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Fairmont Empress

Tea at The Empress

Afternoon Tea

World-renowned AFTERNOON TEA

Experience Victoria’s most iconic Afternoon Tea at Fairmont Empress, a beloved tradition served for over a century. Since 1908, the world-renowned hotel has welcomed royalty, celebrities, and dignitaries to enjoy this quintessential Victoria experience. Today, Tea at the Empress continues this celebrated ritual in the elegant Lobby Lounge, where historic grandeur meets modern refinement. 

    

Recognized as one of the best Afternoon Tea experiences in Victoria, Tea at the Empress blends heritage, local flavours, and timeless hospitality.

Modern english
Lobby Lounge

OPENING HOURS

Tea Service

11:00am- 7:00pm | Monday - Wednesday

Tea Service

11:00am - 9:00pm | Thursday - Sunday

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Reservations are recommended

LOCATION

Address

V8W 1W5, VICTORIA, Canada

CONTACT

In order to provide the best experience for all our guests, we maintain a dress code.

  • Please refrain from wearing hats. Exceptions are fascinators and fancy tea hats.
  • No tank tops, beach wear, or athleisure wear permitted.
  • No flip-flops or bare feet permitted. Exceptions are elegant sandals. 
  • No clothing with explicit or offensive wording or graphics permitted. 

 

Guests who arrive in unsuitable attire may be politely declined. Thank you for your understanding.

Afternoon Tea
Great views
Live Music
Vegetarian-friendly
Gluten-free Options
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Why you'll love it

Indulge in Afternoon Tea at the Empress for a delightful blend of elegance, with delicate pastries, savory bites, and stunning harbor views.

Be sure to try

The Empress blend is a selection of seasonal, quality teas, created exclusively for Fairmont Empress by the Metropolitan Tea Company. With components from Assam (thick, malty and full bodied), Kenya (floral-like with a golden coppery infusion), and China (burgundy depth with light, oaky notes), it is truly one of the finest blends in the world.

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Location & Contact

Parking Lot

Details Parking available for an additional fee

Space 305 Parking spaces

Parking type Indoor parking

HOTEL CONTACT

Vue Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Experience the timeless tradition of Tea at the Empress, where an elegant assortment of premium loose-leaf teas is paired with warm, freshly baked scones, delicate finger sandwiches, and beautifully crafted pastries and sweets.

Absolutely. Tea at the Empress is more than an afternoon tea—it’s a world-renowned Victoria tradition that draws guests from across Canada and around the globe. Served since the hotel first opened in 1908, the experience welcomes more than 400 guests per day to enjoy freshly baked scones, delicate pastries, premium teas and warm hospitality in the iconic Fairmont Empress. For many travellers, it’s a quintessential part of a visit to Victoria and an experience worth planning a trip around.

Afternoon Tea at Fairmont Empress is an elegant occasion, and guests are encouraged to dress accordingly. Smart, polished attire helps preserve the timeless atmosphere of this celebrated tradition.

 

We kindly ask that guests refrain from wearing tank tops, beachwear, athleisure wear, flip flops or clothing featuring explicit or offensive graphics. Elegant sandals are welcome, and while hats are generally not permitted, fascinators and traditional tea hats are encouraged. Guests wearing unsuitable attire may be politely declined entry.

Yes. The culinary team at Fairmont Empress can accommodate many common dietary preferences and allergies, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, seafood and shellfish-free, and diabetic-friendly options.

To allow our team time to prepare your Afternoon Tea experience, please share any dietary requirements at least 24 hours before your reservation. For needs not listed above or more complex dietary considerations, we recommend contacting the reservations team in advance to discuss available options.

A credit card is required to secure your Afternoon Tea reservation at Fairmont Empress. There is no fee for cancelling your reservation; however, guests who do not arrive for their scheduled booking will be charged a no-show fee equal to 50% of the price per guest.