Assignment 1f: Windsor Arms Hotel

Afternoon Tea (high tea) is  great  for:

• Corporate functions
• Gatherings
• Baby showers
• Engagement parties
• Group of friends
• Dates

Afternoon tea also encourages an easy flow of conversation while eating delicious dainty sandwiches, handcrafted delectable desserts, and of course, sips of tea.

Follow me, all my afternoon tea-lovers for I will take you to the Windsor Arms Hotel, located south of Bloor Street West, between Bay Street and Avenue Road in Toronto for a tea for two or more!

The Location
Walking along Yorkville and Bloor, you will see an endless array of boutiques lining both sides of the street. There are office buildings, coffee shops, stores such as: Holt Renfrew, Tiffany and Co, Winners, and many other crazy, colorful storefronts with mannequins all dressed up and lined side by side; but when you see a Neo-Gothic building with its brown brick, cast stone trim, and a royal looking crest… STOP! You have reached the Windsor Arms Hotel.

The Windsor Arms Hotel is located on a cozy side street. In fact, it’s close to the University of Toronto, the Victorian College. (Google-map-it!)

The Atmosphere
When you enter the hotel, you will be shocked by how small it is. However, this place doesn’t lose its elegance and regal touch. Once you enter the lobby, you will see the British-styled tea-room, located just to the left of the front door. The tearoom is comfortably decorated and filled with gold plush seats and purple sofas. It features a fireplace and an enormous chandelier hanging down from the ceiling. The stained glass windows also brighten up the Tea Room.

There are also English hats available upon request. I only suggest those hats to people who want to enhance their English experience because the hats are HUGE and HEAVY. But there are people who like to dress like the Queen of England and wear those fascinators on their head, right?

My friend and I choose to sit near the window that afternoon because the sun shine brightly and it was good for pictures (YES, I love taking pictures and Instagram is my best friend).

(See I am next to the window!) 🙂

The server handed me a purple menu and I quickly opened it. I was too excited. I couldn’t wait any longer. I wanted to choose my tea.

There are selections of loose-leaf teas that you get to choose from so no worries, my high tea-lovers, there must be something you like. They have light ones, fruity ones and dark ones. Oh, and even chocolate ones.

We ordered the full tea set, thus the server brought us a bottle of sparkling champagne.

The server then asked me politely: “Miss, what tea would you like?”

I answered: “The house breakfast blend please.” (Well, this is because I like the taste of traditional English tea, especially with milk and honey.

Nom…Nom…Nom….

Few minutes after we ordered, a three-tiered tower of snacks was placed on the white-laced tablecloth.

The tower included scones, sandwiches and petits fours.

The Tea Set
The meal began with a mini goat cheese and caramelized shallot quiche because the server suggested that it is best tasted when it is still warm.

Next, I recommend you to indulge yourself with their famous dainty sandwiches that are rolled like sushi and placed tightly next to each other. The dainty sandwiches feature flavors like smoked salmon, and wasabi sour cream with salmon caviar, and cucumber with sundried tomato paste, and dill cream cheese

After trying all those dainty sandwiches, try their cream tea scones (raisin and plain), which are served along with their famous, homemade Devonshire cream and strawberry jam. The scones are prefect to eat with the Devonshire cream and strawberry jam. The scone is lighter than having a buttery biscuit, but heavier than eating an English muffin. It has a flaky texture and it is not too sweet. All complimented by a fine tea.

Their petit fours, I think, are the highlight of the high tea experience because they are actually exquisitely handcrafted desserts. They served my table with a dark chocolate fudge brownie, a strawberry cheesecake, a chocolate cream-covered meringue lemon tart and a raspberry mousse covered red velvet cake in a dark chocolate teacup.

This high tea experience ended with a cup of fresh cut strawberries with whipped cream, and a cup of bubbly champagne.

GOSH, what more to ask for? This afternoon tea experience was truly
sweetness for the belly.

Strawberries + Champagne = HEAVEN

Aren’t you all drooling already?

I would definitely recommend a visit to the Windsor Arms Hotel because my experience was memorable and enchanting. Not to mention that having high tea at the Windsor Arms Hotel has been a tradition since 1927 in Toronto, so this place is actually a historical site. The servers are all well-trained, polite and very helpful. I hope all my high tea lovers will feel the same during your visit.

Ready to spoil yourself for an afternoon indulgence in the Windsor Arms Hotel?

 Afternoon Tea served daily

Monday – Sunday
12:30 pm/1:00 pm / 3:00pm/3:30 pm  / 5:30 pm / 6:00 pm

Address:
18 St. Tomas St.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M5S 3E7

Phone: 416- 921- 9666

Price:
Monday –Friday $37 person
Saturday, Sunday $45 person
*Holiday $50person

Wallet Damage: 4/5 (15% tips necessary)
Tea: 3/5
Food: 4/5
Services: 5/5

XOXO,
HIGHTEAINSIDER