. The scones were fine, and the savory sandwiches ranged from wonderful such as a curry egg salad, to just fine - such a classic cucumber sandwich. I'd certainly try to return but I hope the menu items change as I love the decor that I want to love this place. read more

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An excellent choice for a unique experience with delicious food. We opted for the afternoon lunch tea experience, it's an experience because the four tiered fish comes with an array of bite sized delicious gourmet pieces. They're as beautiful as they are delicious. The tea selection was excellent and they even provide an hour glass that lets you know when your tea has been steeped long enough. Will try again soon! read more

People refer to the Vanitea room as cozy, but cozy is the understatement of the century. Lets be honest...the place is just SMALL! I had the misfortune of visiting for the first time when it was very busy and I was practically climbing on top of people to get anywhere in the place. Not only that but there is also the tiniest hallway jampacked with people waiting for a table. I will credit them for the idea of setting up "reservations" and time slots to keep traffic moving, however they lack the ability to use that function effectively as you still end up waiting 30+ minutes for the table you reserved. During my visit, our reservation was at 12 with an end time of 2pm (set by Vanitea room by the way). Despite showing up at 11:45 just to make sure we were on time, We werent seated until 12:30 and were told we would STILL have to leave at 2 even though they wasted 30 minutes of our time. The Waitress serving us (short lady, blonde/brown hair, with a mean face and bad attitude) was also extremely rude and kept reminding my party and I that we would have to be out by two and we'd better hurry up and order. It was stressful and unpleasant as the food took almost 30 minutes to arrive after we finally did order and we ended up having to scarf our food down and run out without actually enjoying the place. The music was also a very strange selection as it didnt match the environment. Overall...if you're looking for the cute dine in outing you think they're advertising.. I wouldnt recommend -- unless you like your afternoon tea like your fast food....to go. read more

I came to the Vanitea during their grand opening day with Amy B. a fellow yelper and another friend. When we arrived we were greeted by a hostess that let us know where to put our coats and to check us in for our reservations. While we waited for our table the hostess explained the menu to us and once seated our server stopped by and dropped us of a tea chest with all the available tea's they offered. There is a great selection of teas from black teas to white teas. I ordered their spring breakfast which included a tart, scone (with jam and cream), toast with cream cheese and smoked salmon and a pot of tea. I choose the peaches and cream tea and it was delicious. Overall the experience was interesting for I have never had "afternoon tea" before. However, I left feeling not fully satisfied. I enjoyed the little chef treats that they brought out while we were waiting for our food than the spring breakfast I ordered. However the tart at the top of the tiered rack was delicious! read more

Came here for my birthday for high tea! The teas themselves were excellent. The high tea had a good variety of food but it was too small of a portion, so it's quite pricey. Very beautiful tea ware though, but I would probably stick to Nectar Fine Teas for the value you get. read more

The Vanitea Room - High tea (expensive for what it is but fine for an occasional indulgence)! - Tea Rooms Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

We waited until 12 for our 1130 reservation. They didn't even come acknowledge us at the door to check in or let us know when the next table would open up (nor even an apology for that matter). We are now enjoying our brunch at pure kitchen. Definitely recommend it here! Sarah read more

Not sure what this place did to deserve such low ratings. Having been here a couple times, in my opinion they serve better afternoon tea than the Fairmont. That being said, they do have their own take on food and desserts and are edging on the contemporary side, so if you are expecting a traditional tea service then this is not the place to go. However, do come if you are open minded and looking for a beautiful place to take pictures and to have a delicate cup of tea. read more

Tried Vanitea for the first time after hearing good things about it. Sad to report that it did not live up to the hype, and I doubt I'll ever go back. I ordered "The Indulgent" option, but made it vegetarian. Came with delicious potatoes as well as beets and carrots - no complaints about that. However, the vegetarian version comes with tofu, and the tofu had no seasoning whatsoever. It didn't even taste like it had been cookies in oil or butter, just popped on the pan for a second. It also had some sort of cold gravy-flavoured sauce on the side, and I'm unsure what it was meant to be. The toast was dry and the server didn't offer to get us any butter or other toppings. The worst part, though, was the service. I arrived a few minutes after my friends who already had their coffee. It was about 15 minutes before the server came to offer me something to drink, and another 15 before I actually got the coffee I'd asked for. They finally came to take our order a while later, and when I asked her a question about the menu she didn't know the answer. The waitress was not at all attentive and didn't come to ask how the food was until one person had already finished eating. We beat the rush, and only three tables (including ours) were occupied when we arrived so there was no excuse for such poor service. read more

Meal was cold (eggs and potatoes shouldn't be served cold, bread was thick, tasteless and not toasted) Mimosas were just ok read more

This was such an unfortunate brunch experience. Pre-poured waters on the patio so it had leaves and bugs in it. The server was unable to answer any questions I had or any questions my friend had about dietary restrictions. I got the beef short-rib eggs Benedict, served on cornbread with a side of potatoes. The cornbread was dry, and the hollandaise split. I asked to add onions to my potatoes and was told "we don't add things to things here". They were flavourless. Eggs were the best part. Worst of all, it was served on a 3-tier tray and garnished with dried parsley. The potential is there, but a serious overhaul is needed in the kitchen. read more

For $40 pp this place is terrible. Chateau Laurier (Zoe's Lounge) serves high tea that is farr better (quality, food, ambiance,service) for $45pp. The scones tasted worse than Tim Hortons and did not even come with Devonshire cream. The music was awful, paired with the tacky furniture. Would not recommend for Afternoon Tea. read more

Cute little place with amazing food and tea. The service is kind of a hit or miss here I find. Taken a few friends here for morning brunch and also for afternoon high tea, both were amazing. read more

A super cute location and the decor is very pretty. The value for money is not the best for a brunch spot as you don't get a lot of food and DO NOT order the French onion soup unless you like super sweet soup. read more

Had the unfortunate experience of dining at Vanitea Room today. Ordered smoked salmon croissant. Was informed that it was being served as an eggs benedict today. Food came ice cold. So nasty. The potatoes and salmon were the only redeemable qualities. The toast was soggy and stale, the hollandaise was congealed. I would imagine the plate had been sitting out for some time. The same could be said for my dining companions. The server was excellent and very sweet, although the restaurant was understaffed, which slowed down service. Would not recommend. read more