SUNSET SIPS RETURNS: A MODERN TWIST ON A TIMELESS TRADITION AT FAIRMONT EMPRESS
– Enjoy tea-infused cocktails served in glass teapots as you witness a breathtaking sunset over
Victoria’s Inner Harbour –
Back by popular demand, Fairmont Empress announces the return of ‘Sunset Sips’ for the spring and summer season. Starting on Friday, May 3, 2024, guests can once again indulge in the elevated night-time experience that puts a twist on tradition with tea-infused cocktails and mocktails presented in elegant glass teapots.
Drawing inspiration from the hotel’s world-renowned afternoon tea service, signature beverages will brim glass teacups alongside tiers of savoury bites to nosh on in the Lobby Lounge. With this touch of sophistication, the spirited teatime will transport guests back in time to the glamour of the roaring twenties. As the sun sets over the Inner Harbour, the Lobby Lounge transforms into a prohibition-style haven making it the ideal venue for any social or special celebration.
This year’s Sunset Sips signature cocktails includes ‘Tiffany’s Breakfast’, a chamomile tea-infused breakfast martini featuring Empress 1908 Oaken Gin, mixed with marmalade and garnished with dehydrated oranges. The name of the cocktail pays tribute to the disco ‘Tiffany’s’, which resided in the basement of the hotel during the seventies. Also on the cocktail menu is the ‘The Capone’, a gunpowder green tea-infused Canadian Club, blended with Makers Mark and Maple bitters, served with classic cola and a plume of smoke. Spirit free offerings are also available, and the menu can be viewed online, here.
“We are thrilled for the second season of Sunset Sips,” said Maeve Fogarty, Tea and Wine Sommelier at Fairmont Empress. “The positive feedback we received from our guests inspired us to continue pushing the boundaries of mixology, allowing us to offer a truly unique experience. We have everything from bright and tart flavours to sharp and smoky. We encourage guests to come sip in style and enjoy the view of the Inner Harbour.”
In addition to the tantalizing cocktail selection, guests can savour plates of appetizers that complement the evenings libations. Priced at $48 per person, the Sunset Sips culinary menu features heirloom carrots with whipped tofu, Albacore tuna tiradito, locally smoked and candied salmon, and slow roasted prime rib Yorkshire pudding. Executive Pastry Chef Gerald Tan presents his dark chocolate espresso mousse, raspberry profiterole, and banoffee pie.
Sunset Sips will be available Thursday through Sundays in the Lobby Lounge from 8 p.m. until 11 p.m. Beginning June 19 – September 30, 2024, the offering will be seven days a week. Reservations can be made online here.
As an added treat for International Tea Day on May 21, a special Sunset Sips offering will be available for guests in Q Bar and on the Veranda.
With a nod to tradition, Sunset Sips invites guests to participate in an innovative twist on the beloved English ritual of Afternoon Tea. Fairmont Empress has been serving Afternoon Tea to royalty, celebrities, and dignitaries alike since the hotel opened in 1908. The hotel serves more than 250,000 cups of tea annually and during the summer months it serves over 400 guests per day, more than most hotels in London, England.
About Fairmont Empress
Recognized as one of the Top 21 Iconic Hotels in the World by National Geographic Traveler magazine and honoured by Travel + Leisure Magazine’s World’s Best Awards for Top 3 City Hotels in Canada, Fairmont Empress is located in Victoria, BC, overlooking the city’s sparkling Inner Harbour. A Forbes recommended property that offers 431 beautifully appointed guest rooms and suites, Willow Stream Spa with signature West Coast experiences, and Q at the Empress featuring Pacific Northwest cuisine, an award-winning wine list, and regionally focused cocktail culture. World-famous Tea at the Empress is served in the Lobby Lounge with stunning harbour views. The Grande Dame property completed a $60+ million restoration in 2017 that celebrated its proud history while moving the hotel into a new era of modern luxury and transforming the iconic property into a must-visit destination. In 2023, the property introduced a revamped Fairmont Gold Experience, including a major renovation to the Fairmont Gold floor. 88 Fairmont Gold rooms are now ready to accommodate guests along with a newly renovated lounge. Located on Vancouver Island, Canada’s Castle on the Coast is the ideal starting point to explore British Columbia’s stunning natural and expansive beauty.
About Fairmont
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is where the intimate equally coexist with the infinite – an unrivaled portfolio of more than 80 extraordinary hotels where grand moments of life, heartfelt pleasures and personal milestones are celebrated and remembered long after any visit. Since 1907, Fairmont has created magnificent, meaningful and unforgettable hotels, rich with character and deeply connected to the history, culture and community of its destinations – places such as The Plaza in New York City, The Savoy in London, Fairmont San Francisco, Fairmont Banff Springs in Canada, Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai, and Fairmont The Palm in Dubai. Famous for its engaging service, awe-inspiring public spaces, locally inspired cuisine, and iconic bars and lounges, Fairmont also takes great pride in its pioneering approach to hospitality and leadership in sustainability and responsible tourism practices. Fairmont is part of Accor, a world-leading hospitality group counting over 5,300 properties throughout more than 110 countries, and a participating brand in ALL – Accor Live Limitless – a lifestyle loyalty program providing access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences.
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