Afternoon Tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel: Fun or Skip for Families?
We went on a family vacation to Waterton Lakes National Park and I was really excited to try afternoon tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel. But, I was also really nervous that it would be a disaster with my kids and we wouldn’t be “fancy” enough.
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Turns out, it was a super fun experience, even with toddlers! Here is my full review of the Afternoon Tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel for families.
Our FULL experience of Afternoon Tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel
The Dress Code
I was a little stressed about the dress code because I didn’t think about it until we were already packed and away from the house so I was wondering if the clothes we had would be fancy enough.
Turns out it was completely fine. We had some fairly casual outfits that were nicer than our hiking clothes but not fancy enough for high tea. Our clothes were like jeans/sweater type outfits. We don’t feel out of place here at all thankfully!
While there is no official dress code, it’s recommended to dress “smart casual” or something a little more dressy than your hiking clothes. We definitely saw people in VERY casual attire so you will be fine regardless, but it is a fun opportunity to dress up if you like that kind of thing!
The Cost
Afternoon tea is a bit pricey when it comes to a normal family meal, but the experience is totally worth paying for!
You can make a reservation here! The price when we did the tea experience in 2026 was $68 CAD for adults and $34 CAD for kids five and under.
With the kids price, they will get a smaller portion of snacks and tea but it’s still a ton of food and they couldn’t finish it. We couldn’t finish our adult portions either, but we were able to take it with us in a to-go box. The desserts weren’t quite as good later, but it still made for a fun snack in the evening.
How’s the Food & Tea
The food and tea are yummy. You get a TON of food though and it was way too much for either me or my mom to finish. Luckily, we were able to take a go box!
They let us have our choice of three teas throughout the experience and they explained all of the selection, kind of like a wine tasting. The tea is from Jolene’s Tea House in Banff and it was a hit for us and the kids (make sure to try the Canadian Maple one!)
The tea bags and wrappers are also made with compostable plant based materials which I LOVE!
As far as the food, it starts with scones (both savory and sweet). The sweet scones were the kids and maybe my favorite part. After the scone course, you will get to try dessert course (the cheesecake was to die for!) and mini tea sandwiches.
Some of the food was really good and some was decent. Regardless it was so fun to get to try so many different treats.
What’s the Experience Like?
The experience was really great and our server was fantastic. She gave us thorough explanations of the tea as well as all the foods. She also brought the kids crayons and paper so they could have something to do while they wait.
There was a little tea timer on the table which was fun for the kids where you can choose how long to steep your tea based on how strong you want it.
AND the view from the hotel and dining room is one of the best dining views I’ve seen! The day we did the tea was cloudy and moody but when the view is clear, it’s an epic view from the front window.
Overall, the experience was so much fun with the tea platter, the views, the service and all the new foods. Our kids felt so fancy and loved that they got their own mini platters.
Downsides of Doing Afternoon Tea With Kids
There are two main downsides to doing afternoon tea with kids. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it, but just be aware before you go!
The first is that it’s a dining experience, so it does take a little longer than your standard restaurant where you order chicken strips as soon as you sit down so you can get out of there as soon as the kids are done eating. It’s meant to be a somewhat slow experience while you enjoy tea and snacks and chat.
So it was a bit hard for our kids to sit still for the whole thing and we did end up leaving before we were ready, but like I said, they let us take a go box.
The second downside is the cost. It’s a fairly expensive kids meal and if you have kids that are a bit picky like mine, they definitely won’t eat their moneys worth during the experience. But if you know that going in, you can relax a little and not worry about wasting money.
Do I Need a Reservation?
Reservations are strongly recommended (you can reserve here!) We did make a reservation, we ended up showing up 30 minutes early and asked if we could get in, but they said we couldn’t.
So definitely make a reservation if you can so you don’t miss out on a fun experience.
Overall Rating of Afternon Tea With Kids
Overall, I would totally recommend doing the afternoon tea experience, even if you have kids with you.
I will say that it would probably be more enjoyable WITHOUT kids (LOL). So if you have childcare, or someone who isn’t really that into tea, they could watch the kids while you have a peaceful time.
But if the choice is to bring the kids or skip tea, I would bring the kids. The price is a little expensive, but it’s a unique experience and our kids had fun too.
Other Things to Do Nearby
Definitely take time to walk around the outside of the hotel and soak in the view. It’s perched on the top of a hill so you have a great view from above of the lake. And if you are able, you can also stay at the Prince of Wales Hotel which would be a really cool experience!!
To help you plan your trip, we have a Full Guide to Waterton National Park! There are so many fun things to do in Waterton Lakes National Park! You can take a scenic boat ride, hike, or just enjoy views from the playground downtown.
You can also explore Glacier National Park nearby. There’s a Glacier National Park in Canada too – learn the difference here!
I hope you have a magical time at your afternoon tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel. And if you’re looking for more, check out all of our Canadian adventure guides – from National Parks to cruise stops and more!
