Dine in a palace where kings, queens and movie stars have vacationed for over 100 years
Imagine taking a bite from a soft, buttery scone as the gentle clinking of delicate tea cups echoes around a Victorian-styled lounge. This is not just any afternoon delight – it’s the quintessential high tea experience in a castle.
Plan to spend a day or two at the Fairmont Empress in Canada, one of the oldest and most famous hotels in Victoria, British Columbia. Facing the Inner Harbour, the Empress is fashioned like a grand chateau for royals.
High Tea in High Fashion
The Empress is known for its Afternoon Tea in Victoria, in a stately lounge that serves up signature hand-made Empress scones, sweets and clotted “Empress cream” on dainty china.
The room itself is decked out in Victorian furnishing, perfect for that idyllic slow afternoon of sipping the scented blend of The Empress Tea and chatting with your travel partner. What an enchanting experience to complete your trip to Victoria!
Another must-visit is The Bengal Lounge. Here, you can feast in a Colonial Indian style salon – the very same one where author Rudyard Kipling was a frequent guest!
A Royal Favourite
The Empress, which has been designated a National Historic Site of Canada, is immensely popular with royalty and celebrities. The hotel was built between 1904 and 1908.
In 1919, Edward, Prince of Wales waltzed in the Crystal Ballroom here. In 1939, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth attended a luncheon at the Empress.
In the 1930s, actress Shirley Temple arrived with her parents and two formidable bodyguards, sparking rumours that she was fleeing from kidnapping threats in California.
Tips to Travel Here
The Empress is located on Government Street, on the Inner Harbour. The closest airport to the hotel is Victoria International Airport, 30 minutes away by car.
Tea service begins at noon daily, with last seating at 3.45pm. The rate from May 1 to Sept 30 2015 is CA$63 per head, and children under 12 may enjoy the regular Afternoon Tea at half price.
The hotel also offers packages now and then to make your stay worthwhile. Right now, it has partnered with Butchart Gardens for a package that includes Afternoon Tea, a day trip to the Butchart Gardens and one night’s stay at the Empress.
Whether you’d like to bring your mom here for Mothers’ Day or you’re simply looking for a change of pace when in British Columbia, having high tea in a palace like this one is definitely an experience not to be missed.
By Pamela Chow
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