Empress Hotel Afternoon Tea
Jun 1st, 2006, 11:13 AM
#21
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I've never had tea at the Empress-but have been to LOTS of nice teas....at the Ritz in London, the Willard in Washington, DC, as well as smaller and more intimate teas elsewhere. I usually enjoy doing them with my mother, UNLESS, the food is bad and the service isn't good. A lovely setting is great too.
What is the setting like at Munchies--or Murchies--whatever that place is??
I kind of doubt we would go to the White Heather--just cuz we won't have a car and it's farther out for her to walk. I'm also considering tea at Butchart....any more comments??? Thanks.
What is the setting like at Munchies--or Murchies--whatever that place is??
I kind of doubt we would go to the White Heather--just cuz we won't have a car and it's farther out for her to walk. I'm also considering tea at Butchart....any more comments??? Thanks.
Jun 1st, 2006, 11:31 AM
#22
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Having tea at the Empress is highly overrated. You can walk through the tea room (which is the old lobby) just to see it. The beautiful room in the Empress is the Bengal Room that Sunburn recommended. It is lovely to go in there for cocktails, appetizers or for lunch a curry buffet. It has the real charm. Just so you know the Queen doesn't stay at the Empress - she stays at the Lieutenant Governor's residence and just attends receptions held in one of the ballrooms when she visits.
As far as Murchies goes it is definitely one of the best teas in Victoria. They serve a full tea like the Empress but the scones and tea dainties are a much better quality at half the price. I think someone above posted their website. The White Heather is very very crowded - food is good by you just don't have the atmoshere and it is out of the way. I vote for Murchies - it is within a few blocks of the Empress.
As far as Murchies goes it is definitely one of the best teas in Victoria. They serve a full tea like the Empress but the scones and tea dainties are a much better quality at half the price. I think someone above posted their website. The White Heather is very very crowded - food is good by you just don't have the atmoshere and it is out of the way. I vote for Murchies - it is within a few blocks of the Empress.
Jun 5th, 2006, 02:10 PM
#24
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Senga, I checked recently on the price for tea at the Empress and it was $53CD per person during the peak summer months. Finding the menu on their website is difficult, but it's there. As I recall one goes to fairmont.com, then to the Empress, then to restaurants, then to Afternoon Tea.
I've been reading along and have decided to have tea at Butchart Gardens since we'll be afoot and going to the Gardens anyway via public transit. Does anyone know if you can make a reservation for tea at Butchart Gardens on-line?
I've been reading along and have decided to have tea at Butchart Gardens since we'll be afoot and going to the Gardens anyway via public transit. Does anyone know if you can make a reservation for tea at Butchart Gardens on-line?
Jun 5th, 2006, 02:24 PM
#25
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Unfortunately you have to call to make reservations (and they are definitely required). I also suggest that, since there is a lot of food, if there four of you, you only need to order for three people and just get an extra teacup brought. Of course, you can always get a "doggy bag" for the leftovers and have a great snack that night.
Jun 6th, 2006, 07:24 AM
#26
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cruiser...i too have decided to look into tea at Butchart Gardens and am arriving by public transportation in July. I will need to call to make reservations. Have you made yours and what did you find out?
Jun 6th, 2006, 10:25 AM
#28
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Before our arriving in Victoria (in June 2004), we stayed, with a Tauck tour at Fairmont hotels in Lake Louise, Banff and Jasper.
Then, when the tour finished, we spend 4 days in Vancouver and 2 in Victoria. We were not really interested in afternoon tea, but, we wanted to visit the hotel,to compaare it with this in L.Louise and this in Banff. We thought that only if we take afternoon tea we can do this. The tea was ~ 50 CAD pp. However, when we realised that there is no problem to visit the hotel, we decided not to take the afternoon tea.
We love the shops in the hotel and its architecture. We visited also the Conservatorium near hotel - with many birds and buterflies, and it was very interesting and pitoresque.
We think that we spend better our short time in Victoria in this way.
Then, when the tour finished, we spend 4 days in Vancouver and 2 in Victoria. We were not really interested in afternoon tea, but, we wanted to visit the hotel,to compaare it with this in L.Louise and this in Banff. We thought that only if we take afternoon tea we can do this. The tea was ~ 50 CAD pp. However, when we realised that there is no problem to visit the hotel, we decided not to take the afternoon tea.
We love the shops in the hotel and its architecture. We visited also the Conservatorium near hotel - with many birds and buterflies, and it was very interesting and pitoresque.
We think that we spend better our short time in Victoria in this way.
Mar 17th, 2007, 10:38 PM
#30
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I wonder what 'topping' means?
My girlfriend from England, for her 60th birthday, and her friend from Vernon, for her 60th, and me, for my 50th, all went to the Empress last September for tea. It was expensive, it wasn't filling by any stretch, but it was the Empress, and I hadn't had tea there since I was a teenager (my mother brought my sisters and me there when visitors came to town). When all is said and done, it is nice to have 'had tea at the Empress' at least once in memory (and I really don't remember much of my teenaged years) so I'll keep this last memory and enjoy it. You can always pop over to Milestones for something to fill you up after (especially if you have a fellow with you).
My girlfriend from England, for her 60th birthday, and her friend from Vernon, for her 60th, and me, for my 50th, all went to the Empress last September for tea. It was expensive, it wasn't filling by any stretch, but it was the Empress, and I hadn't had tea there since I was a teenager (my mother brought my sisters and me there when visitors came to town). When all is said and done, it is nice to have 'had tea at the Empress' at least once in memory (and I really don't remember much of my teenaged years) so I'll keep this last memory and enjoy it. You can always pop over to Milestones for something to fill you up after (especially if you have a fellow with you).
Mar 18th, 2007, 06:14 AM
#31
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guardina --
topping is done for 2 reasons
1. to bring something "to the top" of the list so that it might get more responses
2. to bookmark something that you want to look at later, since it will now appear in your own personal list when you click on your name.
hope that helps
topping is done for 2 reasons
1. to bring something "to the top" of the list so that it might get more responses
2. to bookmark something that you want to look at later, since it will now appear in your own personal list when you click on your name.
hope that helps
Mar 21st, 2007, 04:53 PM
#32
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