The Most Exquisite High Tea Experience at Chateau Lake Louise

Visiting Chateau Lake Louise is certainly a bucket-list item and something everyone, should they have the privilege, consider doing when visiting the iconic location. Inspire your wanderlust and come along for a High Tea at the famous chateau with The Departure Desk.

Fairview Bar and Restaurant, Chateau Lake Louise

High Tea at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

We had booked the experience for 12:30pm on a Monday in March with the hopes of beating the weekend crowds. It was busy at Lake Louise nonetheless, but far less busy than a weekend and also summer. The high tea experience itself was reasonably quiet, with only a few tables occupied. This was good because it meant our waiter could spend more time catering to our table.

We were running a bit late, but it was no bother to the staff, likely because it was a quieter day. Had it been busy, it may have been a different story. Because we had a booking at the Fairview Restaurant and Bar (named after Mount Fairview of course!) we were able to use the exclusive entry for Fairmont guests only. The security advised us we were welcome to use Fairmont parking for a fee of $45 for the day, or to use the free Parks Canada carpark and walk a little further. We opted to walk a little further from the other car park. However, the Parks Canada parking is only free in winter, in summer it’s about $37 for the day.

We arrived into the grand lobby of the hotel, escorted by a kind staff member. There is a lot of signage stating ‘Guests Only Past this Point’, however the staff member said not to be discouraged as the signage is in place to deter non-hotel guests from walking around the property simply to peruse. Because we had a restaurant booking, we were considered guests of the Fairmont.

We arrived at the entrance of the restaurant and were greeted by the friendly host, before being escorted to our table. We entered the bar first, a grand space which has been decorated beautifully with hues of mauve, a grand bar stocked with colourful bottles of alcohol, and large windows overlooking the iconic Lake Louise. It was very magical watching people skating on the lake in the spring sun.

The dining room is decorated in a similar fashion, but obviously with dining tables instead. Because we had a party larger than two, we were seated in the middle of the restaurant on the lower level but still had an uninterrupted view out of the grand windows. We were then greeted by our waiter Mike, a wonderful man who had been working for the Fairmont for over 15 years! And you could see that through the level of service he provided. Not only was Mike our waiter, but he really orchestrated the whole experience, explaining everything to us in great detail, engaging in good banter and telling us the history of the chateau and Lake Louise. He truly made the experience exceptional.

There are a few tiers of High Tea to choose from, starting from the standard option for $115 per person which includes a glass of house sparkling, a non-alcoholic sparkling and choice of tea from the extensive selection available. From there, guests can choose to upgrade based on what they would like to drink. Guests can choose from Veuve Cliquot to Moët Chandon and other local Canadian sparkling varieties. An upgrade to a lobster tower is even available, at a fee of an additional $250 for those really looking to indulge.

We went for the Veuve Cliquot option for $155 per person and were soon feasting on a delightful tower of tea sandwiches, freshly baked scones with condiments — including lemon curd which was a highlight for me; and delicately crafted pastries and tea cakes. Everything is made in-house by the Fairmont pastry chefs so you know it's all fresh. The tower was accompanied by a pot of tea from a vast selection. I went with a jasmine tea but there was classic earl gray and other exotic options available.

We were given plenty of time to simply relax and indulge in the experience, with our waiter Mike coming over to check-in on us every so often. The experience didn't feel rushed whatsoever and we spent a few hours inside the chateau simply soaking it all in. After some time had passed and we had finished drinking our champagne and tea, and eating all the delightful treats, it was time to go and explore the grounds, but not before getting some extra goodies to take away from our waiter.

The High Tea experience at Chateau Lake Louise is one-hundred percent worthwhile, and with different tiers of price, it can be enjoyed by many depending on budget. By the way, this post is not affiliated with the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, we just had a bloody good time! If there's an experience worth splurging on in the Canadian Rockies, this is certainly it. Save more time and money by visiting on a weekday in the winter months, it's guaranteed to be less busy and Lake Louise is just as magical when frozen.

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