The Mad Merchant Coffee House in Plymouth

We have come here on many occasions, usually with friends, for breakfast. This is definitely the best breakfast in Plymouth, whether you have the Full Shebang, a big English breakfast but with spiced, scrambled eggs and balsamic tomatoes, or the Turkish breakfast. This is the one I have, and it is a baked egg dish with Sucuk, a spicy beef sausage, feta cheese, olives, tomatoes, and cucumber, accompanied by sourdough toast and warm honey. Absolutely delicious. Plus they have a fabulous menu of coffees and teas.

This cafe is truly a hidden gem of Turkish delight. Set in Plymouth old town (curiously called New Street) just off from the hustle and bustle of the Barbican, along the old cobbled street, this looks like a traditional English tea house. The interior is quite enchanting - the garden even more so! Sitting in the warm summer sun you could almost believe you were in Turkey itself surrounded by a traditional Turkish decor and Turkish waitresses. We had a fabulous lunch of Mad Merchants Turkish Delight and Sourdough Smash and a pot of Granny's Garden fruit infusion. We also indulged in the marvelous cakes! Such a wonderful alternative and so relaxing. All the staff were so courteous and engaging. We will definately return and recommend to all our friends. Amazingly good!

This cafe is truly a hidden gem of Turkish delight. Set in Plymouth old town (curiously called New Street) just off from the hustle and bustle of the Barbican, along the old cobbled street, this looks like a traditional English tea house. The interior is quite enchanting - the garden even more so! Sitting in the warm summer sun you could almost believe you were in Turkey itself surrounded by a traditional Turkish decor and Turkish waitresses. We had a fabulous lunch of Mad Merchants Turkish Delight and Sourdough Smash and a pot of Granny's Garden fruit infusion. We also indulged in the marvelous cakes! Such a wonderful alternative and so relaxing. All the staff were so courteous and engaging. We will definately return and recommend to all our friends. Amazingly good!

Popped in on a whim to get coffee and breakfast - what a find! They have a huge menu of specialty teas and coffees, along with a great choice of food. We had the Turkish coffee, Vienna coffee, toast and spiced egg pretzel roll. It was all absolutely delicious. We ate in their gorgeous outdoor seating, and will be going back as soon as possible to try more of their extensive menu

Great place with lovely garden. Amazing coffee selection and large menu with several clearly labelled Vegan and Gluten Free options. Staff are attentive and super friendly. Highly recommend. Visited for breakfast, brunch, coffee and cake and gave never been disappointed.

u HAVE to go here. the coffee is okay. but the food is soooooo good!!!!!

Never have a bad meal here! The staff are always so friendly and welcoming and the diversity of coffees available is amazing, not to mention delicious! Weather it’s quick coffee and cake or a full on brunch, this place is a fantastic spot.

Absolutely loved it! Everyone was really friendly, the food was excellent and the Turkish coffee was the best I've had. Will definitely return next time we're down.

Love it! We've been here few times and always had a very pleasant experience. Food is very good (I especially live the bread!), and staff is lovely. Will definitely be back.

Best coffee in Plymouth, hands down. Have now had the pleasure of their Turkish coffee more than once. I'm still having it sweetened for now. Hoping to try even more of their around the world styles of coffee. My favourite place to go!

The owners are absolutely lovely as is the food and surroundings.

Great little coffee shop situated just off the main street on Plymouth Barbican. Lovely freshly cooked bacon and egg pretzel served by friendly and efficient staff. Wil definitely return soon

Wonderful place, a bit quirky.. great staff, food and coffee is delicious

Spoilt for choice, and that was just the coffee, so many to choose from. Went for brunch and ended up staying for another coffee and some cake. Food was excellent, my vegetarian friends felt they were well catered for. There’s a Turkish influence in some of the dishes, I tried Menemen, (Turkish eggs) with sourdough toast, very tasty. The cakes - plenty of choice some a little different but again very tasty. The staff were friend too. All of this in an historic building, look out for the wedge shaped spiral stairs if you go to the upstairs seating area.

My friend recommended this cafe. I am so glad she did! Friendly, efficient service, beautiful surroundings. I had the honey coffee and veggie breakfast - absolutely perfect in every way. Amazing flavours, fresh ingredients and excellent value for money. I can't wait to come back to Plymouth to visit again. Highly recommended

Very impressive espresso, would highly recommend

Stopped here for lunch, ordered a panini, dip with pitta and sarna (stuffed vine leaves) plus two coffees. The sarna were really good, and the aubergine dip really tasty. The layered honey coffee latte was delicious. They sell their coffee beans and tea mixes, which all smelled delicious!

While exploring the old streets of Plymouth we came across this charming cafe. The room was beautiful and the menu had something for everyone. We had the full English breakfast, cheese and potato cakes and halloumi salad. There is a huge selection of tea here and all served in pretty teapots. Perfect place to relax away from the hustle and bustle.

My husband and I popped in for breakfast this morning and, as usual, it was fabulous. We have been to the Mad Merchant a few times now and we've never been disappointed. From the welcoming greeting to saying goodbye, the whole experience is wonderful. The breakfasts are plentiful and tasty. I've tried the vegetarian and non veggie and vegan options and they are all lovely. Eating outside in the garden is a must in the summer but indoors, in the winter is a quirky experience too. The Mad Merchant definitely does the best breakfast in Plymouth and also a variety of coffees that you won't find anywhere else. Highly recommended.

It's hard to find a place where everything just clicks, but The Mad Merchants Coffee House nailed it. No doubt, it's a solid 5/5 – highly recommend for great coffee, friendly service, and a lovely atmosphere.

The quirky little rooms, the great service and choice of food for breakfast was top draw. I had a layered honey latte and breakfast brioche with bacon , eggs and side salad 😋

Went there for lunch with my two dogs and was made to feel very welcome. Coffee was fantastic and the food is wonderful with a Mediterranean twist.

I love this place the Turkish coffee is to die for there is lots of choice for different tastes of teas and coffee. The cakes are divine and they always have vegan options and gluten free. John and the team are super friendly and the garden area is a hidden gem

Delicious coffee, flavoursome breakfast, fresh scone, friendly service.

Was really excited to try this place as they have some unusual drinks here such as the beetroot latte and charcoal latte. Me and my partner really enjoyed them in the lovely outdoor seating area. Unfortunately we didn't get to have the shisha this time but we will come back for it when we return.

Absolutely lovely place, great service and staff, will be back 🤩

Lovely garden at the rear and friendly service

Found this amazing coffee shop on Google maps before going to Plymouth for a day out from Bodmin. We visited the Mad Merchants Coffee Shop on the 23/09/23 mid morning for a drink and bite to eat. Looks amazing inside and out. Very trendy place with quirky touches everywhere. Went upstairs to a wacky and cool room. Loved the wallpaper! Had a Cappuccino, Hot Chocolate and two cake's. The Cappuccino was probably one of the best I've ever had! Really full of flavour of fresh ground coffee beans. Cakes were delicious and definitely homemade. Really surprised it came to £13.00 definitely would return when in Plymouth again. All the staff were super friendly too. Nice to see such a friendly team there. It's one of those places that if you didn't know it was there would miss it. It's definitely one of my new favourites 👍

Amazing place, service, coffee & food.

A hidden treasure! Fabulous food and coffee in such a lovely environment. Staff were so nice and gluten free was easily catered for. Highly recommended I will definitely be back.

The #1 best business in Plymouth. So rare to find a family run independent where the food is impeccable, service amazing, with an incredible atmosphere. I really couldn't recommend it enough, they also have a restraunt across the road serving into the evening. Not enough people know about this place for how great it is, so we're always guaranteed a peaceful time in the gorgeous secluded garden. The cafe also sources their produce locally so it's great to know we're supporting various local business' at the same time. Thanks for an amazing breakfast ! 😋

I love this place we visit regularly the Turkish coffee is brilliant and the cakes are divine. The pricing is reasonable and the gardens a great place to sit and relax. The family that run it are lovely and the staff are always attentive. We have always had lovely food and most of it has an interesting twist to it.

Lovely spot on New St in the heart of the Barbican, had breakfast outside, the lady who served us, sorry didn't get your name, was super pleasant and helpful. Breakfast was superb and the coffee was grand. Thanks very much. See you again when we are next in Plymouth.

Lovely place! We've now visited twice. The first time we had a speciality coffee and today we had coffee and lunch. The quality of food is excellent, well prepared and flavoursome. Service is great and all in all we really enjoyed our lunch. A little gem in Plymouth and one we'll no doubt revisit. Thank you. They even accommodated a food request and to my surprise altered the dish to suit me.

Breakfast here, the best thing you could ever have; the outside area is so peaceful and relaxing . The coffee is amazing and also have a huge selection on infused teas; you can also buy these to take home. Their cakes are delicious and always fresh. Highly recommended.

Lovely coffee and cake in a lovely garden. The service was great and seemed family-run. Welcomed with water on arrival.

We discovered this little gem by an accident. Service was great, atmosphere was great and the food was delicious. So much to chose from - coffees, teas, drinks. We will be coming back.

Good food. Chilled atmosphere. Lovely dining area. Nice lady served us too!

Almost cried because the food was so good. The cutest garden ever with a really chilled atmosphere. Staff were so lovely. #smashed the avocado smash. We will definitely be back to try every item on the menu😍😍 Everything is so reasonably priced too!

The garden alone is worth the trip. Food was great, and they have excellent choices for those who must be gluten free.

A lovely little gem of a coffee/tea room, with lovely lunch food & friendly staff. The garden area is light & warm, nicely fitted out with cushioned seating & shaded areas. The coffee menu looked impressive to this tea-drinker, while my tea was perfect. We decided to stay for lunch (pretty much as soon as I saw the menu!), and both our meals had a tasty salad, well dressed & presented. The staff were all friendly and helpful, no matter how often we delayed ordering because the conversation kept going on 🙂. The upstairs coffee room had an old fashioned vibe going on, while the cakes had a definite new-fashioned sizing going on 😉 Thoroughly recommended, and worth taking just a few steps away from the main tourist drag.

An absolutely wonderful find! - we came across it by chance, and it took so long to choose a coffee as there were so many I wanted to try! Lol. Had the avocado for brekky, which didn’t disappoint. As per other reviews, this certainly is a hidden gem, so much so, you don’t want everyone to know! Will be going again to try another coffee very soon. Thank you to the exceptionally friendly staff who also make this place what it is. It’s no good having a wonderful atmosphere and delicious coffee/food if the staff or service don’t match. The Mad Merchant ticks all the boxes ;-)

The Spanish coffee con miel is SO GOOD. Super friendly staff. I especially love the outdoor garden seating, a nice retreat from the hustle and bustle of the barbican.

Great breakfast, lovely spiced scrambled eggs and the peppered mushrooms were excellent. Will definitely return.

Can't rate the food (although it smelled delicious!) but the coffee menu is exceptionally varied, but in the best possible way. I tend to avoid places which have an excessively long menu as the taste of the coffee seldom lives up to expectation, but this bucks the trend. I had a coffee mouse on iced milk - spot on for a hot day. Plus there's a delightful garden out back. Utterly recommend.

Came here on Pirate Weekend as my wife and I noticed a sign on the main road of the Barbican pointing us in the direction and with the chaos we thought we’d venture up the cobbles. Never seen or been here before but it’s like climbing into Mary Poppin’s bag, it’s bigger than it looks from the front. Me, my wife and 3 kids sat out the back in the beautiful sun and ordered breakfasts. The Turkish Decor (apologies if it’s not actually Turkish) looks really nice and it’s a really nice place to rest and refuel. I had ‘The Full Shebang’ Breakfast and bloody hell it was amazing! The tomatoes were so sweet and the food cooked to perfection. I HATE mushrooms, absolutely despise them, but the rest of the meal was so tasty I gave yours a try as they had some sort of herb or something on them. I loved them. Cleared my plate. The prices were really fair and the staff were really nice and accommodating. We’ll 100% be returning and I would recommend this place without hesitation. Many thanks!

A fabulous hidden gem of a café. The garden seating is perfect for families with dogs (who get treats and water straight away). Such an extensive menu for vegetarians too.

We loved the food tasty and good portions. The outside area is nice and Cosy. Thing on the menu, Can be made vegan if asked. Brekky is till 12 after that hour you have other options. Multiple variety of coffees, milkshakes, chocolate and smoothies.

Really lovely and quirky little cafe. Food is delicious and the sourdough bread was warm and crispy! There is a range of teas/coffees and the milkshakes are scrumptious.

Quaint cafe, friendly staff, delicious food. Off the beaten track. Would highly recommend

We saw the coffee shop from up in the Elizabethan gardens and had to check it out. My husband and I had a flat white and we got a babycinno for our son. The service and atmosphere were fantastic and we loved the outdoor seating, which was super comfy and so pretty. Didn't try the food this time as we'd already eaten when we saw this place but will have something to eat next time. Will be making this our regular coffee place from now on!

Set in a side street off the main Barbican….we found this cafe by accident and we were delighted with it. We only wanted coffees and we chose the layered honey latte’s which were delicious. Sat in a quaint little garden where others were served different and unusual teas and Gins! The service was lovely and friendly too. We will definitely return for more coffees and perhaps some of their lovely looking cake!

A true hidden gem. Great food and drink as always. The scrambled egg was exceptional.

Sat in the garden of this quirky coffee house. Had an afternoon tea, lovely warm scones, plenty of jam and cream. Great service, good price, will be back.

Lovely place for breakfast / brunch and very reasonably priced.

Lovely staff. Great selection of beverages and cakes including vegan options. The garden is lovely in the summer.

Amazing small coffee house with a good atmosphere and a lot of choice. I recommend the Matcha Latte :)

Plenty vegetarian options, the biggest drinks menu you've seen and polite staff. I think it's made even more special as they're a family business🥰. The building and garden has plenty of character and all food/drinks were all great quality. The only negative, in my opinion, is that the radio spoils the atmosphere. The theme comes across as steam punk meets dark acadamia. The radio, while I was there, spurred out constant advertisements and some 2010s pop here and there. If they played more atmospheric music, it would really tie the theme together and make the visit more exciting.

Good ambiance, friendly and helpful staff, Flat white was okay but presentation ruined it for me. The cups are very .. need changing. Presentation plays a big role on how something tastes and I couldn't enjoy the goods after what the cups it was served in. Breakfast on the other hand was great ! Enjoyed it all

Amazing turkish breakfast in a quirky venue, tucked out of the way of all the hustle and bustle. Could easily be described as a hidden gem - the food was perfect, the service attentive and friendly and very good value! Cardomom Turkish coffee was a real treat too!

Having been recommended Mad Merchants we went there for breakfast this morning. We all had Turkish Delight breakfast and were definitely delighted. It was just like being back in Turkey on holiday! And the Turkish Cardamom Coffee was to die for!

First timer, thouroughly enjoyed food and staff efficient. Lovely clean toilet facilities

Breakfast and coffee/tea is perfect! We sat outside in the lovely area they have created, the staff are super friendly and willing to have a chat if not to busy. Highly recommend to everyone

Popped in for a business breakfast meeting. The breakfast was delicious, really good quality and value for money.

What can I say.... The best breakfast I've had, we also had the tea, coffee and cake, and it was all amazing. Also the service and space is absolutely amazing. Heard about this place from a friend, my only regret is that it took me so long to go there. 100% will now become a regular weekly outing. You will not be disappointed

We visited the Mad Merchant in August and we absolutely loved it here. From first stepping foot in the building the staff were attentive and kind. We felt extremely valued immediately. The breakfast was fantastic, a little bit different from the normal and really tasty. A varied selection on the menu to cater for all. We loved our visit and our 4 year old was treated like a king. We couldn't have asked for anything more Thank you to everyone working on that day

Great food! Delicious stuffed vine leaves, garlic mushrooms, avocado and hummus too. Charming staff, great setting.

Was welcomed with ice cold bottled water which was very welcomed on the hottest day of the year, lovely staff served us with tea coffee and delicious scones cream and jam lovely place abit different from usual tea room can't wait to go back and very reasonably priced

Just back from a fantastic visit to this place. A lovely welcome from all the staff we encountered then offered water while we looked at the menu and a bowl of water and a gravy bone biscuit for the dog. We sat in the garden on the beautiful covered seating. A good selection of cakes to choose from. I highly recommend the coffee and walnut cake. So many different teas to choose from and a savoury menu of lunches that start at noon, plus you can get breakfast too. Will definitely go back again to sample more goodies. Really recommend.

An amazing place thoroughly enjoyed going with my daughter.

Great place for a coffee and cake - or to buy some coffee beans for home. Highly recommended and very enjoyable.

Found this Turkish themed coffee shop on the barbican plymouth. Amazing cooked breakfast with a bit of a twist . Garden seating area was really lovely with covered seating for all weather. Staff very friendly and attentive. Definitely recommend

Great little place. Friendly staff. We only had cake and coffee but the Ginger cake was delicious the best I've ever had. And the coffee was great too.

Excellent friendly and quick service. Good food and drinks. Very comfortable sheltered outdoor table. Third or fourth visit, consistent quality.

The Mad Merchant is one of our favourite places to go for brunch! You can choose something different from the menu every time and it is always incredible. Their staff are so friendly and welcoming, especially their lovely waiter Benji, who is an asset to...

So much here is excellent. Staff, variety, prices, quality. We drive an hour to come for Sunday breakfast here when we can. Lovely garden seating too.

An interesting new breakfast experience. Certainly one to enjoy again!

The staff here are so wonderful and can't do enough for you. Going in often enough you get to know them as if you've been friends for years. The atmosphere is a sublime balance of days of old due to its charming architecture consistent of low ceilings and wooden beams, and a unique holiday at home feeling due to the stunning decor and garden that has a Turkish theme. Much like it's sister restaurant Kapedokya, this quaint little cafe gives you a taste of the exotic right on your doorstep with all the flavours, smells and spices of Turkey, perfect for anyone who loves olives, feta and Turkish coffee ❤️

This café occupies an historic building in a lovely old street in the Barbican area. There is a small seating area on the ground floor and a larger area approached by a winding staircase on the first floor. We enjoyed two good quality flat white...

A group of us had a lovely brunch today in the upstairs lounge. Delicious food with a twist, very nicely presented and lovely, friendly attentive staff. Will definitely be back. Thanks everyone 😊

Nice breakfast and lovely people

Lovely coffee shop with outdoor tables in the garden. Generous sized paninis which are good for sharing so you have enough room left for cake!

Fantastic little gem hidden away from all the new age restaurants and bistros. Lovely lunch in a clearly English style tea room/ coffee house that opens up into a fantastic relaxing Turkish- Ottoman style enclosed courtyard. Minimal menu but varied and nice size portions. Highly recommend ordering the sausage & caramelised onion panini and swapping out for toast. Great atmosphere and quick happy service.

A busy but cosy place. Extensive menu, we had breakfast and coffee/walnut cake (not at the same time). Friendly staff. Outdoors was uniquely decorated for Plymouth! We will be back for the lunch menu ...

The Mad Merchant is a delightful little gem, tucked away on the oddly named 'New Street' on Plymouth's historic Barbican. We enjoyed afternoon coffee's and scoffed delicious carrot cake in a garden - whith a definite 'Arabia' feel about it. Definitely worth a look.

Only got some coffees for takeout (which were fab) but the whole place looked really nice and cozy. Would have loved to sit in, if I had had more time.

Dropped in on a whim for cream tea. Excellent service and food . The seating outside was quirky but lovely - very eastern vibe . Would definitely visit again if in the area

We loved The Mad Merchant Coffee House! It is SO much more than just a ‘coffee stop’. We’ve had both a wonderful lunch and also a wholesome breakfast on different days in the past week. The outdoor seating at the back is so enchanting and relaxed. The staff are friendly and informative. The food has diverse choices with high quality ingredients and they even cater for vegan! There is none of the hustle and bustle of the seafront, yet The Mad Merchant is just 1 street back. We would love to return one day and sample more of the many options on offer from this family run business. Add to that the pricing for such quality was excellent. Thank you for our enjoyment.

Has to be actually experienced as words and photos cannot do it justice. The beautiful garden has a selection of covered areas, beautifully decorated and lovely little touches. The staff were all very friendly and helpful, chatty but not too chatty, as though they instinctively knew the correct level of friendliness. The place was very clean and welcoming. The real reason for popping in was a cream tea, and we were not disappointed here, either. Warm scones, fresh cream that melted a little as you spread it on the scone (in Devon, it’s always cream first!) and a perfectly brewed pot of tea. We were lucky as the weather was delightful but some of the seating looks as though you’d stay dry if it was showery. That said, there is indoor seating as well. On our visit, this venue was faultless. Well done, guys. Highly recommended.

Discovered this place by accident but what a wonderful experience. Fabulous weather meant we could enjoy tea in the garden, a wonderful space with covered areas with a Mediterranean feel. Staff were all really lovely and helpful. The scones were warm which meant the clotted...

Fabulous breakfast! Friendly staff, lovely atmosphere, great food and fabulous coffee. Highly recommended. Well worth the visit. 🥰

What a place, get inside to escape the drizzel. Lovely old building well decorated, great service and great staff. This is the must do Cafe/coffee house of them all.

The staff we very welcoming and helpful, moving me to a table in the shade which had become free. The outside seating is very attractive either Turkish style table clothes and cushions. The meals are light lunches. I had the Greek salad and patatas. The...

A hidden gem of Plymouth. Despite being near a busy city centre full of tourists, this place was surprisingly quiet. Great food and amazing garden area with seating in shade.

Staff are extremely welcoming and helpful. Food and drink are reasonably priced and atmosphere is very nice.

I thought my wifwe and son had forgotten! The night before this changed, Sue said that she would bring me a cup of tea in bed but I had to be ready to leave by 09:30 on Fathers day. I had no idea where we...

I found this place by accident and never have l been more happy to have an accident!! What a fabulous ambiance being sat outside with all the decked off areas and lovely drapes, an extensive menu to suit most taste buds. Definitely my new favourite...

Who doesn't want a cream tea when in Devon? We arrived in Plymouth and found this little place not far from where we had parked. We had a cream tea for two which was very nice, although I would have liked the cream and jam...

Absolute hidden gem. I’ve lived in Plymouth all my life and never knew this was there. Such a beautiful outdoor seating area and a lovely relaxed atmosphere. Service was fantastic as was the food. The brownie was to die for! Plus for the first time...

Wow! Absolutely stunning hidden place. Huge variety of freshly prepared meals to speciality teas and coffees. Something on the meal for everyone taste including little ones too. Sadly didn't get around to trying your cakes! Definitely will be next time. My new go to place!