You can thank the Brits for the tradition of high tea – an afternoon meal of sandwiches, scones, cake and tea, of course – historically served between 3PM and 4PM. And while its origins are working class, high tea these days can be found everywhere from luxury hotels to casual cafes; it’s also a popular activity for special occasions like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays, showers and weddings (be sure to make a reso!). Here are the most delightful high tea spots in every Canadian province.
Bacchus Restaurant
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Price: $70/person
Sitting snug inside the Wedgewood Hotel & Spa – a luxury hotel opened in 1984 by Eleni Skalbania and now owned by her daughters Elpie and Marousa – Bacchus, a cozy European-inspired restaurant, serves high tea every Saturday and Sunday. On the menu? Gourmet sammies like smoked salmon and caviar and pastries like eclairs, macarons and scones.
The Art of Cake
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Price: $55/person
This cute space in Colombia Plaza is serving serious fairytale vibes with white chandeliers, vintage finds and a display case filled with Insta-worthy desserts. The Art of Cake‘s three-tiered high tea trays are overflowing with finger sandwiches, scones, clotted cream, strawberry preserve and more. Want to feel the English fantasy at home? They also offer high tea to go.
Café Français
Location: Regina, Saskatchewan
Price: $60/person
A love of European cafes is what propelled Depraj Kumar and Inyoung Chang to open a little taste of France in the prairies. Café Français has a modern, minimalist and elegant design; and their high tea menu – filled with delights like beef pastrami croissants, spinach and sun-dried tomato quiche and lemon curd with Chantilly cream – is a highly reviewed favourite.
McLeod House
Location: Stonewall, Manitoba
Price: $30/person
Located just a 35-minute drive northwest of Winnipeg, McLeod House, a charming tearoom inside an early 1900s home, serves your standard high tea fare – finger sandwiches, scones and desserts (the lemon squares are always a hit!) – along with a glass of sparkling wine. They also offer a junior afternoon tea with kiddo-friendly sandwiches like PB&J.
Bampot
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Price: $60 (serves 2-3 people)
This casual, funky spot in the Annex cheekily claims to have “the highest concentration of pillows and teapots in all of Toronto.” What does high tea look like at an entirely vegetarian and vegan bohemian board game cafe? Veggie pizza, fruit and nuts and sweets like Nanaimo bars and your choice of cake. Bampot also offers a dizzying selection of teas.
Champlain Restaurant
Location: Quebec City, Quebec
Price: $65/person
This high-end restaurant – located inside the historic Fairmont Chateau Frontenac – serves high tea every Saturday; enjoy incredible views of the St. Lawrence River while you indulge on fruit, scones, homemade Devon cream, amuse-bouches and more. With 35 choices, the tea selection is plentiful, or opt to go a bit boozier with a glass of wine or Champagne.
Jassy Boutique & Tearoom
Location: Moncton, New Brunswick
Price: $48/person
Vintage China fills the cabinets, walls and shelves at this new-ish Moncton spot. The tearoom is a realization of owner Jassy Kim’s two loves: antiques and tea. What’s really special is that customers get to choose their favourite tea cup off a display wall to drink out of. The high tea menu includes favourites like smoked salmon sandwiches and macarons.
Birkinshaw’s
Location: Amherst, Nova Scotia
Price: $39+/person
This award-winning tearoom, a two-hour drive north of Halifax, offers not one but five afternoon tea spreads. Birkinshaw’s has your standard collection of sandwiches and scones, one that comes with a glass of Prosecco, a savoury selection (think Scotch eggs and hand pies), a Maritimes-inspired meal (seafood, local produce, etc.) and one with gluten- and dairy-free options.
Dalvay by the Sea
Location: York, Prince Edward Island
Price: $65/person
A 30-minute drive north of Charlottetown, Dalvay by the Sea – a historic hotel inside a Queen Anne-style house from 1895 – is you guessed it, located a short walk from the ocean. Their restaurant, the MacMillan Dining Room, has a gourmet high tea menu (hello lobster club sandwich, mushroom quiche and smoked salmon canape) and nice views.
The Rooms
Location: St. John’s, Newfoundland
Price: $30/person
The Rooms, a cultural facility that houses the province’s art gallery, archives and museum, is also home to a cafe; and it should come as no surprise that the menu celebrates Newfoundland and Labrador’s food heritage, given its affiliation to the museum and archives. They serve high tea every Wednesday afternoon with sandwiches, pastries, preserves and more.