721 Government St.
11am to 5:45pm seven days per week with five rounds of rotating seatings
$78.00 per person
Reservations required
250.384.8111 or https://www.teaattheempress.com/

THE EXPERIENCE
Everyone in Victoria knows that the Fairmont Empress serves high tea. It is the most talked about and most expensive high tea in the city, served in the large, beautifully lit Lobby Lounge overlooking the inner harbour. We went to the infamous Empress on a warm April weekday, which happened to be Charlotte’s birthday! We sat at a table by the window, with the pianist on a grand piano a mere stone’s throw away.

We’re gonna be honest. Neither of us wanted to like high tea at the Empress. It seemed too expensive, too pretentious, too touristy. So, naturally, we started off by making fun of it.

Tea selections in a wooden box book. Why?

The unique, specially designed china pattern on fine bone china? Pfffft.

Then we ordered some champagne for the birthday girl. After a few sips, we realized Charlotte matched the china for the second time around, having already skillfully echoed the tea cups at The Pendray.

Then the hourglass tea timer arrived, which we felt grossly underestimated the time needed to attain peak brew. It was absurdly cute and totally unnecessary.

At last, the tea arrived. We were ready to pounce on imperfections, certain that the Empress would fail to live up to its reputation.

But guys.

THE TEA WAS LOVELY.

First off, the serving size was significantly more than expected. We thought they’d go the way of the Hotel Grand Pacific and skimp on the portions. Each tier was beautifully composed and generous. Whereas some high tea establishments pre-cut sandwiches (ahem, Butchart Gardens) or serve old pastries (we’re looking at you, Venus Sophia), every item at the Empress was fresh and delicious. Of particular note were the stunning brioche buns holding delicate egg salad, the blini topped with smoked salmon and fresh dill, the classic and satisfying golden shortbread, and the perfect currant scone served with real clotted cream, people!

We stayed for a good while and chatted. With our multiple jobs and busy schedules, high tea is often the only time we see each every month so we have lots to catch up on and, well…..the two of us can talk! The service was attentive but spacious enough to give us room to visit. We appreciated that we were not rushed to finish and that our tea pots were refreshed to keep us sipping contentedly.

All in all, high tea at the Empress was a success. The tea exceed our expectations. The champagne and resident pianist made it feel like an occasion. The view was fab and the constant stream of tourists taking selfies in front of our window gave us a few laughs. Was it worth $78? No. We’ve had equally as delicious teas in beautiful settings for less. Leaving almost $100 worse for wear means the Empress really is a special event high tea, not a monthly ritual. However, we left full, happy and praising The Empress for making good on its reputation.

OH. And did we mention the bathroom antechamber complete with a fireplace? Dead posh.

THE RATING
We’re giving The Empress 5/5 balls. If it was judged on money alone, we’d be tempted to give it 3/5 balls because it is straight up expensive. But flavour, freshness, experience, and ambience tip the scales toward a perfect score. In fact, The Empress scored the #3 spot on Charlotte’s Top Picks.