The Old Curiosity Tea Shop — Restaurant in Markham

Atmosphere: An Old Curiosity indeed… We had long heard of this charming tea shop and finally decided to visit. Nestled between Main Street Markham and Highway 7, this little gem exudes a quaint and inviting atmosphere from the moment you step inside. Your eyes are immediately drawn to the large wooden counter adorned with an array of teas, teacups, and teapots, setting the stage for a delightful experience. We opted for the Afternoon Tea, which includes a tea of your choice, a selection of sandwiches, and a tray of desserts. The space is cozy and intimate, with only a handful of tables, but this adds to the charm and makes the experience all the more special. 5/5

Service: With a limited number of guests at any given time, the service here is exceptional. The staff are attentive and knowledgeable about their tea offerings. I chose the Victorian Markham, their signature house blend, which I highly recommend for lovers of Western-style tea. My mother enjoyed the Japanese Sencha, which she found delightful. The staff not only serve the tea but also provide instructions on the optimal steeping time to ensure maximum flavor. As the finger sandwiches arrived, each one was described to us in detail, enhancing our appreciation of the meal. The staff were diligent in ensuring our tea was regularly refilled and that we were well taken care of. Once we finished the sandwiches, a tray of desserts, including biscuits and teacake, was served. 5/5

Food: The food was light, appetizing, and surprisingly filling. While the offerings may not be extraordinary or groundbreaking, the quality and freshness of the ingredients are evident in every bite. It's worth noting that this experience may not be for everyone, as it is more about the ritual of Afternoon Tea than a culinary adventure. The desserts were delectable, embodying the sweetness one might expect from a Victorian tea experience. Paired with the tea, the flavors complemented each other beautifully. 4/5

Tea: The tea deserves its own spotlight because it is simply extraordinary. Words hardly do it justice. 10/5

Note: Due to the shop's small size, seating is limited, and reservations are essential. Don't expect to walk in and find a table, especially on weekends when bookings fill up quickly. We called in March and were able to secure a table in May. For a better chance of reaching someone, it's advisable to call shortly after they close (a bit after 4 PM) as the staff are often busy attending to customers during...

High Tea at The Old Curiosity Tea Shop was honestly such a fun experience. As someone who has never done a high tea or even likes tea, this experience definitely changed my mind about the whole ordeal.

First and foremost, I don’t like tea or coffee. I avoid it all costs if I can. So I was nervous I wouldn’t be able to find a tea I like or would even want to order. But I was lucky enough to find two teas that I thought would be nice. I was nervous about which one to choose and asked Adam, the amazing owner and host, suggested the Peaches and Cream one as a beginner friendly delicious tea.

It was absolutely amazing, and I was so surprised to have found a tea I genuinely enjoyed. My friend got the Vanilla cream one which was also delicious. Adam was so quick to make sure to fulfill our requests and even adjusted the sandwiches to my dietary restrictions.

Speaking on the sandwiches, they were absolutely divine! I don’t like sandwiches much either but these were absolutely amazing! There was a cucumber cream cheese one that was light and refreshing, perfect for a summer day. There was a egg and lettuce one which was great too and a couple others, served with celery, carrots, and cherry tomatoes throughout the two tiered display.

The second display came with a variety of shortbreads, fresh raisin scones, butter and preserves. It was so well done and I had plenty of extras I got to take home.

Having come here for the first time, here are some of my key take aways and tips:

Reserve ahead of time! This place is always booked. If you want a table on a specific time at a specific date, I’d recommend booking 1-2 weeks head of time. Come on an empty stomach! This is an extremely filling ordeal and you will want to try it all! High Tea is a classy affair, dress appropriately. Most ladies dressed in a simple summer dress or a casual dress shirt and pants. You can buy any of the tea or treats you tried during your experience at the end for an additional cost.

I throughly enjoyed this experience and it was something that opened me up to a whole new world of tea and possibilities. So much fun, and Adam was a great host! Would definitely recommend a visit to The Old...

My mom and I visited The Old Curiosity Tea Shop for the first time just after family day this year to celebrate a personal milestone. This afternoon tea shop has been on my radar for many years, but I have only gotten to know Markham over the past couple years, and have tried many of my local spots already. Well I have to say that this experience was one of our favourites to date. The shop was much larger than I imagined, cozy and full of victorian charm. The food was so tasty, and the afternoon tea goodies were unlike other places I have tried. We loved everything about this place. We can't wait to come back to try the other English fare on their menu. We liked that you could order the afternoon tea or something else on their lunch menu if the tea was ahem not your cup of tea. For $30.00 plus tax, their afternoon tea price per/person was under the cost that I normally pay other places, but the food was just or even more delicious. The tea selection was great, their house blend was perfect and as an earl grey with afternoon tea purist, I took a chance on the Buckingham palace tea and was not disappointed! One of the main standouts of this shop was Adam, who served us. He was so welcoming, friendly and funny. He even offered to customize our afternoon tea sandwiches to accommodate our dietary preferences (this is not always possible at other places). Adam was so attentive and it was clear that he enjoyed being at the shop and serving customers to a great experience. He shared tidbits about the history of the building and spoke so highly of their regular clientel. My mom and I cannot wait to make the trip again out to mainstream Markham again to try their Welsh rarebit, because it looks phenomenal! Thank you Old Curiosity Tea Shop for your service, charm, and a wonderful experience on a special day! We will be back and have already told so many of our friends to book a...