Three Victoria afternoon teas publish their details on their own sites. Oak Bay Beach Hotel lists adults at $89 and children (12 and under) at $65, served on Sundays from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. The Dining Room at The Butchart Gardens lists its Autumn Afternoon Tea at $55.00 per person plus tax and a $35.00 children’s tea, and requires garden admission. Tea at the Empress runs 11:00 am to 4:00 pm with a dress code, but its tea page does not publish a price.
Afternoon tea compared: facts only
| Hours | What is included | Dress code | Booking | Dietary options | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tea at the Empress, Fairmont Empress 721 Government Street, Victoria, BC | Not published on the hotel’s tea page; the price is shown when you book Checked October 18, 2026. Source | Tea service 11:00 am – 4:00 pm | Premium loose-leaf teas with warm freshly baked scones, finger sandwiches and pastries and sweets. The house “Empress blend” is made for the hotel by the Metropolitan Tea Company. | No hats (except fascinators and fancy tea hats); no tank tops, beach wear or athleisure wear; no flip-flops or bare feet (elegant sandals are an exception); no clothing with explicit or offensive wording. Guests in unsuitable attire may be politely declined. | Reservations are recommended. A credit card is required to secure a reservation. There is no fee for cancelling; a no-show is charged 50% of the price per guest. Official page | Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, seafood and shellfish-free and diabetic-friendly options; share dietary needs at least 24 hours before the reservation. |
| Afternoon Tea in The Dining Room, The Butchart Gardens Brentwood Bay, BC (inside The Butchart Gardens) | Autumn Afternoon Tea $55.00 per person plus tax; Children’s Autumn Afternoon Tea $35.00 per person Checked October 18, 2026. Source | Daily, with Afternoon Tea from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm per the Dining Room page. Autumn Afternoon Tea is listed for October 1–31 (11:30 am – 3:00 pm) and November 1–30 (11:30 am – 4:00 pm). A Holiday High Tea is listed for December 1 – January 6 (not available December 25). | Seasonal menu with a selection of loose teas, scones with strawberry preserve and clotted cream, savoury items and desserts; see the official menu for the current items. | No dress code is listed on the Dining Room page. | Reservations are highly recommended and can be booked online or by calling 250-652-8222. Admission to The Butchart Gardens is required to access The Dining Room. Official page | Gluten free, dairy sensitive, vegetarian and vegan teas with 24 hours’ notice; dairy sensitive and vegan teas cannot be made gluten free. |
| Afternoon Tea by the Sea, Oak Bay Beach Hotel Lobby Lounge, Oak Bay Beach Hotel, Oak Bay, BC | Adults $89; children (12 and under) $65 Checked October 18, 2026. Source | Sundays, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm, in the Lobby Lounge (per the hotel’s own article) | The hotel’s tea page lists the prices and says the tea is served in its Lobby Lounge overlooking the Salish Sea. It does not list the menu on the page we read. | No dress code is listed on the pages checked. | Make a reservation through the hotel’s website. Groups over six should call 1-250-940-0309. Official page | Not stated on the pages checked. |
Photo: Ymblanter · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Dllu · CC BY-SA 4.0
What this comparison is, and is not
The table above uses only what each venue says on its own page, with the date we checked it. We do not rate or rank venues, and a blank price means the venue does not publish it on the page we read. We list three venues today, two with a published price. We looked for more, but the other tea rooms we tried either have no working official website that we could read or do not publish a current price, so they are not listed until they do.
Cost beyond the tea
The Butchart Gardens tea requires admission to the gardens, which changes by month; see the Butchart Gardens page for the current rates. At the Empress there is no admission, but its dress code applies, and the no-show charge is 50% of the price per guest if you do not arrive for your booking.
Fitting tea into a day
The Empress is on the Inner Harbour, close to the Royal BC Museum and the start of the whale watching tours. The Butchart Gardens tea sits inside a garden visit of 1.5 to 2 hours, and the Dining Room’s November tea service runs from 11:30 am to 4:00 pm. Oak Bay Beach Hotel serves tea on Sundays only, so check the day before you plan around it. For more ideas, see all the things to do.
Frequently asked questions
How much is afternoon tea at the Fairmont Empress?
The hotel’s tea page does not publish a price, so we do not show one. Prices appear when you check availability through the hotel’s booking link. The page says reservations are recommended and a credit card is needed to hold one, and that a no-show is charged 50% of the price per guest.
What is the dress code for Tea at the Empress?
The hotel asks guests to refrain from hats, with an exception for fascinators and fancy tea hats, and not to wear tank tops, beach wear, athleisure wear or flip-flops (elegant sandals are an exception). Clothing with explicit or offensive wording is not permitted, and guests in unsuitable attire may be politely declined.
How much is afternoon tea at Butchart Gardens?
The Dining Room’s Autumn Afternoon Tea is listed at $55.00 per person plus tax, with a Children’s Autumn Afternoon Tea at $35.00 per person. Garden admission is required to access the Dining Room, so add the admission price for your date.
How much is afternoon tea at Oak Bay Beach Hotel?
The hotel’s afternoon tea page lists adults at $89 and children (12 and under) at $65. The hotel’s own article says the tea is served every Sunday from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm in the Lobby Lounge. The page does not say whether tax or gratuity is included, or name the currency.
Do I need to book afternoon tea?
The Empress says reservations are recommended and asks for a credit card to hold one. The Butchart Dining Room says they are highly recommended and can be made online or by calling 250-652-8222. Oak Bay Beach Hotel takes reservations through its website, with groups over six asked to call 1-250-940-0309. Notice for dietary needs is 24 hours at the Empress and for the Butchart gluten-free, vegan and dairy-sensitive teas.
Are there vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free options?
Yes at both venues. The Empress lists vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, seafood and shellfish-free and diabetic-friendly options. The Butchart Dining Room lists gluten-free, dairy sensitive, vegetarian and vegan teas; its dairy-sensitive and vegan teas cannot be made gluten free.