Tea at the Empress Pours Into the Evening with Extended Hours and New Spirited Cocktails
VICTORIA, BC (May 13, 2026) – Tea at the Empress is extending its hours and introducing a new lineup of cocktails, giving guests more ways to experience one of Victoria’s most iconic rituals. Visitors can now enjoy the Lobby Lounge Monday to Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Thursday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with new signature spirits, including a mar-tea-ni.
The new teatime cocktail hour features the Sterling Martini, a mineral, direct cocktail made with Tito’s Vodka or Sheringham Seaside Gin, dry vermouth, blue cheese, olive brine, and umami bitters, served ice cold. For a playful pour, The Silk Glove is a velvety, perfumed blend of Empress 1908 Elderflower Rose Gin, lychee almond, jasmine pearl tea, and whey, served clarified over a king cube. Guests can also enjoy classics, including sparkling Veuve Clicquot Champagne and the ever so popular signature Empress 75.
As Victoria attracts visitors from around the globe, including nearly a million cruise passengers each season, the extended service adds capacity for guests looking to experience Tea at the Empress in one of the hotel’s most recognizable spaces, overlooking the Inner Harbour. The evening hours create more opportunities for travellers and locals alike to settle in, enjoy the setting, and take part in a tradition that remains central to the Fairmont Empress experience.
“There was strong interest amongst visitors to enjoy Tea at the Empress later in the day and into the evening,” said Dan McGowan, General Manager, Fairmont Empress. “This extension reflects that demand and gives guests more flexibility to enjoy this iconic experience in a way that suits their visit, whether that means a traditional tea service or the accompaniment of a cocktail during golden hour in the Lobby Lounge.”
Tea at the Empress has been part of the hotel’s story for more than a century, welcoming royalty, dignitaries, celebrities, and generations of guests since 1908. Serving more than 500,000 cups of tea a year, the service has long been a multigenerational experience, with families, friends, and visitors of all ages gathering to share in tradition and celebrate meaningful milestones that create special memories for years to come. Set against the backdrop of Lobby Lounge, the Tea at the Empress continues to be one of the hotel’s defining experiences.
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About Fairmont Empress
Recognized as the #1 Canadian City Hotel in Travel + Leisure’s 2025 World’s Best Awards and honoured as a top Western Canadian Hotel in the 2025 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, Fairmont Empress is located in the heart of Victoria, BC overlooking the city’s sparkling Inner Harbour. The MICHELIN Key and Forbes-recommended hotel is a distinguished 4 GreenKey property committed to sustainable practices—and is proud to be double Green Key certified, with its meeting space earning its own Green Key certification. The 1908 historic site offers 431 beautifully appointed guest rooms and suites, Fairmont Spa featuring signature West Coast experiences, and Q at the Empress, which serves Pacific Northwest cuisine accompanied by an award-winning wine list, all while being home to one of the world’s most iconic Afternoon Tea experiences. Following a $60+ million restoration completed in 2017, the hotel has transformed into an elegant must-visit destination where modern luxury intertwines with timeless charm. In
2023, the property introduced a reimagined Fairmont Gold Experience. 88 Fairmont Gold rooms await to be guests’ home away from home, while a newly renovated lounge offers guests a cozy haven in the city and a private outdoor terrace peers over a perfectly manicured landscape. Historic Hotels Worldwide honours the property’s prestigious grounds as one of the Top 25 Most Magnificent Gardens in the World, making it the perfect starting point for exploring Vancouver
Island’s stunning natural beauty.
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Media enquiries and further information:
Lisa McPhail
Director of Public Relations
Fairmont Empress
T: 778 679 5049
E: [email protected]