1964 Fairfield Rd.
April to September: 11am to 5pm 7 days a week
October to March: 11am to 5pm Wednesday to Sunday
*last sitting for tea is at 4pm*
$48.00 per person
Reservations required
778.265.6466 or https://www.abkhaziteahouse.com/ 

THE EXPERIENCE

Abkhazi Garden is hidden amidst residential property in Fairfield. It would be hard to find it if you didn’t know where to look. Walking in, a gravel driveway leads up to the back of an un-assuming, pink house. It isn’t until you walk in that you see the beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over a private, one acre garden. Inside, the house itself is understated. Staff are simply dressed, plain white linens dress the tables, and mismatched china teacups hold the tea. The feel is a calm, comfortable atmosphere for high tea.

High tea at Abkhazi is made on site and is seasonal but covers the classics you’d expect: cucumber cream cheese sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, and sweet treats. What makes this place special, though, is the high quality ingredients and the interesting presentation. Instead of salmon lox on rye, they serve smoked salmon on choux pastry puffs. Seasonal quiche tartlets feature herbs from the garden. Paired with a strong pot of Silk Road tea and the cool breeze coming through the open doors, these small touches make Abkhazi high tea feel decidedly special.

There are, of course, a few downsides. Seating is time-limited. Being the chatty ladies we are, we had to keep an eye on pace so that we made it through the three tiers on time. The tea was initially weak. We had to ask for two tea balls in our pot…ahem. And while we lucked out and got a table by the big bay window, the majority of tables are set back in the room. That being said, 90 minutes is plenty of time, the tea was quickly remedied by an attentive waiter, and the room is just too cozy for any part of it to not feel special.

RATING
5 Balls out of 5! Maybe it was the perfect August day or the magic of our first high tea outing but Abkhazi High Tea is our mutual #1 Top Pick for high tea in Victoria.