Top Restaurants for the Best Afternoon Tea in Ottawa

One of my favourite experiences is to get dressed up and try new afternoon tea restaurants in Ottawa, Ontario. I’ve even created a tradition with my niece’s to take them our for their birthdays for Afternoon Tea around the city. The capital has some great places and it’s a fun activity to plan with your loved ones. Here are some of my favourite restaurants for afternoon tea in Ottawa.

Château Laurier/Zoe’s Ottawa Afternoon Tea

The Fairmont Chateau Laurier hosts Afternoon Tea year round, with a special Holiday Tea menu during the Christmas season. They also offer Princess/Prince tea: an Afternoon Tea for kids who might not enjoy the fancier sandwiches and it comes with tea or hot chocolate.

The Afternoon Tea menu includes a variety of sandwiches, desserts, scones with cream and jam and enough loose leaf tea for a pot. You can order one tower for two people and there is a “Sharing Fee” (which is essentially for an extra pot of tea). I find that one tower for two people is the perfect amount of food!

This is a perfect outing to get dressed up and head to Ottawa’s own castle! It’s also a perfect “experience gift”: a gifted experience rather than something material. Pre-booking online is required to secure your spot.

Vanitea Room Afternoon Tea

The Vanitea Room has the BEST decor in the city. I took my niece for Christmas, and she loved it so much we went back for her birthday! The Afternoon Tea menu changes periodically, so it’s a great one you can keep going back to. They also have my favourite tea brand (Sloane Tea, $10 coupon here) and I love the Heavenly Cream black tea.

TIP: Vanitea Room sometimes have a Groupon so that’s worth checking out in advance.

Cafe Cristal Afternoon Tea

I celebrated my 28th birthday at Cafe Cristal with a group of friends and the food was scrumptious. Similar to the Chateau Laurier Afternoon Tea, one tier is plenty of food for two people. We ordered 3 tiers for 6 people and it was the perfect amount. They also have Sloane Tea available to purchase in tins. This is another spot in Ottawa that has amazing decor and is perfectly instagrammable.

Quelque Chose Pâtisserie Afternoon Tea

Quelque Chose is definitely my favourite place in the city for macarons and I always make time to stop any time I’m in Westboro. They also have Afternoon Tea available for take out and reservations can be made online. It’s a bit more affordable and certainly as delicious as some of the other options on this list!

Billings Estate National Historic Site “Tea on the Lawn”

Only available in the summer, you can visit the Billings Estate National Historic Site for Tea on the Lawn. The Billings family settled in 1812 on the shores of the Rideau River. They helped shape the community for over a century! The estate is 8 acres of green space, with stunning gardens. The Billings Estate is a museum that you can visit – their special exhibits are lovely! After tea, stroll through the grounds and gardens for a lovely summer evening. Heritage staff will describe the unique history of the estate during your Tea on the Lawn experience.

Laurier House National Historic Site “High tea on the veranda”

In August and September , the Laurier House offers “High Tea on the Veranda”. The Laurier House is a National Historic Site, and was home to two of Canada’s longest serving prime ministers: Sir Wilfrid Laurier and William Lyon Mackenzie King. Enjoy a taste of history with a delicious Afternoon Tea!

Afternoon Tea from Home

While there are a few restaurants in the city offering afternoon tea take-out, you can always opt to make your own at home! You can pick up a box of 4 or 6 scones from Vanitea or scones from Life of Pie, a few macarons from Quelque Chose Patisserie and make sandwiches from home.

Honourable Mention: MacKenzie King Estate

MacKenzie King Estate is not within the City of Ottawa limits, but it’s a fantastic location just outside the city, across the Ottawa River. Enjoy the beautiful gardens, a short walk through the forest and the ruins on the grounds to make an afternoon of it! NOTE: The estate no longer offers Afternoon Tea – but it’s a fun outing nonetheless.