The Merchant's House: Coffee & Ale in Norwich

The Merchants House, a place me and my brother used to frequently visit. This was only due to them being open later and the fact it was our only option. We had been going a few weeks and every time we would step through the door we would not only be greeted with nasty looks from staff but incredibly overpriced tea. We’d dread having to communicate with the workers as they are incredibly rude and inconsiderate. Especially in the outdoor terrace, I had told a few of my other family about this spot and after their very first encounter here, they decided to never return. This was as with a group of 5 of them, 4 ordered teas. Unfortunately my auntie at the time was low on money after coming out of a divorce and was not able to afford a mug. She was shouted at and belittled by a Red haired worker and was told she must leave if not buying. I was quite frankly appalled by this behaviour and decided never to come back. The only redeeming aspect of this place is its long opening times. However I believe this is not worth the hassle as a result of the incredibly tortuous staff.

I’ve become a regular in the cafe as I find it a safe space and somewhere I can go to but I’ve had a couple of moments where a staff member has been very rude, everyone else is absolutely lovely and the food and drink is up to it’s standard but I had a recent incident where my friend came in with me and couldn’t pay for her drink as times are rough and one of the staff members shouted at her in front of everyone making people stare at us because she didn’t purchase an item and told her she had to leave and in a harsh tone said ‘now’ when my friend didn’t say anything back or reacted as we were in shock. If had happened multiple times and it’s making me not want to come back as it’s slowly not becoming a safe place where I feel comfortable and safe to go without getting people be rude to me or my peers.

I love the Merchant House. Most of all the mushroom quiche. I wish I could buy one to take away.

A nice place if you don't mind waiting 35 minutes for a toastie.

A lovely welcoming place! Plus for filter coffee.

Sometimes all you want is a toastie and these really hit the spot. Packed with fillings, using great quality bread, these are the crème de la crème of toasted sandwiches. Place was buzzing at lunch time as well. Nice little courtyard out back.

Stood at bar to order a coffee, was told to move 1m to the right to order a coffee as I was in the wrong place. Then when sitting with my friend, a member of staff came over our table and asked me to move my small bag from the table as it might prevent other customers from sitting at a 'shared-space'. I'd literally just sat down. I actually can't believe the way I was spoken to. All staff appear very grumpy. And I felt like a naughty school kid, I'm a 49 year old Senior Creative.

I don't know the time, there is a person sitting inside, doors unlocked and was shouted at once opened the door as the cafe is still closed. Avoid if don't want your mood ruined 😂👍🏼

Lovely atmosphere, plush armchairs, and good hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows. They've got some nice pies most of the time as well and I've found this very interesting stout once that tastes almost like wine. Very much worth a visit if you're looking for a chill and quiet vibe, and it's open till late!

After coming to Merchants for nearly two years, spending countless hours writing my novel, agonizing over schoolwork, and binging BBC docuseries in the retrochic booth, I cannot overstate how much I love this place. The plum tart is, in my opinion, the best bakery item they sell, and I switch out my drink order depending on who's working. The red-haired barista makes the most heavenly matcha latte, the one with the curly hair does the best espresso pulls, the one that wears the graphic tees does perfect hot chocolates, and the one guy with the buzz cut (who I think is the manager; he's got the aura of being in charge) is the best at tea and cocktails. Could not recommend this place more, especially at night when they turn the string lights and little glass lamps on. Wonderfully cozy.

Nice atmosphere, average coffee, rude staff.

I came in earlier today with my elderly mother. My mother could not hear the woman on the bar as she had an accent and it was quite loud in the cafe/bar. The bar lady proceeded to roll her eyes and disregard and quite frankly she became quite rude/arrogant? I’m not sure if all of the workers are like this, but it really ruined our experience and made us feel very unwelcome. The aesthetic of the cafe is very nice and the garden too. I just wish the workers would have some manners :( I don’t think we will be coming back. Very unprofessional. Poor attitude.

rude staff, wont be coming back

RUDE STAFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Me and my two friends went into Merchants. My friend had just found out her dad died so we wanted to sit and lighten her mood. (We have also been here in past occasions and bought drinks and food) As we are loyal customers and enjoy to have a nice time out together. However on this occasion, after being in there for 10 minutes without ordering anything other than drinking water, we got barred because we didn’t order anything. The worker was extremely rude, leaving snarky comment as we left the building. This was extremely uncalled for. We never done anything wrong and we were in there for a small amount of time and we never meant to cause any harm. They have just lost three loyal customers who supported the business frequently. Unacceptable. Will not return. Do not go to merchants if you want to be rudely barred for being a customer.

My friends and I have always enjoyed coming to this spot for the great atmosphere and excellent drinks, but unfortunately, our experience today was a bit different. We stopped by briefly after my friend found out her father had passed away. We were hoping to find a little comfort in the familiar environment. However, within ten minutes of arriving without ordering, we were unexpectedly barred from the venue. To make matters worse, one of the staff made a snarky comment as we left. It was really disheartening, especially considering how much we usually enjoy visiting here. I understand there are policies, but a little understanding for personal circumstances would go a long way. I hope the management can consider being a bit more compassionate in situations like this as the comment the member of the staff had made just made the situation even worse.

Love this place! BUT you can never get a seat. People sit there in there on lap tops ALL DAY with one coffee. We tried to get a seat in here 3 times today. There were a couple of guys with laptops and a coffe cup. They were still there 2 hours later when we came back from another coffee shop. Arent you loosing money? We were going to have a meal and alcoholic drinks but had to go elsewhere. Same people on lap tops 2 hours later. I understand its a chill out venue but do think there should be a time limit. Cant sit outside in the winter. Its a shame as its a fab olace but feel people are taking advantage

Cosy little cafe where you can play a range of boardgames too. Drinks we ordered were good. Limited space so you may have to share tables.

Great place for coffee, cakes and hanging out with other creatives. The atmosphere inspires creativity.

Stopped by for a hot drink on a rainy day. Lovely and relaxed atmosphere. Good selection of drinks at typical pricing.

Went there first thing after getting to Norwich for a quick coffee and brownie and it was very nice. I will say the brownie is very chocolatey! Shared it with my cousin and we really enjoyed it.

Ale and coffee house. Welcoming and interesting

My first visit for the 'open mike' night. I feel it could become a new favourite.

I was here from Swindon for a wedding and I was blown away by the place. The Staff was all very nice and friendly, they all worked so hard. Didn't eat there but I did browse the menus prior to coming and it does look like there is a great choice. Great business model and I would love to see it expand to other places

Mixed experience - incredible cakes and courtyard setting. The savoury food was pretty poor (especially the quiche) and incredibly overpriced for such a tiny portion. Everything was on the pricier side, in fact, but I'd probably return for special occasions for the ambience

Very nice atmosphere, the people are kind and smiling. I recommend the small courtyard, very cosy and well decorated.

This place has a great selection of high quality beers and a lovely space to drink them in. The courtyard at the back is delightful and affords you a view of genuine Tudor architecture. So why only three stars for me? Well, the staff here have frequently been brusque and unfriendly almost to the point of rudeness. A couple of times now I've had problems with my orders and pointing this out has resulted in an arrogant indignation rather than understanding or apology. When I come to a coffee shop or bar I want to feel like I'm a welcome customer, not an inconvenience who is in the way of whatever else they want to be getting on with. I keep going back here cause it's such a nice place in the hope that my experience will improve, but so far it's been very hit and miss.

I noticed this coffee shop was not particularly busy so we went in for a coffee and snack. 10 minute wait for the coffee which was ok but waited and waited and waited for about another 25 minutes and eventually after asking, my toasty cheese and tomato arrived. Toasty was nothing special for £6.50. Typical supermarket bread. I can't imagine how long the wait would be if they were busy.

Never had a bad time. Lovely for a coffee, a little break or to sit in the garden for endlesss hours either a few beers. The staff are just lovely and d the ambiance it’s sublime.

Beautiful courtyard My drinks order was taken at the door and they came and found me to serve rather than making me wait. The matcha latte was great but you may want to ask for sugar as it was a little bitter for my taste but that’s just my preference Will return when back in the area!

I have no idea what about foods. I tried out ice americano, the taste is very surprising. Next time I will try another drink and food

Absolutely charming patio! Overlooked by huge walls of very old leaded glass windows. Worth the visit just for this!

Really nice place. Decent coffee (non dairy is available). I really liked the mushroom and blue cheese quiche.

Really enjoyed our visit, coffee was perfect and the Treacle Tart was delightful, a difficult choice as all the cakes looked amazing. Staff were friendly, helpful and efficient. Lovely atmosphere in a cosy, comfortable place. Will definitely return xx ☕🍰🍷🍺

Lovely staff and such a cosy space. Good coffee for the price you pay for it.

Lovely little find for an 'I've just finished Friday' glass with a friend. Relaxed and friendly.

What a little gem of a place. I visited to listen to music and it was perfect. The courtyard is an ideal place to just chill and appreciate local talent perform home grown songs. 😊

Enjoyed delicious Brie n Cranberry toastie, delicious orange cake and delicious local coffee, by friendly staff in a lovely setting.

Found staff unfriendly and offhand. Plonked down offerings without a word or smile. Will not return

Love this place! My fav coffee venue. My only complaint is that people sit in there nearly all day on their lap tops with one coffee so theres never any spaces. You also cant reserve a table? Must be loosing out on revenue if people sit in there all day? Great place but we very rarely get a seat

Stopped off here to do some work calls/work remote and it has to be the nicest people with the best coffee in Norwich. Apologies to everyone else in the cafe who had to hear me whittering on

Very friendly staff and atmosphere.

My friends and I all love this place. the staff and customers are really friendly and welcoming and there is always a feeling of peace. Sunday evenings for music is always a fabulous event but it's equally enjoyable to drop I'm for a lazy morning coffee and toastie. The courtyard is stunning and the plants well loved...

As a proud resident of ‘The Fine City’ of Norwich and a seasoned traveller, I can honestly say that The Merchant House is without doubt the best Cafe Bar in East Anglia…….if not beyond! The atmosphere is amazing, as is the selection of drinks. Food is limited as no kitchen, but their toasties (and other snacks, cakes, sausage rolls etc) are off the scale! Rarely does one find a Cafe Bar with such an all inclusive attitude. It’s a place where everyone can meet and enjoy great company. It’s somewhat unique and that’s down not only to the beautiful setting, but more importantly owners and staff who care about their customers. Something that increasingly becoming a rarity in today’s, somewhat homogenised world. There’s live music on a Sunday, which is always a joy. Plus a support of the simple pleasures in life, such as playing board games or learning languages etc. The residents of Norwich and visitors alike are truly blessed to have such a wonderful Cafe Bar!

I've been visiting this cafe for many years. But after the fowl service received today, it's unlikely I'll be going there again. A very rude unwelcoming woman taking my order decided to shout at me when I told her she took my order down wrongly. I'm sure she's had no training in hospitality and couldn't cope with a busy period. Four of us who are all local, vowed never to have coffee there again especially if that woman is on duty. Her special skill seemed to only upset her customers.

Good service, friendly staff, very good coffee and good environment.

The best coffee house in Norwich. A warm friendly welcome with some great cakes and coffee.

Great location, great coffee, great servers.

My favourite coffee in the city. Staff are very friendly and its always busy no matter what time you go in. Love the sharing tables and cosy atmosphere. Look forward ot trying their beers one evening when I'm in the city.

Such a hidden gem, absolutely love this little spot. Coffee is great, staff super friendly, and really nice ambience. Great for an evening cup as open late - hard to find spots like this that are open in the evenings! Great prices too, very reasonable. Love to pop in for a little hot chocolate treat. Would 100% recommend!

Nice sandwich, coffee OK, friendly, noisy

Had a great experience, only popped in for a drink, which was a very nice craft beer and a mulled cider. Staff were very pleasant and informed me of the types of drinks available. The atmosphere was very warm and welcoming, comfortable seats and tables not too close together. Will be back in the future.

I utterly adored this place! Totally recommend visiting it for an easy morning or a chill beer ☺️

The loveliest and cosiest coffee place you will ever visit. The staff is warm and friendly and the atmosphere is always the best for reading and studying. Totally recommend 🤍

Wow! What a stunning find on our visit to the city Coffee house-come-bar with the most amazing chilled vibe to it Easily walkable from the city centre and overlooking the river, there is a wide range of (delicious) hot drinks and sweet treats available. Dig a little deeper and there’s a range of draught beer and cider to suit everyone’s tastes Staff were amazingly friendly and welcoming and I could have very easily spent many, many hours just soaking up the atmosphere in this place I would highly recommend a visit if you are in the area, a worthy edition of a ‘must visit’ venue

I went to The Merchant for coffee and a freshly made sausage roll this morning - probably the best SR I’ve ever had - the sausage was great and it was likely that the fresh pastry was the hero!

The Merchant's House in Norwich holds a special place in my heart. I find myself here nearly every week, and it's more than just a coffee shop for me; it's a sanctuary of warmth and community. First and foremost, let's talk about the coffee. The dedicated team at The Merchant's House takes their craft seriously, and it's evident in every sip. Their coffee is a masterpiece, and I'm always in awe of the flavors they create. Their passion for brewing perfection shines through, and it's a delight to experience it with every visit. But what truly makes this place exceptional is the people – the incredible staff and the fellow patrons. I often come here to read my Bible, and during busy times, I find myself sharing tables with strangers who, like me, appreciate the sense of togetherness this place fosters. It's heartwarming to be a part of a community where people are so open and friendly. The ambiance of The Merchant's House is a testament to their creativity and attention to detail. The decor exudes warmth and character, making it the perfect backdrop for those quiet moments of reflection and connection. I also want to applaud the staff for their commitment to cleanliness and safety. It's reassuring to know that, even in the busiest of times, they maintain the highest standards to ensure a clean and comfortable environment for everyone. Lastly, the location is simply perfect. Nestled in the heart of Norwich, it's a convenient and inviting spot to recharge, reflect, and explore this beautiful city. To the remarkable team at The Merchant's House, your hard work, dedication, and welcoming spirit have created a haven for people like me. Thank you for making every visit a memorable experience. I look forward to many more weeks of coffee, community, and connection at this wonderful café.

Came here with the missus for a Sunday bite, super chill place with a surprising amount of room inside and out. Staff are wonderful, makes service with a smile look like the bare minimum, and the coffee and toasties are excellent too

Friendly staff and a nice place to study with the free WiFi. Only downside is that it's quite small so there's limited seating but still very cosy and has some books and games to borrow.

Fantastic place. This was my first visit, the lemon cake was fantastic as was my latte. The atmosphere was friendly and warm. The whole ambiance of the place great. There is an art gallery attached which I didn't have time to visit. There are books and plenty of comfy seats and nice tables. The whole place is just top class. I cannot recommend highly enough.

Great cake. Great vibes. Great games.

Fabulous lunch, beautiful garden. Wonderful atmosphere.

Great cafe, hidden away abit but a true gem. Nice interior with a variety of hard working and enthusiastic staff who will be friendly and welcoming. From Manchester and had a visit today and had a great sit down inside. Thank you for the great service 👍

Delicious coffee at this lovely, friendly venue by the river. Can't wait to go back!

Always friendly service and a buzzing atmosphere. The coffee is very tasty and fairly priced, especially the student discount on filter coffee. A good place for meeting up, and foreign language groups happen throughout the week.

Lovely atmosphere. Very busy and lively. Awesome cakes and dog friendly too.

Love this place. Great courtyard too and perfect for a coffee or beer. Only thing is lots of laptops especially during the day so hard to get a spot

This place is lovely ! It is spacious, comfy and cosy. There's plenty of seating and the music is very relaxing. The decor itself is very pretty. I recommend going there, the coffee is very good and the staff are friendly, thank you!

This place has a really great energy, laid back and cool. Great for an early evening wine.

Great coffee, cheerful service, and a very beautiful yard at the back! Nice little gem discovered today in Norwich .

Great atmosphere, fantastic beer

Great beer and great coffee. Microcosm of Norwich where you can meet a wide range of people.

Really lovely place, lots of friendly staff, locals and dogs. Great selection of drinks, snacks and lunchtime bites - all reasonably priced - lovely indoor seating and outdoor courtyard with variety of games, books and blankets throughout.

Lovely relaxed meeting place with excellent food and beer.

Went for a mid afternoon pint. Almost everyone else on the bar was on coffee and a few where tapping away on laptops. So it was a slightly surreal atmosphere. But the beer was excellent and the staff were friendly. So all good.

Excellent hospitality & cocktails

Always a nice place to visit. Alas, the chap did not make an oatmilk cappuccino with a dollop of biscoff. And not the first time they have the milk wrong ... The ginger tea was great though.

Lovely gem. A rare place where tea/ coffee/ food/ beer/ wine/ games/ chat/ laptop/ ambience all have equal importance and open all day. Like a British Tapas bar? Tea is even a pot of tea and wine is good and not overpriced. Feels like you're at home. Perfect

Wonderful. Come on Sunday at 6.30ish

Love relaxing boho vibe, friendly staff and patrons.

Very good stop off for lunch. Simple, no-fuss, but delicious sandwich options. Nice courtyard to sit in. Efficient friendly staff. Lovely interior. Nice location. Clean toilets. What’s not to like!

Walking the riverside walk we came across this cafe, stopped for coffee, lots of options. Staff helpful and friendly. Husband uses a mobility scooter and yes there are lots of stairs in the cafe, the staff kindly opened the side entrance which led to a lovely, charming courtyard area, lots of tables and chairs and a sun trap surrounded by history.

What a gem of a find! Great quiet spot with a lovely ambience for a cheeky drink and light bite (toastie!) Rate the choice of craft ales to choose from and impressed with the iced chai latte! But the real stand-out for us, was the cute little courtyard seating area outside - perfect spot for my wife and I to take a couple of hours to rest and read a little! Highly recommend this place!!!

Popped in here for a coffee on a warm Saturday afternoon. Coffee was excellent and the little courtyard was a great spot to sit and relax. Friendly staff. Will definitely be back.

Sat in a sunny window seat, eating toasties and cake with my family, listening to music and relaxing, heavenly after a hard nights camping! The warm and friendly staff made us instantly welcome, a really special cafe I felt compelled to say thank you!

Having just moved to Norwich, I have visited most coffee places- Merchants House is one of the friendliest places, staff are great as well as the coffee They also stay open late if you’re passing for a non pub atmosphere for hot drinks & alcohol

We popped in after the Beer Festival to try it out as it looked so inviting. I’d been here when it was North. We were greeted very warmly by the staff and they tempted us to a cake as well as a tea. It was lovely as they even went and got the pumpkin cake out of the fridge with no prompting. Tea cups were lovely and big and a teapot each. Lemon and Almond cake was moist and tasty. On that visit we’ll definitely be back and so lovely to have somewhere nice to go to finish off the evening with a cuppa.

My husband and I found this when we were visiting Norwich. The staff were lovely and we sat outside in the courtyard surrounded by loads of greenery. When I popped in to the loo I noticed how beautifully done out it is ibside- interesting features on the walls, lively tile work round the counter. The cheese toasties and coffee were very good. If we lived less than 200 miles away we'd be back regularly! Thanks, guys.

Tea brewed from loose leaf, which perhaps we should be grateful for, but by the time if came to the table was not particularly hot and far too strong to be enjoyable. Americano coffee was also far too strong, and although water was added, it still, according to my partner "tasted like sludge". Member of staff taking the money showed no interest in our comments about the quality.

We popped into The Merchants House twice today, before and after canoeing on the river. Good coffee and cake and a beautiful courtyard garden to enjoy it. The staff were friendly and helpful and it made a lovely change from somewhere like Costa coffee.

Stumbled across this lovely place while visiting family close by. What a great find. Really friendly and attentive staff. Great atmosphere which was relaxing and cosy. We had tea and cake and both were perfect. Highly recommend and would definitely seek out next time we visit.

A great coffee house, with a surprisingly large courtyard out the back. Great coffee and very friendly service.

Superb cake and coffee (choice of milks too) in gorgeous sunny terrace garden. Lovely menu and wines and beers available. Great service and very reasonably priced. Quirky interiors with a funky, friendly and comfy feel.

Alone, with friends or on a date, this is the place! Always a relaxed atmosphere and equally good during the day for a pot of tea and a slice of cake (vegan options too!!) or in the evening for a glass of wine. Can't wait to get back here when restrictions allow.

Lovely chilled place for coffee cake or a sneaky G&T. Discovered this place just round the corner from our hotel on a trip to Norfolk. Loved it so much visited everyday of our trip. Staff lovely and friendly. Would recommend to everyone. Fantastic tunes. To suit all ages. Carry on doing what you are doing 😊

This is a thoroughly pleasant place to spend some time after exploring the City. It’s within easy ambling of the Anglican Cathedral. What is not evident from the front is that there is a beautiful secluded courtyard to the rear that is very quiet. Usual...

Lovely interior with a little secret courtyard out the back. Good coffee and beer! Unfortunately didn’t get his name but the guy who was working was incredibly helpful and went out of his way to help us as we were not local to the area....

Great place to stop for coffee along the river. We only had coffee but I spied a very tempting board with toasties and another with a good selection of scrumptious cakes!!!! Service was prompt and friendly - def recommend you try this place!!!! The courtyard...

Quite unassuming from the outside, this is a great little place not only for an afternoon stop but also in the evening too. We had tea and cake in their lovely plant filled courtyard , filled with the aroma of a stunning jasmine in full...

Visited here on a Friday afternoon as where I wanted to go was closed so happy this was open welcomed by staff and ordered a brie and cranberry toastie on granary bread with a hot chocolate and a lovely bit of cake. Found a seat...

For more than 20 tears a group of retired office workers have held an annual informal meeting at what is now Anteros in Norwich. Over the years we have experienced several caterers, and as Organiser I was apprehensive about this latest change. I need not...