High tea, also known as afternoon tea, is one of my favourite ways to slow down. It’s unhurried, a little indulgent, and just structured enough to feel like an occasion. My daughter and I, and sometimes Matthew, go for tea because it’s a lazy-day meal that everyone enjoys. Each hotel or restaurant that offers tea is different. Some are elegant and posh, while others are fun and whimsical. Here are my favourite spots for High Tea around Ontario.
From Toronto to Niagara on the Lake, I’m on the hunt for the best spots to enjoy tea. If you go to London and ask about high tea, they’ll look at you like you don’t know what you’re talking about. But in Ontario, afternoon tea is known as High Tea, and it’s all dressed up. The confusion goes back to British traditions crossing the Atlantic and changing along the way. In Britain, high tea was a hearty evening meal eaten at a high table by working families, while afternoon tea emerged in the 1840s as a light, social meal for the upper classes. Ontario adopted the afternoon tea ritual but kept the grander-sounding name, especially as tea rooms and hotels began offering it as a refined experience rather than an everyday meal.
The tradition took hold in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, shaped by British colonial influence and the rise of grand hotels, railway dining rooms, and resort towns like Niagara-on-the-Lake. Places such as the Fairmont Royal York helped cement tea as a special occasion tied to elegance, travel, and social gatherings. Over time, historical accuracy mattered less than atmosphere, and high tea in Ontario became its own thing. Today, it reflects a blend of tradition, hospitality, and modern tastes, valued less for what it once was and more for the simple pleasure of slowing down and sharing the afternoon.
Fairmont Royal York, Toronto
I’ve had High Tea at the Fairmont Royal York right downtown near Union Station, and it’s hosted right in the lobby at Clockwork Champagne & Cocktails, near the hotel’s clock tower. This bar and restaurant area is filled with plush seating, intimate tables, and plenty of quiet nooks to enjoy time with someone special. It’s pricier than many other teas, but you’re paying in part for the history. They’ve been serving High Tea here for nearly 100 years, and they’re doing it right.
You’re presented with a more modern-looking tiered display, with requisite savory sandwiches, sweets, and scones. My mark of a good tea is light and fluffy scones, and plenty of clotted cream. Yes, clotted cream – if they serve me whipped cream instead of clotted cream, well, it just isn’t the same.
You’re seated in an open space where guests pass through, which gives the experience a sense of energy without it feeling hectic. It’s a very public tea, and that’s part of its appeal, with people watching a part of the experience.
Traveller tip: Book early; this is an extremely popular tea, and it is currently only available on the weekends. Oh, and bring your wallet. Tea here will set you back nearly $100 per person.
Windsor Arms Hotel, Toronto
My daughter and I had tea in the lovely Windsor Arms boutique hotel in Toronto’s Yorkville district, which is the perfect spot for a mother-daughter tea. It’s quieter, but no less historic. There are dedicated tea rooms in the hotel, and we particularly enjoyed the French countryside decor of the aptly named Tea Room, over the purple hues of the other space reserved for tea.
The tiered tea offerings include scones, savoury finger sandwiches, and plenty of pastries. You can tell when there’s an in-house pastry chef because each pastry is unique, delicious, and like edible art. Oh, and there was plenty of clotted cream for our scones.
Traveller tip: Tea at Windsor Arms is extremely popular, and they often have special tea events. Book ahead, but the good news is that they offer tea daily.
Maddie Hatter’s Tea Room, Erin
Maddie Hatter’s Tea Shop & Cafe is a fun and whimsical locally-owned spot in out-of-the-way Erin. Erin isn’t on the way to much else, so tea becomes the reason you’re there. It’s a cozy and casual spot, where tea service is more about catching up with friends and family than it is about people watching.
Tea here ranks high on my list of favourites, because it was far more casual and the setting was terrific. The food was tops, too, and with plenty of parking in the lot across the road, it’s easy to get to if you’re within an easy drive of Erin.
Abigail’s Tea House, St. George
St. George is a one-stoplight town (there may actually be more than one, but there’s not much in this little town), and Abigail’s Tea House is the perfect spot to enjoy High Tea if you’re combining it with a drive. Their High Tea selection starts with their pimento spread, which is shared, then each person gets a serving of their signature curried chicken Waldorf salad. Following that comes the tiered display of finger sandwiches, sweets, and scones.
Abigail’s offers a kid-sized tea, too, along with a couple of other tea options if you’re not hungry enough for the full spread. It’s very affordable, at under $50 per person, and was well worth it.
Queen of Hearts Tea Room, Kitchener
Queen of Hearts Tea Room is tucked into a strip mall, but once you step inside, you’re transported to a fun and quirky tea room. They pay homage to Alice in Wonderland’s Queen of Hearts, and the tea service was fabulous.
Regular, half and cream tea options are available, but if you’re making the drive to Kitchener, go for the full experience. Afternoon Tea includes a 3-tiered plate filled with finger sandwiches, sweets and scones, and it was all delightful.
Pro tip: Reservations are mandatory for Queen of Hearts, and must be made 24 hours in advance. You can make a reservation through their website.
Prince of Wales Hotel, Niagara-on-the-Lake
No visit to NOTL should go without a stop at the Prince of Wales Hotel for their amazing tea. Offered daily, reservations are a must as they will fill up. Don’t ask me how I know. Served in the Drawing Room, this stunning room is the perfect backdrop for a classic High Tea.
Their scones are served with creme fraiche, which, while not nearly as good as clotted cream, is better than whipped cream. At this popular tea spot, you can add on to your afternoon tea and enjoy cheeses and charcuterie, and kids get their own special tea service.
The Last Sip
I’m on a quest to discover all the best tea spots in Ontario, and one day I’ll get out east of Toronto. For now, this is where I’ve been. If you have a tea spot to recommend, let me know in the comments below. In the meantime, pick a spot near you and enjoy High Tea with someone special!