Fancy a cuppa? Book tea for two (or more) at one of these top tea hotpots renowned for their exotic blends, buttery scones and savoury finger sandwiches.
Tea lovers are spoilt for choice in Toronto, where afternoon tea is a year-round tradition. Here are 10 tearooms, lounges, cafes, hotel bars—and even a distillery!—where you can raise your pinkie as you indulge in sweets, savouries and a steeping pot of Heavenly Cream.
Fairmont Royal York
Afternoon tea at this historic hotel is a Toronto tradition dating back to 1925. The lobby-level Clockwork Champagne & Cocktails tips its hat to the first-class Pullman rail car in recognition of the hotel's location across from Union Station. Its weekend tea features house-made scones, savouries and pastries alongside a sommelier-curated tea list.
Holt's Café
Savour a cuppa in between trying on #OOTD options at Holt Renfrew. Canada's premiere department store keeps its afternoon tea fresh by tying it to seasonal themes and fashion-y promos.
From summery picnic menus to the Italian-inspired Aperitivo with Armani (complete with prosciutto-asparagus rolls and mocha cannoli), the chain's Yorkville and Yorkdale Shopping Centre cafés feature Toronto-based tea purveyors, Sloane Tea.
Ladurée
Put a Parisian spin on afternoon tea at Ladurée. The French tea salon offers a choice of signature tea blends, iced teas and lattes alongside macarons, madeleines and financiers at their downtown Exchange Tower location and a full menu with sandwiches, French toast and more at their Yorkdale Shopping Centre outpost.
Pro tip: their gorgeously packaged treats make delightful gifts.
Old Mill Toronto
House-made scones, artisan tea sandwiches, French pastries and Devonshire cream are all on this century-old hotel's afternoon tea menu. Located in the west end of Toronto's Old Mill neighbourhood, Old Mill Toronto's two-hour-long tea service is the perfect start or end to a stroll along the scenic Humber River.
Park Hyatt Toronto
A stone's throw from the Royal Ontario Museum, this iconic hotel's afternoon tea is hosted in the lobby's Joni restaurant. Curated sweets and savouries are paired with sommelier-recommended teas from Toronto-based Sloane Tea, or if you're celebrating, flutes of Dom Perignon.
Reid's Distillery
Tea lover but not a tea-totaller? Then head to this Eastside craft distillery for the Reid's Gin High Tea service, which starts with a G&T, leads to a distillery tour and gin flight, and ends with scones and finger sandwiches from local caterers.
Choose from classic tea options or boozy, gin-spiked pots of Earl Grey, Golden Spice or Emerald Green.
The Ritz-Carlton Toronto
Traditional British-style afternoon tea is available daily at this Entertainment District hotel. Head to Epoch Bar & Kitchen Terrace for old-school sweets, scones and finger sandwiches like egg and sunchoke piccalilli or cucumber-mint crème fraiche.
Choose from a selection of black, white, green and herbal teas, or say cheers with Champagne or brut.
The St. Regis Toronto
This downtown Financial District hotel offers tea and Champagne in its lobby Astor Lounge. The upscale lounge refreshes its tea experience to keep regulars coming back time and again with pop-ups and seasonal themes; past editions have included a Prohibition-era Roaring Twenties theme and a Chinese New Year tea service menu.
T-Buds Food & Tea Lounge
With mini quiches, wraps, canapes and fresh fruit alongside tea sandwiches and scones, this Uptown tearoom is the place to go when you want to turn high tea into a filling meal. With an impressive roster of 55 teas and tisanes—not to mention tea lattes—T Buds promises a few surprises for even the most seasoned tea lover.
Windsor Arms
A Toronto tradition since 1927, this posh Yorkville hotel's afternoon tea service features scones, petit fours, finger sandwiches and preserves, all house-prepared and served up in the Windsor Arms' Parisian-inspired tearoom or lush purple fireplace room.
Choose between 30+ teas, or if you're seeking something a bit stronger, toast the day with a Gatsby Mint Julep or Hemingway Daiquiri.
