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 while 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 promos.
The chain’s Yorkville and Yorkdale Shopping Centre cafés feature Toronto-based tea purveyors, Sloane Tea, including its namesake Holt’s Blend, a smooth blend of Ceylon and Assam black teas with deep cocoa and currant notes and a lush rose finish.
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 its downtown Exchange Tower location.
It also offers a full menu with sandwiches, French toast and more at its 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, the two-hour-long tea service at Old Mill Toronto is the perfect start or end to a stroll along the scenic Humber River.
Park Hyatt Toronto
This iconic hotel’s afternoon tea is hosted in the lobby’s Joni restaurant, a stone’s throw from the Royal Ontario Museum. Curated sweets and savouries are paired with sommelier-recommended teas from Toronto-based Sloane Tea (try the Park Hyatt #4, an earthy, smoky custom blend) 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 Cocktail High Tea service, which includes a classic tea service with scones, finger sandwiches and your choice of regular tea or a tea-infused gin cocktail teapot. Book a distillery tour beforehand for insights into the gin-making process.
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, such as lobster rolls on poppyseed milk bread or smoked salmon with lemon caper cream cheese and caviar on rye. Egg and sunchoke piccalilli or cucumber-mint crème fraiche are also available.
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 returning with pop-ups and seasonal themes; past editions have included a Prohibition-era Roaring Twenties theme and the cozy Whispers of Autumn 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 in the Windsor Arms Parisian-inspired tearoom or lush purple fireplace room.
You can choose between 30+ teas (including six different Earl Grey blends), or if you’re seeking something a bit stronger, toast the day with a Negroni or Windsor Kir Royal.
