Spilling the Tea in Muskoka: Best Afternoon Tea Spots

By Guest Blogger
August 19, 2025

Sip, sip, hooray! We’ve found the best places to enjoy a memorable tea time experience in Ontario’s cottage country. Whether you’re visiting for a relaxing resort getaway, a cozy cottage stay, or a day trip to the lake, these tea experiences are sure to steep your day in flavour and charm. Fancy a spot of tea? Plan your summer afternoon tea experience in Muskoka:

Blue Willow Tea Shop Gravenhurst

Located at the Muskoka Wharf overlooking scenic Lake Muskoka, Blue Willow serves up a charming atmosphere with every cup.  With three seating options a day, reserve your high tea to guarantee a spot in the popular tea room year-round or “enjoy a cuppa” on the patio during the warmer months. The high tea experience includes your choice of tea in an individual tea pot (the Queen Elizabeth tea was just darling), and a tiered tray filled with tea sandwiches, savoury pastries, scones, clotted cream, preserves and sweet treats. To enhance your day, book a steamship cruise with the nearby Muskoka Steamships, stroll the boardwalk and browse the lakeside shops for a special day fit for royalty.

The Blue Willow changes up their menu monthly for seasonal favourites.  The May menu featured a cucumber cream cheese tea sandwich, savoury canapé, seasonal cheeses, mini scones with clotted cream and preserves and a selection of sweet treats including sticky toffee pudding (delish!).

Windemere House Windemere

Nestled within the iconic Windemere House in Windemere, Ontario, The Rosseau greets afternoon tea goers with breathtaking views of Lake Rosseau. Unique to the summer season, The Rosseau offers afternoon tea from 2-4pm every Sunday. As you sip fine tea with friends or family, enjoy elegant finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones and decadent sweet treats in a tiered display. Reserve online for this timeless tradition, reservations are required 48 hours in advance.

Afternoon tea tiered treats complete with breathtaking views of of Lake Rosseau at Windemere House. Watch the boaters come and go, while you enjoy the sunshine at this historic resort. Photo provided by Windemere House.

Muskoka Lakes Farm and Winery Bala

It’s tea time at Muskoka Lakes Farm and Winery from May to September! This cranberry farm offers something for everyone. Enjoy a scenic stroll around the bogs, learn about cranberries with the bog to bottle discovery tour, or head straight to your cranberry infused tea experience (make sure to book online!). During your tea, chose from a variety of savoury and sweet items like cranberry sausage stuffing rolls, cream cheese cucumber twists, cranberry maple butter tarts, and cranberry parfaits. Finish the meal with a sophisticated glass of house-made Cransecco or sparkling cran-apple cider – it’s absolutely delightful!

Cranberry infused afternoon tea overlooking the cranberry bogs at Muskoka Lakes Farm and Winery. As you sip and nibble, watch for sightings of red winged blackbirds, gold and purple finches, blue herons and sandhill cranes.  Photo provided by Muskoka Lakes Farm and Winery.

Afternoon Tea, Bakery Style – DIY at the Cottage

Bring the afternoon tea experience to your cottage or home with a stop in at a local Muskoka bakery such as Windmill, Henrietta’s, Erika’s, Humble Pie, Big River Baking Co., The Bakery, Don’s, and Bakery by the Lake –  to name a few. To ensure you have all the high tea essentials, make your own egg salad and cucumber tea sandwiches using fresh oven baked bread (can’t go wrong with French or Sourdough), include an assortment of scones and jam (the Muskoka Clouds at Henrietta’s are divine), and round things out with a tier of decadent treats like butter tarts, cakes and pastries. And of course—don’t forget the tea! Pick up local loose leaf teas at Blue Willow in Gravenhurst, Tea on the 45th in Bracebridge or Muskoka Tea Company in Huntsville.

Afternoon tea at the cottage featuring Windmill bakery’s tasty butter tarts, pasteis de nata, French macarons, lemon square, chocolate covered strawberries and macaroons. The perfect reason to get out your grandmother’s tea set!

From charming tearooms to farm-fresh adventures, make your Muskoka memories — one sip at a time.

Plan your summer getaway to the great Canadian wilderness just north of Toronto today.

Visit GreatCanadianwilderness.com to plan your stay.

Feature Photo Credit: Blue Willow Tea Shop Facebook Page

Guest Author: Lauren MacDermid
Originally from the GTA, Lauren grew up as an avid cottager in Dorset, Ontario, and made Muskoka her permanent home in 2015. With a background in hospitality and tourism, she’s passionate about discovering local experiences from scenic trails and artisan shops to foodie tours and art installations—all while on a personal quest to find the perfect croissant.