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Murchie's Tea & Coffee
Categories: Food Desserts Food Coffee & Tea Restaurants Cafes Desserts, Coffee & Tea, Cafes
1110 Government StVictoria, BC V8W 1Y2
(250) 383-3112
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 7:30 am - 6 pm
Sun 9 am - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
29 reviews for Murchie's Tea & Coffee
Review Highlights
"A coffee and tea house with amazing pastries."
(in 8 reviews)
"I especially like the currant scone and the tarts."
(in 1 review)
"Great place to pick up tea if you are a visitor."
(in 4 reviews)
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29 reviews in English
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Review from Martina M.
Vancouver, BC
10/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Murchie's is an amazing place to buy tea! I came here with my fiance and they have so many different tea's to choose from. The tea's are sold either loose or in bags. For $4.25, you can get 10 tea bags of one of their specialty tea's, which is reasonably priced in my opinion. Why drink a boring grocery store tea when you can drink something amazing? You can smell all of the tea's near the back of the store, or at the retail counter. You can also purchase a lot of tea accessories here, including travel mugs, tea cups, and anything else you could think of.
I didn't try anything on the cafe side, but the desserts looked great! I ended up going home with some lemon spice, library blend, and coconut cream banana tea. If I'm in Victoria again, I'll definitely stop by Murchie's and buy some more tea. -
Review from Jean-marc L.
Victoria, BC
1/8/2012
Great place for sandwiches and desserts. I had their Barcelona sandwich and a Apple strudel with a small Mocha for just under $15. Not bad.. The food was amazing, the mocha was nothing to brag about, but it was average to lots of other coffee shops around. For a Sunday afternoon it was not hugely busy, but there was a lineup. Quick service though and with a smile too. I'd recomment coming to this place for a quick lunch if you're visiting downtown Victoria for sure!
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Review from Jas B.
Calgary, AB
12/23/2011
I absolutely loved this place! They have these amazing silver trays and great tea sets, it reminded me of those cute tea sets that children play tea with and made me feel like I was in a British setting. I had a pistachio cake with a Victoria fog (lavender tea with vanilla syrup). Both of which were fabulous and I cannot stop wanting to get some more.
Do make sure to order two things, so you can get one of the nifty trays. It's a really delightful place. -
Review from Steve S.
11/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Popular tea and coffee bar with plenty of food, deserts and beverage options. Has a very British feel to it, including serving 'for here' orders on a silver tray. My wife and I had coffee and tea waiting for the Clipper to depart and it was a pretty relaxing experience. I probably wouldn't walk out of my way to get here but it was worth the little stop over.
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Review from Sunny R.
7/20/2011
Had a great sandwich, wanted the cheese substituted, they said no. Ordered a scone, and tiramisu, everything was very delicious even though they grilled the sandwich and it was quite cold inside...
May go back and try their coffee. We'll see. -
Review from Larry L.
3/19/2011 7 photos
Murchies building
Great location.
Lovely ambiance
Wonderful staff
Delightful cakes and pastries
Classy, Elegance,Ambiance
Tea rooms
Tasteful
Experience, you must when in Victoria. -
Review from Jenna L.
1/5/2011
Murchie's Victoria, I want to give you thousands stars!
I always come to Murchie's when I am in Victoria. It is a wonderful place, where the yummy desserts are in house made, coffees/teas are deliciousl, and there are so many to explore!
The price is so affordable, each dessert under $4. That is unheard of in Vancouver. I wish we have this store in Van, as the one in Vancouver is nowhere as good as this one.
I went around boxing day so bought christmas plates/servicing dishes at 50% off. I absolutely adore this place! -
Review from Meghan K.
10/29/2010
When I am in Victoria I always have to make the pilgrimage to Murchie's. It's both a tea shop and cafe, and if I lived in Victoria I'd lunch here too much for my own good.
I love tea and this is one of the few places I buy it. The retail store has a wide variety of common and not-so-common tea and accessories. Last time I was here I got Golden Jubilee tea. What is that, you ask? Oh well, it's the very tea the queen served at her Golden Jubilee. Fancy schmancy, and reasonably priced to boot. They offer most of their teas in bulk or in boxes, loose or bagged. Any way you want it.
As for the cafe part, they serve their delicious teas here as well. The sandwiches and other fare are pretty solid, but the dessert case is where it's at. Heaven. During the nicer weather it's wonderful to dine in the outdoor seating area. Yum!Listed in: Visiting Victoria
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Review from Jon L.
If paying top dollar for an afternoon at the Fairmont Empress is not your cup of tea, I suggest trying Murchie's, a company that has been in business since 1894 though 90 years less in this actual location. Here you will find a retail store offering assorted teas, coffees and assorted accessories. And a cafe in which the tea and coffee plays a big part.
It is an unusual spot. The retail space takes up the left half, while the cafe takes up the right side. Though the actual dining areas are split into several rooms. Well, they call it tea salons here. How fancy.
The counter in front is where the food comes from. They have display cases of pastries, desserts and lunch items here. And of course a selection of teas and coffee. What was different is that they serve tea by the pot. Many types of tea to choose from and the pot of tea is reasonably priced. I believe it is $2 a pot which is good for 2 or 3 full cups.
To get the full English breakfast effect, I got a couple pastries to go with my pot of Prince Charles tea. I got a currant scone which came with cream and jelly, along with a cinnamon danish.
The scone is of the classical traditional type which I like. Some of the modern scones of today are sugary duds that are greatly different from the original style. The cream and jelly made a difference with this. As for the cinnamon danish, it was sticky and sweet. It actually looks more like a cross between a cinnamon roll and the texture of a croissant. Not bad.
As for the tea, it was good not great. I noticed they use teabags which is a little disappointing. Loose leaf is definitely the way to go. In any case, you need to let the tea seep for a few minutes so that the flavors become more potent.
If you are not looking for haute tea at the Empress, but want to enjoy some tea time in Victoria, Murchie's is a very capable alternative that does not break the wallet. Oh and a big plus is that they have wi-fi. Though you need to ask for the code. -
Review from Mark H.
Victoria, BC
2/22/2011
I've been to Murchies quite a few times now as I work downtown.
Murchies food is great. While not spectacular like some of the other gourmet offerings downtown, it is one of the only places you can get such a great sandwich so quickly for such a reasonable price.
They also have an amazing selection of teas.
Recommended for a quick lunch or afternoon tea.
Only downside: their desserts just don't have that "homemade" taste. They are good, but they taste more like they came from a factory somewhere. After trying a few of them I think I am going to have to pass from now on. -
Review from Tina H.
7/23/2010
Super friendly service in the retail section. The tea served at the cafe failed to impress me and I ordered one of the popular black blends.
The butter croissant was great though! They also had a full few deli counters full of lunch food and baked goods. I would definitely return for that.
I wouldn't come back here for the tea, not at the cafe anyhow, though I might buy some to take home another time if I'm ever in Victoria again, though I'd be reluctant to as I didn't really enjoy the one at the cafe. -
Review from Tim S.
8/17/2010
Don't come here for coffee or atmosphere, but consider picking up some of the beautiful pastries.
I ordered an iced americano. As the girls behind the counter were making it, one commented on the espresso's crema, calling it "a perfect shot." I'll admit my expectations improved for a minute, but then I took a sip: tarry, acrid, burnt. Easily the worst espresso I've had in recent memory.
Murchie's was deadly quiet on a Saturday afternoon and the tables and chairs thrown into nooks and crannies of the hallway that make up the cafe space weren't too inviting. I left a moment or two later, discreetly discarded the still-brimming cup into a garbage can outside that wasn't visible from the shop (we wouldn't want to be *rude*), and walked into Caffe Artigiano next door and ordered the same thing. I wanted to be fair to Murchie's, and it was possible that my taste buds had just gone on strike. Nope: Artigiano's brew wasn't top-form, either, but it definitely had flavors other than "ashes of Dick Cheney's withered soul."
But! There were some amazing looking feats of tartery in the bakery case and had I been a bit hungrier I might have better things to say about Murchie's. I'd for sure take people there for an afternoon teatime snack. Go in prepared to pick up a fork and not a straw. -
Review from Irena L.
4/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
We went to Victoria for a weekend , and on Saturday morning I wanted a small breakfast and a nice latte. I was really really excited to see that Victoria has Artigiano! I heart Artigiano! But once we entered Artigiano, we saw a very very small selection of food items, and a completely different atmosphere than in Vancouver locations. Well all that is not important as good coffee is, but my friend suggested to visit Murchie's which is right next to Artigiano! Oh well, I didn't want to be disappointed by coffee in Artigiano (god forbid), so we went next doors.
I was pleasantly surprised! I had yogurt with granola and a latte; and my friend had a danish,croissant and cup of mocha. We were both very satisfied. I really liked my latte, coffee is really nice and strong and not milked down! He enjoyed his pastries and mocha. They has lovely desserts, but we were not in the mood; but will definitely try them next time! I also want to try their teas, they should be great!
I ended up buying a lovely teapot in their store that is right next doors.
Definitely check it out! -
Review from Wil H.
7/9/2010 9 photos
The greatest tea store on the planet! Came to Victoria with my mom, sisters, niece, and nephews to catch the sites and made our way here to pick up some awesome tea. Their selection is huge, they have boxed sets, as well as loose leaf you can buy. I bought some Earl Grey and some Black Currant tea, both pretty good.
We decided to have lunch in their cafe which takes up half of their store, but is pretty nice by itself. I had the ham and swiss cheese croissant and an eclair, both were pretty tasty but the eclair was awesome! Others had quiche and bruschetta, which were said to be fairly good. Definitely a recommended spot for a visiting out of towner... -
Review from Shirley Y.
5/26/2009 1 photo
Yum-O!
There are about 5 coffee places on the main strand of Victoria and Murchie's looked the most appealing. I mean, any coffee joint that ALSO carries a case full of pastries has my vote.
Scones were the best! I'd rank them right there with scones from the Empress.
Now, that's gotta be an honor, right? -
Review from Rami B.
6/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great pastries are an added bonus with an awesome selection of teas. Bummer - they've discontinued the tea service.
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Review from vanessa G.
Vancouver, BC
12/27/2010
This feels like most real tea house out of all the Murchies i have been too. The pastries are to die for and are simply evil. I wouldn't have come in here except for my friends raving about the food. So if your looking for a treat definitely go here, you won't be disappointed.
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Review from Ken L.
9/3/2010
A relaxing, airy space to sit and have coffee, tea or a sandwich for lunch and watch the people and traffic go by.
Ciabatta with ham and mayo very palatable and a tempting selection of cakes and pastries - their black forest dessert hit the spot nicely. -
Review from Chris T.
9/8/2008 1 photo
Had afternoon tea here. It was my first formal tea service. But the little sandwiches and scones were great and the tea was first rate.
The tea afficianado with whom I was there said it was excellent too. The best part is I believe it was around half the price of the tea Service at the Hotel. -
Review from Naoko S.
9/9/2008
Got some small packages of tea bags here to bring home for my friends.
Cute place. Definitely visit with the Murchie's cafe. -
Review from Sara W.
Victoria, BC
6/18/2009
Hmm. I think Murchie's might be going downhill a bit lately. I used to go there quite frequently, but I haven't been as impressed the last few times I stopped in there for lunch.
The good: Their sandwiches are good, and the deserts range from acceptably tasty to excellent. The loose-leaf teas that they sell in the shop section tend to be very high quality. I'm also a big fan of the way they serve the tea/food on ornate silver trays.
The bad: The ambiance is kind of "blah". They could do so much to make this a really nice place to come for lunch or a casual afternoon tea, and it has the rare potential to appeal to both tourists and locals alike, but they really fall short here. The restaurant section feels cramped, poorly laid out, and kind of "tired" (and what's with the unused, tropical-motif-decorated room in the back?), while the shop section feels overdone and cloying, with too many overpriced souvenir and gift packs and not enough emphasis on the tea itself. Additionally, it bothers me that they use tea bags and not loose-leaf tea when you order a pot of tea -- there's a significant, very noticeable quality difference! Their lattes, mochas, and the like are okay at best, and while the food does tend to be good it's also not exactly cheap. -
Review from Tara S.
3/30/2009
Fairly priced; friendly atmosphere; good teas; great mocha this morning! I love the high ceilings and little tables.
I do wonder about the business hours: closing at 6? Still, great place to chill in the afternoon, or wake up in the morning: great little breakfast scones answer all my protein needs! -
Review from Radhika M.
Victoria, BC
4/2/2010
The staff are always really helpful, but the different choices in teas can be a bit overwhelming at first.
I haven't had the pleasure of trying any of the savory goods yet, but the desserts are delicious. I especially like the currant scone and the tarts.
I know that one of the posts stated that they did not provide any spoons, but they have that option now with the stir sticks being left for those who are taking their beverage to go. The seating area has also been opened up but it seems that it is such a popular spot that sometimes it can be hard to find a table. -
Review from Paul H.
Victoria, BC
A coffee and tea house with amazing pastries!
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Review from Srta l.
11/17/2010
Great deli food and coffee. Also purchased on coco flavor tea, and Semiramis. Great place.
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Review from Kiran C.
10/2/2009
Great place to pick up tea if you are a visitor. Good prices and a great dessert/sandwhich cafe attached. The desserts and sandwhiches are great to pick up if you just want to go outside and enjoy the outdoos. Having tea here is also quiet nice and they give you a nice teapot the way it should always be :)
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Review from Jill H.
5/31/2010
Since everyone was raving about Murchie's, I felt obliged to try it. I arrived around 3:30 or 4 pm and to my disappointment, almost all the food was gone... So if you're going there, I'd get there early.
As for tea - I had a chai - which was good, but not the greatest. I did enjoy how it comes on a silver tray. It added some charm to a self-serve counter experience. My dessert was tasty, too.
The adjoining shop was cute and would be good for picking up gifts if you were taking back trinkets from Victoria to friends. -
Review from G.A. M.
1/24/2009
Murchie's is the absolute best! I ALWAYS take at least 6 large boxes of tea back home with me. (Autumn Chai is my favorite) Being a tea lover I thought I had sampled some of the best but Murchie's has corrected that assumption I'm happy to say. The variety and quality are superb. We visit BC regularly and Murchie's has become an old friend not to mention my first stop.The staff is always so helpful and kind.
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Review from Melissa L.
Calgary, AB
12/21/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I stopped by Murchie's today to pick up some tea for a friend back in Calgary. Hearing I was coming to Victoria (her old hometown), Murchie's Empress Blend tea was all she wanted! Imagine my surprise when I showed up at their store, a few days before Christmas, only to find nothing resembling Empress Blend tea on their shelves. Relax! It turns out Empress Blend has now been rebranded as Murchie's Afternoon Blend (maybe they had a falling out with the tea's namesake hotel?). It would have been nice to have some signage explaining the change, but the staff were very helpful and showed me exactly where to get the Afternoon Blend. As far as retail teas go, Murchie's are priced at the high end ($15 for fifty bags of Afternoon Blend; I also picked up a sample pack of green teas for myself at $16 for forty bags), but that being said they are high quality (and make excellent, tasteful souvenirs). Murchie's also has a wide selection of coffees, as well as a cafe serving beverages along with a wide assortment of sweet and savory treats. If you've got kids it's worth popping into Murchie's even if you're not going to buy anything... in the front entrance you'll find The Tea Grannies, an antique anamatronic trio of grandmothers. Hit the red button and watch them enjoy traditional afternoon tea!
