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Is Afternoon Tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel Worth It? Our Family Experience in Waterton Lakes National Park
- 22 hours ago
- 10 min read
If you're heading to Waterton Lakes National Park, the Prince of Wales Hotel is probably already on your sightseeing list, and it should be. It offers one of the best, and most accessible, views in the entire Canadian Rockies.
What many visitors don't realize is that the Prince of Wales Hotel is also home to one of the most memorable afternoon tea experiences in Canada. There are few places in the Canadian Rockies where you can sit down for tea and sandwiches with a view like this.
It's been perched above Waterton Lake for almost a century, and afternoon tea here has become one of the park's most iconic traditions.
We've mentioned the Prince of Wales Hotel in several of our other Waterton posts, it's impossible not to, given how much it dominates the view, but this is our full, dedicated write-up of afternoon tea itself: what to expect, what it costs, how to book, and everything else worth knowing before you go.
We booked afternoon tea as a way to celebrate our 17th wedding anniversary, and it ended up being one of our favourite experiences in Waterton. Between the historic setting, delicious food, and spectacular views over Waterton Lake, it felt like the perfect way to mark the occasion.
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Table of Contents
A Brief History of the Prince of Wales Hotel
One of my favourite parts of putting together these travel guides is having a good excuse to go down a research rabbit hole, and the Prince of Wales Hotel actually has a pretty fascinating history.
The hotel was built in 1926-27 by the Great Northern Railway, an American company, making it the only one of Canada's grand railway hotels ever built by a US-based company. It was designed in a Swiss-chalet, rustic style, meant to evoke the alpine lodges of Europe on a windswept Canadian hilltop.
It almost never got built though! Waterton is famous for its strong winds, and during construction, powerful gusts actually pushed parts of the hotel off its foundation.
To keep it secure, workers anchored the building with large cables that run through the structure and deep into the ground, a solution that's still in place today.
There's a nice bit of trivia behind the name too. The hotel was named for Prince Edward, hoping to entice him to stay there during his 1927 tour of Canada. He didn't, choosing a nearby ranch instead, though the name stuck regardless.
The Prince of Wales Hotel was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1992 and remains Waterton's most recognizable landmark today.
How to Get There & Parking
The hotel sits on a bluff overlooking Waterton townsite and Upper Waterton Lake, just a short drive or walk from the centre of town.
One thing worth knowing before you go, especially since there's a lot of conflicting information online about parking fees: parking isn't automatically free. The first 30 minutes are complimentary, which is handy if you're just stopping by for a quick look around or to take a few photos. After that, you are charged a flat $10 (plus tax) parking fee, regardless of how long you stay.
If you're staying overnight at the hotel, parking is usually included with your reservation. If not, overnight parking costs $20 per vehicle.
We happened to visit during a special long weekend promotion that waived the fee, but I confirmed the standard parking rates with hotel staff before publishing this guide.
There's also an attendant on site who will direct you to the appropriate parking area and explain the available options, so it's all pretty straightforward once you arrive. Still, it's worth knowing about the fees in advance so you're not caught by surprise.
Keep in mind this parking fee is separate from your Parks Canada entry pass, which you'll also need for the day. If you're not sure how that works, we've put together a full Canada National Park Pass Q&A covering pricing, where to buy it, and whether it's worth it for your trip.
The Interior & Lobby
As you walk inside the Prince of Wales Hotel, it’s impossible not to be drawn to the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Waterton Lake. The view is spectacular!
The seating area directly in front of these windows is reserved for guests enjoying the hotel’s Royal Afternoon Tea experience (more on that below).
The photo above was taken from about as close as you can get without having a Royal Afternoon Tea reservation, and it still gives you a fantastic view.
To the right of the lobby, as you face the windows, is the Royal Stewart Dining Room, where afternoon tea is served - the experience we chose during our visit.
To the left is the Windsor Lounge, where you can enjoy lunch or dinner while taking in the same incredible views across Waterton Lake. There are no bookings for this option and it is first come first served.
What is the Difference Between Afternoon Tea and the Royal Afternoon Tea?
There are two tiers worth knowing about, which differ both in price, where you’re seated, as well as what’s included in the experience.
Afternoon Tea is served in the dedicated tea room off to the side of the main hall, the Royal Stewart Dining Room. It includes a traditional selection of teas alongside sandwiches, scones, and pastries. This is what we did and we give a full run down of the experience later in this post.
The Royal Afternoon Tea is the premium upgrade. It includes seating in the hotel's main hall, the space with the Prince of Wales Hotel's famous floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Waterton Lake.
The upgrade also includes a glass of prosecco per person, which could make it worthwhile if you were planning to order a drink anyway.
The biggest difference is really the setting. Sitting beside those spectacular windows would undoubtedly be the highlight of the experience. The trade-off is that you're seated in the hotel's busiest public space, with tourists constantly stopping to admire the view and take photos behind you.
If having a guaranteed window seat is important to you, the upgrade may be well worth the extra cost. If you'd prefer a quieter and more private experience, I'd recommend the standard afternoon tea instead.
Pricing and Reserving a Table Ahead of Time
Afternoon tea is served daily while the hotel is open (note: the Prince of Wales Hotel closes each winter and operates roughly from mid-May to early October).
Reservations are highly recommended and can be made online through OpenTable or via the hotel's website (which actually takes you to OpenTable anyway). You can also book by calling the hotel directly if you have any specific questions you'd like to ask.
Walk-ins are welcome when space permits, but I wouldn't count on there being availability without a reservation.
Here is the pricing (with the descriptions taken directly from the official website):
Afternoon Tea
$68 per adult | $34 per child (under 12)
Served in the Royal Stewart Dining Room
Selection of teas from Jolene's Tea House
Assortment of sandwich squares and pastries
Royal Afternoon Tea
$89 per adult | $34 per child (under 12)
Served in the Lobby Lounge
Premium seating with spectacular views
Unlimited tea from Jolene's Tea House
Glass of sparkling wine* (adults only)
Assortment of sandwich squares and pastries
Macarons, chocolate-covered strawberries, and freshly baked scones
*Children under 12 receive the same menu enhancements but do not receive sparkling wine.
The Afternoon Tea Experience
As we arrived at the desk, we were ushered into the Royal Stewart Dining Room, where the girls were immediately asked if they would like to wear complimentary fascinators to add a little extra fun to the experience. Any excuse to dress up is a win with our girls, so they happily said yes and wore them for the entire afternoon.
We were also pleased to discover that we had been seated at a window table. We hadn't specifically requested one when making our reservation, so I'm not sure whether window seating can be reserved in advance or whether it is just assigned based on availability. Either way, if a table with a view is important to you, it's probably worth calling ahead and asking.
From the moment we stepped into the dining room, it was clear that the hotel takes pride in its historic character. Traditional wood-beamed ceilings, elegant décor, and period-style music created a classic atmosphere, while our server, dressed in a traditional tartan kilt, added a fitting nod to the hotel's Scottish-inspired heritage.
He then brought over a beautiful presentation box containing roughly ten locally sourced teas and talked us through each one, explaining the flavours and helping us decide what to try. Officially, you are only meant to choose up to three teas each, but the staff regularly asked us if we wanted any more tea bags, so they seemed pretty relaxed about the whole thing.
We were then asked whether we wanted the adult afternoon tea or the kids' version for the girls, just to make sure everything was correct.
The Food
First up were the scones: each person, including the kids, received one savoury cheese and chive scone and one sweet orange cranberry scone. They arrived with butter, jam, and clotted cream. They were excellent!
From there, the main tiered trays arrived, loaded with a selection of sandwiches, pastries, and desserts.
The savoury tier included coronation chicken sandwiches, egg sandwiches, cucumber sandwiches, and smoked salmon blinis. The coronation chicken was incredible - I could have eaten a whole tray of just those alone!
The pictures below show the differences between the adult and the kids' afternoon tea selection.
The pastry tier included a variety of sweet treats, including almond croissants and currant shortbread, while the dessert tier had items such as almond tarts, cheesecake bites, and lemon cake.
We didn't come close to finishing everything, so we ended up taking quite a bit home in a box to enjoy later.
The Views
Of course, the views are probably the biggest draw of afternoon tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel, and they definitely don't disappoint. This was the view from our table while enjoying the standard afternoon tea in the Royal Stewart Dining Room.
While the Lobby Lounge may have the more famous vantage point, the views from the dining room are still absolutely spectacular and more than enough to make the experience feel special.
Alternate Lunch Option
It's worth mentioning that there's also a separate lunch menu served in a different dining room, located to the left of the main hall as you enter the hotel. The menu includes more traditional lunch fare, with options like bangers and mash, fish and chips, and other pub-style favourites if you're looking for something a little less fancy than afternoon tea.
The restaurant operates on a first-come, first-served basis, so during the busy summer season you might need to wait for a table, particularly around lunch hours.
The Gift Shop
Even if you're not staying overnight or booking afternoon tea, the hotel's gift shop is well worth a visit. It's one of the better Parks Canada gift shops we've come across, with a great selection of quality Waterton-themed souvenirs that feel a little more upmarket than the usual tourist tat.
They also carry a selection of lovely items designed by local Indigenous artists from Native Northwest - including this beautiful teacup, which we couldn't resist buying to take home with us.
Other Things to do in Waterton
We absolutely love Waterton and genuinely think it's one of the best places to visit in all of Alberta and the Canadian Rockies. Between the dramatic mountain scenery, abundant wildlife, family-friendly hikes, and small-town charm, it's a place we usually visit multiple times a year.
If you're planning a visit, we've put together detailed guides covering the best things to do in Waterton, along with suggested 1-day, 2-day, and 3-day itineraries to help you make the most of your time in the park.
We've also written more in-depth guides on some of our favourite things to do, including Red Rock Canyon, which is one of the best activities in Waterton for families with young kids, and the Bison Paddock, where you have the chance to spot bison from the comfort of your vehicle.
If you are looking to stretch your legs after afternoon tea, we've also covered several family-friendly hikes, including Lower Bertha Falls, Blakiston Falls and Bear's Hump.
The Bear's Hump in particular makes a great addition to a visit to the Prince of Wales Hotel, as the trailhead is located just down the road from the hotel. The hike is relatively short, the views over Waterton are spectacular, and it's the perfect way to walk off all those sandwiches, scones, and pastries.
If you're planning a longer trip through the region, Waterton also fits neatly into our 2-Week Canadian Rockies Itinerary, which covers the drive from Calgary to Waterton before looping through Banff, Kootenay, Yoho, and Jasper.
Practical Tips & FAQ
Do I need to be a hotel guest to have afternoon tea? No, afternoon tea is open to non-guests, but reservations are strongly recommended given how popular it is.
Is there a dress code? Not particularly. I wore shorts, a t-shirt and flip flops and it was fine. I'd say smart casual is best.
Is it suitable for kids? Yes, kids get a smaller version of the tea at half price, and the fascinators make it feel like a genuinely special occasion for them rather than just an adults' treat.
Is the Royal Tea upgrade worth it? Only if dining in the main hall itself matters to you or you want to add a glass of sparkling wine. We booked the Standard tea and still got a window table overlooking the lake, so the extra cost is really about the room, not the view.
Can I just get lunch instead of afternoon tea? Yes, there's a separate lunch menu with dishes like fish and chips and bangers and mash, served in another room. It's first-come, first-served though, no reservations, so be prepared to wait during busy periods.
What if I just want to look around without booking tea? You're welcome to pop into the lobby and gift shop without a reservation, tea specifically is where booking matters.
Is Afternoon Tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel Worth It?
Afternoon tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel is about more than just the food, although the sandwiches, pastries, and freshly baked scones are excellent. It's an opportunity to enjoy one of the most spectacular views in Waterton Lakes National Park, and experience a tradition that has become part of the hotel's nearly 100-year history.
For us, it was the perfect way to celebrate our 17th wedding anniversary. Watching the girls enjoy the experience made it feel just as special for them as it did for us.
While it isn't an everyday outing, we think the Prince of Wales Hotel afternoon tea is absolutely worth considering for a special occasion, whether that's an anniversary, birthday, family celebration, or simply a memorable stop during your Waterton getaway.
For more on the rest of the park, take a look at our complete guide to the best things to do in Waterton Lakes National Park, or our 1-3 day Waterton itinerary if you're still planning your visit.
We're a Calgary-based family that loves exploring the Canadian Rockies and sharing detailed travel guides to help other families make the most of their adventures.
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