Location: Shangri-la Hotel
1128 W Georgia Street
Vancouver BC
Author: My Husband
Regular readers may have inferred from my postings that we like Shangri-la hotels, and they would be absolutely correct. I do think that the Vancouver property is a little too small and too western to do justice to the Shangri-la brand, but it is a very nice hotel in its own right. When Christina found out that the Vancouver Shangri-la serves afternoon tea, she practically dragged me along to experience it with her.
Afternoon tea is served in the ground floor lounge that faces Alberni Street. Despite the ever-present flurry of activity outside, the atmosphere in the lounge is cool and tranquil.
Adding to the sense of well-being is the music being played on this $125,000 Fazioli F183 grand. The notes produced by this gem of an instrument are warm and expressive, and they just completely envelope and reverberate around you. By comparison, a Yamaha grand sounds overly bright and trebly – it’s like the difference in tonality between say, a young Andy Williams and James Blunt on his most high-pitched day. Christina had a quick chat with the pianist and he said it’s the best piano he’s ever played on.
Tea begins with the server bringing a selection of leaves from which you make your selection. You sniff and select the tea which you like best.
The selection of teas, as well as the finger foods.
The savory selection.
Scones served with clotted cream.
The sweets.
The kit the tea is served in. You pour the tea through the strainer to prevent errant leaves from making it into your cup – very genteel indeed.
Tea is served between 2:30 and 4:30 in the afternoon; you can stay longer, but the pianist leaves at 4:30. To be honest, the food is really nothing to write home about (the Afternoon Tea at the Hotel Vancouver is much better when it comes to food), and there isn’t very much of it either. However, the relaxing atmosphere and the beautiful sound from the Fazioli (pity most of the pieces are showtunes…) make the price of admission a little easier to swallow…
