TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

For a Christmas present I took my spouse to the Eldorado for high tea. We were were eager with the anticipation of this memorable experience. We were feeling positive that high tea would be well done as the Eldorado Arms had a high class reputation. The parking was good. The staff was friendly and helpful. The service was cheerful and attentive. The lavatory was clean and well appointed. The room we taken to for tea was flooded with natural light. The tables had clean cloth linens and napkins artfully folded. The reservation was made a few weeks ahead time. A week before, we travelled to the destination to confirm our reservation and to prepay for our tea, which they told us it was unnecessary and reassured us that they would keep our reservation. Then, the day before, the Eldorado staff contacted us. They said that they only had the "type of high tea" for one person. So we again reminded them that two of us would be there and we both wanted the regular tea. Upon arrival, the hostess at the front desk stated that she could not find a reservation for us under our name nor phone number. Eventually she found it. She said it had been cancelled, but ironically our tea order had been placed. This was not a positive first impression. The general atmosphere was more eclectic than sophisticated. We noticed that the tables and chairs were a poor match due to the chairs being low and the tables high causing one to have to raise their arms uncomfortably high. Our next impression was that the "china" didn't match. Every single piece was different. We believe it was purchased at a thrift store as one of the tea pots was obviously not for an English tea, but for a Chinese tea with the handle poking straight out from the side. The spout on the tea pot had a chip in it the size of my thumbnail and there was the remnants of a thrift store tag on the outside of it. Even the three tier afternoon tea stand was poor quality. It was wobbling and leaning at such a steep angle to one side that it was comical. When mentioned to our server, she said that they were ALL like that. Why didn't someone tighten the nut on the bottom? We tried four different types of tea. We found that only the jasmine tea had any flavour. We wondered if perhaps there wasn't enough loose tea put into the filters. I couldn't taste any bergamot in the Earl Grey at all. Another one of the teas tasted only like hot water no matter how long it steeped. Having had high teas in the past, including in England, we know what to expect with a high tea. The scones should be hot out of the oven, about three inches across, and plain. They should be accompanied with generous amounts of clotted cream and strawberry jam. In this case, someone seemed to want to "fancy up" the scones by making some of them savoury and some with blueberries. They were small (about 1.5" across) and cold like they just came out of the refrigerator. The serving of "clotted cream" wasn't enough for one person, let alone two, as was the jam. The "clotted cream" was not clotted cream. They didn't bring any strawberry jam, until we asked, and then it had rhubarb in it. Good God! The rest of the food was satisfactory, but not remarkable. Wouldn't it be prudent for the manager to go to some reputable places for high tea so that they know how to properly provide a high tea experience? It felt like they were flying by the seat of their pants, doing it on the cheap, and trying to reinvent the classic and classy high tea into something garish. Would we recommend high tea at the Eldorado? Certainly not. Would we return as guests to the Eldorado? Not likely. Did we think it was worth over $100 with tax for tea for two at the Eldorado? Not a chance. We were unable to attach photos of the chipped tea pot, the thrift store price tag on the tea pot, the leaning three tier afternoon tea stand, nor the mismatched thrift shop china. We will email the photos to the manger for his/her review.

Baguette on charcuterie board had mold. Food was very expensive. We were not advised of prices and we ordered beef wellington. It was $77 per plate.

We booked a 1 night stay as a stopover from flying into Kelowna for a wedding a few days later in Penticton. Our original plan was to leave early to get some hiking in at our next destination. We were upgraded to a suite overlooking the water. Don’t know why but lucky us. The suite and view were so beautiful and comfortable that we decided to stay until the very last minute checkout at 11 am. Reading some of the other comments our experience was 5 star from check in to leaving. Helpful personable staff including suggestion where we could buy cut flowers to bring with us for friends we were seeing that evening. Suite was spotless. Very comfortable bed. Plush towels. Nespresso in kitchen. We will be staying there again for 1 night after the wedding weekend. Hopefully it will be the same experience with the room we have booked. Then again we might get lucky and be upgraded.

Well this place is fabulous. The location is magical. Dinner was great. An experience. But,check in staff really did not know what they were doing. Indicative of a number of young inexperienced staff members. The bathroom was not that clean and upon complaining, I had a parking charge of $15 taken off the bill. That is not what should happen, management need to take charge and really ensure the guests feel cherished when something is wrong . Whilst i am being negative the staff member greeting guests at breakfast should of been taken off her duties. Sullen, miserable, frankly rude. The hotel was saved by the lovely girl who served breakfast, the wonderful senior waiter,Vincent ? and a very nice manager who I spoke to during the evening. Personally, I think the bedrooms are dated and need a refresh. But, it was a wonderful evening, food was great and the location to die for. In the morning a young staff member helped us find out how to open the fuel cap on the rental, he was a star. We stayed here as family had stayed years before and loved it. We will talk about the wonderful experience we had for a long time. Just sort out the small details please. We would love to return.

I came to Eldorado for a wedding , the staff were great and the food/restaurant and views were decent, the Maintenance of the place definitely needs work on the inside of the rooms and the pools also. Renting kayaks was the highlight of our stay.