Pacific Northwest Hotel Guide :: Bubblegum Tea at the Empress in Victoria

Where: 721 Government Street , Victoria, BC, Canada, V8W 1W5

July 11, 2008 at 9:05 AM | by Tim L. | Comment (1)

HotelChatter contributing editor Tim Leffel is moving around British Columbia and Alberta in Canada, seeing the hotel scene from a family travel perspective. All prices are in Canadian dollars--which currently trade slightly higher than U.S. dollars. Enjoy.

Where would the original grand hotel in the most British town in British Columbia be without high tea in the afternoon?

The Empress Hotel opened in 1909 in the style of an Edwardian chateau and hosted a steady stream of British royalty and celebrities. It went through several rounds of additions and renovations and became part of the newly formed Fairmont chain in 1999, when the Canadian Pacific railway company spun off its hotels and rebranded them.

The waterfront icon doesn't just lay out a few crumpets and finger sandwiches in the afternoon. They've got a full-blown tea parlor that's bigger than most hotel restaurants and on a good day over 800 people will have high tea there.

Adults get their choice of several teas and platters stacked high with multiple treats. There's no need to leave the little prince or princess in the room though. Kids get a "bubblegum tea" concoction and their own collection of more kid-friendly delectables: sub P&J for curried chicken salad sandwiches. It all takes place in an elegant atmosphere of period furniture, fine China plates and teacups, and gracious service.

High tea at the Fairmont Empress is $54 for adults and the bubblegum tea service is $27 for kids, reservations required. A similar program is available at the sister Fairmont Vancouver.

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