Spring is finally here and everything is in bloom, just in time for Mother’s Day. One of our favourite experiences to do in Toronto this week is taking place at the Shangri-La Toronto, and happens to be one of our favourite activities: it’s the Afternoon Tea!

FAJO has reviewed Shangri-La Toronto’s beautiful high tea experiences several times over the years, and they are always one-of-a-kind. The food is decadent and the drinks are artistic and memorable.

This year, Shangri-La Toronto welcomes the arrival of spring with an array of exclusive seasonal offerings designed to celebrate the beauty and vibrancy of the season. The introduction of Petals & Pour – A Spring Afternoon Tea is our favourite highlight. 

Imagine an elegant experience that epitomizes the season through a refined interplay of flavour, aroma and artistry. It’s pretty, delicate and it’s perfect for an outing with you Mom, grandmother, daughter, sister, best friend or anyone for that matter! However, we especially recommend this as a Mother’s Day experience simply because it’s a unique offering that would make an excellent gift.

Petals & Pour invites guests into a sensory journey where each ingredient reflects renewal, lightness and balance. The space itself is warm and inviting: the fireplace flickers, as you enter the Lobby Lounge, with jazz tunes being played live on the piano. Floral arrangements are in every corner, at every table and setting. Chandeliers glisten in the light, as you sit down.

The menu is once again thoughtfully crafted by the hotel’s culinary team: it draws inspiration from the natural harmony between tea and botanicals, weaving floral, fruity and herbaceous notes throughout savoury and sweet creations. 

We start with the savoury selection that presents a layered expression of seasonal ingredients, from Tea Smoked Duck with cherry, lavender and pistachio, to Asparagus and Eggs with lemon, Parmesan and roe. These are served alongside a vibrant Tomato and Burrata composition enhanced with basil, lemongrass and ginger. Absolutely exceptional.

Then we move onto the sweet offering, which would be an absolute hit with anyone, but is especially beloved when experienced with young kids! This is decadence and beauty at their best. Think delicate pastries like Strawberry Jasmine with almond cream, Raspberry Rhubarb crémeux, and Cherry Hibiscus with almond orange cake, culminating in a light and aromatic White Peach & Orange Blossom panna cotta. We were also particularly grateful to the culinary team for making our youngest guest two special desserts: one that was shaped like a bear and another that was shaped like a smiling banana. Personalized, top-notch attention with delicious results. It’s the details that matter!

And, how could we forget, the beloved freshly baked scones, including the signature Shangri-La scone and vanilla rooibos scone, which are served with Devonshire cream and peach-lavender confit, offering a comforting yet refined finish. 

Complementing the experience is Shangri-La’s renowned selection of premium teas. The list ranges from floral jasmine and osmanthus to Shangri-La’s signature blend black tea. All options were curated to enhance the menu’s botanical narrative. 

This experience is available Thursdays to Sundays. The first seating is at noon and the last at 4 p.m. It runs until May 31.

Photography by Ada Yakobi and courtesy of Shangri-La Toronto.