Windsor Arms Hotel

The staff were friendly and helpful, from the doorman to the bartender and waiter at Gatsby, and dinner there was nice. I still love this hotel, but the property needs a refresh: our room had cracked tiles and a cracked vanity, and the bathroom and pool grout needs redoing. Afternoon tea has disappointed me again. I’ve tried it several times, hoping it would return to the quality it used to have at WA, but it hasn’t improved. The Valentine’s “Pink” tea cost $95 instead of the usual $65, and adding pink coloring to the food didn’t seem to justify the extra $30. The cucumber sandwich was fine, but the smoked salmon came on a cold waffle, which I didn’t enjoy. The chicken salad with hummus tasted just like deviled ham and was inedible; the scones were dry and didn’t taste fresh. There was also a smashed roasted potato topped with short rib, an odd fit for afternoon tea. I noticed short ribs on the winter-licious menu too, so perhaps they’re serving double duty. There was barely a teaspoon of jam and clotted cream mixed with mascarpone, not enough for even one scone. The tea costs too much for what’s offered, and the hotel needs to improve it and update the property to get back to a 5-star rating.

It’s such a lovely, classy hotel, and the tea, food, and mimosas were very good. My mother hadn’t been here in 25 years, so I brought her for the pink-themed afternoon tea on Family Day. We weren’t staying at the hotel, just there for tea, and it was busy. We waited 20 minutes to order, and I had to get a waiter’s attention. The finger food took another hour to arrive. I think we may have been overlooked, since other guests seemed to be greeted and served on time. Our waiter was kind and very apologetic. Hopefully it was a one-time issue with the kitchen and staff. We’d like to come back, including for their jazz night, and give it another try.

It felt like an event, and the cost was worth it. The room was cozy and lovely, and Andrew took great care of us as our waiter. There was far more food than we could finish. We’ll make this a yearly thing!

The tea selection was so wide that choosing felt like part of the treat. I had afternoon tea at the Windsor Arms Hotel, and the pastries were delicious, beautifully arranged, and came in a generous variety. The setting was elegant but relaxing, and the service was warm and attentive. A lovely special afternoon in the city, and I’d happily return.