read that there is tea at the Buchart Gardens. Anyone done that. We have reservation at the Empress asit is our first time in Victoria. should I cancel the empress and do tea at the Buchart? R they similar?

I would cancel the Empress. It is terribly overpriced. The tea at Butchart is as good if not better than the Empress at almost half the price.
http://www.butchartgardens.com/image...pringpmtea.pdf
You can walk around the Empress as it is a beautiful old hotel and if you want a meal there the Bengal lounge is very good.
http://www.fairmont.com/empress-vict...ebengallounge/

I also prefer drinks at the Bengal room instead of the Empress tea. I was in Victoria last week and we had our tea at the White Heather- it was very good, much less expensive than the Empress and where more of the locals go for tea.

http://www.whiteheather-tearoom.com

Agree with traveller69 - have tea at Butchart. It's delicious!

Ooh, I must add that to our itinerary for October, thanks, traveller69 and cheezz.

Not the same experience.

I took my Girl Scout troop (high schoolers, not little ones) last summer and we had a lovely tea at the Butchart Gardens. Presentation excellent, food wonderful, tea lovely.

Here is a short trip report:
http://www.fodors.com/community/cana...teen-girls.cfm

In general I don't go for the high tea experience, and have only done a few, but the one at Butchart last year with my wife was truly enjoyable. We sat out on the balcony overlooking the Italian Garden. Beautiful.

We walked through the Empress room just to have a look and were not particularly impressed.

Go for Butchart!

do I need reservations for Tea at the Butchart. we will be there on June 27th

I would make reservations to be safe - you can always cancel.
That's the Thursday before our long weekend so it could be busy.

In late June, I would do a reservation for any sized party. It is a very popular time of year.

Agree about the Empress - just avoid! Tea at the Butchart Gardens is lovely, and I think it's wise to reserve especially since your visit will be during high season. Try to ask for a table by the window so you can see the gardens. I absolutely love high tea, I have it all the time everywhere I go! So, I would also recommend two more places which the locals love to go to: Venus Sophia and the White Heather. Venus Sophia is close to the inner harbor in downtown Vic www.venussophia.com. They make all their food in house, have so many teas, the decor is very charming and cozy, plus they get great reviews. The White Heather is a bit out of town, more of a white linen setting, and although the atmosphere is not one I care for much, the food is very good www.whiteheather-tearoom.com. Both places are cheaper than the Gardens (Butchart Gardens costs you the entrance ticket + the high tea price) and very affordable, and both have excellent service. Hope that gives you more options, and I would definitely make reservations for any of these you decide to go to.

thanks all. I made reservations at the Butchart Gardens for Tea since we are going there anyway. Will take a walk thru the Empress Hotel as I understand it is lovely. Looking forward to our stop in Victoria.....Love Fodors for help

I agree with finding-dolly -- the White Heather Tea Room is absolutely the best for food but not much atmosphere.