Review: The St. Regis Hotel's Afternoon Tea, Toronto, Ontario
Afternoon tea at the St Regis Hotel Toronto is offered at their Astor Lounge, which is a step away from their main lobby. It's a great location because you aren't eating directly in the lobby, which in any hotel can be very noisy with people coming in and out. At the time that we went it wasn't busy at all so it was nice and quiet.
The Astor Lounge is luxurious and tucked away from the main entrance of the hotel.
The Tea Offerings
This particular afternoon tea service had a lot on offer and it was difficult to select just one tea. They had a good mix of tisanes and teas to choose from, but ultimately we went with black teas. Having a server that was also a tea sommelier was extremely helpful in terms of getting some recommendations.
Black Teas:
- Darjeeling 2nd Flush Single Estate Black Tea
- Queen of the Hill Single Estate Black Tea
- Earl Grey Classic Blended Black Tea
- Heavenly Cream Blended Black Tea (a nice one!)
- Cocoa Rose Blended Black Tea (another good choice!)
Green & Oolong Teas:
- Jasmine Snowdragon Scented Green Tea
- Sencha Classic Single Estate Green Tea
- Oolong Crème Blended Oolong
Tisane (Herbal) Teas:
- Marrakesh Mint Caffeine-Free Tisane
- Citron Calm Caffeine-Free Tisane
- Ginger Twist Caffeine-Free Tisane
- Midnight Blossom Caffeine-Free Tisane
They had a wide selection of teas to choose from.
The teapot was served on top of a tea light candle which was a nice touch.
The Appetizers (bonus)
We weren't expecting any appetizers but we were served a croissant and a danish while we waited for the main attraction. They were tasty but a bit large; a small amuse-bouche probably would have been better to nibble on.
The danish and the croissant. Yum!
The Scones
We were thinking the scones would come with the rest of the tiered cake stand, but they were actually served beforehand (which is not unusual for many hotels who offer afternoon tea service). For this service we got to have buttermilk and raisin scones. Unfortunately, they spent a bit too much time in the oven and thus came out quite dry. The scones were served with citrus marmalade, strawberry preserve and clotted cream.
The scones were a bit too crispy and probably spent a little bit too long in the oven.
The Main Event
When the tiered stand came out, we were not disappointed. Wow. The presentation was immaculate. Lots to choose from, so unsurprisingly we took a lot of this 'to go' afterwards. The bread on the sandwiches was a bit dry, but overall it was a tasty selection.
Here's what was on the menu:
Savouries:
- Smoked Black Forest Ham Sandwich with Matured Cheddar Cheese, Raisin Triple Crunch Mustard on Rye (and edible gold flakes!)
- Cucumber Sandwich with Dill Cream Cheese on White Bread
- Coronation Chicken Sandwich with Raisin, Apricot, Curry Chicken Salad and Sliced Almonds on Brioche Bread
- Egg Salad Sandwich with Chive Aioli, Smoked Paprika and Fried Capers on Whole Wheat
- Citrus Smoked Salmon with Orange Cream Cheese on Pumpernickel (with caviar!)
Sweets
- Raspberry, Honey and Lavender Tart
- Baked Peach and Yogurt Panna Cotta
- Candied Pistachio and Valrhona® Chocolate Torte
- Canelé de Bordeaux
- Midnight Blossom Madeleines
Citrus smoked salmon. A very unique take on the traditional tea sandwich.
The raspberry, honey and lavender tart. Delicious.
Lots of leftovers. From left to right: candied pistachio and Valrhona® chocolate torte, smoked blackforest ham, egg salad sandwich, canelé de Bordeaux.
The Verdict
The St. Regis Toronto afternoon tea is fantastic. You get to try a number of different things, and you'll certainly not go home hungry. The location of the actual afternoon tea service, which is held in their Astor Lounge, is quiet and beautifully decorated. That being said, some items in the afternoon tea were 'missed opportunities' like the over-baked scones and the fact that some of the sandwiches were a bit dry. Nonetheless, at $77 CAD + tax per person is still pricey but it's cheaper than some other afternoon teas in the city that are at other 5-star hotels. The St. Regis staff also offered a great overall experience and having a tea sommelier on hand was a nice treat.
Our Rating
☕️ ☕️ ☕️ ☕️ 1/2 / ☕️ ☕️ ☕️ ☕️ ☕️ [4.5 out of 5 tea cups]
We give the St. Regis Toronto afternoon tea service 4.5 out of 5 tea cups. The service was excellent and the atmosphere was beautiful, nice and quiet. There were a couple of missteps with the food, but overall it was a great experience and it was great value for money given the amount and quality of food that you get.
You can book your own afternoon tea at the St. Regis Hotel Toronto by contacting the Astor Lounge at: 1-(416)-306-5800.