A special treat for my daughter (12) and me. Not a lot of places to get tea in Austin and certainly one of the high points of our holiday season. Pricey but a great experience.
Zoe C.
I LOVED the tea here! The wait staff were so friendly and helpful and the tea and food were both amazing!
Bill L.
First time trying afternoon tea and my entire experience far exceeded my expectations. From the hosts to our server, Wayne, and everyone in between, they were exceptionally welcoming and helpful in explaining everything to us. My partner got the Jasmine Gold Dragon tea and I got the Hill Darjeeling tea. Both were kept hot throughout our entire hour there and our cups were topped off by our server whenever they were empty. The food was extremely delicious, from the scones on the bottom tray to the dessert on top. This is a must-try experience and I'd recommend it to anyone interested!
Jason G.
This is the quintessential experience in Victoria and the main attraction in my opinion and also worth the trip. The tea selection is fantastic and very delicious. The sandwiches are sweets are scrumptious and quite filling as well. The service is of the highest quality and standards and yet very personable and attentive. I will definitely be back for this.
Sara G.
Really wanted to give this experience more stars but I cannot. Service and ambiance were superb. Our waiter Adam was wonderful. So attentive and informative. The ambiance was beautiful. Enjoyed the tea very much, and scones were some of the best we have ever had. The finger sandwiches were good but nothing outstanding. Sadly, the desserts were quite disappointing. Most were not finished by the four of us. The quality of the desserts made them not worth eating. We expected much better for the price we paid. Still glad we had this experience with our teenage daughters. We really expected to be wowed today by the famous Tea at the Empress, but in the end we were not. For the price it should really all be fantastic.
Dana Z.
Well I must say, we have mixed feelings about our experience of high tea at the Empress Hotel. The ambience and service were excellent, the food subpar. Seriously if you're paying $100 a person, one would hope for more elaborate morsels but they were not. One the sandwiches was plain ole ham and cheese with mayo. Their bread tastes like it's store bought and everything was rather bland. We had a bill of $400 with a few $25 cocktails. Not worth the money folks. Go somewhere else.
Michele S.
This is probably the high tea of all high teas (outside of Britain at least). The Fairmont Empress's gorgeous setting and historic hotel provide the backdrop for a delicious afternoon tea that can make you feel as if you have stepped into another time. We enjoyed our tea date during US Thanksgiving (obviously not a holiday in Canada), which is when the Fairmont is prepping for its Christmas tree lighting and the holiday parade. We got the added bonus of seeing all of their pretty holiday decorations. Our server was knowledgeable about the tea selection, and how to properly steep the specific teas we chose. There are approximately 20 teas to choose from, including a rose tea that was apparently a favorite of Princess Diana (we watched the latest season of the Crown a few days before tea!). Our three tiered treat tray was full of delicious finger sandwiches, scones and mini cakes. Our tea date happened to be the first day of the special holiday menu, so it included holiday specific treats like fruit cake and peppermint chocolate. I loved the cucumber sandwich, mini quiche and the clotted cream that came with the scone. We were so full we had to take some of our treats to go. There are other tea services in Victoria, but the Empress is a must!
James G.
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.
Claire Y.
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.
Sarah R.
This was the activity we were most excited about during our weekend in Victoria but it was a disappointment. The hotel is beautiful & we enjoyed the idea of high tea- but it was not worth the money or time. To start, we were celebrating which we put in our reservation and that was never acknowledged. We asked for a table by the window which also didn't happen. When we were seated, there was an obvious piece of dirt in my tea cup and I had to ask to get a new one. Our server was inattentive and rushed- often waiting long periods for tea refills or even requested water which we never received until 3 requests and 45 minutes in, The miniature foods were tasty and well presented but there was chipped bowls and just a lack of attention to detail for the price of the experience. The area the tea was served in was a brightly lit, busy hotel lobby vibe. There are much better options in town for half the price. I wouldn't return or acknowledge a celebration here.
Our American visitors go all ga-ga over this place but as a long-time resident of Victoria I'd never go there again -- the city has plenty of bakeries and similar tea-coffee-pastry places without the pretense and $$$$$$ prices.
Steve C.
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.
Carlos S.
This was an absolutely remarkable experience, and it's a must-do if you ever visit Victoria! The teas were nice and the scones and sandwiches were delicious too. The desserts at the end were among the best I've had in my entire life. Our server Guy was great and very cordial as well. The ambiance is opulent yet welcoming. I totally recommend this place.
Holly S.
Loved our experience! Guy was an amazing host/server. Recommend a later seating (5pm) so you can take your time and it feels less crowded. I used Apple Pay, so can confirm it is accepted.
Jenny C.
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
A special treat for my daughter (12) and me. Not a lot of places to get tea in Austin and certainly one of the high points of our holiday season. Pricey but a great experience.
I LOVED the tea here! The wait staff were so friendly and helpful and the tea and food were both amazing!
First time trying afternoon tea and my entire experience far exceeded my expectations. From the hosts to our server, Wayne, and everyone in between, they were exceptionally welcoming and helpful in explaining everything to us. My partner got the Jasmine Gold Dragon tea and I got the Hill Darjeeling tea. Both were kept hot throughout our entire hour there and our cups were topped off by our server whenever they were empty. The food was extremely delicious, from the scones on the bottom tray to the dessert on top. This is a must-try experience and I'd recommend it to anyone interested!
This is the quintessential experience in Victoria and the main attraction in my opinion and also worth the trip. The tea selection is fantastic and very delicious. The sandwiches are sweets are scrumptious and quite filling as well. The service is of the highest quality and standards and yet very personable and attentive. I will definitely be back for this.
Really wanted to give this experience more stars but I cannot. Service and ambiance were superb. Our waiter Adam was wonderful. So attentive and informative. The ambiance was beautiful. Enjoyed the tea very much, and scones were some of the best we have ever had. The finger sandwiches were good but nothing outstanding. Sadly, the desserts were quite disappointing. Most were not finished by the four of us. The quality of the desserts made them not worth eating. We expected much better for the price we paid. Still glad we had this experience with our teenage daughters. We really expected to be wowed today by the famous Tea at the Empress, but in the end we were not. For the price it should really all be fantastic.
Well I must say, we have mixed feelings about our experience of high tea at the Empress Hotel. The ambience and service were excellent, the food subpar. Seriously if you're paying $100 a person, one would hope for more elaborate morsels but they were not. One the sandwiches was plain ole ham and cheese with mayo. Their bread tastes like it's store bought and everything was rather bland. We had a bill of $400 with a few $25 cocktails. Not worth the money folks. Go somewhere else.
This is probably the high tea of all high teas (outside of Britain at least). The Fairmont Empress's gorgeous setting and historic hotel provide the backdrop for a delicious afternoon tea that can make you feel as if you have stepped into another time. We enjoyed our tea date during US Thanksgiving (obviously not a holiday in Canada), which is when the Fairmont is prepping for its Christmas tree lighting and the holiday parade. We got the added bonus of seeing all of their pretty holiday decorations. Our server was knowledgeable about the tea selection, and how to properly steep the specific teas we chose. There are approximately 20 teas to choose from, including a rose tea that was apparently a favorite of Princess Diana (we watched the latest season of the Crown a few days before tea!). Our three tiered treat tray was full of delicious finger sandwiches, scones and mini cakes. Our tea date happened to be the first day of the special holiday menu, so it included holiday specific treats like fruit cake and peppermint chocolate. I loved the cucumber sandwich, mini quiche and the clotted cream that came with the scone. We were so full we had to take some of our treats to go. There are other tea services in Victoria, but the Empress is a must!
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.
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.
This was the activity we were most excited about during our weekend in Victoria but it was a disappointment. The hotel is beautiful & we enjoyed the idea of high tea- but it was not worth the money or time. To start, we were celebrating which we put in our reservation and that was never acknowledged. We asked for a table by the window which also didn't happen. When we were seated, there was an obvious piece of dirt in my tea cup and I had to ask to get a new one. Our server was inattentive and rushed- often waiting long periods for tea refills or even requested water which we never received until 3 requests and 45 minutes in, The miniature foods were tasty and well presented but there was chipped bowls and just a lack of attention to detail for the price of the experience. The area the tea was served in was a brightly lit, busy hotel lobby vibe. There are much better options in town for half the price. I wouldn't return or acknowledge a celebration here.
Restaurantji Recommends
Our American visitors go all ga-ga over this place but as a long-time resident of Victoria I'd never go there again -- the city has plenty of bakeries and similar tea-coffee-pastry places without the pretense and $$$$$$ prices.
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.
This was an absolutely remarkable experience, and it's a must-do if you ever visit Victoria! The teas were nice and the scones and sandwiches were delicious too. The desserts at the end were among the best I've had in my entire life. Our server Guy was great and very cordial as well. The ambiance is opulent yet welcoming. I totally recommend this place.
Loved our experience! Guy was an amazing host/server. Recommend a later seating (5pm) so you can take your time and it feels less crowded. I used Apple Pay, so can confirm it is accepted.
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