Long time readers of High Heeled Life know that I love a good cup of afternoon tea and Windsor Arms is one of my favourite spots in the city to enjoy a leisure afternoon with my girl friends over a cup of tea anytime of the year! And with the temperatures in Toronto remaining steady below freezing, it was a welcomed invitation to escape to such as fabulous place.
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| Image credit - Google and Windsor Arms |
The
Windsor Arms is located on a quiet little side street off
Mink Mile just south of Bloor street. This
neo-gothic building with its brown brick, cast stone trim, and a royal looking crest sets the mood that you are going to be transported from the fast pace of city life/shopping to a magical place back in time, when people actually took time for themselves regularly to re-energize. As you step through the entrance, you find yourself in the most welcoming lobby. Staff greet you with a smile and welcoming hello, your transformation from hectic to calmness begins instantly.
WA offers three spectacular areas to take tea. The French-style lobby tea room brings back memories of some wonderful salons de thé I have experienced during my trips to Paris; the Purple tea room - with its dark egg-plant walls, luxurious velvet seating, art on the walls and the original working fireplace which dates back to 1927 - is where you will find me taking tea on most of my visits; and The Russian Red tea room with its vibrant red walls, gold trim, glamorous chandelier and decor, is the perfect choice for small private gatherings - think girl outings, bridal showers, birthdays, I'm thinking it would be perfect for a Resilientista inspiration gathering.
I invite you to take a little pause in your day and come along on a virtual afternoon tea with my friend J. and I as we settle in the Purple Room to enjoy a hot cup of tea and some sweet and savory treats, on this cold Toronto day.
With an
extensive selection of loose-leaf teas there is something to satisfy everyone.
My friend J.s tea selection: was a Ginger described as:
Imagine the white tea is Fred, paired with Ginger we present a smooth, effortless, elegant cup that is certain to be a classic. Gentle nuttiness with the perfect hint of tea. Ms. J. was delighted with her selection and savoured every sip.
How gorgeous is this setting ...
My tea selection: Chai Arms - a perfect blend of cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, ginger, pepper and organic black tea. It was exactly what I needed to warm up on this cold afternoon. While this tea is a wonderful complement for milk, I chose to have my as is.
Potato Blinis with Smoked Salmon, RosettePinwheel Egg Salad,Vegetarian with Sundried Tomato Paste and Dill Cream Cheese,Croque Monsieur
Goat Cheese and Caramelized Shallot Tart , Fresh Scones
Petits Fours
This is simply DIVINE! - yes my favourite ...
The warm tart is smooth, creamy and delicious just the right amount of
caramelized shallot and goat cheese.
Preserves and Devon Cream
The scones are light, soft and the perfect vessel for the Devon cream and WA homemade sweet preserves.
Tea at Windsor Arms has been synonymous with elegant, afternoon indulgence, since 1927. The majestic Purple room with its original fireplace takes my breath away each time I take tea in there.
The crystal chandelier is beautiful and photos do not capture its full brilliance!
Located inside the French-style lobby tea room you will find a hat rack with the most exquisite hats. For a $5 donation
(proceeds benefiting Look Good Feel Better, in support of women affected with cancer) you are welcome to borrow a hat to enhance your magical tea experience. And let's be honest lovelies we all have an inner child in us, and what better way to let her play than with a little dress up and tea party.
I hope you have enjoyed your virtual tea and pause in your day, as much as Ms. J. and I did. This winter get out of the cold, and create memories with friends, family, and colleagues with tea at Windsor Arms.
Disclaimer: this afternoon tea was sponsored by Windsor Arms - all opinions are strictly my own and based on my personal experience.
You can read about some of my previous tea experiences at Windsor Arms:
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