Afternoon Tea at Fairmont Empress, Victoria, Vancouver Island

Most would assume that Vancouver is capital of British Columbia, but that title belongs to the older and wiser city of Victoria on Vancouver Island. If you have time it is well worth visiting this quaint city.

The grand Fairmont Empress Hotel is one of the first sights you see when you arrive in Victoria. The building was built between 1904 and 1908 but became a popular tourist destination in the 1920s. This famous hotel has become iconic over the years, overlooking the Inner Harbour on Government Street. The hotel has 477 rooms and four restaurants, but it is the classic Victorian afternoon tea for which it is best known. In the busier summer months the ‘Tea Room’ can serve more than 800 teas in a day!

Rather than waiting until 3pm, we arrived for our ‘lunchtime’ afternoon tea at 1pm, hungry and excited. We were ushered into the lavish lounge to a preferential table with views of the Victoria Harbour. The Fairmont Empress has been serving tea for over 107 years and the menu is still much the same as Anna, Duchess of Bedford intended when she invited her guests for tea and scones. The china is the same in design as that used for the royal guests, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth who visited The Empress in 1939.

TRADITIONAL AFTERNOON TEA MENU

Fresh Strawberries with Empress Cream

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Smoked Salmon Pinwheel with Dill Cream Cheese

Roasted Honey Ham with Tarragon Dijonnaise

Free Range Egg Salad Croissant

Cucumber and Ginger Mascarpone on Butter Brioche

Moroccan Spiced Coronation Chicken on Marble Rye

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Freshly Baked Raisin Scone with Strawberry Jam and Empress Cream

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Duo of Jivara and Ivoire Chocolate Délice

Tropical Lamington

Raspberry Mascarpone Mousseline

Valrhona Pistachio Crémeux Tart

Rose Petal Shortbread

Fresh strawberries topped with Empress cream was first placed on the table. The Empress cream is extra light whipped cream with an alluring sweetness that I imagine comes from adding sugar, it was perfect with the ruby red strawberries. After a round of superior Earl Grey tea, the impressive tiered stands arrived loaded with delectable treats. The sandwiches were fresh and full of flavour, particularly delicious was the creamy rich Moroccan spiced coronation chicken and the exotic take on a standard cucumber sandwich.

I found the scones a little dry, they sadly didn’t taste very freshly baked. The dainty cakes on the top level were a pleasant balance of different flavours and textures. The decadent Délice was a hit with my chocolate loving friend whilst I preferred the airy raspberry mousseline and subtly flavoured rose petal shortbread.

It threatens to ruin the magic seeing the prepared afternoon teas sitting out ready for at the entrance to the Tea Lobby, but nonetheless I loved my experience at The Empress, and highly recommend including it in your Victoria itinerary.

More information and book the Empress afternoon tea here.

While in Victoria, walk up to the impressive Craigdarroch Castle and learn all about the family history. And after indulging at The Empress, wander around the independent shops on Johnson Street – I loved the stationery shop Regional Assembly of Text, the cashmere shop Kit and Ace and the café Hey Happy for their Iced Coconut Milk Latte.

Thoroughly Modern Milly travelled to Victoria with Helijet.

Breathtaking views over the stunning Salish Sea greet guests on a Helijet flight between Vancouver and Victoria or Nanaimo.  Comfortable and spacious, 12 seat, Sikorsky S76 helicopters fly up to 30 daily departures between the cities.  With flights just 35 minutes between Vancouver and Victoria or 18 minutes between Vancouver and Nanaimo there’s more time to spend exploring the city after your flight.  http://helijet.com/scheduled-airline/

All photos taken on my lovely Olympus Pen Lite E-PL7.

The St. Regis Hotel, Vancouver

Those who know Vancouver will know the grueling Grouse Grind, a mountainous walk that tests fitness and endurance. Despite my lack of physical training, I put myself through the exhausting climb and arrived back in the city ready to collapse anywhere I could find. Luckily we were booked into the very comfortable and instantly relaxing St Regis hotel.

The sweet receptionist must have pitied my weary expression and sweaty clothes. He sped us through the check-in process and sent us upstairs to room 202, a smart executive suite. The décor reflects the business clientele of the hotel, neutral shades of grey with simple artwork on the walls. We had a bedroom with adjoining sitting room, with a large flatscreen TV in each space. In the bedroom a small window overlooked the streets of Vancouver. The bed was dressed with the finest bedding, so soft and cosy to fall asleep in. I was impressed to discover too that all calls, including international calls are free from the rooms, a brilliant incentive for business guests.

The bathroom was spacious and helped me to rest and refresh after my tiring day. With his-and-hers sinks and a bath-shower complex, it was almost as big as the bedroom. After a long bath with L’Occitane toiletries almost all my hard work from the day was forgotten. The thick toweling robes helped too!

Those in need of sustenance will find the dining room on the lower ground floor. But with little natural light and dated décor I would recommend venturing outside to the burgeoning culinary scene nearby in town. For breakfast I think it would be nicer to have a brighter space, perhaps they could move this meal upstairs where there is a much more attractive bar, which is a popular haunt in the evenings.

St Regis provided well for me as a blogger. The high-speed wifi is free throughout the building and must be very powerful as I downloaded photos and posted online in record speed. After a recuperating stay, I was sad to leave the comfort and facilities in the morning.

More information about St. Regis Hotel Vancouver here.

Shangri-La Vancouver

Every time I walk into a Shangri-La hotel, a sense of calm washes over me, body and mind. The Vancouver establishment is no different, although it is located in the centre of the bustling city, inside there is a quiet and serene atmosphere. It is business-like but always with time for luxury.

We were extremely comfortable in a deluxe one bedroom suite, which felt like a mini apartment. Every detail and amenity is here to ensure you have a seamless stay. The living room area was kitted out with a writing desk and plush sofa, and a bottle of red wine and a platter of lovely cheeses was laid out for our enjoyment.

The suite was decorated in creams and muted greys with accents of red from the oriental artwork on the walls. The kingsize bed looked very inviting, topped with numerous bouncy pillows. For ease and comfort the blinds and curtains are controlled by digital panels next to the bed… perfect for jetlagged customers who want to watch the sun rise over the city.

Next door the en-suite white marble clad bathroom definitely had the wow factor, with a regal bath, glass encased shower, cosy bathrobes and L’Occitane toiletries. I enjoyed several bubble baths during my one night stay!

The Asian influence is evident throughout the building and all its facilities, but there are also touches of international charm, which I noticed particularly in the upmarket eatery, Market run by acclaimed chef Jean-Georges. We ate here for dinner and breakfast the next morning, and on both occasions the food was wholesome and tasty.

In the evening Market has a glamorous feel, the lights are dimmed and everywhere I looked elegant couples or trendy friends were chatting and laughing. We trusted our waiter with the cocktail choices, all of which are made with house-made syrups and fresh ingredients. I would recommend the Ginger Margarita, a spicy, sweet drink with a salty kick. Our dinner was a feast of Mediterranean style dishes. I soon regretted us only ordering one portion of corn ravioli with cherry tomatoes, shallots and basil, as it was a delicate and delicious bowl of pasta, a must for vegetarian diners. For main course we tried a simply cooked beef tenderloin with bearnaise sauce and Parmesan crusted chicken with white asparagus. I found the chicken bland and unexciting, there was too much on the plate and it needed seasoning, but the steak was a faultless piece of meat, tender and rich and cooked to perfection with a crispy caramelised edge.

For breakfast the choices are much more obviously Canadian. The French toast with spiced apple, bacon and maple syrup is unmissable and the omelette was delicious too. Every morning the team offer a complimentary smoothie and we were pleased to taste the pretty purple blueberry special.

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My favourite part of this city sanctuary hotel was the sophisticated Chi spa. I spent a wonderful ninety minutes here totally immersed in a signature Shangri-La treatment. The Chi Aroma Vitality began with a tea ritual, whilst my tired feet were cleansed and massaged. Then I was left to warm my muscles for ten minutes in a private steam room before I lay on the silky soft bed for a full body massage.

Whilst staying at the Shangri-La Vancouver, I was blissfully unaware of the city life outside. Suddenly searching for exciting shops and cafes didn’t seem so important, as I felt so content at the hotel. As a guest in an unfamiliar foreign city, I don’t think you could hope for anything more.

More information and book a stay at Shangri-La Vancouver here.