- Best for
- Seasonal afternoon tea and small celebrations
- Neighbourhood
- Financial District
- Address
- 325 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M5H 4G3
- Phone
- 416-306-5800
Astor Lounge serves afternoon tea inside The St. Regis Toronto at 325 Bay Street. Choose it for a small celebration with seasonal sweets and a polished lounge setting. Its TIFF tea is advertised at $98 per person. The hotel’s event calendar and booking description disagree on the dates, so confirm your chosen service before paying.
Our verdict: Astor is a strong choice when the seasonal menu is the reason for your visit. For a weekday tea, start with EPOCH. For a large room that feels like part of the occasion, compare CLOCKWORK. Astor’s main deal-breakers are the price and uncertain pacing. Skip a tight tea booking between two film screenings.
Google rating: 4.2 out of 5 from 75 reviews, checked September 7, 2026. This is a small sample covering the lounge as a whole. It is not a separate rating for the current TIFF menu.
TIFF afternoon tea: price, menu and the date problem
The hotel’s dated TIFF event page advertises tea Friday to Sunday, September 1 to October 11, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The price is $98 per guest. The menu highlights egg with caviar, king crab, a popcorn-inspired sweet and King’s Cake.
But the linked booking description says September 10 to 21. These are conflicting listings, not two confirmed tea seasons. On September 7, the booking tool initially showed September 11 and a time selector from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. That selector is not proof that a table remains available.
Use the event dates as the advertised plan, then ask the lounge to confirm the exact menu for your date. A reservation for a normal lounge table is not the same as a paid tea experience.
Two tea packages start at $196. The experience is marked prepaid, but the landing page does not clearly settle the final tax and service total. Read the full price and cancellation terms before submitting payment. Do not treat $196 as the final bill for two.
The standard lounge profile mentions a $50-per-person no-show charge. A prepaid experience can have its own terms. Check the terms attached to your actual booking instead of assuming that one rule covers both.
The TIFF menu has seafood and egg in its headline savouries. Tell the lounge about allergies, pregnancy-related food choices or other dietary needs before booking. Ask what the replacement courses are. Paying full price for a menu with several dishes you cannot eat is poor value.
Our choice is the plain tea package if the food appeals. Do not add Champagne just because the hotel is known for opening bottles with a sabre. That is a separate ritual, and the advertised tea does not establish a Champagne inclusion.
What recent guests like, and what to watch for
The good: Several recent tea guests praised the staff and the scones. One described fresh food and excellent service. Another enjoyed the range of teas and the savoury bites on a winter menu. Those reports support choosing Astor for a slow afternoon with someone who enjoys trying small things.
The drawbacks: The same winter-tea review found the sweets less interesting and the pacing awkward. The guest waited for the tower while scones remained in the basket. That is one experience with an earlier menu, not proof of a rule at every service. Still, it is a useful reason to discuss timing at the start.
Another guest praised the manager for resolving a problem but did not explain what went wrong. We cannot use that as evidence of a specific fault. It does suggest that raising a concern politely during the visit can be more useful than leaving disappointed without saying anything.
Tell your server if you want the tower while you are still eating the scones. Ask how long the full service usually takes that day. If you have tickets later, leave a generous gap for the bill and the journey.
The lounge sits in the hotel lobby. It is separate from LOUIX LOUIS upstairs. Check which venue your reservation names before you arrive. Hotel photos often mix the two, which can create the wrong idea about the room you are booking.
The tea photographs here come from the hotel’s official Astor page. They show the tea presentation and the selection ritual. Seasonal food and serving pieces change. Use the current menu to decide what you will eat, not an attractive photo from another season.
Lounge hours, evening drinks and arrival
The official lounge page lists general hours of 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Wednesday and 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday to Saturday. These are lounge hours, not tea hours.
It also lists a nightly Champagne-opening ritual at 6 p.m. Sabrage Hour is advertised Tuesday to Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. Do not assume watching the ritual includes a free glass of Champagne.
The separate TIFF Sabrage and Caviar Experience is advertised at $300 for a party, recommended for two. It includes 30 grams of Ossetra caviar, accompaniments and two glasses of Champagne. Its booking description lists September 10 to 21 at 6 p.m. This is a different purchase from afternoon tea. Choose it only if caviar and Champagne are what you want to pay for.
For a casual stop, the lounge also serves coffee, drinks and food ordered by the dish. The current online profile lists a $33 turkey club and $36 burger. Those prices underline the setting: this is a hotel lounge, not a cheap lunch stop. Check the menu you are handed before ordering.
The address is at Bay and Adelaide, in the Financial District. King, Queen, St. Andrew and Union stations are walking options listed by the venue. Use the map below to choose the route that works for you. Valet is available, but a current dining rate was not confirmed.
The booking profile lists smart casual dress and wheelchair access. Google also marks an accessible entrance. For a wheelchair space, washroom route or specific table height, call ahead with the details you need. A general access label is not a full route guide.
Call the hotel’s official reservation contact at 416-306-5800, or the lounge number on its booking profile, 416-637-5556. For a group, ask about table layout, dietary replacements and cancellation terms before anyone pays.
Compare rooms and budgets in our Toronto afternoon-tea guide. Book Astor when you want its particular menu and can take your time. Choose a simpler café when you only want tea and a quick catch-up.
If someone wants coffee instead of tea, ask whether that swap is included or costs extra. The public tea menu does not settle that detail.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Astor Lounge in Toronto?
Astor Lounge is in the lobby of The St. Regis Toronto at 325 Bay Street, by Adelaide Street. It is a separate venue from LOUIX LOUIS upstairs. Check the venue name on your confirmation.
How much is Astor Lounge afternoon tea?
The TIFF tea is advertised at $98 per person and is marked prepaid. Check the final tax, service and cancellation details before paying. This price is for that seasonal experience, not every future tea menu.
What are the TIFF tea dates?
The hotel’s event page advertises Friday to Sunday from September 1 to October 11, 2026. Its linked booking description instead says September 10 to 21. Confirm the menu for your exact date with the lounge.
Does tea include Champagne or caviar service?
The advertised tea does not establish a Champagne inclusion. The $300 Sabrage and Caviar Experience is a separate booking recommended for two people. Do not confuse it with the $98 tea.
Can children or guests with dietary needs attend?
Ask the lounge before booking. We did not confirm a current child tea price, age policy or full replacement menu for the TIFF service. Give the staff each guest’s needs and ask exactly what they will receive.
Do I need to dress up?
The booking profile lists smart casual. Neat everyday clothes are a sensible starting point. You can dress up for the occasion without treating it as a formal gala.
Can I fit tea in before a TIFF screening?
Leave plenty of time and tell the server when you need to leave. A recent guest reported slow pacing on an earlier tea menu. Avoid a booking that leaves no room for delays, payment or travel to the cinema.
Location
Open Astor Lounge Toronto: Afternoon Tea, Prices and Booking Tips in Google Maps