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The Urban Tea Merchant
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 10 am - 7 pm
Thu-Sun 10 am - 8 pm
- Price Range:
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$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
Gelato & dairy free sorbetto made daily in artisan batches from scratch. Ranked #1 with food bloggers & called a "Gelato worshippers Temple." We change… read more »
59 reviews for The Urban Tea Merchant
Review Highlights
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"The finger sandwiches were especially delicious." In 4 reviews -
"Next was the platter of open sandwiches and macaroons." In 8 reviews -
"...to bring a girlfriend or your mom for afternoon tea service." In 4 reviews
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59 reviews in English
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Review from Alex D.
Burnaby, BC
5/15/2012
The only proper tea place in Canada.
Pastry is good, macarons are brilliant, and sandwiches remind you of Fortnum and Mason sandwiches. Interestingly enough I expect to walk out to London after the tea experience.
Brilliant staff, friendly and professional.
And of course tea is amazing there. -
Review from Rick C.
I dropped by The Urban Tea Merchants's downtown shop and cafe for high tea with a twist. TUTM prides itself on its exclusive use of 200+ varieties of TWG Tea. The smells reverberated all over as their attention to detail and quality were clear.
For the west coast tea service, I sampled the miso-maple glazed sablefish wrapped in butter lettuce, open-faced chicken squares, smoked salmon with wasabi aioli, all very tasty.
TUTM launched a line of tea infused cocktails to appeal to the burgeoning youth tea crowd and professionals in the area.
I tried the refreshing Moroccan mint mojito (full of mint tea) and match sour (a lime and matcha infused bourbon sour). I was enamoured with the smooth blend of whiskey, egg white, and matcha tea.
Keeping with full tea culture, the scrumptious macarons are also tea infused with all the flavours of the rainbow.
Afternoon tea service with a cocktail twist was delightful and fully pleasurable as I soaked up the fine ambience and service, embracing tea culture at its finest west coast style. -
Review from Stephanie W.
Vancouver, BC
5/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Sigh. I love and hate this place. It is one of my favourites for high tea in town, but I actually... like the idea of high tea more than I actually like high tea. So that's the disclaimer that colours this review! It makes me slightly uncomfortable how high-class it is and I feel like my (slightly) bellowing pedestrian laughter has no place here. Having said that, here's a review based on my most recent visit...
Atmosphere: the moment you step in, everything is clearly very high end and very classy. The store front walls are lined with giant tins of tea as well as tea paraphenalia. I love that it feels like an old fashioned tea shop - the decor is warm and ornate without feeling cluttered.
Service: Impeccable. Our server was incredibly knowledgeable, both about the menu and the teas. Gave excellent recommendations based on some fairly specific requests. When serving, she took the care to look at our service and noticed it was missing something, which I appreciated. Also, one person in our party ordered a different service that didn't include a flute of iced tea, and she brought an extra one complimentary so she could partake in our celebration! I was very very impressed with the service here.
Tea: delicious, and such a wonderful selection.
Food: delicious, I had the sakura tea service and it was absolutely lovely. They paired the flavours together very well! I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to someone for their first time (first time really should be a classic service), but it is very yummy.
All in all, a five star experience. Food and tea is delicious and as good as anywhere else, but I feel like where this place really stands out for me (compared to other high tea spots) is in the decor of their storefront and in their service. -
Review from Ying Ying L.
Vancouver, BC
5/19/2012
This is a hidden oasis in the city, offering a very elegant atmosphere for high tea. The amount of teas available is unbelieveable and it is a fantastic place to relax. Will definitely be going back with friends, clients and on my own.
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Review from Mandy N.
Vancouver, BC
5/3/2012
Came here once last year and the place was decent. They definitely do have a lot of tea variety (my favorite).
I went there to look around to see what teas they offer and i was there for their afternoon tea with some girl friends.
I had their christmas special at the time in terms of their high tea menu and i had their birthday tea. I'm a big fan of black tea with vanilla. This one definitely hit my tongue to try it out even though it wasn't my birthday at the time.
I felt it was well worth my time and money to try it out. but not something i would do everyone as it does get pricey. -
Review from Herman E.
3/6/2012
Review is for the macarons only. These were the most expensive ones I've come across. $4 each.
Were they worth it? Hard to judge honestly. I think it comes down to what you like and what you're looking for. Each macaron place in Vancouver has it's own merits and it's hard to say which one is better than the other.
I will say that these were the least "chewy" of the bunch that I've tried and likely the softest , and creamiest in terms of texture. The outside did not have much of a crunch. They were tasty to say the least. -
Review from Sarah O.
1/26/2012
Sometimes I put on a frou frou outfit and go for high tea. Who's going to stop me?
I've been to several high tea around town and been to Urban Tea Merchant 4 of those times. The first experience was quite good, the food was very fresh and the tea was lovely, but the quality seemed to keep going down. The last time I was there, the finger sandwich bread was stale, they didn't offer to bring the tea to our table to smell, and eventually I realized the lack of variety in their menu.
Going for afternoon tea is not cheap. I usually drop close to $120 every time I go (for 2 -3 people). I think next time, I will stick to just a cup of tea because they are quite delicious and it smells amazing as well. Despite all this, I still think it's the best place in Vancouver for high tea compared to other places and it's a nice treat once in awhile. -
Review from psylocke r.
Langley, BC
2/10/2012
There seems to be a whack of tea shops popping up in Vancouver. Many are offering the new hip snack, macarons. Have you heard they're the new cupcake? The minute we walked into the Urban Tea Merchant, we felt we were someplace special. The decor is beautiful, and the spa themed music immediately melts away any of your cares.
I haven't been for high tea since I was a child, when my great aunt took me to the Empress hotel in Victoria. Nowadays, the mini sandwiches are a definite no-no for this gluten avoider, for obvious reasons. But, thanks to the UTM, you can indulge too! Any of their tea services can be prepared gluten free. We decided on the petit tea service. It includes a pot of tea of your choice,(the list is the most extensive I've seen), sandwiches on Udi's bread, a bagel with butter and jam, and desserts like fresh fruit and macarons. Now, I have to say, I'm not too excited about sandwiches these days. They're just not the same.
However, the Urban Tea Merchant has done the gfree sandwich right! They offered cucumber, egg salad, smoked salmon, and chicken salad sandwiches. Each of them had a nice flavour, texture, and even a bit of curry mixed in to the egg salad which made a nice treat. The bagel was delicious, and the fruit oh so fresh.
Now, on to the macarons. They are my new fascination. Most are gluten free, as they are made with ground almonds or almond flour. These were the best that I've tried. Not too sweet, and the perfect amount of flavour. Mine included some flavoured tea in the filling. Speaking of filling, man was I full! Do not hesitate to try out a high tea here, but definitely make it a lunchtime meal! Its a wonderful place to get away for the afternoon! See http://www.urbantea.com to reserve your gluten free high tea in advance! -
Review from Kenneth E.
Vancouver, BC
2/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
And I didn't even order anything! As soon as you walk in here, it's high-class all-around.
It's all high-end tea, in boxes, in tins, in almost anything. Even drapes, napkins, books, an entire counter devoted to tea, and also there were individual square chocolates, but what i was here for, was simply, macarons.
And they were all sold out, til Thursday or friday?! Must be that good.
Apparently, I asked the guy what was the difference w/ the Thierry's macarons that I had in my hand, and he said theirs were tea-infused, and chocolate-based, as opposed to butter cream.
Glad to hear it's a bit more healthier ;)
But their tea room did look elegant, just not my cup of tea on a sunday evening...no pun intended ;) -
Review from Tiffany C.
3/15/2012 1 photo
LOVED this place. Great selection of teas...so many choices that it can be a bit overwhelming. The staff is quite knowledgeable to that helps. I got the New York breakfast tea which had a great black tea flavor with a hint of chocolate. Also got the petite services, which came with sweet, sandwiches, and a scone. The sweets had a selection of fruit slices, chocolate covered strawberry, and a macaroon. The scone was accompanied with devonshire cream and jam, the cream is delicious. The sandwiches include a chicken salad cone, smoked salmon, egg salad, and cucumber. Delicious!
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Review from Holly K.
My husband got me hooked on tea. We were excited to see this place when we were walking around downtown Vancouver. We went back the next morning for tea. I ordered the Sangria and he got the Jasmine tea. We sat outside and service could not have been better. They continuously came outside to check on us and refill the Jasmine tea. They were a little confused about the refill policy and what was and was not going to be refilled, as far as the hot tea.
They are on the expensive side, but well worth a trip for tea and nice conversation. We did say the next time we get back to Vancouver, we'd head in there and maybe try the High Tea service. They do have a yelp check in special for that. -
Review from Wendy Y.
10/14/2011
If you like tea, sweets, exotic home décor, lifestyle accessories or all of the above (with cash to burn), this is the place for you.
This chic West-meets-East fusion tea house on West Georgia Street is divided into two sections where merchandises and dining area are kept separated. The layout is thoughtfully designed to minimize noise/food odor contamination. When you talk into the store, you could barely notice there is a dining area/kitchen at the back. When you dine at the back, you can barely hear what is going on at the store front. Now let's talk about the store front.
When I walk into the store I feel as if I just entered a spa boutique. The store front uses a lot of wood, stones, bamboo, and earthy/neutral colors accented by colorful merchandises such as stationery, table clothes/towels, cushions, candles, and toiletry just to name a few. The big windows from floor to ceiling allow natural sun light to brighten the room - very inviting. The mix of soft jazz tune and the fragrance of toilette, soaps, and shower gels are delightful and relaxing. On the right-hand side of the store you will find a wall full of urn-like tea containers.
In the centre of the store you will find macaroons priced as $3.95 each. They are the most expensive macaroons I've seen so far in Vancouver. Apparently, they are hand-made and flown from Singapore. I question the freshness of these sinful indulgences. Next to the macaroons you can find Charbonnel et Walker truffles priced at $2.25 each. These tiny balls of chocolate cost an arm and a leg for a good reason. After all, this chocolate manufacturer holds a prestigious royal warrant for the (current) Queen of England.
Given the presentation of the store front you'd expect the food to be equally exceptional. Unfortunately the food was disappointing. I had afternoon tea there about a year ago and the sandwiches and sweets were ordinary. The tea tasted like scented water. To make sure I wasn't the only one whose tea tasted like scented water, I sampled 5 other teas from my fellow colleagues and yes, they all tasted pretty much the same. I did not see value as the price was unjustifiable. I would, however, give this place another benefit of a doubt. After all, it has been a year since I last dined there.
Even though I didn't enjoy my food and tea, I still do visit the store front from time to time to check out the merchandises. The home decor and accessories are pretty to look at (but they are not functional enough to entice me to spend). This is one of these boutique stores that you'd check out if you are in the neck of the woods but would never want to purposely visit and spend.Listed in: Baked Goods/Sweets
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Review from Nancy W.
The Urban Tea Merchant specializes in the experience of fine luxury tea enjoyment. The flagship store is located in downtown Vancouver on Alberni Street. Retail store front and restaurant retreat in the back. Amongst the busy streets of Vancouver, you will be able to find a little R&R.
Aside from water, tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world. Fine tea is considered a luxury commodity and incorporates not only ancient traditions; but the Art of Tea requires fine tea leaves and resplendent utensils for experience the dynamics full.
Cuisine: Afternoon Tea
Price/Entrée: $5-10 (dim sum)
Out of 5... (1: Don't bother -- : Excellent)
Food: 3.5
Service: 4.0
Ambiance: 4.0
Overall: 4.0
To be specific tea, is not tea unless it comes from the leaves and leaf buds of the Camellia Sinensis plant ( Cháhu). Different types of tea, be it white, black, green, oolong, pu-erh are processed different to attain different variations of oxidation. Kukicha ( / bōcha) is a Japanese blend made of twigs and steams instead of leaves.
You will recognize this commonly as Sencha or Matcha, a green tea with more oxidized processing - slightly nutty and creamy flavour. Then there herbal teas such as chamomile, rooibos, etc. which refers to infusion of fruit or herbs made without the tea plant. But generally, in layman's terms, we categorize these all as "teas". That is why it is so important have a Certified Tea Sommelier to guide you.
The Urban Tea Merchant offers Tea Education Series and Tea Tasting Experiences to take your palate on a journey. As of September 2011, The Urban Tea Merchant has been an exclusive distribution partner with TWG of Canada where tea enthusiasts can discover a fine array of TWG tea and merchandise.
The Urban Tea Merchant offers a unique take on tea infused afternoon tea sets compare to the traditional Parisian version found at Faubourg French Patisserie (click)
Back of the storefront retail salon, is a private nook where you can enjoy a variety of afternoon teas.
Signature Afternoon Tea $48/person or Petite Afternoon Tea $25/person.
During the festive seasons, such as Christmas, The Urban Tea Merchant joins the festivities with their Signature Holiday Afternoon Tea Service $48/person and this is exactly what we decided to try today.
A full selection of tasty holiday savouries and sweets plus receive a gift of 50g selected Holiday TWG Teas - Red Christmas (rooibos), Christmas Lights (green) or Holiday Spirit (black).
We began our journey while sampling Christmas Lights: A light green tea with very complex flavours of almond, marzipan and spices. Festive Night: A light green tea smooth with citrus, cherry and spice. Red Christmas: A bold red rooibos with holiday winter spice. Holiday Spirit: a bold black tea with spicy apple notes.
The teas are extremely enjoyable especially when paired with tasty savouries and sweets snacks.
The Signature Holiday Afternoon Tea set comes on a 3 tiered tray:
Bottom - delicious savory sandwiches, pickles, olives, and gorgonzola cheese.
Middle - delightful scones and tarts
Top - appealing sweets, chocolates and macarons
Savoury Tea Sandwiches
Smoked Salmon Rillette
Rich flavourful salmon pate with mixed herbs and veggies. Since the flavours are quite strong, I suggest eating this after the Egg Salad and Prawn sandwich.
Tiger Hill (Nilgiri) Tea-infused egg salad
Egg salad with alfalfa sprouts sandwiches just got more luxurious with tea. Tiger Hill is a black tea with smooth brisk infusion and is lightly fragrant with fruity overtones; perfectly pair so it does not overpower the delicate egg flavours. The taste is very subtle and can be easily missed. Slow down when consuming.
Baby Prawn Sandwich
Poached with "Russian Earl Grey" Tea apple & baby prawns infused with Tokyo-Singapore tea.
The texture of crispy apples contrasts well with baby prawns. It is light, refreshing and slightly sweet. Russian Early Grey sends of notes of citrus peels and lemongrass in addition to the traditional bergamot flavours. Tokyo-Singapore is a green tea high with citrus fruits, fragrant flowers and leaves an appealing aftertaste.
Yunnan Tea-infused chestnuts with roasted venison
To match the texture of venison, this sandwich is served on denser bread. Venison is tender, moist and well-seasoned. Yunnan tea infused chestnut pate boasts a sensual aroma noble Chinese black tea and hints fruit notes. Chestnuts bites added to the earthiness.
Pickles, olives and celery confit gorgonzola mousse are served to cleanse your palate. I find the gorgonzola cheese a little too pungent.
Moving up to the middle tier...
The middle tier consists of scones served with whipped Devonshire cream & strawberry jam.
The scones have a crunchy outer shell and a soft, buttery and moist center.
Vanilla tea infused white turnip tatin. -
Review from Patricia L.
Vancouver, BC
Very impressed with their high tea service. They do it right and they do it well. You can go high-end ($48/person) or you can treat yourself on a smaller scale for as little as $24/person.
Finger sandwiches were up to par and their sweets were wonderful. Truffles and their tea infused Macarons - absolutely nothing to complain about here!
They also had all sorts of tea sample offerings - we got complimentary cold tea and sample hot tea offerings. Their service was also exemplary. Not only will I be back, but I'd bring all my lovely lady friends for some quality treats and quality time. For the reasonable prices and the quality and quantity of what you can get here, this is my new favorite go-to place for high tea.Listed in: I HEART Food!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/29/2011
"The macaron was born in Venice, Italy from whence it voyaged with Catherine de Medicis on the… Read more »
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Review from Betty T.
11/25/2011
Best high-tea place in North America. In terms of ambiance and presentation, this high tea place is in a contemporary French style... So there's none of that stuffy grandma style old English feeling. Or a bunch scones and muffins.
There are macarons and a huge variety of small bite sized French pastry. And the savory foods are good too!! Not too filling. The walnut blue cheese served on a baby lettuce is yummy!!! Who knew these flavors would complement each other so perfectly?! Oh, did I mention that you start off your meal with fresh sorbet?! Yum yum :)
By the way, you can ask for specific pastries instead of a random assortment. I always substitute the bonbons for extra macarons! -
Review from Amy T.
11/2/2011 1 photo
I've only tried their truffle chocolates so I cannot comment on any other food. The chocolate was good, but not the best and not worth $2.50 a piece in my opinion.
The store itself is adorable and I enjoyed browsing around during my lunch hour. I'll pick up some tea next time and see if the standard meets the price tag. -
Review from Jacqueline T.
8/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Hmmm I would give this place a 3 for food.. but a 5 for tea. So I met the happy middle of 4 star.
Its a great place for hightea virgins when you dont' want to pay that extra shiny penny for. And the downtown location is super friendly and accessible. Parking on the other hand is street.. and you'll be paying $4 an hour for street parking.. doot doot doo..
Ok.. back to food. I recommend trying their sample of petite afternoon tea. Its their sample of a lot of their savories and desserts. Comes out in invidual mini three tier platter. Very nicely layed out. Savories = ok, scones = meh.. was kinda dissappointed, dessert = hmmm quality isn't there. Their macaroons was their biggest let down :( They are those.. looks better than they taste macaroons.
Tea = delicious, delicious, delicious!
Reminder: your pot of tea isn't the refillable kind, as they steep your tea before hand. This allows the tea to sit and keep warm without over brewing the flavor. Each cup is as delicous as the first. Its actually one of the first tea places.. where the tea flavor really shines out. Really delicous. They also supply you with brown sugar, instead of white sugar.. makes a nice difference :) The only let down is you only get UNO (one) pot.
So overall.. experience was good :D as atmosphere was pretty. Food was filling.. even tho it wasn't up to par, but the delicious tea made up for it! andd.. its at a discount. So far.. the most affordable high tea places I've been to ($25 AFTER tax and tip). Compared to The Secret Garden (5star = $30 before tax and tip), or The Empress in Victoria BC (5star =70 before tax and tip).
Next time: I'd skip the scone and dessert.. and just go for the savories.. and teaaaaaaaaa. More tea? YES PLEASE!Listed in: Coffee & Tea - raise your…
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Review from Isabelle G.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 9/5/2011
As promised, I came back for the high tea. I went over the labor day long weekend as it was the last weekend of the summer before all the kids go back to school and we start losing our warm weather (not that there was much to begin with this year).
I was greeted by the same gentleman whom took my reservation and was seated in an elegant tea room behind the shop. Although I had tea alone with my new Pamela Des Barres book that I had purchased from Bumbershoot the day before, it was a relaxing afternoon with no agenda well spent.
I ordered the savories and tea for 2 as this served as both my breakfast and lunch. Although very $$$ for tea service, I felt that I was well deserved for the celebration. Rarely do I do something for myself since I am always taking care of the best interest of others. I also wanted to live for the moment while I could. It seemed to have been the trend the weekend.
The waitresses were well educated and presented the teas and the savories in a good manner and presentation that made it feel high class.
The savories and pastries were to die for. OMG and the macaroon.....the best I've ever had.
The tea was very strong, however, very good quality.
I was so relaxed with my book that I accidently over stayed my welcome by 3 hours, however, they were sweet enough not to kick me out (they have a 90 minute seating time limit).1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/25/2011
It was weird to see a very upscale tea shop with the service people wearing suits and ties and… Read more »
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Review from Youna C.
Vancouver, BC
My second time in the tea parlor - we ordered the Hanami Imperial, and may I just say it was simply divine! It was a feature tea they were offering; a green tea infused with fragrant cherry blossoms. Amazing - in fact, I loved it so much that I went back today to get a tin of the loose leaf. =)
Ahh, and the macarons!! Or shall we say, ma-cahrr-hon (hehe, trying to say it the true French way). We had one macaron each - I had lemon and my friend had the pistachio. Don't let it's dollar-sizedness fool you - good things come in small packages, and these bebes are meant to be savoured in small bites.They have a tint of coolness, which made for a perfect contrast against the warm green tea.
The Urban Tea Merchant hosts many events throughout the year. For example, last February they featured the Tea and Chocolate Fondue (mmm!!!) Right now, they are hosting the Spring Sakura Festival to welcome Spring and the blooming of cherry blossoms. From March 12 to April 2, they will be featuring Japanese flutists, Harpists, and Cherry Blossom Dancers on select days. Make sure you check out their website for the dates. =)
The staff there really want you to have a memorable experience - they are so warm and friendly, and are more than happy to share their tea knowledge with you. Really makes you appreciate tea as not just a drink, but an art and culture.
This place is such a gem, and an incredible place to experience high tea at its finest. Head there with your romantic lover or a close girlfriend - and be prepared to stay there for hours. -
Review from DineoutGal A.
Winnipeg, MB
7/29/2011 2 photos
I didn't have afternoon tea here but I wanted to. Something about high tea seems so sophisticated. Instead, I opted for the retail store to pick up a gift. I have never been here before and am not a big tea connoisseur so I was a bit lost with the selection (a wall full of teas). The gentleman who was in charge of the tea area was a definite expert in this genre and was very helpful in guiding me to the right tea. He was like a sommelier but for tea...he left me smell the leaves and he would provide his insights to me. It was very overwhelming after sniffing over a dozen teas but I found two different flavours with the help of the sales person. Great service!
on a side note, I think it's hilarious that they sell macaroons for $3.75 a piece....the reason price (which is double what a normal macaroon) is that they are flown in from Singapore on a weekly basis. Not sure why French macaroons made half way across the world would taste any better than from a local French bakery in the city? Especially when those macaroons are delivered frozen. Aren't the carbon footprints pretty crazy for something that frivolous? LOL. -
Review from Rita S.
3/24/2011
MARIE ANTOINETTE IN A KIMONO
A true East-meets-West afternoon tea experience. The dining room is sleek and minimalist. No fussy lace or tea cozies, just dark woods, crisp white table cloths, and shiny silver. Has that clean, sleek Japanese feel to it.
The teas and edibles are all French high-tea. Finger sandwiches, lovely French macarons, all the usual yummies you'd expect. Oh, but the teas! Green, black, smoked, blends, herbals, and flavored. I think I read somewhere they have over 50 varieties. And an totally unexpected touch that elevated this place to the 5th star -- the milk is brought to the stable is steamed! Fantastique! -
Review from Annie W.
6/5/2011 11 photos
Definitely one of the better afternoon tea places I've been to. I've only experienced the afternoon tea menu from this place so this review only captures that (when I was there I realized that they also have a lunch menu).
The food was above average in regards to quality, flavor and texture but nothing special. I tried their Traditional Earl Grey Tea with milk and sugar. When I go to these places, I only order their Earl Grey Tea. This way I can compare tea quality. I was surprised when my milk and sugar arrived though. They frothed my milk and they gave me raw brown sugar. This is definitely different from the usual cold cream and white sugar served at most places (of course you can always request those items. this place includes it though :) )
Service was much quicker and more responsive compared to the service at other afternoon tea restaurants. I was also surprised when the server came by to give us a sample of their newest tea. I also enjoyed browsing through their tea and tea accessory shop.
Overall the experience was good. I will have to go back to try their other items! -
Review from Jenna H.
Vancouver, BC
3/29/2011
What a lovely place to go for lunch with your lady friends! I love the idea for going for tea especially when there is delicious food involved. Instead of going for the full out tea (which I believe is $28 and 2 must participate) my friends and I tried various lunch items and some of the tastiest tea I have ever sipped! I was very excited to get a whole cup of milk froth along with my vanilla bourbon tea. It really took it over the top for me! The baguette with pear and brie was accompanied with a fabulous salad with strawberries and candied walnuts. If I ever have another lunch dream (which does happen because I like eating so much) it would be of this one!
For dessert, which is a must here, I sampled 2 flavors of macaroons. So good! Light, sweet and divine.
I kinda get the impression this is a girly place so I think it would be smart to leave the dudes at home and just have a lady lunch. Plus it will give you good opportunity for girl talk! -
Review from .Nette T.
11/1/2010
High Tea is something that I don't do often in the US. I know that there are several in the Bay Area but it's not something that I can compare to the high tea they have in Hong Kong (Mandarin Oriental Clipper Lounge to be exact).
After spending a day in the rain, we were pretty drenched when we arrived at Urban Tea Merchant. We didn't have a reservation but they were closing in an hour and there were only 3 occupied tables. I wasn't wearing my fancy clothes but they didn't seem to mind (I have to admit, I did feel just a *teeny* bit underdressed). The server led us to the back room - the room was spacious and elegant, with light colored walls with pistachio green accents of their signature tea tins with displays of antique teapots. They even had a cool teapot fountain that was stacked on top of another and provided a calming water feature to the room.
Their selection of tea was impressive, from Assam to specialty teas like the Celebration (black tea with vanilla, cream and chocolate notes). I ordered the Petite Tea Service which came with the Celebration tea and scone with Devon cream and Kundalini, (tea-infused gelee), finger sandwiches (cucumber, salmon and egg salad), raspberry fruit tart, chocolate dipped strawberry and hazelnut macaron. The Devon cream is always good, but I wasn't that impressed with the Kundalini tea infused gelee. The finger sandwiches were especially delicious.
I really enjoyed our leisurely tea time at Urban Tea Merchant. I'm so glad that we were able to relax and take in the events from the day. The next time I go I'll be sure to check out all the different types of teas, macarons, home decor, candles, linen and photography in the front room. I'll have to wait a few years again to get my dim sum and high tea fix in Vancouver.Listed in: Vancouver
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Review from Cathy S.
3/4/2011
This place is a tea lovers paradise. The staff are friendly and helpful and are eager to match you up to the exact flavour profile that you are after. I loved the opportunity to sample several teas that I might not have considered before, based on their recommendations. Much like Costco however, those samples encourage purchases that you might not have otherwise made!
What had me pleasantly surprised was that the prices for the tea accessories and equipment are very reasonable. I purchased a Breville variable temperature tea kettle there for less than I would be able to purchase it for on Amazon in the U.S.
I have yet to visit their tearoom but if it is anything like their storefront it will be heavenly. -
Review from Lisa L.
Vancouver, BC
3/28/2011
This is a review of the store and not restaurant portion of the shop.
Love their selection of teas, which you can sample as you shop. Totally romantic and whimsical. A lot of interesting trinkets and great service to boot. My only complaint is the price, which is quite high. For example, a lighter was over $100 and teapot and cups were around $100 as well. However, you do get what you pay for and the quality is superb. -
Review from Andra N.
Vancouver, BC
12/22/2011
This place is the bar by which High Tea should be judged
Food - excellent. My friend has food allergies and the servers were great about asking the kitchen to come up with alternatives that she was happy with.
Proper cucumber sandwiches, the chicken salad in a cone was DELICIOUS! Tea infused macaroons, flaky scone with jam and cream.... yummy!
(we each had the $25 mini high tea and it was plenty of food for a girl!)
Service - excellent. Attentive but not smothering, and despite the place filling up, they let us sit and eat and chat leisurely for a couple of hours.
Loved that they bring out the huge tins of tea, shake them, and let you smell them. It totally helped me pick what I wanted to drink.
Also love that they brew the tea to the perfect strength and then remove the tea leaves before bringing it to your table - so your entire pot of tea is the perfect strength start to finish.
The slightly asian/minimalist decor is a tiny bit sterile, but loved the cascading teapot fountain!
I will definitely be back. -
Review from Annie W.
5/27/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I've been to UTM about a dozen times now and figured it's about time for me to write a review.
The menu is extensive and everything is excellent (I've tried all their High Tea options). Their cheddar and chive scones are some of the best I've ever had, and the presentation is always lovely. My only complaint is that they seem to be doing some cut backs - reducing the welcome "tea samplings" down to a single cup from three, smaller strawberry servings, and replacing the AMAZING tea infused jelly with regular strawberry jam. Deduct half a star.
When they first opened the service was truly excellent. Servers were knowledgeable, polite, prompt and attentive - I was beyond impressed. Unfortunately, things seem to be slipping a bit in this department. Tea gets cold, and it should not be a surprise if a guest asks for the pot to be refreshed. Deduct another half star.
Overall, it's still one of my favorite high tea spots in the city. The room is modern and intimate, great selection of teas from around the world, and delicious beautifully presented food. -
Review from E C.
Vancouver, BC
3/3/2012
Only been here few times for take out tea.The price for take out tea is in the range $3-5. They do have a large selection of tea and the quality is quite good. Never tried the afternoon tea service as I think it is a bit expensive but it would be similar in price to the Fairmont Hotel.
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Review from Suiki S.
Vancouver, BC
3/23/2011
Food - 4 stars ( for the tea selection)
Ambiance - 3 1/2 stars
Décor - 3 1/2 stars
Service - 3 1/2 stars
Value - 3 1/2 stars
My girls and I enjoyed a great afternoon at the The Urban Tea Merchant afternoon tea service. Located conveniently between Georgia and Alberni street in downtown Vancouver, the location features a Tea Bar for To-Go service, a Tea Shop with custom designed loose leaves canister library style walls and last but not least, a Tea Salon for afternoon French tea service - perfect for some R&R time with your girls.
As we sat down, we were greeted by the friendly service of our waitress and a tea connoisseur. We were overwhelmed and happy to see their extensive list of over 200 types of Theodor Paris tea featuring Black, Green, Oolong, Roobios and Herbal. THEODOR Paris is one of the most recent Houses in the French market, recognized as one of the most prestigious, acknowledged throughout the world as an ambassador of taste and excellence.
For our Tea Service, I ordered
The Westcoast Tea Service - $29/ per person ( minimum 2 people) - featuring a sensory experience of assorted tea sandwiches, array of fresh fruits, edible flowers, macarons, chocolate dipped strawberries and petits four.
For my Tea, I chose the " Celebration" - a creamy black tea rich in vanilla and roasted hazelnuts. -
Review from Jenna L.
1/5/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I adore this place. The moment you step in the door, it is like a fantasy world for tea lovers. Looking at those delectable macarons and little things are heavenly. They have a tea room in the back which I dind't know until they had the $19 petit-afternoon tea specials. It is usually really busy, people are busy chatting happily in a well sun-lit room. Maureen/Candace have great service as well. Though the room was really busy, they always had smiles on their face which is a wonderful gesture.
The mini tray comes with sandwiches, still oven-warm scones with preserves and devonshire cream, and the top tray of France-imported macarons and Thomas Haas mini desserts. They are all very heavenly.
I think this is the place I will always come back to have afternoon tea in downtown area. But the best of all was the excellent customer service who remembered me from the day before! :) -
Review from Kristin H.
Vancouver, BC
12/15/2010
Love love love The Urban Tea Merchant. I can't really get into wine in a serious way, but I can get into tea. The Urban Tea Merchant takes tea very seriously, and it comes through in their staff. I have been in the storefront several times to purchase tea, and I can't tell which staff member is the manager or owner of the shop, because they all provide such exquisite service.
I often go with a staff recommendation based on what I'm in the mood for, and they have never once steered me wrong. They know their teas, and just as importantly, they know the current stock very well. The teas are quite pricey, but well worth every penny.
Their website is usually current, so you can browse online and get a pretty good idea of what's on offer. Each tea online is accompanied by tasting notes, so if you're unfamiliar with some of different types of teas available (or looseleaf tea in general), this is a good place to start.
I was a bit of a tea novice when I first started coming here, but now I'm much more confident in my ability to select lovely teas, thanks in part to their helpful guidance. -
Review from Fehkor M.
Victoria, BC
5/11/2011
Being a tea nut I've been trying to find the perfect Earl Grey. I thought it might be a Cream of Earl Grey (and it still might be) so I went to Urban Tea Merchant to peruse their selection. The tea sommeliers knew their stuff and intro'd me to a variety of different teas I might enjoy. Straight from Paris these teas are divine. I ended up walking out with Mademoiselle (earl grey with lavendar). The service was excellent and not hoity toity as I thought it might be.
When I went in for a refill, they had discontinued the Mademoiselle so I settled for their Earl Grey Superior. Not as good but still a joy to smell in the morning.
If you are looking for tea equipage, I agree with other reviewers in that it is expensive. However, if you are looking for some beautifully blended tea and some expert knowledge to assist you, Urban Tea Merchant is it. -
Review from Shannon L.
Vancouver, BC
10/2/2011
We're fans of great tea and finally decided to drop by the Urban Tea Merchant because we had heard good things about the variety and quality of their teas. Unfortunately, our experience here was very sour. We just wanted to order two cups of tea because we didn't have the time or appetite for the full afternoon tea experience. Because of this we were told that we could only sit at the tea bar since the tea room was reserved for customers who were having the tea service. We were then left with menus at the tea bar for nearly 15 minutes and no one ever came to take our order. Given this very poor service and the pretentiousness (and ridiculous prices) of the tea menu we opted to take our business elsewhere. Urban Tea Merchant made us feel that we weren't worthy to have a cup of tea here unless we were willing to drop loads of cash on their overpriced goods.
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Review from Sachi M.
I didn't come here planning to. It was one of those places that made me think "Wow, am I ever glad I wore a blouse today." I don't think they would discriminate, but it just feels like such a Nice Place. It's priced that way too. Can't come here every day.
We had the West Coast Afternoon Tea for three. First came strawberries marinated in some kind of tea, and a cold jasmine tea in a champagne glass. Pretty, refreshing and delicious. Next was the platter of open sandwiches and macaroons. I'm glad my visitors loved it, especially the lox (cold-smoked salmon).
The milk that came with the tea was heated and foamy. Cool. The teapot itself had what looked like insulation.
Be careful what tea you choose -- the Afternoon Tea set price only includes $5 of the tea you choose. Some of the fancy ones on the list are more than $20 for the pot.
I tried the teas "Nostradamus" and "1482" there. I think one was green and the other was black, but both were supposed to have some fruity overtones. I couldn't really taste the fruit, though, and wasn't that impressed. But then again, I'm not an expert on teas.
My friend bought "Carpe Diem" loose leaf, and gave it to me because it wasn't her kind of tea. I love it, though! It has little fruit chunks in it too, but the tea itself isn't leafy (update: it's Rooibos). It's like little tiny branches and is good with a touch of honey. It's my new "thing" at home!
The 5 stars is mainly for the relaxed atmosphere. The atmosphere may have made the sandwiches taste better than they would have been somewhere else... because, I mean, how many different things can you do to cream cheese and cucumber and dill?Listed in: a non-Coffee Perspective
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Review from Cherry H.
Vancouver, BC
8/15/2011 1 photo
I haven't tried their tea but I definitely love their Macaroons. If you are like me who didn't like the regular sized Macaroons, this is the place to go. Their Macaroons are slightly smaller than the ones I found and Thomas Haas or any other shops, and it is also a little bit chewable than others which I loved. Give it a try and I bet you will visit this place again. WARNING: North vancouver store offers different Macaroons in terms of flavour, size and price than the downtown store). I highly suggested you go to the downtown store if you could.
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Review from Joe L.
Vancouver, BC
3/14/2010 ROTD 6/10/2010
From the attendants in the store to the waitstaff in the tea salon, Urban Tea Merchant has one of the friendliest services I've ever had. We arrived early for our 11:30am tea reservation. The store manager offered us small cups of tea to wander around the store before we were ready for our reservation.
From the four tea services on their menu (breakfast, signature, petite and west coast), we ordered the signature afternoon tea which offers the complete selection of savoury treats to sumptuous truffles. Although the tea service offers recommended tea pairings, patrons can make their tea selection from their menu of over 100 (or may be 200) choices. I had Celebration which is one of the recommended pairings. It is a black tea infused with vanilla and chocolate. It was the best black tea I ever had with cream and sugar.
As to the treats on the 3-tier platters, it is hard to pick out my favourite because there are many of them. However, the best would have to be tea-infused jelly that comes with the scones, little crispy cups of chopped and creamy chicken salad (I can't remember the fancy name), and a strudel-looking pastry with a crumply and flaky crust but a very chewy filling.
Our tea was well worth the price tag of $48 per person. We spent close to 90 minutes enjoying our late Sunday morning treat in the tea salon at the back of the store overlooking the building courtyard just off Alberni Street surrounded by cherry blossoms. -
Review from Mary S.
Surrey, BC
3/12/2011
My sister Silvia was in town last week. She used to live here, but since then; has moved to Winnipeg and visits the West Coast once a year.
One of our favourite things to do together is high tea. We have tried almost every tea house in Vancouver, from The Secret Garden in Kerrisdale to Hotel Vancouver. This last visit we decided to try out The Urban Tea Merchant in West Georgia.
My sister is a true tea connoisseur. She appreciates the aroma, the texture and the varieties of teas the world has to offer. Me, I am more partial to black, sweet teas. One of my favourite is the je t'Aime tea which contains notes of pistachio, macaroons and marzipan. Delicious with milk and sugar. If its green tea you crave, the Maitre Fang has hints of coconut, lime and roses.
Our Petite Afternoon tea service included 3 mini sandwiches (egg salad, salmon and cream cheese watercress) a scone with Devonshire cream and assorted pastries. The presentation is just beautiful and elegant. The food is delicious. The flavours are subtle and enhance the tea experience. My favourite was the smoked salmon. And I loved the scone. It was different from the scones I'm used to. Usually scones are soft and crumbly. This one came with a hard crust that was sprinkled with sugar. It had a rock sugar like consistency. Very tasty. The pastries were a perfect serving for our tea service. works of art in miniature and each delicious.
The tea room is as elegant as their tea service. Modern photographs of faraway places grace the walls. There is a small water fountain created with tea pots in the centre of the room. Beautiful clean linens, and tasteful surroundings make this an experience worth repeating over and over again.
What I love about the high tea ritual with my sisters is how easy conversation flows when we share a cup of tea together. Once in awhile its nice to disconnect and take a few moments for yourself and focus on the person sitting in front of you. In this age of technology and speed, sometimes we have to remember the art of conversation. -
Review from Peter S.
4/11/2010 1 photo
Ever wonder what it feels like to be Royaltea?
The Signature Afternoon Tea here is as good as it gets in Vancouver.
WOW!
I am known for my indecisiveness when staring at menus, especially with so many options. Thankfully, the servers are well informed about everything tea. I hadn't heard of 80% of the teas on the menu. And with a few sniffs here and a couple questions there, I decided to let the tea gods decide for me.
Melange O.
With hints of figs and bergamot I was in TEA HEAVEN.
And then the tiered platters of tea infused sandwiches, chocolates, and all around yummy-ness arrived. A definite highlight were the wicked Smoked Tea Chicken Cups. I could have eaten thirty of these lil devils. And the fresh out of the oven Scones with Devon Cream were truly fit for a king.
Don't let the amount of food fool you. Savor it with every sip. I was trying to think of a way to smuggle some of the remaining goodies home, when we were offered a take away box. It wouldn't have been very royal of me carrying chocolates home in my pockets. But I was prepared to do it.Listed in: Tea. I am addicted!
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Review from Allen W.
Today was my second time at this store and my first time experiencing its afternoon tea service. I am *so* impressed with the quality of service/friendliness from everyone at this business. Top notch!
The store faces Georgia St. and is filled with a broad array of unique gifts. As you can imagine, tea is the focus of the shop but you'll also find some home decor pieces as well. You'll find over 200 types of tea available for sale.
As for the cafe located in the back of the shop, I highly recommend it. Tea service comes in several different sizes/price levels and we opted the the signature service ($48 per person) which is the most expensive offering.
Our server assisted in finding the right tea pairing for each of us. Teas were brought to our table to smell before ordering which one we would like. I opted for a mellow green tea called The 3 Empires which was fantastic.
Service started with a tea aperitif and fresh strawberries served in a tea-infused glaze.
Next, our server brought out the 3-tier tray of scones, truffles, chocolate covered strawberries, chicken salad cups, endive with blue cheese/walnuts, cucumber sandwiches, curried egg salad sandwiches, smoked salmon, etc.
The food could have been poorly done and mass-produced, but it was not. Everything was fresh, unique, and utterly amazing.
So much food. So delicious. Perfect for a special occasion.
