From the Fairmont Empress website:

fairmont.com/empress/…AfternoonTea.htm

Dress Code:

Smart casual (no torn jeans, short shorts, beach wear or flip-flops, jogging pants or tank tops).

My daughters and I love going to a traditional afternoon tea, but my husband gives us a hard time about the cost. Are there any deals to be had, or is $40-$60 just the going price for this delightful meal?

suggest you look at this recent post.. Many feel Empress is overpriced and overrated... I found this by putting white heather in search box.

An excellent restaurant in Victoria is Rebar..while it is vegetarian ( I am a confirmed carnivore) they make fab food.and the only tofu I have been known to eat and enjoy.

Posted on: 9:09 am, March 22, 2008 by luckysll

Here are some other locations for tea:

White Heather Tea Room - very small (only about a dozen tables) so a reservation is MANDATORY and should be made as much in advance as you can. The food is excellent and there is a "Tea for Two" which is very nice. It is a bit out of the downtown area, but a short cab ride away. My personal recommendation if you can get a reservation.

…kulshan.com/B...r_Tea_Room.htm

Blethering Place - located a short distance farther along the same street as the White Heather Tea Room. A very British atmosphere and good food. A reservation would be best there, too, although you wouldn't have to make it as far in advance as for White Heather Tea Room.

http://www.thebletheringplace.com/

James Bay Tea Room - located a couple of blocks away from the Inner Harbour. I used to visit all the time for coffee breaks when I worked in James Bay. Another small place, but reservations aren't necessary, although if you visit at lunch time, there may be a wait. Homemade scones are good and they do serve a "high tea" with sandwiches, scones and tarts.

http://www.jamesbaytearoomandrestaurant.com/

Murchies - located on Government Street, a couple of blocks towards town from the Inner Harbour. I haven't been there, but people have enjoyed it. Murchies sells tea and coffee, so it is a shop as well as a place for afternoon tea.

http://www.murchies.com/wwww/victoria.php

Abkhazi Gardens - There is a tea room here, but I have not been. It is located not far from downtown Victoria, easy cab ride. The gardens have a very interesting history (the tea room info is listed under "Contents").

conservancy.bc.ca/content...ionack=abkhazi

Point Ellice House - This is an historic house, part of Victoria's history. It's in an industrial area of Victoria, but nothing threatening about the location. I haven't been there, but I believe my sister-in-law has, and has enjoyed it. You can take the small harbour ferry to their location, or a cab.

http://www.pointellicehouse.ca/

There is also a tea room/restaurant at Butchart Gardens

Teacherm

if you are staying at the Empress you can negotiate when booking your room for a discount for tea.Otherwise there are no specials that I am aware of.

The afternoon Tea at the Empress is also our favorite-what I knowof Fairmont,I doubt very much if any deals could be had.Whatever, we like the Fairmont chain, and think the High Tea is worth the cost.

Thanks so much Breezed! That is great news. I was afraid my husband would have to bring a sports jacket, but after reading the description, I think he can get away without one.

By the way, are we going to want to eat dinner later that day? Maybe we should plan to just have a snack in our room or order something light from room service?

High tea at the Empress is such a rip off, and good luck getting it for 40 dollars, it works out closer to 70, plus an extra 12 dollars for a glass of champane offered.

Traveller 47 listed many far superior places for teas, the tea at White Heathers is always booked up,, even in the winter with few tourists around, that should be a clue, and Blethering and James Bay tearooms are also good choices. You do realize you can enjoy the Empress by just wandering around the lobby, and stopping for a drink in the lovely Bengal Lounge( done after the British Raj style) I love that place!

The best restaurants in town will only require you are clean, have pants( no shorts) shoes, and decent shirt on,, jackets optional.

Victoria tends to be a bit laid back compared to some cities in Canada.. LOL

We vacation in Victoria at least once a year. Had high tea at the Empress once with four girlfriends. We brought dressier summer clothes, which wasn't necessary. More people were in jeans, etc. I also feel it is way over priced. Last year we went to James Bay and really enjoyed it. This year we are trying White Heather for tea and will probably go back to James Bay also. The prices were good. Do visit the Empress. It is beautiful. Have fun, we'll be there in June.

High tea at the Empress is a tourist trap...

plus they push you in., and push you out...

check out the list by luckysll

my fave is Whiteheather, with Blethering Place coming in second

and smart casual is all you need

Thanks everyone. We are New Yorkers and therefore incapable of sticker shock ;-). We are well aware it's a tourist trap, but we don't mind being trapped just once. We figure we'll only see Victoria once in our lives. But we are considering the other suggestions as well.