Afternoon Tea Guide: nine places in Toronto to spend a perfectly civilized afternoon
Afternoon Tea Guide: nine places in Toronto to spend a perfectly civilized afternoon
Bourbon cocktails and bar snacks have their place, but there’s something pleasingly civilized about afternoon tea. The social ritual doesn’t have to feel stodgy. At some of Toronto’s poshest hotels and restaurants, tea sommeliers are curating encyclopedic herbal collections, and big-name chefs are prepping luxe midday spreads stocked with finger sandwiches, tartlets and petit fours. Champagne is optional, but highly recommended.
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- 261950
- <b>1. THE SHANGRI-LA</b><br /><br /> British tradition meets Asian-inspired elegance at the luxe downtown hotel<br /><br /> <strong>Snacks:</strong> Smoked salmon finger sandwiches and brioche rolls stuffed with curried lobster and chives<br /><br /> <strong>Sweets: </strong>Artfully composed creations, like a tropical cake with coconut and calamansi gelée<br /><br /> <strong>Standout Tea: </strong>75 options are stocked in the hotel’s “tea library,” which is curated by a certified tea sommelier. For those looking for a slightly stronger drink, the Earl Grey martini gets rave reviews<br /><br /> Daily 2-5 p.m. <strong></strong><em>Lobby Lounge, 188 University Ave., 647-788-8888</em>
- (Image: Renée Suen)
- Afternoon Tea Guide
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- 261954
- A selection of dainty tea sandwiches at the Shangri-La
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- 261952
- The Shangri-La’s tropical dessert plate
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- Afternoon Tea Guide
- Afternoon Tea Guide
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- 261941
- <b>2. OLD MILL INN</b><br /><br /> You’re likely to spot guests sporting lace and tweed at this traditional, turn-of-the-century tearoom<br /><br /> <strong>How Much: </strong>$21-25<br /><br /> <strong>Snacks: </strong>Finger sandwiches filled with smoked salmon, olive tapenade and fennel cream cheese<br /><br /> <strong>Sweets: </strong>Almond shortbreads, raspberry tarts and miniature carrot cakes<br /><br /> <strong>Standout Tea: </strong>A limited edition jasmine tea created in honour of the property’s upcoming centennial<br /><br /> Daily 3-5 p.m. <em>21 Old Mill Rd., 416-236-2641</em>
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- Afternoon Tea Guide
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- 261943
- The Old Mill’s pretty dessert spread includes carrot cake squares, chocolate-covered strawberries and miniature lemon-meringue tarts
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- Afternoon Tea Guide
- Afternoon Tea Guide
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- 261935
- <b>3. THE RED TEA BOX</b><br /><br /> Afternoon tea goes Japanese at this tiny Queen West café, where canapés are served in lacquered bento boxes<br /><br /> <strong>How Much: </strong>$27-30<br /><br /> <strong>Snacks: </strong>Mushroom-taro croquettes and spiced lamb on crispy polenta<br /><br /> <strong>Sweets: </strong>Dessert bentos contain nine confections centred on a single flavour theme (e.g. passion fruit)<br /><br /> <strong>Standout Tea: </strong>Lavender Earl Gray is a safe bet, but the smoky darjeeling suits the artsy ambiance<br /><br /> Mo-Sat 2-5 p.m. <em>696 Queen St. W., 416-203-8882</em>
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- Afternoon Tea Guide
- Afternoon Tea Guide
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- 261934
- Savouries and sweets are made in-house and served in lacquered bento boxes
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- Afternoon Tea Guide
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- 261937
- <b>4. WINDSOR ARMS</b><br /><br /> Expect a traditional spread at the posh Yorkville hotel, which has been serving afternoon tea for over 85 years<br /><br /> <strong>How Much: </strong>$38-45<br /><br /> <strong>Snacks:</strong> Miniature goat cheese and caramelized shallot tarts, and pinwheel sandwiches filled with smoked salmon and caviar<br /><br /> <strong>Sweets: </strong>Lemony scones and old-school petit fours layered with creamy ganache<br /><br /> <strong>Standout Tea: </strong>The tearoom’s private blend is an aromatic mix of Ceylon, Nilgiri and Assam teas<br /><br /> Daily at 12:30. <em>18 St. Thomas St., 416-971-9666.</em>
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- Afternoon Tea Guide
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- 261936
- The Windsor Arms’s mini goat cheese and caramelized shallot tart
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- Afternoon Tea Guide
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- 261948
- <b>5. KING EDWARD HOTEL</b><br /><br /> The city’s oldest tearoom is the ideal place to sport a fascinator. Afternoon tea can be enjoyed in the marble-lined lobby, the Victoria’s restaurant, or, on holidays only, the majestic ballroom<br /><br /> <strong>How Much: </strong>$42<br /><br /> <strong>Snacks: </strong>Luxurious hot and cold canapés. Our favourite: a Welsh rarebit on buttery brioche with caramelized onions and chutney<br /><br /> <strong>Sweets: </strong>Scones come with house-made apple-pear brown butter. Petit fours include a blood-orange posset with gingered clementine and a banana coconut-cream tartlet with flambéed fruit<br /><br /> <strong>Standout Tea: </strong>The complex King Edward Blend is infused with rose petals<br /><br /> Fr-Su 2:30-5 p.m. <em>37 King St. E., 416-863-4125</em>
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- Afternoon Tea Guide
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- 261947
- The King Edward’s trio of tea sandwiches includes a mini Welsh rarebit with caramelized onions and chutney
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- 261949
- The King Eddie’s luxurious petit fours
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- Afternoon Tea Guide
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- 261945
- <b>6. ANNONA AT THE PARK HYATT</b><br /><br /> The crowd is well-heeled but unfussy: a mix of neighbourhood regulars and tourists taking a break from the ROM<br /><br /> <strong>How Much:</strong> $36<br /><br /> <strong>Snacks</strong><strong>:</strong> Cornets filled with shrimp mousse, smoked-salmon pinwheels and perfectly square tuna tartlets<br /><br /> <strong>Sweets: </strong>Six petit fours, including a strawberry cream profiterole, a red velvet cupcake and a hazelnut buttercream layer cake<br /><br /> <strong>Standout Tea:</strong> The BC Forest blend has a smoky, scotch-like flavour<br /><br /> Sa-Su 3-5 p.m. <em>4 Avenue Rd., 416-324-1567</em>
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- Afternoon Tea Guide
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- 261946
- Tiered silver trays hold Annona’s scones and other sweets
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- Afternoon Tea Guide
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- 261938
- <b>7. DEQ AT THE RITZ</b><br /><br /> Expect to rub shoulders with lunching ladies and COC season ticket holders winding down post-matinée<br /><br /> <strong>How Much: </strong>$40<br /><br /> <strong>Snacks: </strong>Mini quiche and dainty sandwiches stuffed with salmon and curried chicken salad<br /><br /> <strong>Sweets: </strong>Pretty handmade confections, like raspberry-filled macarons and lemon-meringue tartlets<br /><br /> <strong>Standout Tea: </strong>Sloane Fine Tea’s aptly named Heavenly Cream, a rich Ceylon tea blended with bergamot and vanilla<br /><br /> Sa-Su, 2-4 p.m. <em>181 Wellington St. W., 416-585-2500</em>
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- Afternoon Tea Guide
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- 261940
- Traditional tiered serving trays get a modern update at the Ritz
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- 261955
- <b>8. MoRoCo</b><br /><br /> The opulent Parisian-style lounge attracts a younger, hipper clientele. (There’s a DJ booth at the back.)<br /><br /> <strong>How Much: </strong>$35-55<br /><br /> <strong>Snacks: </strong>Traditional egg salad and cucumber finger sandwiches. An extra $5 brings truffled mac ‘n’ cheese<br /><br /> <strong>Sweets: </strong>Desserts come from the on-site chocolatier: truffles, chocolate-dipped graham crackers and salted caramel macarons<br /><br /> <strong>Standout Tea: </strong>The intoxicating chocolate chip truffle tea mixes deep chocolate chunks with rich black tea leaves<br /><br /> Tu-Su, all day. <em>99 Yorkville Ave., 416-961-2202</em>
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- Afternoon Tea Guide
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- 261957
- MoRoCo’s impeccable tea sandwiches
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- 261956
- The chocolate-themed sweets plate at MoRoCo
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- Afternoon Tea Guide
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- 261959
- <b>9. THE ROYAL YORK </b><br /><br /> The Toronto landmark’s wood-paneled library bar recently got a floor-to-ceiling renovation<br /><br /> <strong>How Much: </strong>$40<br /><br /> <strong>Snacks: </strong>Dainty tea sandwiches are made with luxurious ingredients, like truffled egg salad and Earl Grey–smoked turkey breast<br /><br /> <strong>Sweets: </strong>The petite cranberry scones have been prepared the same way for over 30 years. Other sweets include guava mousse and a super-dense flourless chocolate cake<br /><br /> <strong>Standout Tea: </strong>The hotel’s signature breakfast blend is suitably traditional<br /><br /> Sa-Su, all day. <em>Library Bar, 100 Front St. W., 416-860-5004</em>
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- Afternoon Tea Guide
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- 261960
- The savoury plate at the Royal York
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- Afternoon Tea Guide
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- 261961
- The Royal York’s tea-time scones have been prepared the same way for 30 years
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- Afternoon Tea Guide
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See all 9 tea spreads »
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You missed the Four Seasons.
Their tea is so mediocre! The Ritz has the most amazing teas!!! I used to go to The Four Seasons and was a big fan. I think they need to revamp their tea program.
I haven’t been to the four seasons for awhile but it was quite good back then. The food at the ritz was quite good but I was disappointed with their teas. Too bland for my taste.
FYI – I guess you must be talking about another Ritz as the new teas at the Ritz have recently changed. They’re anything but bland… and also The Four Seasons doesn’t do afternoon tea which is probably why they weren’t listed here. The old one did but not the new one.