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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Went for one of my "Year of 60" events! I couldn't be more happy with the experience! Thank you for making a wonderful memory for me and my hubs. read more

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

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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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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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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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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I had such a great experience here! Service was great, food was delicious, and ambiance was so beautiful! I LOVED the clotted cream and scones. I am still thinking about it. The afternoon tea was filling and will be enough for a meal. I loved the tea and our server was so helpful and patient with us. We were seated in the corner next to the window. It was a great view inside and outside where we could see the water. 100% would recommend 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

A must-do experience when visiting Victoria. The pastries and little sandwiches are fine but not exceptional, but you're not paying the mega-price just for the food and tea. The room, tea service, and food service are elegant, and the servers are friendly and professional. Be sure to make a reservation. We enjoyed the experience but would see no need to do it again on a return visit to Victoria. read more

Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Having tea at the Empress was definitely one of the highlights of our trip to Victoria. I'm a typical American and prefer coffee to tea, but this experience helped me look past that detail. I asked the server what his favorite tea on the menu was and ordered that. It was the Lady Londonderry which was nicely balanced and fruity. Also at the table was the Kyoto Cherry Rose which had hints of cherry as the name implies with a more earthy taste. My palate preferred the brightness of the Lady Londonderry. They soon brought out the impressive tower of sandwiches and sweets. From the scone to the macaron, literally everything was delicious. My favorite item was the warm scone with the clotted cream and jam. Mmmmm... next time we find ourselves in Victoria, we'll definitely enjoy tea time again. read more

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Service is excellent at this place! Make sure you make reservations online. They initially forgot to give us one of the small desserts but when asked about it, they brought us 3 extra ones for the small mistake they made, which is very nice on their end. You get to choose a type of tea you want, and the rest are prefixed menu. It's more for the experience than anything. They have underground hotel garage, and u have to pay urself, it's about $2.25/0.5 Hr, or $20/day max. read more

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I give Tea at The Empress 5/5, but my two companions probably would elect 4/5. I thought the three tiers of food, one with breads and spreads, the other with sandwiches, and the top one with desserts, were all quite good. I enjoyed perusing the teas, finally selecting the Golden Pu-erh, which apparently is aged 5 years in dark caves (as opposed to light caves). We all actually shared our teas - one was called Blue Suede Shoes and was actually blue. Not inexpensive, but I suppose "high tea" at The Empress is a unique experience in the beautiful small city of Victoria. The grounds around The Empress were beautiful. Most of the city is well-landscaped. read more

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I took my mom here for Mother's Day and we absolutely loved it. My boyfriend came with us as well and he had such a good time too! Raymond was our server and he was the absolute sweetest! Very knowledgeable about the tea selections and gave amazing recommendations. He even brought over a free mimosa for my mom since it was Mother's Day. We also got a premium tea on the house too. It feels like you are on the set of Bridgerton. Such beautiful venue. We all had a wonderful time and I can't wait to come back! Highly recommend! read more

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

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If I could give more than 5 stars, I would! This afternoon tea experience was the business: customer service was outstanding and EVERYTHING was delicious. Maybe we got lucky, but I don't really understand the low reviews for The Empress. Yes, it is pricey, but that shouldn't be a shocker given where and what it is. The nibbles were tasty, the tea was refreshing, and we enjoyed the ambiance. Will do this again if I get a chance to go back to Victoria. read more

Tea at The Empress - Afternoon tea tier of nibbles - Tea Rooms Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

Great experience having high tea with the family. Service was exceptional. We loved it!! read more

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Ms Raj hostess. Paul our server. There's not much more I can say about the emperor's hotel except for class class class. It's like stepping through a portal into the old days of elegance and refinement. The service was charming and impeccable the food was classic and the tea was served with style. You are surrounded by all things used to be when it was built with imagination and concern for those dining there. Paul our server was really amazing. It was interesting to listen to him tell a little bit about his past as well. He made his extremely comfortable and make sure that we were well taken care of. The 3 tears of food that came to us was more than enough for 2 people and the way that it was laid out the quality and the taste of everything was spot on. This at 1st didn't seem to be a destination that would be for every man. But as it turned out even a guy like me found something and everything that I was served that I enjoyed. The surroundings are lush and beautiful and well-thought-out the décor goes back generations to almost a 100 years ago. The hotel in the surrounding rooms are all elegant as well as the bar which is all wood with a big U bar in the middle and it was just wonderful to look at over the Harbor with all the boats in it. When we 1st went there it was a surprise to show my wife a place I remembered from my childhood. But as we got in there she taught me until letting her treat me to take and I am so grateful she did because it gave me an opportunity to really absorb my surroundings. I highly recommend this place. It's not only historic and not only a landmark but it is a destination. read more

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They say that a visit to Victoria, B.C., in Canada, is incomplete until you have indulged in the iconic tea service at the Fairmont Empress. It is a legendary practice, that has continued unabated for over a century and has served royalty, politicians, film stars and celebrities. In fact, high tea is provided on a replica of the same china that Queen Elizabeth II and her father King George were served, and later when the Queen herself visited Victoria. The loose leaf tea varieties are carefully chosen and hail from the best tea estates of the world. Everything you eat is fresh. The jam is made from their berries grown on the premises, honey from the hotel honeycombs and lavender from their roof top garden. Walking in to the lobby, one is captivated by the soft ambiance and mesmerized by the style and pomp of the emaculate surroundings. There is a live classical pianist in attendance. You can feel the presence of history and longevity. The chosen teas are served at the perfect temperature and the concoction timed with precision to yield the optimum robust flavor and satisfaction. The food, the clotted cream, the scones, the finger sandwiches, the pastries all ooze with freshness, taste and a layered fragrant mouthfeel. The complete tea service takes close to 2 hours, and is pricey. But then, how much are you willing to pay for an unforgettable, unparalleled, and pampered afternoon. And a unique experience that makes you feel so special and a part of a decadent slice of history? read more

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Had a wonderful experience. Came here to celebrate a friends's 18th birthday. Raymond went above and beyond to make her experience one to remember. Thank you so much. We all had a fantastic. Thank you!!! read more

The ambiance of old world elegance, rich with history is truly an experience. The top notch, impeccable service makes you feel like royalty. Our tea choices didn't disappoint nor did our trays filled with delicious morsels to accommodate our taste buds. We dressed for the occasion and everyone was so flattering, we felt like royalty. A truly devine experience:) read more

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My family surprised me with high tea at Tea at the Empress. Our server Raymond made the experience amazing. He explained the menu, traditions, and food without a fault. Thank you for an awesome time! read more

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

My family and I had high tea at The Empress and it was such an amazing experience especially because of our incredible server Raymond. He made the entire experience so special with little treats and recommendations during our visit to Victoria. If you have the benefit of getting Raymond as your server, know that you're are in the best hands! Can't wait to come back. read more

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

Lovely high tea experience. I LOVED that they presented their tea selection in a wooden box that opens like a book with samples of the tea each numbered on the left side and the descriptions of each on the right. What a fantastic idea! Although they have a limited selection of teas total for a place that serves tea. They have the option to add a glass of brut or rosé Veuve Clicquot champagne at an additional cost. The service was welcoming, kind, and attentive. There was a piano player playing the background, which sealed the traditional high tea experience. All of the tea sets are uniform and traditional. For a service for two, each person gets one sample of the assortment of foods offered. The clotted cream and house-made strawberry jam was an excellent combination with the warm white raisin scone. It was the BEST in comparison to all of the high tea restaurants we visited. Mmmmm good. Of the sandwiches they offered, the coronation chicken salad sandwich (made with curry) was soooo delicious and my favorite. The cucumber on marbled rye was my second favorite. They had a nice variety of desserts. The caramel pecan tart was decadent and a perfect blend of flavors. Overall, it is definitely an experience to try since it is a very traditional high tea experience. read more

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

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The high tea experience at The Empress Hotel on Victoria Island is nothing short of extraordinary, and it is a quintessential part of any visit to Victoria. From the moment you step into the historic hotel, you are enveloped in an atmosphere of elegance and refinement that sets the stage for an unforgettable afternoon. The service, led by the impeccable Madeline, is where the experience truly shines. Madeline's attention to detail and warm, welcoming demeanor elevate the entire affair. Her knowledge of the teas and the delicate treats served is impressive, ensuring that each guest feels well-cared-for and informed about the offerings. The tea selection is extensive, featuring a variety of blends that cater to every palate. Each pot of tea is brewed to perfection, allowing the rich flavors to unfold with every sip. Madeline's recommendations are spot-on, and her ability to cater to individual preferences makes the experience personalized and special. The tiered trays of delicacies are a feast for the eyes and the taste buds. From the freshly baked scones with clotted cream and strawberry preserves to the delicate finger sandwiches and exquisite pastries, every bite is a testament to the culinary artistry of The Empress Hotel's kitchen. Madeline ensures that each course is served with precision and grace, adding to the overall sense of indulgence. The ambiance of the tea room, with its classic décor and views of the beautiful gardens, provides a serene and luxurious setting that enhances the entire experience. Whether you are celebrating a special occasion or simply indulging in a timeless tradition, the high tea at The Empress Hotel, with Madeline's exceptional service, is an experience that will be cherished long after the last cup of tea is enjoyed. Of course no visit is complete without a quick visit to the tea shop to buy my favorite blend read more

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

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The dining area is a beautiful place to have afternoon tea. We were here for tea decades ago and it's more elaborate and very expensive now. Reservations are definitely needed. They emphasize business, smart casual dress but I saw visitors there with shorts, jeans. There is a long list of tea selections including a limited list of herbal/decaf teas. Everyone gets their own pot, it's a lot of tea for one person and I was sad the rest was wasted. The food options were good but we both couldn't finish it all. Ended up taking the desserts with us to go. It's not the best afternoon tea I've ever had and certainly the most expensive. But it is such a treat to sit in a corner table watch people and enjoy the treats. A read more

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Norwegian Cruise Line excursion for tea time at the Empress was really bad. I was expecting scones, tea sandwiches and tiny tasty bites, but it was the exact opposite. Just little random dishes were set on a three tier set up with one full size dessert and two appetizers per person. I was very disappointed, I didn't care for any of the dishes in particular. I would consider coming back to do the real high tea experience in the afternoon, but never with NCL again. read more

My partner and I came here during our OMETYAT in Victoria. This is my second time here and they didn't disappoint. The scones were amazing--soft, warm, moist, and with whipped butter and delicious jam. In the mid-tier, all the sandwiches were delectable, ESPECIALLY the curry sandwich. However, the top desserts weren't hitting the spot. They were either too sweet, too dense, or had a strange texture. However, I will give a shout out to the small strawberry olive oil cake as that was amazing. It was definitely too much food for us, and we got most of the desserts and sandwiches to take home. We also took home the little honey jars they gave us as tea sweetener heh. The service was good but the server served the tea for us in the beginning (i.e., setting the timers and taking the tea bag out for us) and our server in particular took our tea bags out extremely late because he kept talking to us. At least two minutes or more past the "strong" setting on the tea timer. I was disappointed as my tea was more bitter and it gave me a headache as I'm quite sensitive to over-brewed teas. I guess I not only have a soft mouth, but a soft brain as well.. Overall, I don't think what you get is worth the price compared to other high teas, but the experience is fun every once in a while. The whole space and the servers are so elegant, and you can see right out onto a harbour. Some tables are too low though! lol read more

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We visited the Empress Hotel for tea during our recent visit to Victoria. I am not a tea drinker, but my wife is. I was impressed by the selection and actually drank at least 1/2 of my pot! Mine was the white peach tea The food provided was fresh and very tasty . The sweets were delicious and the scones..... soooo good The wait staff was friendly, we did not feel rushed, and the atmosphere was relaxing and pretty. I definitely would recommend it and the hotel is beautiful as well. read more

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Raymond provided very attentive service. Tea and food were good. The room was open so fairly loud with everyone taking. You are definitely paying for the experience. Overall, I enjoyed it. read more

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

The tea was so great! I cannot remember our servers name. Maybe Raymond? He's been at the Fairmont for 27 years. Twenty of those in tea!!!! Thanks for the great memory! read more

They said, you can't visit BC without experiencing afternoon tea time ! And so we did.. but we have to make sure we go to the best one in town! RESERVATION is a MUST! The place was packed but the service was pretty quick. Beautiful set-up, we had our own corner and a bit privacy. The Rose Tea was really tasty. All the snacks was pretty good too! It was an amazing experience! Would do it again. read more

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

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While it's pretty pricey, it's such an opportunity to have this experience at one of the world's grand hotels. Our waiter Wayne was great. They have a rotating menu of teas, and the tea foods include savory and sweet offerings. We liked the Kyoto Cherry Rose tea the best, and also had the Imperial Breakfast, the Masala Chai, and the Orange Vanilla Grove. Of the savory foods, we liked the Coronation Chicken Salad (nice curry taste) and the Ham and Cheese the best, followed by the Egg, the Cucumber, and the Salmon sandwiches. Of the sweet foods, we liked the Lime and Yuzu macarons and the Strawberry Ricotta & Olive Oil cake the best, followed by the Chocolate Cherry Cup, the Carrot Opera Cake (this puzzled us, as it didn't taste much like carrot, and we thought it tasted more like apricot from the glaze on top), and the Caramel Pecan Tart. We thought the pecan tart and the Chocolate Cherry cup were a tad too sweet for our taste. Good flavors though. read more

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What a glorious experience which was make all the better by our server, Raymond. So helpful and knowledgeable as well as being incredibly kind. I would request him anytime! read more

Wonderful ambiance. Really cater to kids. We were there for my daughter's birthday and to celebrate the beginning of summer. Raymond made her feel so special with a gift tea box and special non alcoholic Italian prosecco on the house. She was grinning. Everything was delicious. Also very accommodating to allergies etc. The Earl Grey tea was okay. Highly recommend the orange for kids and the Empress blend tea. Pricy but worth it! read more

Just a little shoutout to Raymond who helped make this experience a 1000000/10. My grandmother and I felt like royalty - We were literally drinking Princess Diana's favorite tea out of vintage china (approved by the royal family of course). I cannot wait to return one day. read more

Pinkies up! The creme de la creme of high tea. There is no coming to Victoria without coming to the Empress for Afternoon Tea. Make your reservation ahead of time as even on a Monday, the place was pretty packed during the first afternoon tea slot. We got there early and were seated along the window. It seems they fill the parlor from the window and then inward, so it's worth it to get there a few minutes before opening. The experience was luxurious and amazing. The pastries, sandwiches and desserts were spectacular. My husband was not expecting much from the experience, but left a raving fan! He was enthralled by the taste of the bites and surprised by how great the whole experience was. We've got a tea time convert on our hands! While it'll cost you some $$$, it's well worth a special splurge. Cheers! read more

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Had a wonderful family tea at the Empress! Raymond was fantastic, giving us great recommendations and we loved them all. Can't wait to do this again one day! read more

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

This is a unique experience and people should try something like this at least once. I've had tea in London at fortnum and mason before. The empress has a good tea experience and the service is very good. People don't dress up here and you will see people in jeans and t shirts. The food was good but I thought they could have had more sandwiches or at least offered more. In London they let you get more of anything in the same price. I was a little disappointed in that. Another thing is they could have smaller tea pots to let you try more varieties. They have some unique blends I have never seen before and it's not like the earl gray or English breakfast teas we see everywhere. They do offer dairy free options and other accommodations for dietary or allergies so be sure to ask if you need that. Overall it's a good experience and people should try something like this when they can. I still regret not going to the raffles hotel when I was in Singapore ten years ago. read more

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We made a reservation for the last seating of afternoon tea on our visit to Victoria. I love the open space with big windows overlooking the harbour. There are 12 teas to choose from and the tea menu shows the tea leaves for each one. The live piano music also really sets the mood here. We were celebrating a friend's birthday so they added a chocolate card with Happy Birthday on it. The food was alright. Nothing amazing for the price but I really enjoyed the scones which were super buttery and soft! The egg salad sandwich was the most mediocre item. I liked the smoked salmon on a blini and the curried chicken sandwich. For the sweets, I really liked the cherry tart and chocolate cup. Our server was very attentive and it seems like they are used to helping people take pictures. If you don't finish your food or tea, you can take it to go. It was nice to check this off the bucket list. read more

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Legit took their fairy from Vancouver to Victoria just for high tea at the Fairmont. I've heard good things about this place so I was pretty excited. It did not disappoint! The view from the Empress is gorgeous and even prettier at night! We went to the "sunset sip" event the night before and ordered the "lady whistledown" drink, which was a purple infused tea drink with alcohol. Very pretty and easy to drink. High tea was great. Make sure you make a reservation because there's a line, every day. For the tea, there were so many choices. I ended up getting a rose one that they said Princess Diana liked. It was infused with rose petals and had just a hint of rose. With some sugar and a dash of milk, it was perfect. The sandwiches were perfect; they had the usual - salmon and cucumbers, ham and cheese and also had this chicken curry one that was yummy. Their scones were pretty out of this world, just wish they were warmer as they tend to harden a bit as it cools down. The desserts were a little too sweet for me, but I'm not much of a sweet person. All in all, a great experience. The waiters and waitresses were friendly, knowledgeable and so accommodating. read more

Tea for 4 with a bottle of champagne to celebrate a special occasion. A mediocre scone, 3 small finger sandwiches, a tsp. size serving of smoked salmon, a bite size tart, 4 very sweet deserts and 3 pots of tea. Tea pots served with timer, you remove the tea bags and self serve the tea. Nice snack, beautiful location and professional service for a 90 minute experience =$734!!!! (Tax and 18% tip of over $100 included) More finger sandwiches and fewer deserts would've been nice. I expected more for $734. We left hungry, picked up 2 more family and went for cocktails, appetizers, and entrees for 6 at another very nice restaurant for just over $600. Not worth it. read more