The Duchess on Elma
34 Elma St W, Okotoks AB T1S 1J7
$$
English
Nestled quaintly on Elma Street in Okotoks lies a charming tea house, where time seems to dance to the melodious clinks of teacups and the soft chatter of delighted patrons. Step through its doors and be transported to an era of elegance and refinement. Here, amidst the ambiance of Regency-inspired decor, indulge in the timeless ritual of high tea.
Savor the delicate flavours of hand-selected teas from around the world, served in fine bone china, each cup a vessel of warmth and comfort. But it’s not just the tea that beckons; it’s the tantalizing array of delectable treats that await. From dainty finger sandwiches to freshly baked scones adorned with clotted cream and jam, every bite is a symphony of flavours crafted with love and attention to detail.
Reservations
Business Info
- Address: 34 Elma St W, Okotoks AB T1S 1J7
- Cross Street: 34 Elma Street W
- Location: South
- Cuisine: English |
- Cost: | Inexpensive
- Category: Tearoom
- Star Rating:
- Reservations: Recommended
- Dress Code: Casual Elegant
- Meals Served: Lunch | Other |
- Parking: Street | Private Lot |
- Payment Options: VISA | MasterCard | Cash | Apple Pay | Google Pay | Debit |
- Corkage Fee: N/A
- Website: https://theduchessonelma.com/
- Phone: 4039384122
- Features: Outdoor Seating, Wheelchair Access, Tea Service,
- Occasion: Child Friendly, Quiet Conversation, Special Occasion,
Photos
Events & Special Hours
- Alice in Wonderland Tea Time!
- July 2, 2026 - July 19, 2026 Lunch 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Business Hours
Reservations Available
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- Closed
- Wednesday
- Closed
- Thursday
- Afternoon Tea 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- Patio 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- Friday
- Afternoon Tea 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- Patio 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- Saturday
- Afternoon Tea 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- Patio 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- Sunday
- Afternoon Tea 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- Patio 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Menus
Customer Reviews & Ratings
4.8 out of 5 stars based on 154 votes
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Mar 27, 2026
Lori C.
Our hostess was very engaging and informative.
She made the experience exceptional. Provided us historical information. The tea and array of food was delicious.
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Feb 20, 2026
Joanne C.
Erin was an excellent hostess and we had a lovely time. Thank you.
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Dec 14, 2025
Claudia G.
An absolutely delightful high tea experience from start to finish. The atmosphere was elegant yet welcoming, making it the perfect setting to relax and enjoy a special afternoon. The selection of teas was impressive, with rich flavours and thoughtful recommendations from the staff. The food was beautifully presented and equally delicious—freshly baked scones served warm with generous portions of clotted cream and jam, a variety of delicate finger sandwiches, and an assortment of pastries and desserts that were both visually stunning and perfectly balanced in sweetness.
The service was warm, attentive, and unhurried, creating a relaxed and refined atmosphere that allowed us to fully enjoy the experience. Will definitely be going back!
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Dec 06, 2025
Tracey T.
Absolutely fantastic experience. The food was delicious, drinks were plentiful and service was outstanding. I would come here again in a heartbeat
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Oct 29, 2025
Holly K.
Wonderfully themed decorated and the food was delicious as ever. Great serving portions. The added tea reading service was delightful
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Oct 20, 2025
Jennifer S.
Dark tea was amazing! The food the decor, everything was outstanding!
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Sep 07, 2025
Donna Q.
Everything was a ten. My grandchildren thought it was a neat experience and we were able to have a great conversation able “Do English people really eat like this”.
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 2/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 7/10
Sep 01, 2025
Debbie W.
A friend of mine was visiting from Ontario. Whenever we get together we always try and do a High Tea together. When doing my research I came across The Duchess on Elma. It intrigued me because I didn’t even know Okotoks had a Tea house and I live close to Okotoks which meant I didn’t have far to drive. We absolutely loved this place. The moment we walked in we were transported back in time. The ambiance was heart warming. The staff exemplary and the food and tea were the icing on the cake. I definitely will go back. This little secret far outshines any of the other tea houses we have visited.
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Jul 20, 2025
Heather H.
We loved the character of the original home and all the personal/historical touches of the tea settings, artwork and furniture. We also enjoyed the stories the owner told us about the history of the building and people who lived and worked there. The Russian Earl Grey Tea was a perfect pairing with the delicious tea sandwiches and sweets. Worth the trip to Okotoks!
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Jul 19, 2025
Joyce D.
Everything was absolutely awesome!!! Food especially good! Welcoming and attentive service.
- Overall: 10/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Jul 16, 2025
Victoria B.
Amazing experience! Will definitely go again!
- Overall: 9/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 9/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 8/10
Jun 02, 2026
Shvonne S.
A little pricey but a super cute experience. Servers were pleasant and everyone had fun. History lesson was a great added bonus.
- Overall: 9/10
- Food: 10/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
May 12, 2026
Amy C.
The food was delicious and beautifully presented. The decor was so pretty. And the service was wonderful. Just wish there were at least a couple more tea choices. There were only 2 tea choices. Will come back for sure.
- Overall: 8/10
- Food: 9/10
- Service: 8/10
- Ambience: 9/10
- Value: 5/10
Oct 08, 2025
Alice B.
When we first arrived the service was very good. Our waitress was very friendly and personable. After our food arrived we were ignored and didn’t get any more refills on the tea. Throughout the afternoon tables, chairs and random things were being moved and put away. I understand that they’re getting ready for their Halloween set up but it was a little bit distracting. What bothers me the most was that I had to pay a deposit of $10 per person to make a reservation which was not refunded. It’s definitely not worth $55 per person for a few fancy sandwiches and a couple cups of tea.
- Overall: 8/10
- Food: 6/10
- Service: 8/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 7/10
Sep 15, 2024
Jennifer R.
We enjoyed our experience. The ambiance was absolutely amazing. We came early and were given a quick tour and then welcomed to walk around and take pictures. I wish we were given more history on the house and the types of teas offered. The lavender shortbread cookie was fantastic. The peaches and cream tea and English breakfast tea was fantastic. I recommend taking up their offer of trying two or three different teas. It got very warm in the tea house. Would be a great opportunity to offer old timey fans to your guests! The water was self serve by the front desk which seemed a bit disjointed. Fascinators for sale at a very decent cost ($17).
Business Response:
Hi Jennifer, Thank you for the feedback, we truly appreciate hearing from our guests. I am so glad you enjoyed the tea selection and lemon lavender shortbread. "one of my favourites as well." We are in the process of training staff for the fall and this was a first independant busy day for our newer staff. We typically give a house heritage snapshot of the Duchess. I am working with the new team to get them comfortable and add these extra touches. We also have information cards on the tables as well in case guests would prefer not to be disturbed with our speeches ;) I am also working on a new table option to have guests let us know if they would like to learn more about the house, or enjoy their own company. Some sort of token idea, you coud flip over to let the staff know you want to learn more. Some guests are regulars and already have heard all about our 1902 beauty. This system would help with that. I am glad you mentioned it as this helps our new team see first hand that guests love to hear all about this Elma Street gem. We do have lace fans onsite as well. But this was a great reminder for our team to monitor the tea room temperature. As for the water this should be offered to every guest as a delivered service, but I do like guests to have access to ice water and fresh lemons anytime, especially during busy seatings, hence the water station. This also encourages guests to walk around the building and enjoy all the details within the decor, especially since every room is different. We are excited for our fall menu, and our special event Dark Tea coming soon. It is our goal to make your tea time very special and serve you anyway we can. We hope to see you again for tea. Thank you, Sherry + The Duchess on Elma team- Overall: 7/10
- Food: 9/10
- Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
Jun 02, 2026
Ivy W.
Everything I had heard about the teahouse was true. Food and people were lovely. Sherry and her people made our belated Mother's Day memorable. Sherry even went above and beyond to advise of road closure due to an event being held in Okotoks and gave an alternative route.
- Overall: 7/10
- Food: 6/10
- Service: 9/10
- Ambience: 10/10
- Value: 6/10
Sep 20, 2024
Kayla R.
Our group really appreciated the efforts of staff to create an experience of afternoon tea, with their dress, grooming, speech and manners.
Presentation of food and tea was good. Selection of teas was excellent. Quality of food, especially choice of breads was lacking. Overall value for price fell short.