A PLACE WORTH KNOWING
Coffee and a secret garden on the Barbican
A small family-run coffee house tucked into a historic merchant’s building on cobbled New Street.
Turn into New Street and give this small coffee house more than a passing glance. The Mad Merchant occupies a sixteenth-century merchant’s building, with a ground-floor coffee bar, a cosy upstairs lounge and a walled garden for the warmer months. Its drinks explore coffee styles from different parts of the world, alongside loose-leaf teas and other colourful options. Breakfasts, lunches and freshly prepared treats give you a reason to stay beyond one cup. The appeal is the layered setting: cobbles outside, old rooms within and a quieter garden behind. Check seasonal hours, especially if the outdoor space is what brings you here.
The lovely little details
- Family-run café in a historic merchant’s house.
- Ground-floor coffee bar and upstairs lounge.
- Walled garden used in the summer months.
SOMETHING TO LOOK OUT FOR
Look beyond the front room
Ask which seating areas are available: the upstairs lounge and seasonal garden make this more than a quick counter stop.
From the venueTHE USEFUL LITTLE DETAILS
Make a little plan.
Getting there
Find the café on cobbled New Street in the Barbican. The official address is 37 New Street.
Before you set off
Check directly for current hours and garden availability; the website publishes a seasonal schedule.
Varied coffee styles
The drinks menu explores coffees from around the world alongside loose-leaf teas.
Check the detailsDetails checked 24 October 2026. Opening times, menus and access arrangements can change; confirm anything essential directly before travelling.
About this feature & our sources
This is an editorial discovery, researched from the venue’s own information and any visitor sources linked here. It is not a paid partnership or a first-hand review. Individual visitor tips reflect that person’s experience; they are not a live rating or a promise about your visit.
- The Mad Merchant Coffee House · official visitor information ↗
- The Mad Merchant Coffee House · Tripadvisor reviews ↗
- Visit Plymouth · named venue location ↗
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