TIFF50 Afternoon Tea at Shangri-La Toronto: A Cinematic Experience Worth Savoring
This September, Toronto is buzzing with excitement as the Toronto International Film Festival celebrates its 50th anniversary. For me, TIFF has always been about more than just films, it’s about the city coming alive, the moments of connection, and the little rituals that make the festival season feel magical. One of those rituals? Afternoon tea at Shangri-La Toronto.
The Lobby Lounge has always been my sanctuary, my hangout spot when I lived in the city before. It’s where I’d slip away from the noise, sip tea under the glow of the piano, and feel the energy of Toronto at its most elegant. Coming back for the #TIFF50 Afternoon Tea felt like returning to an old friend, familiar yet full of surprises.
A TIFF Anniversary Celebration
Running September 4–28, the TIFF50 Afternoon Tea is Shangri-La’s tribute to the festival’s five decades of storytelling. Each course is inspired by an iconic film, and together, they create a narrative that’s part history, part indulgence. This wasn’t just an afternoon tea, it was a celebration of cinema, culture, and connection.
I went with my friend Yashy, whose Parenting To Go blog you absolutely need to check out. We hadn’t had a proper catch-up in ages, and this was the perfect way to do it. Between sips of tea and bites of film-inspired treats, we swapped stories, laughed, and let the experience unfold around us.
The Ambiance and Service
If TIFF is the city’s spotlight, the Lobby Lounge is where the quiet glamour takes place. The live piano; soft, melodic, sometimes cinematic, gave the afternoon an effortless soundtrack. The room was alive with festival energy yet still managed to feel intimate.
The service was seamless, as always at Shangri-La. Our server guided us through the menu like a director walking us through a script, explaining which films inspired each course. That little storytelling detail elevated the entire experience.
The Menu: From Savoury to Sweet
The courses unfolded like acts in a film. Savouries included a decadent deviled egg inspired by The Last Emperor, a layered focaccia paying tribute to Life is Beautiful, and a trout gravlax that sparkled with colour and freshness, a nod to La La Land.
Scones arrived next, as they always do at Shangri-La, warm and golden. Their Signature Scone paired beautifully with the unique pizza scone and red pepper jam, the kind of playful touch you don’t expect but instantly love.
Sweets closed the show like a rolling credit sequence. The standout for me was the Mango Lassi Mousse, a tribute to Slumdog Millionaire, with pistachio, saffron, and yogurt creating a vibrant, memorable bite. But there were plenty of other stars: a German Chocolate Cake inspired by 12 Years a Slave, a nostalgic Black Forest Cake tied to Kings of the Road, a tart Blueberry Haskap Pie, and a dainty Red Velvet Madeleine. Each dessert was a nod to a moment in TIFF history, edible memories layered with creativity.
The Tea: Strawberry Dreams
Of course, there was the tea. Shangri-La’s tea menu reads like a star-studded cast list, with everything from classic English Breakfast to rare Tie Guan Yin. But this time, I decided to go a little whimsical and ordered the Strawberry Dreams tea. It was exactly what the name promised, light, fragrant, and almost nostalgic, the kind of tea that makes you smile between sips. It paired beautifully with the desserts and felt like the perfect choice for a TIFF celebration that itself is rooted in dreams.
Final Thoughts
As TIFF celebrates its 50th anniversary, the Shangri-La TIFF50 Afternoon Tea feels like the ultimate way to mark the occasion. It’s cinematic, indulgent, and uniquely Toronto. More than the food, it was about the ambiance; the piano, the service, the festival energy, and the chance to slow down and savour it all.
For me, it was also about reconnection. With the city I’ve moved back to, with my longtime hangout spot, and with a friend whose company made the afternoon even more memorable.
If you’re looking for a TIFF experience beyond the red carpets and premieres, this is it. Afternoon tea at Shangri-La Toronto is always a performance in itself, but this one deserves a standing ovation.
✨ TIFF50 Afternoon Tea runs until September 28, 2025 at Shangri-La Toronto.
