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Say “high tea” and most people picture the same thing: a hushed hotel lobby, a three-tier tray, a pot of Earl Grey, and a bill that stings. Toronto has plenty of that. But the best high tea in Toronto right now isn’t always the obvious white-tablecloth hotel. It’s dim sum that a New York paper called the best on the continent. It’s a literal castle. It’s a century-old inn by a river in Etobicoke.
The city’s proper tea scene has quietly gotten more interesting than the postcard version suggests. Some spots lean full British, scones, jam, clotted cream and all. Others throw the rulebook out entirely.
Without further ado, here are nine worth booking, from the genuinely surprising to the reliably grand.
1. Lai Wah Heen — The High Tea That Skips the Scones
Where: 108 Chestnut St, Downtown
When: Daily, 3:30–5:30 p.m.
The pitch: Chinese high tea, dim sum front and centre
Forget finger sandwiches. Lai Wah Heen does an afternoon tea built around dim sum, and it’s the one spot on this list that feels completely Toronto. The New York Times once called it the best dim sum in North America, and the room has been a downtown fine-dining fixture since 1995. It recently reopened under new owners and chefs.
You’re picking dainty, carefully made pieces instead of cucumber triangles. It’s the move if you’ve done the hotel-tea circuit and want something that actually surprises you. Book ahead.
2. Casa Loma — High Tea in an Actual Castle
Where: 1 Austin Terrace, Davenport
Price: $75–$85 per person, plus tax and gratuity
The catch: Your ticket includes admission to the castle
This is the one that photographs itself. Casa Loma’s “High Tea at the Castle” pairs premium teas, scones, and pastries with a seat inside Toronto’s only real castle, and the price includes admission so you can wander the place afterward. Seatings run about 90 minutes.
It runs as special events through the year, including Family Day weekend and Mother’s Day, so check the calendar before you plan around it. If you’re hosting someone visiting the city, this is the easy yes.
3. Old Mill Toronto — Tea in a 100-Year-Old Inn
Where: 21 Old Mill Rd, Etobicoke
When: Thursday through Sunday, seatings around 3 p.m.
Price: Around $65 per person
Tucked by the Humber River in the Kingsway, the Old Mill has been doing afternoon tea in a heritage-inn setting for decades. Stone walls, fireplaces, the works. It’s a haul if you’re downtown, but that’s part of the appeal: you actually feel like you’ve gone somewhere.
Seatings run two hours, so it’s built for lingering. Reserve through OpenTable and aim for a sunny afternoon when the garden’s in play.
4. Windsor Arms Hotel — The Yorkville Classic Done Right
Where: 18 St Thomas St, Yorkville
Price: $65–$70 weekdays, $85 Friday to Sunday
When: Daily seatings, noon onward
If you want the full traditional experience without any gimmick, this is it. The Windsor Arms Tea Room is bright, a little theatrical, and the menu is properly stacked: goat cheese and caramelized onion quiche, a cucumber open sandwich with dill-lemon cream cheese, egg salad roulade, smoked salmon canapé, plus plain and cranberry scones with house preserves and clotted cream. Petit fours close it out.
Gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian menus are available with 24 hours’ notice. Weekends cost more and book up fast, so weekday tea is the quiet-luxury play.
5. Fairmont Royal York — Tea They’ve Served Since 1929
Where: 100 Front St W, Downtown (Clockwork)
When: Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
The pitch: Nearly a century of tradition
The Fairmont Royal York has been pouring afternoon tea since 1929, and it now runs out of Clockwork, the hotel’s tea lounge. It’s the grande-dame option, the one your grandmother probably remembers. Reservations are required and the weekend slots go quickly.
This is the safe, classic downtown pick. Wear something nice and lean into it.
6. Omni King Edward — Old Toronto Grandeur
Where: 37 King St E, Downtown
When: Friday through Sunday
One of Toronto’s grand old hotels, “The King Eddy” has long been a go-to for a traditional, dressed-up afternoon tea. It runs Friday through Sunday, reservations required. If the Royal York is booked, this is your other downtown heritage option.
Confirm current pricing when you call, since it shifts with the season and any themed menus.
7. Park Hyatt Toronto — Tea With a Cocktail Chaser
Where: 4 Avenue Rd, Yorkville
When: Thursday to Sunday, noon–4 p.m.
The twist: Add a three-cocktail pairing
The freshly renovated Park Hyatt does a tidy afternoon tea in Yorkville, and the move here is the optional cocktail pairing if you’re treating tea as the start of a bigger afternoon. It’s central, polished, and pairs well with a Yorkville shopping loop.
Around $65 per person, with the cocktail flight extra. Confirm the rate when booking.
8. The Empress at Hilton Toronto — A Tea-Lover’s Tea
Where: Hilton Toronto, Downtown
When: Saturday and Sunday, 1–4 p.m.
The pitch: A genuinely deep tea list
If the tea itself matters more to you than the photo op, the Empress leans into it with a wide range across black, green, herbal, white, oolong, and rooibos. It’s a weekend-only sitting, roughly $75 per person.
Good for a small group that actually wants to taste their way through the menu rather than rush the trays.
9. The Dorset — Sunday-Only and Properly British
Where: Toronto
When: Sundays only
Price: Around $65 per person
The Dorset keeps it classic and keeps it scarce: a Sunday-only sitting with Victoria sponge, Bakewell tarts, and scones the kitchen makes from a family recipe. The savouries get the same care.
Because it’s once a week, it books out. Plan a couple of weekends ahead if you’ve got a date in mind.
10. Guerlain Spa at Hotel X Toronto — High Tea With a Wellness Twist
Where: Hotel X Toronto, 111 Princes’ Blvd, Exhibition Place
When: Select weekends and special dates throughout the year
The pitch: Luxury afternoon tea paired with one of Toronto’s most indulgent spa experiences
For those looking to pair relaxation with indulgence, Guerlain Spa at Hotel X Toronto offers one of the city’s most unique high tea experiences. Served in the spa’s tranquil setting, this is less about grand hotel tradition and more about slowing down, unwinding, and treating yourself. Overlooking Toronto’s waterfront, it’s an elevated escape that feels miles away from the city’s usual pace.
The menu is thoughtfully curated and decidedly upscale. Guests can enjoy handcrafted bites such as truffle egg brioche topped with truffle aioli, dill, chives, and crispy shallots, alongside Croque Monsieur made with smoked Virginia ham, Gruyère, and truffle mustard on buttery croissant. Sweet offerings include elegant raspberry tarts layered with vanilla pastry cream, hibiscus gel, ruby crunch, and fresh raspberry, as well as the spa’s signature Parisian-style macarons. Earl Grey tea scones and savoury chive-cheddar scones complete the experience.
A vegetarian menu is also available, featuring grilled vegetable sandwiches with beet hummus and Israeli salad, avocado toast with smashed avocado, egg salad and za’atar, plus pumpkin muffins, mango sticky rice, macarons and raspberry tarts.
Many guests pair the experience with a treatment at the award-winning spa, making it a popular choice for Mother’s Day celebrations, birthdays, bridal parties, or simply an indulgent afternoon. It isn’t the most traditional afternoon tea on this list, but it may be the most relaxing—and one of the most memorable.
So Where Should You Actually Go?
Depends on the day. Want a story to tell? Casa Loma on Mother’s Day or Lai Wah Heen. Want the timeless, dress-up classic? Royal York or Windsor Arms. Want to escape the downtown crush and pleasant music? Old Mill, every time!
The point stands: high tea here is no longer one thing. The best high tea in Toronto might come with dim sum, a castle tour, or a riverside fireplace, and that’s exactly why it’s worth booking one you wouldn’t expect.
Been to one of these? Tell us which tray you’d go back for in the comments.
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