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Tea at The Empress, Victoria, BC
animated flamesBooked 73 times today

Tea at The Empress

4.6 (4581)
CAN$51 and over
Afternoon Tea
721 Government Street, Victoria, BC V8W 1W5

Make a reservation

2 people
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
7:00 PM
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 4,581 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
  • 4.6Food
  • 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 "very impressive experience" with a historic ambiance, "excellent" service, and a diverse selection of teas. Guests rave about the "outstanding" food, especially the scones and sandwiches. While some find it pricey, many consider it a "must do" for a memorable occasion.
4,581 Reviews
  1. Jacquelynn VIP

    Hawaii2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I’ve been coming to tea at the empress for over 30 years and I’m disappointed to see the prices rise and experience diminished. They no longer start the service with fresh seasonal berries and fruit and they no longer finish by gifting you the small signature box of tea as a keepsake to your experience. Our service was exceptional but the measure of value for what you receive has lessened from years past.

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  2. Ellen

    Seattle1 review

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing afternoon tea experience without a plane ticket to London! The best thing was scones with clotted cream. Tea was good, but not the best. It’s difficult to match tea with from sweet to savory things. The basic black tea( Empress tea) would go well with most items. Setting was beautiful, but it needs better lighting. Live piano music was quite pleasant. We were very full at the end. Would I do this again? Probably not, maybe in London if I am in need of fueling my body with carbs;)

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  3. Dani

    Palm Springs / Palm Desert Cities26 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a lovely experience at the Empress Hotel High Tea yesterday! Marlene was our server and she was incredible. She’s friendly, professional and her service was spot on. We enjoyed the teas, the sandwiches, scones and desserts. Also added espresso martinis which was a fun way to celebrate and begin!

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  4. Kristina

    Los Angeles17 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It was beautiful. Food was delicious. Service was very attentive.

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  5. Dorothy VIP

    Orange County14 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I am a tea aficionado. This is my fourth time here, and it was even better than I remembered. The food, the service, the presentation were amazing. I highly recommend tea here.

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  6. Mary Lou

    Philadelphia2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Professional, personalized service, classic food and intriguing selection of teas, beautiful dining area with view of the harbor

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  7. Suzanne

    Montreal / Quebec6 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was delicious and the locale was amazing. The service was quite quick but for some reason we weren’t provided with milk or the sides for the scones (jam, clotted cream and lemon cream) until we asked for it. Unlike an English tea - we had it at the Savoy in London - one cannot ask for seconds of anything. I would definitely have wanted a second scone.

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  8. Daniel

    El Paso7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great one-time experience! Excellent service. We loved their tea options. Food is good

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  9. Justin

    Dallas - Fort Worth3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Awesome. Michael is the best. He has awesome recommendations and very positive attitude.

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  10. Fabienne

    Calgary / Southern Alberta4 reviews

    1.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    We were very disappointed by our brunch today, especially since it was Mother’s Day for me ( I am French 😉). The food was really of poor quality ( it felt really processed, no taste, no flavor) plus it was almost cold , my husband and son even felt sick afterwards…. I asked for a discount because it was served almost cold and got just 10% off 🤦‍♀️. The service was ok but I have to say it’s been our first bad experience since we used Open Table . So far we really had only great experiences…. Too bad it was on Mother’s Day for me 😌😌: the restaurant knew but did nothing really to make it up , just apologized for the cold food .

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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 4.6 stars by 4581 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


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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