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Tea at The Empress, Victoria, BC

Tea at The Empress

4.6 (4545)
CAN$51 and over
Afternoon Tea
721 Government Street, Victoria, BC V8W 1W5

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 100 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
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Isabel Chung
  • 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

Experiences

  • 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.
    Sunset Sips - An Evening Cocktail Experience Photo

What 4,545 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

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 3.9Value

NoiseModerate

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 "truly magical" experience with "amazing" teas and "exceptional food." Renowned for its "attentive" service, especially from Raymond, it's ideal for special occasions. Though prices are high, the elegant ambiance and memorable experience make it a "must-do" in Victoria.

4,545 Reviews
  1. David

    Vancouver1 review

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our server,Raymond, was excellent. He made sure all our needs were met. He packed up our leftovers in a couple of boxes, packed in a paper bag.

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  2. Jenette

    San Francisco2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My experience at the Empress for Tea was made amazing by Mathieu and his beautiful server. Open Table reservations were still in process of being set up, so things were quite mixed up, be these wonderful people fixed and accommodated our Afternoon Tea for our birthday girl as promised. Can't thank you enough. 😊

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  3. Ashley

    Montana1 review

    4.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Loved the atmosphere of high tea. Elegant table setting with delicious teas. Most of the food was very good, a couple items were not to my taste. Tea room was warm but service was excellent. Definitely paying for the historic room and high tea experience overall.

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  4. Tripp

    Portland8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a lovely time at Sunset Sips. Food was delicious, cocktails and tea were refreshing and the atmosphere was a delight. The service was particularly good!

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  5. Daniel VIP

    Los Angeles18 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    First time experience at the Empress Very enjoyable -just wish we had reserved a table six years ago when the price was half! Good service and a wonderful pianist added to the enjoyment

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  6. Sheila

    Portland6 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 2
    Here's a concise Open Table review based on your feedback: A truly delicious and filling high tea experience at The Empress. The food was arguably the best I've had for high tea, and the service, especially from Maelou and the team, was absolutely impeccable and the highlight of our visit. While the service was top-notch and the food excellent, the ambiance in our seating area felt a bit sparse compared to other parts of the hotel, and the room's acoustics made the music a bit loud. The table also felt a little cramped with all the tea pots and food. Despite the minor issues with seating and ambiance, the outstanding food and exceptional service are strong reasons to return.

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  7. Michelle VIP

    San Diego11 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our waiter, Raymond, gave us the most excellent service! He took care of us from the moment we got there. We felt very pampered. 

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  8. Annette

    Vancouver2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Excellent experience. Wonderful service. Beautifully served with wonderful flavours. Exactly what I was hoping for to celebrate my birthday. Only concern was how loud the pianist was playing. Difficult to hear my companion as I am a little harder if hearing. The music was lovely, just the volume was my issue. Would totally recommend partaking in this experience!

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  9. Cherie

    Hawaii2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on April 28, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    We enjoyed the high tea at the Empress hotel. Our waiter Kevin was good and the scones were really delicious especially with the lemon curd and jam. My husband was surprised at how much he enjoyed all the different small sandwich bites and dessert bites. I loved the orange vanilla herb tea and was able to purchase it in the gift shop. A very expensive tea but really fun!

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  10. Lyss

    Toronto1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 28, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderfully friendly staff and waiter, beautiful view and tasty food!

    Is this helpful?

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 4.6 stars by 4545 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. Canada
  3. Vancouver / British Columbia
  4. Victoria
  5. Victoria

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 100 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Tea at The Empress

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
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