If you've ever watched a period drama like The Gilded Age or Bridgerton, you've probably wondered what it would be like to sit down to an old-fashioned afternoon tea service. 

Many of our real estate agents have had the same thought, and they've got good news for you. Many restaurants and tea rooms near our Victoria homes for sale still serve this elegant meal. Join us for a cup at these five elegant afternoon tea services around the city. 

5 Places Serving Afternoon Tea in Victoria 

Tea at the Empress 

Address: 721 Government Street, Victoria, BC V8W 3M6 

Tea at the Empress is the Fairmont Empress hotel's iconic afternoon tea service. Impeccably luxurious, with live music from a baby grand piano, this tea was once served to Queen Elizabeth II herself.  

The current version costs $109 per person and includes: 

• Four finger sandwiches with fillings like smoked salmon and roast beef striploin 
• A miniature mushroom quiche  
• Raisin scones with clotted cream, lemon curd, and preserves 
• Desserts like miniature cakes, profiteroles, and a macaron 
• Your choice of more than 20 specialty teas 

The hotel also serves a Children's Royal Tea with simpler, kid-friendly foods like ham and cheese sandwiches and tutti frutti macarons. 

This is an extremely popular event, so be prepared to wait several weeks for a reservation. The earlier you book, the better—demand peaks during the summer months. 

Pendray Teahouse 

Address: 309 Belleville Street, Victoria, BC V8V 1X2 

The historic Victorian Pendray House's afternoon tea is nearly as popular as the Empress', especially among locals. They currently offer four tea services: 

• Winter Afternoon Tea, a collection of five finger sandwiches, two scones with fresh clotted cream and jam, and four bite-sized desserts with your choice of tea for $65  
• Vegan Afternoon Tea, a vegan version of the standard service for $68 
• West Coast Afternoon Tea, a fish-forward version with fresh local seafood in most of the sandwiches for $69 
• Children's Tea with kid-friendly foods like grilled cheese finger sandwiches for $25 

Any service except the Children's Tea can be made gluten-free for an additional $5.  

Tea is served every day starting at 11 a.m. Reservations are recommended. 

White Heather Tea Room  

Address: 1885 Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria, BC V8R 1C6 

Decked out in shades of teal and mint with faux flowers trailing from the ceiling, the White Heather Tea Room offers a modern twist on the traditional tea service. Their menu features three sizes of tea service: 

• The Big Muckle Tea, their popular four-course option with 13 tiny treats for $66 
• The Not-So-Wee-Tea, a three-course version with 11 goodies to sample for $58 
• The Wee Tea, an eight-piece service perfect for a light lunch 

Each features a rotating selection of savouries and desserts, so you never know exactly what you'll get. They serve tea twice a day at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.  

Teahouse at Abkhazi Garden 

Address: 1964 Fairfield Road, Victoria, BC V8S 1H2 

The Teahouse at Abkhazi Garden offers three unique tea services in the elegant dining room: 

• High Tea, an elaborate seasonal spread of dainty sandwiches, scones, pastries, and tea for $68 
• Afternoon Tea, an elegant meal with two scones, two tea sandwiches, a salmon profiterole, a miniature quiche, pastries, and tea for $56 per person 
• Elevenses, a light service with one scone, two tea sandwiches, pastries, and tea for $32 

Any tea order can be made with gluten-free ingredients with advance notice and an $8 upcharge.  

The teahouse is open Wednesday through Sunday until March 31st. After that, they'll be open every day until October. Consider coming back during the spring or summer to enjoy the garden patio and all the lush spring greenery that grows there in the warmer months.  

The Oaks Restaurant and Tearoom 

Address: 2250 Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria, BC V8R 1G5 

The Oaks Restaurant and Tearoom occupies the oldest building still standing near our Oak Bay homes for sale, a large two-storey commercial structure that once served as the neighborhood post office and grocery store.

Nowadays, you can stop by for one of three tea services every day after 11 a.m.:  

• Tea, which includes a scone, fresh jam, and whipped cream for $10 
• Light Tea, which includes the standard Tea items plus two finger sandwiches, a mini quiche, and a mini lemon tart for $19 
• Full Tea, which includes all of the above plus an extra finger sandwich, a mini sausage roll, small cakes, an English trifle, and fresh fruit for $32 

Live the High Life in BC's Capital City 

These tea services are just a few of the many local experiences that showcase Victoria's rich history and traditions. Contact us today to start looking for a nearby home where echoes of the past are never far away.