The Charm of Afternoon Tea at The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

This has got to be one of the most elegant and fancy blog post titles I’ve ever written. I immediately think of Mariah Carey and how she would say it, “Afternoon tea in the chateau, darling.”

So it was fancy, but not like that fancy. It was a comfortable fancy.

Last month, I had the pleasure of finally visiting Banff National Park! Lake Louise is located inside Banff and has been my laptop wallpaper for years. I was thrilled to see it in person, but I was also a bit nervous. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that some places are overhyped and not as beautiful as their pictures suggest.

Lake Louise is even more gorgeous in person, and I could not look away.

My first glimpse of it was at the afternoon tea, and the view from the window looked like a painting. There’s so much beauty in the world; it’s incredible to experience it. In my moments of reflection, staring out at the lake, I thought of all the hours of overtime I had worked to get there, and it was so worth it.

The history Of The Fairmont lake Chateau

I didn’t know much about the hotel when I arrived there. I just knew it was lavish and out of my price range, at least in the Spring and Summer. Rooms start at $ 1,000 and sell out quickly. In the Fall and Winter, it is much more accessible and affordable, with rates in the $ 300s and up.

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is one of the most iconic locations in Banff National Park and one of the most luxurious places to stay there. As I approached the guarded gated hotel, I just knew it had to have been featured in old Hollywood films. I was correct, it was the backdrop of a Marilyn Monroe movie and also a movie starring Drew Barrymore’s grandpa, John.

Drew has a special place in my heart. Ever After is my favorite movie, and I cry every time I watch it, even though I’ve seen it at least sixty times. She’s so cool that SZA even wrote a song about her.

But, back to the chateau.

The hotel was built in the 1900s by the Canadian Pacific Railway in an effort to attract wealthy travelers to vacation in the West. The plan succeeded, and not only did it become a popular destination in the summer, but the hotel was also transformed into a winter wonderland hotspot. There is skiing, sledding, and you can even ice skate on Lake Louise! Can you imagine how beautiful the frozen turquoise lake looks in pictures?! I definitely need to go back in the winter!

My Afternoon Tea Review

Darlings, this was not my first afternoon tea. As a budget traveler, I do like to sneak in a little luxury here and there. My first afternoon tea was at Laduree in New York City. I fell in love with their classic macarons during my first visit to Paris and was so excited to visit one of their stores here in the U.S. As luck would have it, they offered an incredible afternoon tea with a very delicious spread and the creamiest hot chocolate I’ve ever had.

I made my reservation at the Fairmont Restaurant about one month in advance. I was lucky because most of the dates for June were already sold out, so please book well in advance. My luck almost ran out, though, because I was like thirty minutes late for my tea reservation! Fortunately, the hostess was very accommodating and was still able to seat me.

As I walked into the restaurant, I was taken aback by the stunning view. I have never seen a lake that shade of blue. Although I did not have a table by the window, my view was still impressive. I was just thankful they were able to seat me, so I had no complaints! That could be something you have to request while booking? So please be sure to do that if that’s what you prefer.

Tea Offerings

Believe it or not, I was most excited about the tea selection! I drink tea every single day, and I really enjoy all the different types.

The Afternoon Tea Menu offers five different choices, ranging from $115 – $220 (CAD) per person. They all include a glass of wine, with the most expensive pairing featuring Dom Pérignon. I have still yet to try Dom, I wonder if it’s really all that good?

The tea menu featured twelve different types. They were the classic black, herbal, green, and oolong tea varieties. The tea descriptions were very detailed, however.

I selected the Madame Butterfly green tea. It was described as smooth and ethereal jasmine. It was a slight upcharge, but I wanted to give it a try. I was glad to see that it was served in a charming blue and white teapot set, and I could pour additional servings, not just a single cup of tea. They also brought out a timer to help you steep your tea to your preferred brew. That was a first for me lol.

I don’t know why I didn’t purchase a box of tea to take back home with me; it was pretty good.

Scones, Sandwiches & Sweet Bites

Up next was the food and I was starving! Although the portions were tiny, I still left with a to-go box. My eyes are always bigger than my stomach.

The scone selection included a traditional, a jalapeno and cheddar, and a saskatoon berry and white chocolate scone. I was curious about Saskatoon, as I had no idea what it was, and I found it to be pretty tasty. A saskatoon berry looks very similar to a blueberry, but is slightly nuttier. The best part of the scones was the “accompaniments”. They were served with petite dishes of lemon curd, clotted cream, and a marmalade that was the best that I’ve ever had. The scones overall were nothing special, but the toppings that came with them were delicious.

On the bottom tier were the sandwiches. It was served five, which included a devilled egg & parma ham en croûte, Pacific smoked & candied salmon cream cheese, avocado, alfalfa & chicken mini croissant, baby cucumber, dill, & sumac crema, and a beefsteak tomato & buffalo mozzarella—typing all that made me hungry! I enjoyed all the sandwiches, with the salmon croissant being my favorite.

After devouring the scones and sandwiches, I was finally able to enjoy the decadent desserts! I still believe in eating my desserts last. They were the fanciest part of the tea experience and honestly my favorite part. I’ve never tried anything like them, and they all tasted as good as they looked. My selection included blackberry cactus with raspberry shortbread, black forest gateau with caramel ganache & luxardo cherry, rhubarb tartlet with strawberry white chocolate, fuzzy peach pillow with stonefruit cookie sandwich, and limoncello french meringue with yuzu gelée. They were all really, really good, but I think I cried a little inside after eating the last bite of the black forest cake.

Final Thoughts

I enjoyed my afternoon tea at the Fairmont Chateau. My mom would totally say it’s overpriced and a waste of money, but I do understand that I was paying for the experience. I could have gotten two full meals at my local steakhouse for the price I paid for tea and small baked goods, but I will never forget the time I dined while gazing out at Lake Louise.

It’s a cute thing to do for singles or couples. Even though there is a kids’ menu ($45), I personally wouldn’t spend so much for them to eat finger foods. Unless, of course, you have it like that.

Overall, it’s worth it if you’re into trying cutesy dining experiences.

It was overpriced and not something I would do regularly while traveling. Suprinsgly, even though the portions were small, they were fulfilling. It was my first and only meal of that day, so I didn’t stray too far from my daily food budget; it was a win-win.

all the fancy details

• The Fairmont Lake Louise is a two-hour drive from Calgary, Canada. I flew into the Calgary airport, and it was a straightforward and scenic drive.
• Reservations are a must. As I was writing the post, I checked their availability, and they were booked solid for the next thirty days. Afternoon tea is served daily from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
• Arrive early. The hotel offers valet and self-parking (both for a fee). Once inside the hotel, the lobby area is bustling and crowded. Several shuttles in Banff also provide service to Lake Louise.
• Dress code. Resort casual. I went in early summer, and most of the men wore pants, while the women wore sundresses. It’s like weekend brunch attire. They ask that you refrain from wearing ripped denim, shorts, athletic wear, or swimwear.
• Afternoon tea is kid, vegetarian and gluten-free friendly