Tea at The Empress

Name: Tea at The Empress
Address: 721 Government Street, Victoria, BC, Canada, V8W 1W5
Telephone: (250) 384-8111
Price range: CAN$51 and over
Rating: 4.7

4.7 (4662)

CAN$51 and over

Afternoon Tea

721 Government Street, Victoria, BC V8W 1W5

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 5, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 88 times today

Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

Good for special occasions
Charming
Fancy

Afternoon Tea at Fairmont Empress is a cherished tradition in Victoria, delighting guests for over a century. The menu features freshly baked scones, delicate finger sandwiches, and decadent pastries, all paired with premium teas sourced from the world’s top 10% tea producers. Ideal for celebrations or a sophisticated afternoon outing, this world-renowned tea service is a must-try experience. Reservations are highly recommended.

Additional information

Dining style
Elegant Dining
Price
CAN$51 and over
Cuisines
Afternoon Tea
Hours of operation
Daily 11:00 am–5:30 pm
Phone number
(250) 384-8111
Website
https://www.teaattheempress.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Isabel Chung

Location
721 Government Street, Victoria, BC V8W 1W5
Neighborhood
Victoria
Cross street
Government & Douglas Streets
Parking details
Self parking is available
Additional
Entertainment, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, High Tea, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

50 Vancouver Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

Experiences

Afternoon Tea
CA$70.00 - CA$109.00 per person
Multiple dates available
A grand tradition for over a century, the world-renowned Fairmont Empress has served England’s most beloved ritual of afternoon tea to famed royalty, celebrities and dignitaries alike. Reinvigorated in our timeless, sophisticated Lobby Lounge, Tea at the Empress will continue this quintessentially Victoria experience.
Champagne Afternoon Tea
CA$159.00 per person
Multiple dates available
Celebrate life’s special moments by raising a glass and toasting to unforgettable occasions with us. Elevate your experience with our Champagne Afternoon Tea, featuring a glass of champagne perfectly paired with Fairmont Empress’ signature chocolates alongside the full-tiered tea service. Delight in our Executive Pastry Chef Gerald Tan’s custom light and dark chocolates, crafted after a journey to Louviers, France, and the renowned Cacao Barry headquarters, where Tan experimented with various beans, sugars, and fruits to offer the best selection of irresistible chocolates. Enjoy a one-bite mendiant of Midnight Bloom and Golden Aura to truly taste our hotel’s unique culinary artistry. Cheers to the extraordinary!
Sunset Sips - An Evening Cocktail Experience
Apr 4, 2025 - Sep 28, 2025
As the sun sets over Victoria’s stunning Inner Harbour, Fairmont Empress transforms its renowned Lobby Lounge into a lively evening escape. Sunset Sips offers an elevated nightlife experience, blending the elegance of Afternoon Tea with a playful, Prohibition-era twist. Indulge in exquisitely crafted cocktails and spirit-free libations, served in glass teapots, a nod to the hotel’s legendary tea service. Complementing the handcrafted cocktails is a three-tiered selection of elevated small bites. This unique evening tea lounge is available Thursday through Sunday. Perfect for date nights, special celebrations, or an unforgettable night out in Victoria, BC.

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Canadian Baby Shrimp Basket
tarragon aioli, marigold
Coronation Chicken Sandwich
curried farmhouse chicken, brioche
Classic Cucumber & Dill Whipped Cream Cheese
apricot, fennel pollen, traditional rye
Truffled Egg Éclair
Canadian ancient grain mustard, chives
Smoked Salmon Mousse Barquette
local sockeye, citrus-smoked crème fraiche, caper berry
Freshly Baked Empress Raisin Scone
house-made clotted cream, strawberry preserve, lemon curd
Empress Honey & Dulcey Tart
hazelnut praline
Raspberry Crémeux
raspberry-jasmine foam, dark chocolate
Midnight Bloom Dark Chocolate Bar
rose tea ganache
Empress Chouquette
honey ganache montée
Cherry Hibiscus Macaron

Children's Royal Tea

$70 per child

Slow-Roasted Turkey, Island Harvest Bread
Peanut Butter and Jelly on Traditional White
English Cucumber on Brioche
Black Forest Ham and Cheese
Freshly Baked Raisin Scone
house-made clotted cream, strawberry preserve, lemon curd
Ladybug - Tutti Frutti Macaron
Daisy - Chocolate Cup
Honeybee - Honey Caramel Mousse
Rose - Raspberry Lemonade Cupcake
Bunny - Strawberry Mousse

Tea Selections

Empress Blend
This blend is a selection of seasonal, quality teas from Assam, Kenya, South India, Ceylon, and China. Fruity and oaky, it is one of the finest blends in the world.
Masala Chai Organic
Opens with light ginger heat and finishes on a savoury cardamom note. Showcases a rich and powerful mouth feel.
Rose Congou Emperor
Five times layered with rose petals. A favourite of Princess Diana.
Lady Londonderry
Round cup with good flowery and malty flavour. Hints of dried strawberry and lemon zest.
Creamy Earl Grey
This remarkably heady earl grey tempered with wickedly delicious cream flavour complements the bergamot brightness.
Boreangjuli, Assam
Malty with a jammy flavour best describes this pungent and flush tea, deepened by oxidation.
Liza Hill Darjeeling
A light and sophisticated character of the 'Champagne of teas', so-named for its sweet, musky notes. Enjoyed with milk and honey by King Charles III.
Goddess Oolong Organic
Enjoy the orchid-like accents and body of this traditional Chinese tea. Its delicate aroma seems to shape its presence of the mystical Chinese dragon.
Jasmine Gold Dragon
Jasmine flowers are picked at midnight during peak bloom, while delicate green tea leaves come from the early spring harvest.
Blue Suede Shoes
Opens with a smooth sweetness & finishes with mild noisette notes. Complimented by vanilla roundness.
Market Fresh
Brisk, crisp, sweet and fruity a juicy mosaic brimming with tart summer fruit, rounded by all harvest vegetal flavors.
Orange Vanilla Grove
Like a walk through an orange grove in blossom. Creamy orange highlights and a red berry acidity.
Revitalize Green & White Blend
Lively sugarcane green tea with white matcha. Flavored with dried strawberry and chamomile for a cup equally complex and calming.
Joie de Provence
The natural sweetness of Rooibos infused with ginger notes and comforting aroma of roses and lavender.
Madame ButterflyCA$18.00
Hand-tied into the shape of butterflies, this green tea is infused with jasmine blossoms over seven nights on the mountainside.
Golden Pu-ErhCA$18.00
Aged five years in dark caves to achieve its elemental palate. The leaves develop an enhanced character during aging.
Waterfront Mint
Peppermint, ginger and rosehip bring spice and balance to this herbal blend. Naturally caffeine free.
Tong Mu Phoenix Organic
Smoke, molasses & malt, exceptionally unique and rare.

Wine by the Glass

Church & StateCA$24.00
blanc de gris, Brentwood Bay, BC, Canada
Laurent PerrierCA$42.00
brut, Champagne, France
Unsworth
pinot gris, Cowichan Valley, BC, Canada
- 5 ozCA$18.00
- 9 ozCA$30.00
Mt. Boucherie
Kelowna, BC, Canada
- 5 ozCA$17.00
- 9 ozCA$27.00
BottegaCA$10.00
sparkling rosé, Veneto, Italy
Saicho Sparkling Tea
- Glass (250mL)CA$15.00
- Bottle (750mL)CA$75.00

Toast to Tradition

Take your tea experience to the next level and imbibe in one of our new, spritzy creations. The perfect complement to your iconic experience.

Classic MimosaCA$16.00
choice of orange or grapefruit
Market Fresh MimosaCA$20.00
market fresh herbal tea syrup, citrus blend, rhubarb bitters
Bloomsberry MimosaCA$20.00
lady londonderry tea syrup, strawberry preserve, lemon
Pacific Periwinkle MimosaCA$20.00
blue suede shoes tea, pineapple, basil, vanilla, lemon
Empress SpritzCA$18.00
orange grove vanilla infused aperol, lemon, soda

What 4,662 people are saying

Tea at The Empress reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.6Food
4.7Service
4.7Ambience
4.0Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Vancouver / British Columbia
Most Booked
Victoria
Best Ambiance
Victoria
Good for special occasions
Victoria
Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Tea at The Empress offers a "fantastic experience" with "excellent service" and "delicious food" in a "beautiful setting." The ambiance is enriched by a historic location and live piano music, making it a "must do" in Victoria. Though pricey, the experience is often described as "memorable" and "worth the price."

4,662 Reviews

N
Nivi
Seattle / Eastern Washington1 review
5.0
Dined today
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Emily was great and the experience was amazing. The recommendations for teas were very personal and thought through !
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J
Jesper
Seattle / Eastern Washington11 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Possibly the best afternoon tea service east of London. The teas are wonderful and the service by Raymond was great. The food was very good as well. All in all a great experience that’s well worth a drive.
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C
Camila
Toronto / Ontario1 review
2.0
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 2
2. Food 1
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
Sadly, the experience was not worth the price (~130$ per person) and I would not recommend it. We had the vegetarian high tea, and while the tea itself was great, the food was not. In our tray we had scones, really simple and not great sandwiches, and desserts that were also not good. For some reason, we got no macarons or other nice desserts, but things such as lime cake and brownie. When paying for a high tea, we expect better food. Also worth noting that there is no view of the city because the blinds are kept down. On the positive side, the staff was great and the porcelain set they use was lovely.
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R
Raili
Vancouver / British Columbia1 review
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
High Tea at the Empress Hotel in Victoria it’s definitely doing at least once! The prices are insanely high for what you get. All in for two of us including tip it was $270 which was shocking however the experience was fabulous and the food is mostly delicious. We each got five tiny sandwiches and five desserts, one scone and one cookie as well plus clotted cream and two jams. The tea was delicious as well and we each got our own pot. Overall, we could barely finish the food and found it to be plenty! The desserts are very, very sweet but nice and the sandwiches were delicious and the scones were out of this world good! If you want to treat yourself, I highly recommend checking this place out!
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J
Jennifer
Calgary / Southern Alberta2 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
This was the eighth Grand Railway Hotel at which we have enjoyed Afternoon Tea. We love that each is well done, and unique. I was pleased to see so many people making the effort to dress nicely, complete with fascinators. Live piano music added to the ambience. We had a lovely conversation with our neighbouring table, who had been looking forward to Tea at the Empress for 30 years! We had the pleasure of being served by Marlene, who has been at the Empress for 56 years, serving Tea for many of those years. The menu, under new head chef, Isabel Chung, is the kind of menu we have been waiting to see at the Empress for about a decade, and it was every bit as good as it sounded. Thoroughly enjoyed!
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W
Wilfredo Jr
Vancouver / British Columbia1 review
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
✨ Afternoon Tea at The Empress – A Beautiful Experience ✨ I finally got to try the famous afternoon tea at the Fairmont Empress in Victoria—and wow, it truly lived up to the hype! The whole experience felt so special. Everything was beautifully presented, from the elegant china to the stunning three-tier tray filled with sweet and savory treats. 🥪 Favorites from the food: •The smoked salmon sandwich and the classic cucumber one were both light and delicious. •The scones were warm, buttery, and perfect with the strawberry jam and clotted cream. •I loved the little desserts—especially the Earl Grey macaron and the chocolate pastry! 🍵 Tea Time: I tried their signature Empress Blend tea and it was SO good—smooth, aromatic, and just the right strength. Also tried an iced butterfly pea tea, which was really refreshing and had a cool blue-purple color. The staff were so friendly and made sure everything was perfect. And the setting—gorgeous views of the harbour and such a classic, relaxing atmosphere.
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J
Justin
Denver / Colorado1 review
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Raymond was the best. It was a great experience and the tea and food was amazing.
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L
Linda
Sacramento / Sacramento Valley1 review
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
When Adam discovered we were sitting our first formal tea, he took time to explain everything. He even offered descriptions of some of his favorite teas. The teas were all fantastic, the treats were amazing, and the kitchen was even able to accommodate dietary restrictions.
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S
Sheryl VIP
Orange County5 reviews
3.0
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
It was very nice but way too pricey for overall, food, ambiance & services. We had better in London & USA California for less.
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K
Katie
Portland / Oregon1 review
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
First time at The Empress and the experience was wonderful! My family had a great time and our server, Manon, took good care of us! She was so sweet and knowledgeable. The food items were delicious and the variety of teas were tasty as well. I hope to come back again!
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FAQs

Tea at The Empress offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (250) 384-8111.

Tea at The Empress is rated 4.7 stars by 4662 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 5, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 88 times today

Experiences are available.

721 Government Street, Victoria, BC V8W 1W5

Additional information

Cross street
Government & Douglas Streets
Neighborhood
Victoria
Hours of operation
Daily 11:00 am–5:30 pm
Price
CAN$51 and over
Cuisines
Afternoon Tea
Dining style
Elegant Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Self parking is available
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Isabel Chung
Additional
Entertainment, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, High Tea, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
https://www.teaattheempress.com/
Phone number
(250) 384-8111

Featured in

50 Vancouver Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

Tea at The Empress

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Additional information

50 Vancouver Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

Afternoon Tea

Champagne Afternoon Tea

Sunset Sips - An Evening Cocktail Experience

Traditional Afternoon Tea

Canadian Baby Shrimp Basket

Coronation Chicken Sandwich

Classic Cucumber & Dill Whipped Cream Cheese

Truffled Egg Éclair

Smoked Salmon Mousse Barquette

Freshly Baked Empress Raisin Scone

Empress Honey & Dulcey Tart

Raspberry Crémeux

Midnight Bloom Dark Chocolate Bar

Empress Chouquette

Cherry Hibiscus Macaron

Children's Royal Tea

Slow-Roasted Turkey, Island Harvest Bread

Peanut Butter and Jelly on Traditional White

English Cucumber on Brioche

Black Forest Ham and Cheese

Freshly Baked Raisin Scone

Ladybug - Tutti Frutti Macaron

Daisy - Chocolate Cup

Honeybee - Honey Caramel Mousse

Rose - Raspberry Lemonade Cupcake

Bunny - Strawberry Mousse

Tea Selections

Empress Blend

Masala Chai Organic

Rose Congou Emperor

Lady Londonderry

Creamy Earl Grey

Boreangjuli, Assam

Liza Hill Darjeeling

Goddess Oolong Organic

Jasmine Gold Dragon

Blue Suede Shoes

Market Fresh

Orange Vanilla Grove

Revitalize Green & White Blend

Joie de Provence

Madame ButterflyCA$18.00

Golden Pu-ErhCA$18.00

Waterfront Mint

Tong Mu Phoenix Organic

Wine by the Glass

Church & StateCA$24.00

Laurent PerrierCA$42.00

Unsworth

Mt. Boucherie

BottegaCA$10.00

Saicho Sparkling Tea

Toast to Tradition

Classic MimosaCA$16.00

Market Fresh MimosaCA$20.00

Bloomsberry MimosaCA$20.00

Pacific Periwinkle MimosaCA$20.00

Empress SpritzCA$18.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

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

How is Tea at The Empress restaurant rated?

Is Tea at The Empress currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information

Featured in

50 Vancouver Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day