The Urban Tea Merchant

The walking dead are indeed among us. True horror assailed me when I realized my friend was one of them. You know, those genetically deficient folk who eat only to live. Alas, bestie had no interest in sampling Vancouver’s finer dining. As someone who definitely lives to eat, I wanted to experience one remarkable restaurant that had put Vancouver on the dining scene. Thankfully, if bff had no interest in that, she did think High Tea would be entertaining.
Urban Tea wasn’t our first choice for High Tea. But we left so pleased we were glad the Fairmont Hotel had an elevator problem that day, prohibiting us from getting to their tea salon. For we didn’t regret one moment of our time at Urban Tea for many reasons. One was Michael, our waiter. He was so knowledgeable, professional, friendly and gracious, providing 5 star service from thoughout. I don’t know how long that young gentleman studied, but he knew everything about the different teas on the menu and believe me, they were quite extensive. The ambience itself was lovely, as the salon itself was airy and elegant, and pretty with walls half decorated with a floral print on a black wallpaper background. It’s a room in the back of the store, separate from retail area, intimate and quiet. There was construction outside, but Urban Tea was clever enough to put a screen in front of one of their large windows to block out that sight. You don’t get a view as the store isn’t high up but the room is pretty enough. We ordered the Traditional, and the Sakura Tea Set, a special for that time of the year. I forgotwhat tea my friend ordered, but it was an herbal fruity one that was aromatic and flavorful. On the advice of Michael, I had the French Earl Grey, as I love bergamot in that tea, and was informed that was their strongest flavored Earl Grey. You pick a tea set, then select a tea from the tea menu. If your particular tea is more expensive than what is included in the tea set, you pay the difference. Some of the teas were quite expensive and can add $ 30 plus to your tea set! The French Earl Grey was exquisite. Urban Tea steeps your teas to the proper times before they are brought out to you in pretty tea pots, with warmed milk on the side.
And the food? Well, High Tea is supposed to be a dainty affair, as you sip your cup with a raised pinky and nibble on little savories and delicate cakes. Well, we consumed the food like ravaging Vikings, more gobbling than nibbling. My fave from the Sakura set was the sable. Oh, give me a plate of that wonderfully, lightly marinated fish alone. That small piece slid down my throat, all butter and silk and making me so thankful that being a non-​meat eater, bestie had taken the Beef Wagyu instead and left me the fish. The traditonal set had such delicious little sandwiches, we wished we had more and found out from watching a table that they came in larger sizes. Thankfully, High Tea is a civilized affair, for I was resisted raiding that group’s table. Everything we had was fresh, and delicious, from the savories to the sweets and surprisingly filling, though it might have been the guzzling (sip, you say?) of my tea that might have filled me up too. There was nary a drop left in my teapot.
I am sad the tradition of High Tea is fading in Vancouver, as Urban Tea does a stellar service. At the end, Tom, the manager, came to greet every table to thank them for coming, which was such a courteous gesture and we told him how special the wonderful Michael was. Truly a nice place for tea service, though I would might on a return visit order the «big bites!» as now I know which sandwiches I love more and just a pot of tea. If they offer the sable as a separate dish, I’d definitely order it. The clients are a mix of locals and visitors. One group were office ladies dressed up like Kate Middleton with fancy hats (Vancouverites even have fun at lunch time!) Note that Urban Tea does have an extensive retail area up front that is also worth looking at. The teas, judging from the two we had, are high quality. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a special place to enjoy a good meal and linger.

I brought my mom and my sister here for high tea for Mother’s Day and we loved it! The food was delicious and my mom received a present afterwards:). I’ve been to high tea at the Fairmont and I would say it’s comparable. My only complaint is that I wish they had bigger scones!

Came here for a belated birthday day out on a Sunday afternoon. We were greeted by a French waiter who was very sweet and kind on helping us which tea was most recommended. I ended up having the First Kiss flower tea, which was in a clear teapot and the dried flower slowly blossomed in the glass, giving the water a pinkish tint.
Me and my aunt ended up having the Vogue Tea Service. Here are my thoughts on each dish on the tier:
1^st tier:
Tuna Tataki: Not a fan of tuna, but the tuna was nice and tasted fresh. The spoon it came in made the eating part easier because it was one mouthful
Chicken Cone: The chicken had the texture of pulled pork almost, and the cone was nice a crispy. Really liked this one
Scones: I loved the scones! It came with tea infused jelly and victorian crème.
2^nd tier:
Duck Breast: I forgot what it was called but it was duck breast with a cherry with a toothpick balanced on the rim of a glass filled with a peach tea. You first eat the meat then drink the tea. Tasted nice and it was a new flavour.
Atlantic Lobster: Was really nice and fresh taste, with green caviar as well. Was very easy to eat and tender as well.
Wagyu Beef Rossini with Foie Gras and Truffles: Was way to salty for me, foie gras overpowered everything and had a bad aftertaste :(
3^rd Tier:
Fruits: Nice and fresh
Mango Panna Cotta: Very nice and had a good texture, it included mini sweet milk caviar and freeze dried raspberries.
Raspberry Tart: Very tasty and crust had a good snap. I think the base was a cheesecake but was very good
Almond Cookies: Just regular cookies you can find at your local asian market LOL
Macarons: Two macarons, one chocolate and one strawberry, both were tea infused
Chocolate covered strawberries: Chocolate was frozen to the point where when you chew it it gets stuck in your teeth.
Overall the experience I had was very good, but an improvement could be the noise level. One group behind us were laughing so loud I could hear them from the bathroom. The staff should have told them to quiet down because the customers around me were also annoyed with that table.

5 stars for the 1^st floor décor. 2.5 stars for 2^nd floor décor.
— not a relaxing place to have a tea, the 2^nd floor décor is out of date.
— the price is too high compare to Fairmount high tea.
— the food has mostly Asian flavour, if you are not a big fan of it, stay away from this place.
— no view when you drink your tea (if you will be sitting in their 2^nd floor)
— the chair are very very uncomfortable (it is like outside or garden chairs!) again this in the 2^nd floor.
— nah im not going again.

Did not have a good experience here. Took my family here for early mother’s day lunch. The place is small and cramped. There was a loud Bachelorette party in the back room so we asked to be moved. The front room had construction workers drilling in the court yard while we had tea. Definitely not the relaxing lunch we were looking for. No apologies from staff with snooty and mostly absent service. The price tag was quite high for mediocre food and small portions. Avoid at all cost.

The following review is based on my bf’s perspective. This is his first time having afternoon tea here but it’s probably his last time too. He made a reservation at 4pm on Sunday but we did not get seated until 430pm. There is no point of making a reservation because you will need to wait for a long time anyways.
There was also no where to sit to wait. so we stood for 30min with a few other groups who were also waiting… even though the food is good, we did not have a positive experience because of the unpleasant wait. Plus wait for food is another 30mins +… This is unacceptable for a high end place like this

This review is for their macarons only. As usual I would get one of each flavour and doubling up on some flavours to make it a dozen. That day they sold out the 1837 Black tea & Black current and the Vanilla bourbon Tea & Kaya was not a success so it was removed from the menu. So I tried:
–Bain de Roses Tea
–Matcha
–Early Grey Fortune & Chocolate
–Napleon Tea & Caramel
–Grand Wedding (Passion Fruit & Coconut)
–Moroccan Mint
–Lemon Bush
–Camelot & Praline
My favourite was the matcha. So full of flavour and doesn’t have this sugary sweetness that’s left in your mouth. The others were ok in taste. The macarons had a delicate texture however it wasn’t made well. I’d say it’s a bit undercooked because there was no shell to the macarons. The two confection bases were soft and moist and got stuck together. Had I not eaten some and separated them by lying them flat, they would have gotten molded together.
To my surprise, the macarons here are $ 4 + GST a piece. This is doubling up what you would normally pay for macarons and I’m not happy with what I got. I went on macaron day so half the proceeds went to BC Children’s Hospital Foundation so that kind of made me felt better.
I would come here again to try their high tea only which seems like a better way to spend my $ 50.

Not a fan of high tea in general but I very much enjoyed my lunch here today. Ordered the Pacific Route tea set with extra sablefish and an a la carte order of tea sandwiches. The sablefish was perfectly cooked so it literally melted in your mouth. I ate it with the greens and butter lettuce and the flavours were rich and delicious! If you want some real food, order the extra sablefish it’s worth it! The tuna along with crab/​avocado tower were really tasty as well.
I enjoyed the desserts but nothing out of this world. I didn’t even finish the macaron. Tea sandwiches were like most other high tea sandwiches I’ve had– bland and forgettable.
I ordered the houjicha which I enjoyed. My lunch companion also bought me a bunch of teas from the shop after lunch, which I look forward to trying. The shop itself is very attractive and I have a teapot from TWG and enjoy their black tea very much.
I didn’t pay but the lunch itself was probably $ 150ish for two after tax/​tip. Well worth it for the impeccable service. Everyone was super friendly, patient, and went out of their way to make sure our lunch was seamless.

A really high end place in my opinion for exclusive tea and tea service.
The staff here is knowledgable and super professional. You really do feel like royalty here.
The afternoon tea here is every bit delicate. Do not underestimate their savoury selections; these finger sandwiches taste exceptional. Their macarons are marked at $ 4/​pc a la carte, so having one included in your high tea is a good way to try them. I especially enjoy the tea jelly (to go with the scones), so much that I want to buy a jar.
Their wide selection of tea means you will for sure find one that suits you. However, be aware that the tea service only covers up to $ 8 for your tea selection — that means, if your tea is listed for more than $ 8 on the tea menu, you would have to pay for the difference. Also, there is no refill on the tea, as the pots that they give you do not contain tea leaves. So if you ask for refill you are asking for a fresh pot of tea. Do ask for milk with your tea — it is not those standard creamer other places give you, they actually steam your milk so it is foamy and warm.
Even if I don’t dine in for high tea, I sometimes buy loose leaf teas when I feel like splurging. I docked one star from my review because some of these prices are just obscene. Normally I don’t like to base ratings on pricing, because everyone has their own budget, but I do feel like the mark up here is insane. There is no such thing as buy xx grams of tea and get a free tin — if you want the tin, you’re going to have to pay for it at $ 29/​can for the smallest size. That being said, my favourite is the darjeeling tea with rose buds. Sometimes they have special packaging like around Valentine’s Day and Christmas, also they have seasonal teas like first flush darjeeling.
I have sat in for non-​high tea dining. I got the buttered tart and a pot of Chocolate Earl Grey. It is an expensive tea time, but I enjoy absorbing myself in this classy environment (great music). The tea was good, however, the tart was very disappointing. While the filling was good, the crust was not at all buttery; in fact, it sort of tasted like plastic. It was very surprising to me because I loved everything in their high tea menu. Maybe no one ever orders a la carte.
All in all, a perfect place for afternoon tea with the girl friends and be sure to pick up some tea if you are a connoisseur!

WOW! We came here on Saturday afternoon for their high tea service and had their Lunar New Year set ($ 48 per person, available for a limited time only). Amazing service and DELICIOUS treats!
My favourites from the below were the wontons, lobster tail and the strawberry tartlette. I paired the food with the Geisha Blossom tea (green tea with fruits with peach notes) — seriously one of my favourite teas EVER (similar to Neverland Tea Salon’s «Peter Promise», if you’re familiar).
SAVOURIES
* Pork and Chive Wontons, Chicken and Ginger Broth, «1837 Black Tea» Oil
* «Imperial Lapsang Souchong Tea» Chicken Salad, Black Sesame Basket, Pea Shoots
* «Lemon Bush Tea» Alantic Lobster Torchon, Tobiko Aioli, Yuzu Gel
* Brome Lake Duck Breast, Amerena Cherry, «White Secret Tea» Shooter
* Foie Gras Mousse, Truffle Aioli, «New York Singapore Tea» Cracker, Plum Essence
SWEETS
* «Alfonso Tea» infused Mango Panna Cotta, Honey Milk Caviar
* «Weekend in Venice» Strawberry Tartlette, Crème Anglaise
* White and Dark Chocolate Dipped Strawberry
* «Almond Tea» infused Petit Four, Vanilla Sugar Almonds
* TWG Tea Macaron
* Mélange of Fresh Fruit
* Freshly Baked Scone, Victorian Créme, «1837 Black Tea» Jelly
I’m looking forward to coming back to try their Pacific Route tea set!

Today I’ve brought my friends here for my friend’s birthday. I’ve read mixed reviews but this tea salon had been bookmarked and listed on my must-​try places for a few years. I was half hour late due to personal issues during the day and the ladies were patient. They didn’t kick my party and I out after the two hour mark.
The service was impeccable, which was refreshing. The maître d/​hostess may be a tad stiff but she was very accommodating and polite. The rest of the wait staff were pleasant and attentive. They offered tea samples while my party waited for me. It’s overall everything you’d expect in a high end tea salon. It can be snooty but as a former server and in the customer service industry, it’s understandable.
Primarily a boutique for TWG tea, the extensive tea list beats most tea salons in Vancouver. If you’re a tea addict like me, I’d go back to try new teas. I tried their White Earl Grey tea, which was one of their exclusive blends ($ 21). At the first cup, it’s slightly floral, yellowish-​clear but it fools you into drinking more as the bergamot oil gets richer and the silver tea leaves hit your tongue. It’s caffeinated to the point where a pot of it hurt my stomach. I suggest ordering a heavier dish a la carte to absorb the acidity if you’re a bit sensitive to caffeine like me. It’ll be expensive to add more food to the afternoon tea service but you’ll save yourself from the pain. My other friend tried the Matcha Nara ($ 9), which was prepared in chadō style: whipped powder in hot water in the tea bowl. While my second friend had the standard Chai ($ 9).
The afternoon tea was served quickly. It was the traditional three tiers of sandwiches and finger foods, scones and desserts on top. The sandwiches were cucumber & aged white cheddar, tomato & Piave Vecchio with a green aioli (couldn’t identify the vegetable) and fig jam with lettuce infused with Earl Grey (either the bread or the figs were infused — the maître d wasn’t specific). The two finger foods were smoked salmon on rosette tea infused bread and tuna (or chicken?) mixed with black sesame powder and possibly mayo in sweet waffle cones. The bottom tier included the classics, Northwestern, and sweet and savoury combinations. It was my favorite tier. The second tier had three different scones (cheese and green onion, cranberry and lemon, and cinnamon raisin) with the devon cream and jam. It also contained three coconut Madeleines, which were a miss. The top tier had so many desserts. The matcha panna cotta was an interesting version. The matcha mousse sat on the top with white chocolate pieces to sweeten it. The bottom tasted mostly of cream and rum or bourbon. I liked it overall, despite my friends finding it odd. Dark chocolate strawberries were awfully reminiscent of Valentine’s Day. The rest were forgettable: some brownie with white chocolate beads, cut fruit and Neapolitan macarons that came in black and brown.
tl;dr: The entire tea set is going to fill you up. By the time we reached the top, we had to leave some treats unfinished. They offered refills for my tea pot but I could not go for another pot. The teas were THAT strong.
Unfortunate things do happen even in the best tea salons but the maître d was again very accommodating and offered concessions beyond my expectation. It’s one of the more hefty tea services out there but it’s worth it. There is understated elegance, as opposed to either cutesy frills or glamour, when you’re in here.

The Urban Tea Merchant does a wonderful job of steeping the classic with the modern. With such a gigantic selection of teas it is. Wry hard to decide, however this time I tried the Caramel Tea which boasted such a beautiful aromatic flavour and did not disappoint.
We tried the Brunch Tea Service and were not disappointed. The Smoked Salmon and Chicken Basket were wonderful, but I truly enjoyed the Egg Florentine with Hollandaise and Scrambled Eggs with Northern Divine Caviar and Crème Fraiche. All of the sweets were fantastic, but the 1837 Black Tea Jelly White is fantastic and is great on the scone, make sure you take some home with you.
Service is professional and friendly and very attentive. We had our young boys with us and they took good care of them ensuring that the boys would be able to test their tea before they served it. Make sure if your bring your kids they try the Balloon Tea, great flavour!
Wonderful time was had by all.

Wow and wow!
Tea is right and desserts are amazing!
We were there for my sister’s birthday and we had a great time there! We picked out our own tea with great suggestions from the tea consultant there! They are very professional and know their tea well!
We ordered 2 pacific coast afternoon tea a, 1 special holiday collection, and 1 traditional hi-​tea tiers. Flavour is great!

If you want afternoon tea in the Vancouver area, you have plenty of choices. So why should you go to the Urban Tea Merchant? Creativity. The menu is filled with some interesting items that are worth your hard-​earned dollars. (Yes, it’s a bit pricey.)
The Pacific Route Tea Set is a welcome change to traditional afternoon tea. It focuses on seafood. That said, the Traditional Tea Set is also well done, so traditionalists will be happy.

we tried the vogue afternoon tea set which is wonderful. the service is marvelous. I will definitely re-​visit again！
perfect plaxce for high tea or just some good tea with food

Couldn’t visit Vancouver and not get high tea! We ordered their traditional tea set (you know, for the full experience without killing our wallets), but we were informed that they had run out of macarons… which was pretty disappointing, since I had heard they were really good macarons. Aside from that, the tea and confections were really enjoyable.
Loved how open and light the seatiing area was, since a lot of tea places I’ve seen are pretty dimly lit or feel a bit stuffy. Definitely pricey, but I guess you pay for the quality and experience!
Thanks for a great introduction to high tea, Urban Tea Merchant — I’ll hopefully be back the next time I’m in Vancouver.

I never get tired of trying new teas here…
I can honestly say they have the best macarons in town!!! None of that artificial colouring or excess sweetness like some other so called high end places in Vancouver.
Their scones with cream and jam are also divinely delicious!
Their service is exceptional and you always feel so special being treated with such high level of customer service and care.
Excited about their new summer ice teas!

Urban tea merchant is an excellent place to have high tea with friends.
I asked my friend at last moment to have high tea and he selected this fine establishment. Urban tea merchant was highly accommodating to seat us as we did not make reservations.
The seating room is spacious and well lit with open windows. It is quite cozy for a couple or for a group of women to socialize. Yes, we were the few males there… deal with it.
The selection of teas is vast. I selected a white cheery tea while my friend chose a black Darjeeling. The white cherry tea was light, crisp and sweet in flavor. It was if I was drinking nectar from a flower.
We ordered the Westcoast tea set. This «modern» set served contemporary style items on a silver tray. Some of the items we ate were the glazed miso fish served in lettuce wrap, albacore tuna in a cone, chocolate dipped strawberries and macaroons. Macaroons seem to be the rage now.
The service here was good. Our order was provided to us in a timely manner for my friend and I to socialize, gawk at other people’s food and check out the Canadian hotties. Yes, I know it’s high tea time where a bit of refined culture should be discerned. But, I’m on holiday so give me some slack.
Highly recommend.

The Bottom Line: Afternoon tea? Look no further
Okay, so it’s a little pricey but the tea and accompanying food are sublime. I have really struggled to find white TWG tea but Urban Tea stocked what I was looking for which was a great surprise.
In addition, there is a perfect balance between sweet and savory which is unusual as there is a tendency to place too much focus on the former.
Excellent!

We came in for tea only. And, tea we had, I suppose.
We were ignored and left to linger around the counter for a little bit. I had to ask for service.
Our waiter was very enthusiastic about their expansive tea selection. I asked for a recommendation and got the Nepolean. I was told it was fragrant and quite unique. I received my $ 8 pot of tea. It tasted more like $ 2.
The room itself was quite lovely. I enjoyed the concept of the place. It was just a tad too pricey for tea.