Where to get Afternoon Tea to go in Vancouver for Mother's Day

Mother's Day falls on Sunday, May 9 this year, and with B.C. restaurants and cafes closed to indoor dining due to provincial health orders, once again we'll have to celebrate our moms, grandmothers, aunties, sisters, and any other mom-type folks in our lives a little differently.

With some advanced planning, however, you can arrange to have a tea salon experience right in your own home, or (fingers crossed for rain-free skies) backyard, porch, or park. So many Vancouver restaurants and catering companies have stepped up their game this spring to ensure Mother's Day is a sweet celebration.

Check out these places in Vancouver that are making delectable afternoon tea sets for take-out or delivery perfect for Mother's Day 2021:

Savoury City

Local catering biz Savoury City is offering an Afternoon Tea for Mother's Day featuring a selection of eight savoury and four sweet bites such as Smoked Salmon & Chive Biscuit, Caramelized Onion & Manchego Tartlet, Lemon Curd Tartlet with fresh berries, Traditional Scones with mascarpone cream and house preserves. Priced at $39 per serving, the package can be easily scaled to accommodate tea parties of all sizes. Order at on the Savoury City website until Thursday, May 6 at 4 p.m. for pickup on Saturday, May 8 and Sunday, May 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Delivery is also available within the Vancouver area for an additional fee, and custom delivery options are available upon request for regions outside Vancouver.

Notch8 at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

Afternoon Tea To-Go from Notch8 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver is available now through the summer. Photo courtesy Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

One of the city's favourite spots for an elegant tea session is the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, which recently launched its lovely Afternoon Tea To-Go program. Using a custom-made portable tea tower, the tea set features beautiful savoury sandwiches and light bites, large scones with cream and preserves, a selection of sweet treats and cookies, and your choice of tea. Priced at $69 per person, the minimum order is for two people, the tea is available via pre-order for pick-up Saturdays and Sundays noon to 2 p.m. at the hotel.

• Read more about Afternoon Tea To-Go at Notch8 HERE

Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver

The Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver is doing Afternoon Tea sets to-go for Mother's Day. Photo courtesy the Shangri-La Hotel

While we're waiting patiently for Miantiao to open at this chic downtown spot, the hotel has found a way to get their beloved tea service to us to honour moms.  Created in partnership with Emelles Catering, Shangri-La's Afternoon Tea is priced at $68 per person, and all orders come with a special paper afternoon tea stand so you can get that perfect tea-time atmosphere at home. Order via the hotel's retail website for delivery.

Five Sails 

Mother's Day Afternoon Tea from Five Sails at the Pan Pacific in downtown Vancouver. Photo by Nora Hamade/courtesy Five Sails

Downtown's Five Sails' Chef Pascal Georges has assembled a beautiful Afternoon Tea At Home for Mother's Day. Priced at $140 for two people, the meal includes two pieces of fourteen different sandwiches, savoury snacks, sweet pastries, and traditional treats. From Foie Gras to Caviar, scones to chocolate éclairs, the classic English Afternoon tea is a luxurious treat for the most important woman in your life. Order online or via email (info@fivesails.ca) for pick-up at the entrance of the Pan Pacific Hotel on May 9, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Blue Hat Bakery at PICA

Mother's Day tea from the Blue Hat Bakery at PICA. Photo courtesy PICA

Blue Hat Bakery-Café’s decadent Mother’s Day Tea for Two is priced at $49 per person (minimum order of two) and includes everything required to recreate an enchanting afternoon tea experience in the comfort of your own home. The limited-edition menu features refined savoury items and sandwiches, sweet cakes and desserts, and scones paired with homemade preserves and clotted cream. All items are prepared on-site at the Granville Island café by PICA’s talented roster of culinary students and pastry chefs. Blue Hat's Mother’s Day Tea for Two to-go package is available exclusively for pick-up on Saturday, May 8 and Sunday, May 9. Pre-order will be available until May 4 at 10 a.m.

Edge Catering

Indulge in Edge Catering's Mother's Day tea set. Photo courtesy Edge Catering

Called Mom’s Momentous Afternoon Tea ($60 for two), Edge Catering's Mother's Day tea includes items like smoked salmon mini bagels; asparagus and feta mini quiche tarts; petit scones with lemon mascarpone cream and fresh raspberries; chocolate dipped strawberries; and comes with a lovely little extra: a fresh tulip bunch and Mother’s Day Card from Brooke Audrey Creative. Orders should be in by Wednesday, May 5 by 4 p.m.  Pickup for orders is on Saturday, May 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Faubourg

Mais oui, you can take your maman to Paris for Mother's Day...well, sort of. French bakery Faubourg is offering its Afternoon Tea by pre-order, with two-day advance needed. Sip and celebrate with a dozen sweet mini pastries, six savoury mini sandwiches and quiche, two scones, two teas, all presented on an Eiffel Tower display. Pre-order online here.

The Lazy Gourmet

The Lazy Gourmet is doing tea sets perfect for Mother's Day. Photo by Jamie-Lee Fuoco/courtesy The Lazy Gourmet

The Lazy Gourmet’s Mother’s Day Tea Box ($75) features unique dishes such as lox and cream cheese swirls; open-faced radish and cucumber fingers; mini smoked turkey croissant sandwiches; mini brioche chicken salad buns; mini tea scones with mascarpone and blueberry jam; jeweled cheesecake bites; raspberry passionfruit eclairs; fresh fruit tarts, and mini chocolate bars. Pre-orders can be made online, by calling 604-734-2507 or emailing catering@lazygourmet.ca by May 5, 2021. Pick-up and delivery options are available.

Secret Garden Tea Company

Another beloved Vancouver spot for tea is Secret Garden, which is making tea sets available via pre-order for take-out. Order online May 3 and 4, and pick up May 5 to 9. The tea shop's High Tea to-go comes in a regular, vegetarian or vegan version to please all palates. And you can add on a mini sparkling bottle of wine to your Mother’s Day High Tea order to make it just that much more sparkly!