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Tea at The Empress

4.6

4529 Reviews

CAN$30 and under

Unspecified

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A grand tradition for over a century, the world renowned Tea at The Empress has served England’s most beloved ritual of Afternoon Tea to famed royalty, celebrities and dignitaries alike. Tea at the Empress provides a quintessentially signature Victoria experience to all who attend.

Executive Pastry Tony Vilnov and team prepare house-made Empress scones, delectable pastries and tea sweets daily, reflecting locally sourced ingredients to ensure an authentically memorable experience. An exciting new offering is our Fairmont Empress cake. A rich hazelnut chocolate layer cake featuring customized chocolate developed in France specifically for Fairmont Empress. The cake will be topped with a chocolate crown.

Truly one of the finest blends in the world, Empress Tea is the perfect complement to the tea experience. However, should you feel adventurous, Tea at the Empress now has 21 loose leaf teas to select from, making every moment memorable and uniquely your own.

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Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
CAN$30 and under
Cuisines
Unspecified
Hours of operation
Daily 11:30 am–9:30 pm
Phone number
(250) 384-8111
Website
http://www.qattheempress.com/?y_source=1_MTU2Mzc2NzMtODYwLWxvY2F0aW9uLndlYnNpdGU=
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Tony Velinov

Location
721 Government Street, Victoria, BC V8W 1W5
Neighborhood
Victoria
Cross street
Government & Douglas Streets
Parking details
Self parking is available
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Counter Seating, Gluten-free Options, High Tea, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Vegan, View, Wine

Featured in

50 Vancouver Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

What 4,529 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.6Food
4.6Service
4.3Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

4,529 Reviews

D
Diane
Vancouver
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 7, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The experience was wonderful with our kids and our server was impeccable with his service and small talk.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Vancouver
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was amazing. The service was exceptional. We were close to the piano. The music was great, but it was a little loud at our particular table. I loved the experience overall!
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EH
EvonH
Denver
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We were early and they still sat us at a wonderful table. Service and food was excellent!
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JS
JackieS
Vancouver
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on September 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Thoroughly enjoyed our high tea. Such elegant surroundings. Our server Manon was lovely. Very attentive. Would definitely come visit next time I'm in Victoria.
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C
Canadnwen
Las Vegas
19 reviews
5.0
19 reviews
Dined on September 21, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
Tea at the Empress was a lot of fun! You are able to pick which tea you want served. There were 3 of us so we were able to try different ones which was nice. They then served us a tiered plate which had desserts on the top- one of each kind to everyone, sandwiches in the middle and scones on the bottom. There was a nice variety of sandwich fingers. The scones were to die for!!!! The desserts were ok - not a huge fan. But overall experience was fantastic!!!
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T
Tula
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
It was lovely. The service was great. The ambiance was wonderful. The selection of tea, sandwiches and teas and desserts was great. Also we had a wonderful time felt like royalty
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JD
JeannetteD
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on September 2, 2023
overall1food1service1ambience1
I canceled these reservations through OpenTable a few weeks ago. Please refund any money charged to me on the card you used. My internet has been down but my phone is working. Jeannette DePriest 1-808-339-2275 Mahalo nui loa!!!
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CM
CarrollM
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on September 1, 2023
overall3food4service2ambience2
After the initial service, it went downhill. Especially when servers were together stacking clean dishes.
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MB
MarkB
Phoenix
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The atmosphere was great. Adam our server was very attentive and did a superb job. The food was very tasty and the tea delicious.
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AB
AutumnB
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Tea at the Empress is always a wonderful experience to share with loved ones!
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HM
HappyMom
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
High Tea was a very special treat for my family; me, son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter. We had a table by the window so the ambiance was perfect. The food and service was all we could ask for. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.
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CH
CathyH
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 16, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience4
The entire event was delicious and lovely. The food was good and service was excellent.
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MH
MegenH
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
My friend and I had a fantastic time eating delicious tea snacks and drinking wonderful tea while being served by friendly staff at The Empress.
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TG
TonyaG
San Francisco
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on August 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This was a bucket list experience. It was all that we thought it would be. Delicious, great service, and so memorable. Thanks Empress for making my birthday special. Marlene, our server, was great.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 9, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Generous serving of food with lots of variety. Diabetics be aware! We boxed most of our sweets for later. Ask for dark tea if you want cream and sugar. Some teas are best to have plain. Research ahead of time or you will be overwhelmed on which to pick from their 15 options.
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AP
APersonDining
Palm Springs
26 reviews
vip
5.0
26 reviews
Dined on August 3, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Worth the price for the experience and quality. Definitely a bucket list item for anyone visiting victoria and that is a fan of afternoon tea
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MW
MarilynW
Denver
9 reviews
4.0
9 reviews
Dined on July 28, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience3
Wonderful scones! The tea was extra wonderful as was the service. Unfortunately the room allows sound to bounce all over and the piano music as lovely as it was just increased the noise level. Glad we did it once though!
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d
dlkap1
Phoenix
5 reviews
4.0
5 reviews
Dined on July 27, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
It is a beautiful setting; the food and service were very good; although the tea I ordered was categorized as a black tea and was really more of a green tea, I am a tea connoisseur so it was a bit disappointing. I also felt the price was a bit high compared with other Afternoon Teas I have done around the world. The gift shop was quite lovely and the staff very helpful!
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CM
CarolynM
Seattle
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 24, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
A must for a "once in a lifetime" event. The service is outstanding and the atmosphere is very nice.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Vancouver
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on July 23, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience4
We enjoyed the experience celebrating milestone birthdays. Although rather expensive it was worth the treat.
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R
Rafo45
New York Area
64 reviews
vip
3.0
64 reviews
Dined on July 20, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience5
All in all it was a nice experience though a very expensive one. The 5 sandwiches were 3 good and 2 standard; the scone was great; the 5 sweets were standard. The place is beautiful and service was ok, but it was so expensive that my final rating is a medium one.
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K
Kelly
Orange County
17 reviews
3.0
17 reviews
Dined on July 20, 2023
overall3food2service3ambience5
I liked about half of the sandwiches and desserts and disliked the other half. Very overpriced and we were rushed. The food items arrived before we had tea or water. It was very hot in there, too, which made drinking hot tea undesirable.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful experience - a bucket list item! Service was fast, friendly, and knowledgeable. I appreciated the option to select vegetarian items. Everyone in the restaurant looked like they were having a good time as well. Would love to do it again!
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LL
LauraL
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on July 11, 2023
overall3food2service3ambience3
For the experience after years of hoping to enjoy high tea at The Empress Hotel, it was worth it. For what we actually received for the cost of $95 a person, it wasn't quite worth it and I likely will not attend again. The selection of teas was wonderful, although the actual food on the tea tray seemed lacking. The sandwiches had variety, yet most were on white bread that wasn't that soft. Despite looking lovely and having variety within the desserts they seemed to all have very similar flavors from citrus or tart to very chocolatey with tart. The scones with clotted cream and jam were very delicious, although the tiny dish of clotted cream didn't go very far. It was a "bucket list" experience for me so I'm glad we went, although the food wasn't anything special and didn't knock my socks off like I would hope high tea for $95 a person might do. The staff was personable and kind, playing out a well oiled machine in serving high tea to many folks at once. I don't regret it but I wish the food was better with something special that I would think The Empress Hotel would be able to deliver after so many years of serving High Tea to millions of people!
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SG
SaraG
Vancouver
2 reviews
2.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 10, 2023
overall2food2service5ambience2
Service was exceptional, sandwiches were dry, deserts were not that good, and clotted cream made in house not very good. Over priced and over crowded
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CO
ChristiO
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 9, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
The food quality and friendliness of the staff was excellent. I have usually found that pretty desserts don't wind up tasting that great but these both looked amazing AND tasted incredible! The quality of the sandwiches was perfect and I loved the house blend of tea. I was a little surprised at how noisy and crowded it was for an upscale and expensive experience. They are definitely trying to get you in and out to keep pouring more people in after you.
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C
Cindy
San Francisco
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on July 4, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Tea at the Empress is delightful! The good, service, atmosphere, everything was spot on. I would highly recommend the experience and will do it again next time I’m there.
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PD
PamelaD
Central Coast
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on July 2, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
My daughter and I had an occasion to revisit The Empress and Tea at the Empress shouldn’t be missed. The beautiful dishes The Late Queen donated in 1930 are well kept. The proportions were perfect for us and the tea was the best! Outstanding service. Make reservations because they were packed. We had a cozy table facing the water. Wonderful experience
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WS
WillS
Atlanta Metro
6 reviews
3.0
6 reviews
Dined on June 30, 2023
overall3food4service4ambience2
First the pros: Food, Service and View were great. A large variety of teas to choose from and a nice selection of finger foods and desserts. The staff was friendly and attentive with a fantastic view of the water. The Cons: Price vs Value, noise level, crowds. The cost of the tea was $95 or $135 with a glass of champagne. The food was good...but not $95 good. Two of us opted for he champagne...this was not worth the additional $40 per person. The room is also very loud. This likely had to do with the third con...the crowd. This isn't a quiet, intimate place for a tea. Tea is served in a large open room with no separation between tables. Also people were dressed as if they walked in off the street. Very casual, shorts, flip-flops. This wasn't a problem just don't stress over what you are going to wear like we did. There are people dressed very casual to sport coats and dresses. I had a nice time but I can't say I would recommend tea here. I just don't think it's a good value computed to tea I have had at other places.
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JC
JeffC
Nashville
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on June 29, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience4
Thank you- what a wonderful hotel and a great experience! Victoria was one of our ports for your Alaska cruise and we attended your Butchart Gardens followed by our afternoon tea. Our waiter was very helpful and even gave us directions to our next destination. Your empress blend tea was so good I bought some to bring home.
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R
Rian943
Los Angeles
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on June 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Marlene was lovely. We had a wonderful experience. Everything was so delicious. Had a gluten free service in our party and it was amazing. Will definitely return.
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SF
SeattleFoodie
Seattle
23 reviews
vip
3.0
23 reviews
Dined on June 24, 2023
overall3food3service4ambience4
Glad I did it once to share the experience with my grandkids and daughter. Once is all you need. $700 for 5. Ugh.
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GS
GinnaS
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 22, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We wanted to spend the entire day at Butchart Gardens. Discovered that there was a restaurant on site. It looked good, so we tried it. The atmosphere is charming, love the lead and beveled glass windows. Enjoyed the view of the private garden and dreamt it was mine. Two had the pork chop; they were unable to stop raving about the pork! Our multiple allergies were addressed with sensitivity and understanding. Five of us were very impressed with our experience at the restaurant at Butchart Gardens. Delighted we were able to enjoy a lovely meal with family.
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PC
PhilipC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Very eloquent setting and experience. It was a special part of our trip to Victoria.
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GC
GhislinC
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on June 19, 2023
overall3food3service5ambience2
The teas themselves were excellent as well as the service. However, the food, while good, was not worth $95. Besides, the room was extremely noisy and we couid barely hear the piano being played. Good experience overall, but we've seen better.
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SS
StephanieS
Orlando
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on June 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience3
This was my 3rd visit to Tea at the Empress. It has been 7-8 years since my last visit. The room the tea is held in has been renovated and I am not a fan of the modern take they have adopted. Previously the room was very flowerly with lots of mismatch oversized chairs. It is hard to explain but the atmosphere was just magical. Now it is all basic dining tables and chairs. It totally took away from the ambience for me. I think this will be my last tea at the Empress. I want to find something with an ambience that matches what you will find in a true English tea setting. Otherwise, the service, food, etc was all amazing.
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DE
DaveE
New York Area
49 reviews
vip
4.0
49 reviews
Dined on June 15, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience5
Really nice place, good food, great tea and good service. Absolutely nothing negative, but it is expensive. If you have a car, consider The Teahouse at Abkhazi Garden. Just as good, a view of the gardens (and you can walk around before and/or after tea) and 1/2 the price.
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J
Jofo
Washington DC
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on June 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience2
The tea was elegant and the food was wonderful! Our server, Madeline was absolutely the best! The worst part of the experience and I do mean awful, was the level of heat in the tea room. We got all dressed up and we were literally sweating as we sipped our champagne and our tea. A lot of money for a sauna.
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T
Timothy
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience3
Although the cost is steep, the once-in-a-lifetime event makes it worth it.
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V
Veritas
Seattle
56 reviews
vip
5.0
56 reviews
Dined on June 10, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Came back to the Empress after many years to re-experience the high tea experience. We were not disappointed. Everything was perfect from beginning to end. Had a glass of excellent Champagne first and the the tea with the three trays of sweets and sandwiches. The tea was some of the best I have ever had and all the sandwiches and sweets were unbelievably good. Service was spectacular. Highly recommended.
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FAQs

You can order delivery directly from Tea at The Empress using the Order Online button. Tea at The Empress also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (250) 384-8111.

Tea at The Empress is rated 4.6 stars by 4529 OpenTable diners.

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable reservation network.

If you like, we'll notify you by email if this restaurant joins.

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Order delivery or takeout

721 Government Street, Victoria, BC V8W 1W5

Additional information

Cross street
Government & Douglas Streets
Neighborhood
Victoria
Hours of operation
Daily 11:30 am–9:30 pm
Price
CAN$30 and under
Cuisines
Unspecified
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Self parking is available
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Tony Velinov
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Counter Seating, Gluten-free Options, High Tea, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Vegan, View, Wine

Website
http://www.qattheempress.com/?y_source=1_MTU2Mzc2NzMtODYwLWxvY2F0aW9uLndlYnNpdGU=
Phone number
(250) 384-8111

Featured in

50 Vancouver Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

This restaurant now offers Takeout

Tea at The Empress

Not available on OpenTable

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Featured in

50 Vancouver Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

Menu

What 4,529 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

FAQs

Does Tea at The Empress offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Tea at The Empress restaurant rated?

Not available on OpenTable

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Featured in

50 Vancouver Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day