Afternoon tea and the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver are pretty much synonymous, thanks to the historic venue's longstanding tradition of offering an elegant - or whimsical - tea service over the decades.
Local food Instagrammer Emma Choo and friend enjoy tea inside the window facing West Georgia Street at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Photo courtesy Fairmont Hotels
Tea is typically served in the window-less "library" room of Notch 8, the Hotel Vancouver's restaurant, but during the month of August, one duo of tea-time sippers each weekday can have their scones and Earl Grey served up in a West Georgia Street-facing display window.
Swapping out retail advertising for a table for two, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver will make the table available for two afternoon tea-goers for one sitting at noon weekdays from August 1 to Sept. 2, 2019.
The window space has been styled with custom art created by Vancouver-based fashion illustrator Mandy Lau, who drew inspiration from the social aspect of afternoon tea as well as the notion of putting an exterior street scene in an interior space.
As for the tea service itself, the lucky real-life mannequins in this ongoing performance art piece will have their choice of Fairmont's LOT 35 teas, house-made English scones with all the trimmings, classic tea sandwiches, and a mini-suitcase of decadent tea time sweets. The current Afternoon Tea on offer at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver was styled in honour of the hotel's own 80th anniversary this year.
Afternoon Tea in The Window
When: Aug. 1-Sept. 2, 2019, Monday to Friday; one reservation per day available at noon
Where: Fairmont Hotel Vancouver - 900 W Georgia Street
Cost: $59 per person (maximum two diners per booking). Reservations can be made by phone only, from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m.– 5 p.m. at 604-443-1843
