If you come to Victoria, you must try the world-renowned Tea at The Fairmont Empress (fondly called “The Empress”), one of Victoria’s oldest hotels.  Because of her national signficance, The Empress has been designated as a National Historic Site of Canada.

When she became weary around 1965, there arose a debate to either tear down the fading hotel to make way for a more modern high-rise. Thankfully, instead of erasing her from memory, The Empress’s Edwardian chateau architecture was preserved through a massive renovation entitled, “Operation Teacup.”  May 2017 saw the completion of another $60 million dollar restoration/ transformation to add modern luxury details to the facilities and rooms while honoring her historic heritage.  Today, with her original exterior signage intact, The Empress stands as an important icon of the city of Victoria in its magnificent location in front of Victoria’s Inner Harbor.

Since she opened her doors in 1908, she has hosted royalty and celebrities  and has expertly championed the quintessentially British tradition of Afternoon Tea.

A charming pianist playing classic happy tunes  drowns out the silver and teacup clatter and guest chatter around tea sandwiches, scones, preserves, and clotted cream in the posh ambience of the Tea Room. My beautiful niece, Lisa, and I were going to eat only two of the five portions of Afternoon Tea here (just saying!) 🙂

The Menu itself is a mouthful:

Just outside the Tea Room is a gift store and in that right moment, you may catch a sighting of a charming young lady dressed in period clothing browsing through tea selections and stem ginger cookies. I thought she was from Jane Austen’s book. 🙂

 There is no shortage of souvenirs here…

A simple short stroll outside The Empress took me through some of the most breathtaking garden landscape views I have visited in a while.  I am thankful I did not manipulate my way to see Arashiyama on my preceding trip… now I see God had something else in store! Oh, Victoria, you are so beautiful!

This was a very memorable Afternoon Tea treat that I won’t soon forget. Thank You, Lord, for this gift.

Ecclesiastes 5:18 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot.