Break out the china and don your fascinator for the perfect afternoon activity – Afternoon tea! Who can resist a three-tiered tray filled with tasty treats, delectable finger sandwiches, and a warm pot of tea? Afternoon tea is a time honoured tradition for many and is now becoming a fun must-do activity across Ontario! With so many cafes and tea rooms in Ontario popping up it can be difficult to decide where to go. So, we’ve compiled a list of the top Ontario tea rooms across the province for you to choose from.
Top 10 Ontario Tea Rooms
The experience of afternoon tea in Ontario is rising in the ranks of top thing to do! Whether you’re looking for a lovely outing with your mom or the perfect excuse to meet the girls, these Ontario tea rooms will pour a little joy into your life!
The Wild Tart
One of the top Ontario tea rooms is The Wild Tart in the charming small town of Elora. The Wild Tart was created by an international team, a South African/English and Swiss couple with a wealth of hospitality experience and an English pastry chef with a passion for creating. This dream team have a passion for English afternoon tea and have put their stamp on the Ontario tea room scene. Along with a lovely interior that’s modern and cozy, it’s the perfect spot for English tea in summer with an enchanting patio!
The Wild Tart marries the ideal blend of elegance and charm with a comfortable atmosphere. They offer a range of options from their signature afternoon tea with a selection of savory bites and delights, scones, cakes and pastries, and of course a pot of tea, to a gluten free and vegan afternoon tea. You’ll find a host of fine foods on the menu, from steak tartare to smoked salmon, as well as the finest desserts like macarons and ginger cake. It’s no surprise that The Wild Tart quickly rose to be one of the top places to experience afternoon tea in Ontario.
Address: 61 Metcalfe Street in Elora
Prince of Wales Hotel
Niagara-on-the-Lake is one of the top travel destinations in Ontario for Canadians and international travellers alike. There are endless things to do, restaurants and cafes to visit but one of the top things to do is to enjoy afternoon tea in Niagara on the Lake at the Prince of Wales Hotel! This grand hotel in the heart of downtown is home incredible rooms, restaurants and spas. They also offer a fabulous afternoon tea service in their Drawing Room.
It doesn’t get more English then tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel. The Victorian style building and old world charm within the Drawing Room add to the regal ambiance of the tea service. You’ll enjoy tea served in ornate tea sets, gourmet finger sandwiches, delicious house made pastries, and their signature scones. Prince of Wales offers a variety of tea services from Monarch Tea to Traditional Afternoon Tea. They are now offering To Go Tea Takeout boxes that are perfect for a cozy night in a nearby cottage.
Address: 6 Picton Street in Niagara-on-the-Lake
Looking for more things to do in Niagara-on-the-Lake? Check out these Amazing Niagara-on-the-Lake Winery Restaurants!
Abigail’s Tea House
Some of the most charming and best Ontario tea rooms are found in small towns! One of which can be found in the small village of Saint George in the County of Brant. Just fifteen minutes east of Paris, the quaint small town of Saint George is on the map thanks to its awesome Apple Fest that takes place every September. But there’s also an Instagram-worthy tea room too – Abigail’s Tea House!
Abigail’s Tea House is located in an over 100 year old building that was once a bank. Walking inside you’re met with colourful wallpaper, birdcage chandeliers, and pretty tufted banquet seats. They have over 40 loose leaf teas from around the world, light lunches and an extensive list of preserves like their own Chantilly cream. Of course, the pièce de résistance is the beautiful high tea on the most stunning china! Be sure to check the Facebook page where they post about upcoming special events like the Witches Brew in October.
Address: 2 Main Street in Saint George
Blue Willow Tea Shop
If you’re planning to travel to Muskoka and are looking for Ontario tea rooms in the region then you’ll find one of the best in Gravenhurst. Located on the Muskoka Wharf, Blue Willow Tea Shop offers an incredible view of Lake Muskoka! If you don’t believe us then consider that on TripAdvisor its ranked number one for the best restaurants in Gravenhurst!
What’s in a name? The tea shop is named after the most recognizable china pattern, Blue Willow which was created over 200 years ago. Blue Willow offers both traditional high tea and afternoon tea that come with finger sandwiches, assorted mini scones and a Chef’s selection of sweets. If you’re looking for a fun festive tea experience try their Holiday High Tea that runs from the end of November and throughout the month of December.
Address: 900 Bay Street in Gravenhurst
Kitten and the Bear
Imagine a quaint English cottage in the heart of Toronto where you can live out your dreams of a tea party as an adult. Along Dundas you’ll find one of the best places for afternoon tea in Toronto, Kitten and the Bear where you can make that dream true! This adorable Toronto café has a boho chic vibe with hints of country. While it started as a business dedicated to selling seasonal jams online, Kitten and the Bear have now grown to be one of Toronto’s top tea rooms and cafes!
Kitten and the Bear serve a dreamy afternoon tea with buttermilk scones, artisan jams and other preserves, and a variety of premium teas from renowned brands. They even make their unique preserves in small, limited batches. One local favourite it the Sunshine Peach which is made with Niagara gold peaches. If you want to try this cute tea room out you’ll want to book far in advance. With limit space and a growing list of dreamers it’s a long wait list. But if you want to try them out in the meantime they offer Afternoon Tea for One to go!
Address: 1414 Dundas Street West in Toronto
Queen of Hearts Coffee & Tea House
Ladies grab your crowns and head to Queen of Hearts Coffee & Tea House in Kitchener. This accessible tea house’s name plays off the owner’s love of playing cards and the obvious Queen of England and her tea time. This chic Ontario tea room offers afternoon tea from Thursday through Sunday and even has a “4 of a Kind” loyalty card for where if you fill the card with stamps you get a free tea!
Queen of Hearts Coffee & Tea House has plenty of tricks up her sleeve! One of the fun attractions to this place is they have a range of fun and fanciful themed afternoon teas! The Queen’s Full Afternoon Tea Experience comes with a 3-tier plate with sweets, scones, and savories that are served with their home-made clotted cream and jams. Their other themed teas include a Holiday Afternoon Tea, Halloween Tea Party, a Mermaid Princess Tea Party and so many more. Plus they also offer a great Afternoon Tea To-Go!
Address: 1151 Victoria Street North in Kitchener
The Boathouse Tea Room
If you’re looking for the perfect trifecta, especially in the summer, ice cream, a fun place to eat, and a serene view of the river running by then The Boathouse is where it’s at! The Boathouse Tea Room is located along the banks of where the Speed and Eramosa River meet in Guelph. They offer canoe and kayak rentals in the summer as well as ice cream. But, it’s also one of the best places to go for high tea in Ontario!
With a fun and colourful exterior and eclectic interior, The Boathouse Tea Room is full of character. Their high tea is reasonably priced at $21 per person and is served with a choice of tea, scone with fresh cream and jam, gourmet sweets, and assorted tea sandwiches. The presentation is spot on with their three-tiered tower that’s adorned with fresh fruit and flowers. The Boathouse has an interesting selection of teas with some hyper local ones like the Guelph Museum and McCrae House Private Blends.
Address: 116 Gordon Street in Guelph
Windsor Arms Hotel
For one of the most luxurious High Tea in Toronto head to the Windsor Arms Hotel. This boutique hotel in Toronto’s Yorkville neighbourhood is dripping with romantic European flair. The Windsor Arms Hotel is set in a lavish 1927 building and has been serving high tea for nearly 100 years. High Tea is the most popular culinary tradition at the hotel and is served in a French inspired tea room. The hotel is also home to a high end British style pub.
Entering the Windsor Arms Tea Room you’ll be met with elegance and style as well as the coziness of a well-loved fireplace. The Windsor Arms afternoon tea offerings are prepared fresh, in-house, daily, and include pastries, traditional tea sandwiches, English scones and preserves. You’ll have over 30 loose leaf teas, including fair-trade and organic blends with flavours like Russian Caravan, to choose from. Please not that prices range from $55 to $75 per person with the higher price tag for weekend teas.
Address: 18 St Thomas Street in Toronto
The Old Curiosity Tea Shop
If you’re looking for incredible Ontario tea rooms that will transport you across the pond and make you feel like you’ve stepped into a proper tea house in Britain then head to The Old Curiosity Tea Shop. This adorable tea shop is located in Markham and with the play on the Classic Dickens’ novel plus all the antiques within make it ooze old world charm. The Old Curiosity Tea Shop has been a staple in Markham for 20 years.
With dark maroon walls, green tablecloths, and hundreds of teapots displayed throughout you’ll love the cozy vibe. The Old Curiosity Tea Shop has over 75 different types of tea, a variety of English fare like cucumber sandwiches, kidney pie, and of course, afternoon tea. Their Victorian Afternoon Tea is served over two different two tier trays with sandwiches, warm scones, clotted cream, preserves, English cookies and cakes, along with a steaming pot of loose leaf tea.
Address: 91 Main Street North in Markham
Waterdown Tea House
One of the loveliest Ontario tea rooms can be found in Waterdown, just twenty minutes north of downtown Hamilton. Waterdown Tea House is set in an historic house dating back to the late 1880s. While the interior has been recently renovated they have preserved the original features and character of the house. It was originally a saddle shop and to pay homage to its roots they have horseshoes displayed inside.
Waterdown Tea House has a modern interior and a huge covered patio. They offer a medley of light fare and a variety of afternoon high teas. The Waterdown High Tea comes with fresh finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and preserves, and the daily sweet treats. They also can accommodate for vegan or gluten-free diets. There’s also the Duchess Traditional Tea, the Garden Patio Tea, and a Little Prince & Princess Tea, all ranging in price and menu items. You can see the list here. Teas range from black, green, herbal, and white, and they even have a Prince Harry and Meghan Royal Wedding Blend.
Address: 297 Dundas Street East in Waterdown
More Places to Enjoy Afternoon Tea in Ontario
If you’re looking for more places to experience afternoon tea in Ontario then we have you covered with a few other favourites. We’ve got everything from small cozy Ontario tea rooms in small towns to fancy afternoon tea in a castle!
Royal Tea on King – There are plenty of great restaurants in Midland but if you’re looking for a great place for tea in the South Georgian Bay area then head to Royal Tea on King. This adorable tea room will transport you to a classic tea house in Great Britain with its antiques and assorted china tea cups and pots. Royal Tea on King brings a local taste to their teas with Ontario’s Pluck Tea and fun flavours like Georgian Bay and Canoe Lake Blend. The best part are their scones! With pop-up flavours for different seasons and holidays their keep you coming back again and again!
Maddie Hatter Tea Shop & Café – Another cute small town Ontario tea room is Maddie Hatter Tea Shop & Café in Erin. With a whimsical Alice in Wonderland atmosphere it’s also a great spot to enjoy a Mad Hatter tea party! If you’re looking for great places to enjoy high tea in Ontario this is it, at only $24.00 per person. Their high teas come with finger sandwiches, English scones with homemade Devonshire Cream, fruit preserves and mini desserts. Along with high tea they offer a wide and delicious menu!
Zoe’s at Fairmont Château Laurier – This afternoon tea could easily be in the top ten!! Who wants to enjoy a classic afternoon tea in a castle? You can in Ottawa! If you’re looking for Ontario tea rooms in Eastern Ontario then head to the Zoe’s at Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa. You’ll feel like a queen or king as you sip tea and devour delectable pastries in their elegant dining room. Zoe’s has a selection of LOT 35 loose leaf teas and incredible English scones.
Top Hat Tea Room – If you’re looking for a well brewed “cuppa” then head to Top Hat Tea Room in Orangeville. This family run tea room serves up afternoon tea along with other light meals in a truly cozy space that is reminiscent of small town tea rooms in the British Isles. They offer afternoon tea as well as Little Lads and Ladies Tea for the wees, and all in antique teapots and cups. And both options are budget-friendly at $25.50 and $14.50 respectively.
Campbell’s British Food & Tearoom – Along with all the great restaurants in Barrie there’s also an adorable tea room. Campbell’s British Food & Tearoom is dedicated to bring the tastes of Britain to Barrie Ontario! You’ll find over a dozen UK favourite teas, de-caffeinated teas, as well herbal, fruit and other specialty teas here! Campbell’s prides themselves on making old-fashioned treats and menu items using traditional recipes. They also support local by using Canadian grown meats and vegetables that are delivered daily to make sure you enjoy the freshest!
There are a few things to remember for the perfect afternoon tea experience. First, most places require a reservation at least 24 hours in advance. Prices for afternoon tea and high tea are per person and can vary from $20 to $50 or more. It’s also advised to always check the menu before you book to ensure their have something to your liking and can meet your dietary needs.
Do you have a favourite Ontario tea room? Head over to our Eat Local Ontario Facebook group to let us know or share your experience!
While we do our best to keep the information on Eat Local Ontario up to date, we sometimes miss things. If you notice something that needs to be updated, please comment or send us an email at eatlocalontario[at]gmail.com and we’ll look into it as soon as we can. Thank you!
