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The Fairmont Empress
Category: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Hotels [Edit]
721 Government StVictoria, BC V8W 1W5
(250) 384-8111
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Paid
104 reviews for The Fairmont Empress
Review Highlights
"And, the most delectable high tea treats."
(in 40 reviews)
"The Bengal Lounge, it is a "must" experience."
(in 7 reviews)
"The view overlooking the harbor of our suite was perfect."
(in 17 reviews)
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104 reviews in English
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Review from Jack L.
11/4/2011
I'm a bit of an Anglophile. So, afternoon high tea in British Columbia? Yes, I'm totally in!
OK, it's pricey. Let's get that out of the way. You're sitting in the most beautiful hotel, live music and extremely attentive service. And, the most delectable high tea treats.
You get to choose your tea flavor (or should I say "flavour" since I was in Canada until this afternoon?) but the sandwiches and desserts are pre-determined.
The service was extremely friendly though the tea service itself is quite a bit fussy. It is traditional British tea service after all. Here's what I got:
- I chose the Empress Tea blend - just perfect with everything I ate
- 2 chocolate covered strawberries once I was seated - a nice little treat
- Curry chicken sandwiches - perfect amount of heat and sweet
- Egg salad on croissant - the filling was OK, but the croissant was exceptional
- Chicken pate on crostini - just OK
- Currant scone with strawberry preserves from the UK and "Empress Cream" (the hotel's version of clotted cream) - amazing! This was the best scone I've ever had. Buttery, light and amazing on its own but even better with the preserves and cream
- An assortment of sweets on the top tier - I was just so stuffed that I couldn't even think about trying anything. I got them to go for later.
- A thank you gift of 20 tea bags of the Empress Tea Blend - this kind of guest delight is most appreciated.
I was a bit self-conscious about sitting at afternoon high tea by myself. The hostess was very kind to put me at a table near the window and even provided me with some reading material about the Empress Hotel to occupy myself during the tea service. As I was enjoying the tea service, I noticed a few other tables of one filling up the tea room so I didn't feel all out of place after all.
I highly recommend this place for a great high tea experience. Yes, the price is a bit steep (yes, tea pun intended) but it's worth it especially if you are an out of towner like me wanting to take in the sights and something a little out of the ordinary in Victoria, British Columbia. -
Review from Meredith K.
Vancouver, BC
1/28/2012
My Partner In Crime and I decided we should stay a night at this Institution during our visit to Victoria. Upon arriving at the Empress, we were informed that we had been given a complimentary upgrade to "Gold." This translated into a bigger, prettier room that turned out to be right above the arch where the name "Empress" is spelled out, with a postcard view of the harbour. We walked in and were greeted with a room clean as a whistle, with a letter addressed to us by name wishing us a pleasant stay. The room and washroom have clearly been renovated in the last year or so to feature a clear-glass and spacious shower, granite countertops. Through the use of vintage-inspired fixtures and wallpaper, the room still retained the historic feeling of the hotel while being thoroughly modern. Our bed, a cali-king, was probably the most comfortable I've ever slept in in any hotel. I had misgivings that it might be noisy overnight, especially given our location facing the main street, but it was very quiet.
Our upgrade to Gold also gave us access to a "deluxe continental breakfast" that was very tasty.
We spent an hour or so wandering aimlessly around the hotel, looking at old paintings and pictures, and admiring the scrolling woodwork on the stairs, bannisters, and just random spots in this grand old building. For the history enthusiast, it's a great spot to visit, and if you know even a little bit about the area and its population and standard of living when the Empress was built, you realise that at the time it was completed, it was a staggering symbol of wealth and planning.
It's hard to gauge value, as we paid for a "regular" room and got a free upgrade. So my four stars are for the beautiful rooms, the pleasant service, and our overall experience. -
Review from Sarah D.
10/16/2011
The Empress is an icon - stunning, historic and in the middle of everything. I have wanted to stay there since I was a little girl and I finally got the chance this summer. I am kind of on the fence about the whole thing.
The main public spaces are beautiful (with the exception of the pool area which is grody pink tile a la 1980). The rooms however, are not amazing for the price. All of the bathroom fixtures were very old and not in a good vintage kind of way. However the beds were comfortable and the room was clean and decorated nicely (it was also the size of a linen closet). With that all said, it was still really cool to stay in such an amazing old hotel.
We only stayed for one night, which was just fine with me as there are a few other hotels in the area that I prefer. I think it was more about the experience of getting to stay there just the once.
We also had afternoon tea, which was insanely expensive, but also a very cool experience and very tasty.
My vote would be for around 3.75 stars. I wouldn't stay again, but I am glad I did it the once and would recommend it to anyone who has just once night to stay in the city.
On a final side note, they wanted to charge something crazy like $15 for Wi-Fi access. Hello? Seriously? Starbucks has free Wi-Fi and I am spending a ton to stay here...don't think so... -
Review from Lisa T.
Vancouver, BC
9/29/2011
It was my first time having high tea at The Empress and I was terribly underdressed. I came with a tour from Vancouver for a daytrip in Victoria, BC and was dressed in casual walking attire (aka "practical" clothing). Even so, the staff treated me and my friends extremely well.
The hostess was very gracious. Our waitress was very friendly and welcoming, explaining everything to us and recommending different teas to us. The food was excellent. The price was a bit steep. Each person was charged $58 plus tax and tips. There were four types of mini sandwiches, one scone, and four different desserts. And of course, our own tea. Everything was delish. We didn't even end up finishing everything and had to doggy bag the rest! Our waitress was extremely generous and gave us five sets of food for four people. We also received a box of Empress tea to take home as well.
All in all, it's a great little something to treat yourself if you get the chance! -
Review from Mark W.
9/24/2011
"Standard's of Excellence - Fairmont Gold, Empress Hotel"
After many years of being an occasional hotel guest of the Empress Hotel. I decided that it was time to right a review. I tend to only write reviews on OUTSTANDING experiences and disappointing experiences, and the Empress Hotel has earned the OUTSTANDING review category.
First of all, there is no place like FAIRMONT GOLD at the Empress Hotel. The Fairmont Gold Manager and the entire team at Fairmont Gold treat you like "GOLD". Always a happy "hello Mr. W.", "Glad to have you again on the Gold Floor", "We managed to get you your favourite room", "Would you like another cappuccino" , "Let me make a dinner reservation", "That's no problem!", "Let me clear that for you", "yes, the boardroom is free and I have blocked it for you", and the list goes on.
I will capsulate in one short phrase my experience of the Fairmont Gold at the Empress Hotel - "it is home, it feels like home, and I feel welcome!". I always look forward to going to the Fairmont Gold at the Empress (I now only stay at Fairmont Gold at all Fairmont Hotels).
Like all hotels, not everything goes right every time. I had such an issue in the hotel and I wrote a letter to the General Manager to point out my observations (and disappointment). The General Manager was all over it quickly. I heard through the grapevine that same day that my point of view was already brought to the attention of the Management Staff. I was assured that my comments were being looked at seriously.
During my last visit (September 2011), these issues had been rectified, and the Empress Hotel met my expectations of a FIRST CLASS hotel. That is the sign of excellent management, and a team of employees who obviously want to make sure The Empress remains FIRST CLASS even for an occasional repeat client like myself.
Now about my experience in the rest of the hotel:
The Front Door Staff, thank you for taking care of my car - always appreciated. Always feel welcome by one or more of the Front Door / Front Desk Area staff, saying "Hello", "Welcome Back again", and sometimes actually remembering and acknowledging me by name (that is a big welcome to any guest).
The Empress Room, it is a pleasure to dine there, Chef, please keep on producing that kind of tasty cuisine, Sommelier, keep on matching good wines to the various courses, and to the waiter & staff, the service was EXCELLENT - thank you all.
The Bengal Lounge, it is a "must" experience. The energy is amazing, the staff quick, efficient and engaging (how do they do it?), the Bengal Management Staff - among the best, and last but not least the Curry Buffet - AAA+ (My second visit I had tried to practice restraint by not going back the third time.)
The Spa, cozy and always pleasant and welcoming. The Spa mineral bath is always on my list of "must do", and they are always kind to accommodate me when I ask for a favour.
Fairmont Gold, one more time - TOPS !
In ending this review, one of the most rewarding experiences at the Empress Hotel is that the staff is very friendly, often recognizes me as a previous guest, and Management seems genuine to want to make sure I have the best experience reasonably possible. Thank you to all, you have earned my loyalty.
One very last comment, on my previous trips to the Empress Hotel, there was a "Outlet/Restaurant Duty Manager" who often saw me in various parts of the hotel, who always came up to me with a genuine "Welcome back Mr. W, I saw you were coming back, great to see you". I was sad to see him go to Fairmont Newport Beach (or so I heard) and he is sorely missed, the good news, his replacements are just as engaging and welcoming. There are good people at the Fairmont!
This hotel gets a FIVE STAR rating from Me. -
Review from Alouise D.
Edmonton, AB
7/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
I didn't stay here because the Empress, although lovely, was a little out of my budget (okay maybe a lot out of my budget). Nor did I have High Tea here, because I was travelling alone and High Tea doesn't seem like something you'd want to do alone. I didn't even go to the Bengal Lounge, although I now wish I had.
So why am I reviewing The Empress? Well I did go inside. I looked around the gift shop, they had a really wide selection of teas. And I also went to the archives. They're downstairs and free. It doesn't take long to go through. It doesn't take long and I found it interesting to see some of the silverware, programs and other things that were used at The Empress. As well the outside, and the grounds of the Empress is really fantastic. Lots of gardens, flowers, just a nice place to walk around. My point with this? Even if you aren't staying here you should come see the Empress. It's a historical landmark and worth a visit. -
Review from Nick H.
5/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Historic. Luxurious. Swank.
It's worth the splurge if you're an admirer of this beautiful, classic hotel. If you're on a budget I'd stay somewhere else, take a stroll through and grab a drink at the Bengal Lounge. If you check their website you can usually get a nice discount by paying in advance (cheaper than booking via a Clipper package).
Our room was very comfortable, nicely appointed and quiet--except for the seagulls that liked to roost outside our window in the morning. It made for a memorable weekend with the girlfriend. -
Review from Mark T.
7/29/2011
A classic older hotel well situated in the heart of Victoria. The hotel was going through some exterior renovations but inside the service and style were elegant and on point.
I looked at pictures of the early hotel from the 20's and felt that they should have kept the original reception lobby which they converted to their now famous tea room. The new reception area is less impressive but still servicable.
Some comments... the gift shop is inconvenently located and not well stocked with snacks or other items one might need so you will have to walk a block or so to the 7/11.
The restaurants in the hotel were remarkably ordinary. The staff however gets high marks for excellent service and for overall efficiency.
High tea - Yes, stop complaining it is expensive. It is something to be tried and enjoyed. -
Review from Helena H.
5/29/2011
We stayed at The Empress over Christmas, and being the off-season, got a really good deal. As I recall, it was $120/night.
The Christmas theme was huge... carolers in the lobby and halls, Christmas stockings left in front of our door (candy, fruit, cookies, discount coupons for the spa), and the place was decorated to the extreme. Local businesses and organizations sponsored Christmas trees, and there were dozens, individually decorated, all through the main public areas. It was a big draw for both the locals and the tourists, and well-worth seeing.
The Bengal Lounge is worth a visit. We stopped by for drinks before dinner, and while the environment is fun, the drinks weren't wonderful.
High Tea is not cheap, but I'm glad we did it. The wait staff was very professional, and it was all very classy. Also with everything that was served, I was wishing I'd skipped lunch. I loved the complimentary gift boxes of tea, too! Free stuff makes me happy. It pays to book ahead, as even with it being Christmas day, it was busy.
Oh, and I made use of their postcard service, too. Cute free postcards featuring the Empress, and they take care of the postage and mailing of them. I sent many, many postcards. -
Review from vena v.
7/27/2011
The good news about the Empress:
- the rooms are QUIET. Oh, how I love quiet rooms.
- the service is outstanding
- the location is perfect - near downtown restaurants and close to the ferry bldg
The not as good news
- what is wrong with the food here? The food was awful in the Bengal room and not good at afternoon tea. And this is very expensive food.
- the rooms are small (it is an old bldg) with no air conditioning (not that it would normally be needed - but fair warning, we had our windows open to cool down the room)
- the lobby is...odd, small and seems very badly designed with a constant blockage of people and bags. -
Review from Hilary G.
5/28/2011 3 photos
No, the rooms are not the most modern and there is no a/c, but the Fairmont Empress truly is the quintessential Victoria experience that is worth paying for. I stayed here for a conference so I got a good rate but we upgraded to a harbor front room for only $50/night which was definitely worth it. We left the window open each night for the breeze and it was fun to watch the Inner Harbor activities from your room. Our room was decorated in a pretty yellow color and had tray ceilings. The bathroom was a decent size. BUT the best part was the SUPER COMFY bed. I slept well for 6 nights here which is often hard to do when traveling. The Fairmont is perfectly located between the Royal BC museum and a row of shops and restaurants. We checked out the pool and hot tub which aren't the prettiest but they do the job.
On to afternoon tea. Is the price insane? Yes. But the experience is a must at least once. You get a giant pot of tea of your choice and a selection of sandwiches, sweets and scones. The scones are among the best I have ever had and the Tiptree strawberry jam is definitely worth buying in the gift shop. My favorite sweet was the Battenberg cake which has marzipan around it. Our waitor was friendly and indulged our tourist ways by offering to take our picture.Listed in: Victoria Tips
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Review from Ryan B.
9/2/2011
Afternoon Tea Only: Worth every penny. If you do One Thing in Victoria, Afternoon Tea at the Empress has to be it. Yeah, yeah, I know there's a food truck/cart just outside on the waterfront that's probably 1/5 the cost, but really: Who uses the words "elegant" and "tradition" to describe fried halibut in a Styrofoam clam shell? (I'm sure it's good though; not a slam.) Yes, Empress is touristy. Yes, it's uber-expensive (for what you get). Yes, everyone and their dog does it. But now you're part of a shared experience with history.
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Review from A R.
6/20/2011
We had the High Tea at the Empress this weekend, and after all the hub-hub, left feeling less than impressed.
At $60/pp, it was an extremely expensive 'tea'.
The treat were delicious, the ambiance of the old-school luxury hotel delightful, but our waitress 'Paz' seemed to be in an awful lot of hurry.
Would I do it again - yes, but not at the Empress. -
Review from Cara S.
3/7/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The fairy ride from Seattle just seems way to expensive and long, so took a ride to Port Angeles, and took the fairy from there, it was so worth it.....I have heard so many good things about High Tea here, so I figured I would do it. I am glad I did! The tea is amazing, btw!! AMAZING! I usually need honey, but never needed anything. They bring you out strawberries with whipped cream, then small sandwiches (which are all amazing), then the sweet goodies. Everything was so good, the shortbread cookies however had me hooked. The waiter was so nice and fast. He answered all our questions and offered advice on several items to try. AMAZING service and beautiful place. So beautiful and peaceful. Elegant!
The say this is a romantic place to go with a man, well if your going for just high tea, sorry more a girl thing. Men don't want berries and finger sandwiches and pay $50 a person. lol...Take the girls and have a ball!
The store inside is a must stop! They also give you a gift before you leave! Again, loved it! -
Review from Adriana O.
5/24/2011
The High Tea at 2:30 today with friends/relatives was delightful.
Fresh strawberries and REAL cream - cucumber and horseradish, egg salad on a croissant, crostini with pate, curry, salmon, mango and curried chichen; short bread, tulip chocolate, Battenburg cakes, jelly, and butter - piano, elegant service - and a gift of tea to take home too - lovely - a view of the bay on one side, and beautiful archtecture the other. Not cheap - ($58 each, plus tax) but worth it! -
Review from Brianna E.
10/14/2011
The only reason this gets a four is because we didn't actually stay here. We only came for tea (which gets 5 stars, hands down).
Spoiler: tea-time here is very expensive. We were on our honeymoon and prepared to ignore the amount we threw down out of principle, but we still ran off with a swiped Fairmont pen, strawberry jam and giggled at the free tea we recieved.
Service was amazing. Call for reservations!! The food was fantastic, the view (outside and in) was gorgeous. Definitely recommended. -
Review from Jens J.
11/14/2010
Where do you begin in reviewing such a well-known and beloved institution as the Empress? Well, how about with the practical aspects of this hotel. Perfectly located in Victoria, it's right at the center of the local places you will want to visit.
The rooms, though maybe a tad cozy, are sumptuous. Oh but those beds are so comfortable. The staff is polite and responsive in all circumstances. Ample and fast elevators. The hotel is strikingly quiet. Even though it was the weekend, we never saw any other guests on the 4th floor where we stayed.
I really enjoyed the B/W photos (with placards) lining the walls on the upper and lower lobbies, of dignitaries that had visited the Empress including British royalty and American prez Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Now on to afternoon tea (sometimes referred to as high tea). Even though $49/person, you must experience at least once. For the cost you get solicitous, impeccable service and a three-tiered tray with the lower tier filled with finger sandwiches containing delights such as carrot, cucumber and curry. The middle tier had scones and the top tier a variety of sweets.
Yes, there is a sugar overload, so you can get a (very attractive) take-out box to snack on the goodies later.
And that takes me to the tea itself. Our waiter told us that the Empress serves a tea that is tannic acid-free, making it smoother. Okay, I'm a Stumptown Coffee swilling heathen, so it's really not my place to rate tea. But that never has stopped me from giving my opinion, which is, I would have liked a tea with a more pronounced flavor.
It's not often I dress up, but we did dress up for the Empress Tea Room. The hotel discourages jeans at tea, but sure enough when we there, more than one group were wearing jeans and tennis shoes. C'mon people! -
Review from Katie F.
2/16/2011
Location, location, location!
5 star location and service, but a 3 star room.
I stayed at the Grand Pacific last time I was in town, but decided to go with the Empress for this stay. Super convenient location - across the street from the seaplane terminal, and a block to downtown. My room wasn't ready when I arrived so I was upgraded to a harbor view room at check-in.
Unfortunately, what they didn't tell me was that the harbor view is very limited since the windows are tiny. Also, my room was near the water heater so I had a ridiculous amount on noise coming from the bathroom, and this isn't something that maintenance can fix! I didn't bother switching since you can block out most of the sound by closingt the bathroom door.
Otherwise, the room is decorated in the typical traditional Fairmont style and quite small. Beds were comfortable.
The location can't be beat and there's a lot of history here, but it's pricey for what you get. -
Review from Kai Y.
12/9/2010 4 photos
My friend who is a Victoria local recommended me to check out this place if I went to Victoria, since it's such as historical hotel. He was right.
The town of Victoria has a substantial British influence. The Fairmont Empress is no exception when it comes to that. The exterior of the hotel looks like a castle in the old English time. It takes on another intriguing look at night as well.
The hotel is old, but it's full of character, e.g the hallway, the wallpapers and the old elevator that connects the 6th floor to another two floors above.
When I walked into my room, I was thrilled at the complete Victorian look and feel permeating in the space. I got a room that is facing the harbor, which made the room look even more beautiful.
The bathroom was a bit small, but it's not crappy at all. I really liked the detailing from the old times such as the door and the knobs, which made me feel like immersing in the history of the hotel.
It's very neat that the hotel serves Afternoon Tea as a part of the British tradition. I didn't have time to try it, next time!
The hotel staff were very friendly and helpful. I felt very welcome there. The location is excellent, it's right by the harbor and right in the center of downtown. I could walk to anywhere easily.
I will not hesitate to stay at the Empress if i visit Victoria again. -
Review from Patrick W.
11/30/2010
The Empress is THE hotel in Victoria. Expect amazing service and a beautiful old building overlooking the inner harbor. The attention to detail at the Empress is impressive -- if you ask for something specific for your room, they'll do it. Like your towels warmed so when you return at 9:30pm you can have warm towels, they'll do it.
My room was quite spacious and on the Fairmont Gold level which had it's own special check in and breakfast in the morning. Breakfast was better than your average hotel breakfast, so no major complaints there. The concierge staff was more than helpful with finding things to do in the area and making reservations.
If you're looking for the best experience in Victoria, the Empress is it. -
Review from Gary E.
When we got to the Fairmont we went straight to the 'Afternoon Tea at the Empress' check in area with luggage and all. We obviously ran late for our tea reservations so we asked the host for the status of our seating. She said not to worry and to check in our room first then come back when we're done. That was awesome!
We hit the front desk and got our keys right away. No need for bell service as we only had a one to one luggage to carry-on ratio. We got to our room, dropped the load, and the girls quickly changed outfits then we headed back downstairs.
After a few minutes the hostess greeted our little ones by name, which was pretty cool then seated us. At this point of the experience, the Fairmont was at a 5-star on my customer service scale - superb!
Now if you guessed that this tea thing wasn't my idea then you're right on the money. It was on my better half's to do list. I don't consider myself a tea drinker. I think tea is an acquired taste like coffee, beer and fine wines. My tongue is geared for cheap or free tea I guess. The usual Green, Jasmine or a no nonsense mystery herb mix dunked in boiling water had done me just fine in the past. This was a totally brand new experience.
Once seated, our server greeted us and he talked a little bit about what's on the menu and the tea options for us. My eyes glowed in glee, as I looked at the fine China table settings along with the prices on the menu.
The little ones enjoyed The Prince and Princess Tea experience (12 and under):
Kea Lani Orange Pineapple Tea and enjoyed:
Seasonal Fruit (Strawberries) in a mini glass cup
Baked Raisin Scone, Strawberry Jam and Empress Cream
Sweet Dough Teddy Bear Cookie
Mini Chocolate Cup Cake topped with Vanilla Icing and Jelly Beans
Cucumber Finger Sandwich on Freshly Baked White Bread
Mini Ham and Cheese Sandwich on Hearty Whole Wheat Bread
Smoked Turkey Breast on Brioche
Adorned with Pringles
With our Afternoon Royal Tea we went with The Empress Blend served with:
Fresh Seasonal Fruit (Strawberry)
Freshly Baked Raisin Scone, Strawberry Jam and Empress Cream
- Sandwiches
Smoked Salmon Pinwheel
Mango and Curried Chicken
Carrot and Ginger and Cream Cheese
Free Range Egg Salad Croissant
Mushroom Pate Crostini
- Pastries
Battenberg Cake
Lemon Curd and Berry Tart
Rose Petal Shortbread
Green Tea Cheesecake
Chocolate Tulip with Wild Cherry
OMG I don't believe it but all this got me a little stuffed! The sandwiches and desserts were like no other I've ever had. They were creative and delicious! I just loved the way that the food was presented in a three-layer set up. I took a few sips of the empress blend tea with cream and sugar and had refills of the Kea Lani instead which was pretty good to my taste buds. On the other hand, my wife loved the Empress Blend! Being a tea noob my favorite tea was a glass of Italian bubbly...
We all had such a great time here and it's worth every penny.
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If you plan to stay at a Fairmont Hotel sign up for the President's Club Membership online it's free! With this you get some good perks, which includes complimentary Wi-Fi with your stay.
As for an overall review of this historic 'The Fairmont Empress' hotel what more can I say other than you're just totally awesome in every way...Listed in: Best of the best...
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Review from cindy w.
1/4/2011
Overhyped. Outdated. Overpriced. The Fairmont Empress is a lovely historical hotel in Victoria that is worth a trip but I wouldn't recommend staying here again. It gets 2-stars because of its history and its central picturesque location and the elevators are fast. This is during the off-season.
In terms of pricing and rooming, the Empress is really showing her age and its shocking that for a "luxe" hotel that you're getting rooms that haven't seen a remodeling in ages. No WiFi except in the lobby and there's a charge if you want to use it (tip: just join Fairmont's loyalty program and u can skip that charge). No daily newspaper unless upon request (Fairmont loyalty program again). The lobby needs more seating for those who need to meet or rest in between outings.
If you're a foodie, you're really going to be disappointed here. The Bengal Lounge's curry buffet was really sub-par. For a weekday, it was a lamb curry, butter chicken, seafood chowder, and creme brulee. Random and offbeat. For $30, I was expecting higher quality cooked items and would've gotten more bang for buck at a local Indian restaurant or even Marriot or Hyatt (which both have decent food offerings). The highly touted Empress afternoon tea? Skip, skip, skip. For $50, you're only going to get "meh" tiny pastries and tea. Service was quite decent.
The Fairmont Empress really needs to step its game up if it wants to be likened to a higher end Ritz or Waldorf. Mind you, you are paying for the historical legacy but really, it looks much nicer on the outside than the inside. Next time, I'd head to a more modern hotel for better amenities for the same price. -
Review from Tam F.
8/14/2010 8 photos
I must say that this is quite an impressive hotel with impeccable service and I am so glad my husband agreed to have high tea with me here!
To be honest, I have had better tea elsewhere, but the experience of being in such a renowned place overshadowed everything else.
At around $60.00 per person, we had a lovely time with great finger sandwiches, perfect scones and gorgeous desserts. I wish the tea was served in smaller pots (they were silver which is nice, but they were huge and the tea steeped too long and became bitter).
I am a total fan of teatime and someday hope my husband agrees to have another "pinkies out" experience with me! -
Review from mike c.
9/12/2011
Just got back from 4 nights at the Empress.
Not too impressed. I had stayed there a few years back and remember it being a lot nicer. I may have stayed in the north wing, which is currently closed for renovations.
Room was beat up and dirty. BIG stains on carpets and couch. Furniture was pretty beat up and everything looked like it was worn out. Windows had rods and rail system for sheer window shades, but no shades. You either had to have no light or no privacy. For almost $400 a night, I expect a lot better.
No AC, so room was very hot. Ceiling fan was on its last legs and very noisy, so tough place to sleep. Had to keep windows open for airflow, so we got to hear every truck, ambulance, and bus in town.
They have the best location in town, and it looks like they are exploiting it, as there are much nicer places to stay for less $$.
Mike C -
Review from Jackie R.
10/29/2010
It's a "must see" if you come to Victoria! We had limited time in Victoria but we enjoyed walking through this place and the outside was just beautiful. It's located by the water and if you're coming off of a cruise ship, I would defiantly take a cab to it.
The ivy all on the outside and the landscaping is very beautiful! I bet it would be great to have tea here and stay, perhaps one day!Listed in: Cruisin' for a Good Time
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Review from Astrid B.
9/6/2011
We vamp here expecting another touristy outing that you have to do while in Victoria. Have Tea at The Empress Hotel... We were so happy we did it! Excellent service, delicious scones, pastries and sandwiches. Everything was full of flavor. I would have never thought blueberries could taste this good or cucumber sandwiches.
Pricey, yes but it is indeed and unforgettable experience! Everyone smiled, just wonderful! -
Review from Pam S.
6/3/2010 2 Check-ins Here
It's taken a long time to get there. A process of introspection, maturation and a review of how I can grow as a person. I'm not just talking about my 500th review (yay!), but how I was lucky enough to meet the man of some, if not all, of my dreams.
I have kissed a LOT of frogs in my lifetime. If you don't believe me, ask my mother. The number of decent boyfriends I've had in my life is a number closer to a golf par than a bowling score. Suffice to say it that I was more than a little masochistic. I always hoped that things would get better, was extremely patient with my suitors, but that behavior led to a lot of sleepless nights and innumerable tears, and at least one sinus infection due to the crying.
That all changed when I happened upon my Canadian. One might not think that Canada is the place where you go to find your one true...like...but that's how it turned out. No, he's not perfect, but neither am I. We accept (and laugh at) our flaws. We take and give. I'm sure we drive each other crazy at times, but a little spicy is necessary. We call each other on our bullshite.
So why the swoon over the Canadian?
In case you didn't know, I managed to make it 30+ years without owning a passport. I have never been outside of the United States, although I've managed to cover 30+ states in my years.
At the beginning of 2010, my one resolution was to get a passport, because I was tired of being mocked for not having one. Right around the time that I got it, I met the Canadian. The two occurrences were independent of one another, but happened right around the same time. Suffice it to say that I'm smitten with the latter, and excited about the former, because when it came time to visit the Canadian in his homeland, I could go right away. No waiting from the State Department, which would have held me back in the past.
There was much trepidation leading up to this trip, some because I was an international travel virgin, and some because I haven't crushed on someone like this for a long time. Crushing is a very scary thing.
Making that leap was worth it. When I was picked up late at night at the Victoria airport, the Canadian drove us through town. Clearly not having any idea of where we were going, I just took in the night views. Then he pulled into the driveway of the Empress, and informed me that on my first night in Canada, we would be staying here. Even thinking about it now makes my heart flutter.
Not only did we spend the night here, we got an AMAZING room. I felt like a queen, and the hotel was everything a hotel should be- with a touch of old charm. We got up to head into the pool in the morning, and as someone who has a keen eye for both hotels and pools, both were more than exemplary. Although I had limited contact with them, the staff were helpful and welcoming.
One drawback, although not the fault of the hotel- I didn't get an opportunity to experience tea. I hope I'll get to experience it soon, as I hope I'm lucky enough to hang on to the Canadian.
Romance? Canada? Yup- at the Empress. Make it a stop for tea or the night- it's worth it.
I also must apologize to my fiance, Gregor G...I might have to leave
him for this one.Listed in: Oh Canada...
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Review from Laurie S.
6/27/2011
This hotel is well worth the money you spend to stay here. Everyone on the staff is super friendly. We have stayed here 3 times. The most recent was this weekend for a quick trip to see one of our favorite cities. We got off the Clilpper at 11:30 and the Empress already had our room ready! You could easily spend hours walking around the hotel looking at the beautiful architecture and pictures from the past on the walls. When you walk through the front doors you truly feel like you are walking into a different time.
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Review from Victoria R.
Vancouver, BC
8/17/2010
Having walked past the Empress on all my visits to Victoria, I was thrilled when the opportunity arose to stay there for a night.
The architecture alone makes this place a worthwhile stay, with stone and hardwood; leather chairs and antique pieces; and photos of the hotel's history hanging on all the walls.
The service was great - the only communication we had with them was at reception, during check-in. The rest of our stay we were left pretty much to ourselves, and enjoyed exploring the grounds. Our room was clean (if a little small for such a magnanimously named hotel), and everything you would expect of a fairmont hotel was available.
I don't know that I would spend the $300+ that the rooms cost during the high season (Summer), but for the discounted price I received thanks to a groupon, it was worth it. -
Review from Tony S.
5/1/2010
Understated opulence. A High Tea experience at The Fairmont Empress is unrivaled. In my comparatively limited worldly travels, I have not visited, nor experienced, such an occasion/opportunity. Should I ever have such occasion, likely, The Fairmont Express experience has set the standard....for so many others....and now me.
In advance, we called ahead to make a reservation for four of us. (Note: even having over-scheduled ourselves for other Victoria site-seeing highlights, we called to ask for a rescheduling the same day. We were honored and impressed with such accommodation. Thank you!)
"The" tea experience is un-rushed, or should be. We made it last (almost 2 hours), mid afternoon on a week day. The lofty tea room sits 'center' on the Inner Harbor with grand vistas and abundant afternoon light. The fare includes choices of signature teas from around-the-World, mini-finger sandwiches, scones and jellies complete with creme freche and chocolates to complete your tastings. Your palette will be satiated. Champagne, should you wish, is an additional treat, at an additional charge. All toll: about 60 USD per person.
The wait staff is quite proper, but not stiff. Certainly well spoken and knowledgeable of their craft and this marvelous tradition. Spot on. -
Review from Kyla L.
Calgary, AB
10/16/2010
You do have to stay here at some point in your life - but make it for one night and then switch to another hotel for the rest of your vaca.
The Empress is beautiful, has some great history and a fabulous location but like all of the other former CP hotels (I'm looking at you Bessborough) they are dated. The bathrooms are small and the plumbing is old.
The high tea brought the Empress from a 2 star to a 3 star. High tea at the Empress is an experience. It is pricey for what you get but it does make you feel like you have stepped back in time. -
Review from Sara L.
8/14/2010
This review is for the hotel, not for the tea or anything else. This is by far the nicest hotel I've ever stayed in -- which is definitely thanks to the fact that I didn't have to pay for it :) I'm pretty sure I'd never stay here if I had to pay for the room myself.
Bathrobes on the back of the bathroom doors, adorable Victorian decor, Outlook Hotel-like hallways (which sounds more scary than fancy, but trust me it's awesome) -- this place really is lovely. Very clean, magically soft pillows, friendly and non-obtrusive staff, etc. etc.
The only thing that made me knock it down a star was the fact that for some reason there was no wireless in our rooms, and in order to use the wireless in the lobby you have to pay FIFTEEN DOLLARS per 24 hours. Fifteen dollars? Just to use wireless in the lobby and not even your room? Weird.
Otherwise, I felt a little bit princessy at this place -- if someone ever paid for me to stay there again, I'd do it :) -
Review from Antonia W.
Toronto, ON
4/4/2010
High tea at the Empress Hotel? How could I say NO? :D I've walked through the Empress many times, but never ate here or had high tea.
Just FYI, the price of high tea in the off-season is $44.
We were a little early for our reservation so we checked out the tea store right across the hall. They have jars of tea that you can sniff so it helped us decide what tea we wanted for our tea service (they'll offer you a choice of 8 or so). The host came and got us from the store when our table was ready.
We ordered three different kinds of tea and it really is full service... he remembered who wanted milk and sugar cubes, and pours the tea for you. Very attentive and filled it up whenever he saw it empty!
When the three-tiered tray of goodies came out, we couldn't wait to get started. Our waiter described everything on the tray before letting us dig in. The bottom tray has an assortment of 5 different sandwiches : mango chicken chutney , cucumber cream cheese, carrot ginger, and my favorites were the mushroom pate crostini with truffle oil and the smoked salmon pinwheel. The second tray are small scones served with strawberry jam and devonshire cream. YUM. By the time we got to desserts, we were actually kind of stuffed, but sampled most of it :D
We had fun losing ourselves in a different time period and pretending we were all hoity-toity with our pinkies out!! -
Review from Kathleen M.
2/11/2009 3 photos
Pinkies out!
When you have tea at the Empress as the picture I've uploaded shows, pinkies out is the rule. (No one was obsessed with this or seemed to even contemplate it except us though.)
I first had tea at the Empress in 1990 with my mom. At the time we declared it the highlight of our trip to Victoria, Vancouver, and Washington's Olympic Peninsula. Since then every tea place has had to compete against my 1990 memory, and an 18 year old memory is hard to live up to.
I went to the Empress in 2008 as part of a nighttime shore excursion from our Alaskan cruise. Since The Empress isn't open in the evening for tea, the excursion was the only way to get the tea experience. Seeing the Parliament building suddenly light up at 8:30 or so was magical as was seeing the signs and lights on the Empress change from purple to green later in the evening.
We were seated in the tea room and I was going to seek out the lobby of the Empress because I figured it would be fabulous. Then I discovered I was sitting in the old lobby - that's where tea is served. Silly me. And the room *is* fabulous.
We were seated with another couple from our cruise. (I think during afternoon tea hours they often pair you with other patrons as well.) The guy broke his arm earlier in the cruise during the dog sled trip on a glacier. My husband and I like to rank dishes whenever we eat anywhere. To our delight, the couple volunteered to rank, too! We had a big array (see picture I uploaded) of crustless sandwiches, scones, and mini desserts as well as strawberries with clotted creme (in 1990 it was blueberries). I wish I could remember the individual foods better and the rankings. The tea was excellent as was the food.
For food and tea, Lovejoy's in San Francisco might be *slightly* better, but having tea in the old lobby of the Empress is an experience that can't be beat. Plus they gave us free tiny pots of strawberry jam! (Since the two of us only needed one, I pocketed one.)
Kathleen's Tea Rankings (I'm hard to please and I gave them all 5 stars):
1) Lovejoy's, San Francisco
2) The Empress, Victoria
3) Aubrey Rose, La Mesa
4) Tea Upon Chatsworth, San Diego -
Review from Linny H.
3/30/2009
My 300th review! *cue trumpets* You will get a 2-in-1 review for Afternoon Tea and the Fairmont Shop at the hotel .
High tea at the Fairmont Empress is a special treat for any tea enthusiast! You must make reservations, though for off-season like March, you can reserve on the same day.
Walking in for the first time, your eyes are drawn everywhere. The elegant table settings, the tall columns painted pink and lavender and of course, the Queen's portrait over the fireplace. My friend, Mo and I were seated quite comfortably by the window. We had just escaped the gloomy rain outside. Inside, it was a cozy haven despite the grandiose setting. While waiting for our Empress blend tea, we admired the very fancy china tea set. It's an exclusive pattern made only for the Empress hotel. The tea cup was quite pretty with the crown painted on the inside so you can see it with every sip!
We each enjoyed fresh fruit served in a glass goblet. It was a great starter to cleanse our palate for tea. The Empress blend tea was complex and very good. It was an international blend of Assam, Kenya, South India, Ceylon and China. Having tea English style means you add a bit of milk for a creamy flavor. I like it sweet so I usually add two lumps of sugar. I think we drank almost three potfuls, it was that good!
The tea food menu was preset and organized by finger sandwiches, scones with strawberry jam and cream then dessert tidbits. It was brought out on a 3-tiered display. I felt like a little kid and very ladylike at the same time, it was weirdly funny! The finger food was delicious except the mushroom pate crostini. It was a bit too dry for my taste. The mango and curried chicken sandwich and smoke salmon pinwheel were the best. The raisin scones were cute and very tasty especially with the strawberry jam.
The service was impeccable, natch. I loved everything about it except the price, it's a premium so save your dollars!
The Fairmont store specialized in tea blends and tea pots with a smattering of general hotel merchandise. If you really like the Empress pattern tea set, you can only buy it here! This little shop will ship worldwide via phone order. I highly recommend Trish. I think she is the store manager. She was very friendly and helpful in helping us choose the right tea blend. It was funny that we got the Empress blend tea before we actually tried it. I also bought the souvenir trivet. It was the same one used at Afternoon Tea.
If you're lucky enough to be in Victoria, it's a must that you visit the Empress Hotel for high tea!Listed in: Hot spots in Victoria
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Review from Maia R.
8/18/2010
As my first experience having high tea, I was impressed. Not only did we have fabulous service, if you call in advance, they will make you a dairy-free plate of sandwiches and desserts like they did for me.
The Empress Tea was excellent. We even got to take some home for free. I had a wonderful time. The china was very pretty, there was a pianist playing classical tunes and I didn't feel rushed at all.
I wanted to purchase a set of cup and saucers but they were very pricey unfortunately as I'm sure the price of High Tea was as well. I didn't pay for it but that shouldn't deter you from coming. If you have the money, I highly suggest it. But don't let that be the only reason you rate it lower. It's high tea, what'd you expect? -
Review from Jane H.
9/11/2010
5 Stars because this is the nicest hotel I've stayed in.
4 Stars because the Afternoon Tea is delicious but overpriced.
So let's call this a 4.5 Star review.
My family and I stayed here in a double room which we paid less than $150 for on Priceline or Orbitz or one of those discount sites.
The room was gorgeous and split between the three of us was rather inexpensive.
Bonus: they're dog friendly! -
Review from Shirley Y.
5/26/2009
What's "high tea"? Beats me. It's apparently one of the top things to do in Victoria, so I did it.
Here are your cliff notes:
1) You make a reservation for noon to 5pm, because that's when they serve it.
2) Attire is "smart casual". Basically, don't look like a hobo.
3) You sit, and choose which tea you'd like. Server brings the tea and asks if you'd like sugar/milk and proceeds to pour for you.
4) You're served a cup of fruit to start.
5) Then you get served the 3-tiered tray of goodness. Sandwiches on bottom. Scones in middle. Sweets on top. You should eat from the bottom up.
That's it! This basically replaces your lunch for the day. It doesn't look like much since everything's in small pieces, but trust me, it's filling. -
Review from Matthew P.
2/12/2010
This is a review of High Tea at the Empress:
Having high tea at the Empress hotel is one of those things you are required to do when taking a trip to Victoria. No, really. You have to present a receipt when you leave the city. Not that I've heard of anyone who's even tried to go to Victoria and not have tea at the Empress, it's just what ya do.
With that in mind I was well prepared for some cutsie-wootsie tourist 'experience.' What I found, however, was a real honest-to-God English high tea. Nothing cutsie about it. This was very formal, very British, and very very cool. I am absolutely certain that any Brit worth their Imperial salt would turn up their noses at this quaint colonial mockery of their high tea, but seeing as I myself am a quaint colonial, I was thoroughly entranced by the whole experience. There is a reason everyone does this in Victoria: Because it is a unique (to North America, anyway) and very cool experience. -
Review from Matt R.
7/6/2009
High tea is a joke and such a rip off.
$55 per person for a little tray of food and some tea. We had reservations and checked out the tea room the day before. I saw the trays of food and asked if each person got one- was told NO and that the "value is in the experience". Not really enough food for two people......We cancelled then and there..... The Veranda is nice- good options for cocktails.... and much better value.
The hotel itself is nice- but pretty old. They have 477 guest rooms. We got a special rate of $101 a night and they upgraded us to a King Deluxe in the Tower- room was large- but furniture was pretty old.
No air conditioning made for some warm evenings...
Nice amenities- pool and hot tubs seemed clean.
Free Internet if you sign up for their Presidents Club (and they'll probably give you a room upgrade).
I like this hotel- but would probably look for better value options if they weren't running the special.
