Alchemista Coffee Potions — Restaurant in Norwich

Got to be the weirdest interaction I've had in a coffee shop. We have a little while to kill before our lunch reservation so we figure we'll try somewhere new for a coffee.

I got an iced mocha and my partner got a hot chocolate, both of which were awesome, the coffee was good quality the chocolate was dark and rich and the hot chocolate was creamy and delicious.

The vibe was... weird. So the place has an apothecary vibe, skulls, dark colours, dark wood etc and it works. Tell you what, I'll paint the picture. We sit downstairs, two art students chat loudly using every gen z platitude possible to describe a party or a friend they no longer like or something. The barista has an edge, she's not angry, just loud and swearing at her co-worker. "I'M HERE AND I'M WORKING AREN'T I?!" She yells before he says something in a hushed voice and they chuckle. The guy brings our drinks with a smile, the two art students, oblivious to the comedy, go on about how vegan food is super important. "HEEEEEY!" the staff shout as a woman in full bridal wear bursts through the door with a photographer and a guy with a full 'ironic' mustache. They arrange a shoot out the front of the store. I get jealous at this point and we start taking pictures of each other, the art students have moved on to super hip underground bands like The Cure now, they're an undiscovered gem apparently. We finish our drinks, I hand my cups over to the barista, she smiles and says thank you and we go on with our day. - I'm not making this up, it was mental and charming and I genuinely wonder if it's like that all the time.

Give them a look, the cocktails look awesome, I can vouch for the coffee and the...

It was Samual Johnson who said that "A man who is tired of London is tired of life".

Well, someone who is tired of St Gregorys Alley, is tired of Norwich. For this alley is the funnel through which trundles much of the population of the city: The young and the trendy, along with the homeless, the garrulous, the elderly and the gracious.

At the point where the alley opens up into a happy little handkerchief of democratic green, is "Alchemista Coffee Potions". Unfortunately, however good their coffee is, it is not magic. If it was, then perhaps the staff might be more inclined to smile and show some charm and engagement.

The name itself, conjours up the world of Harry Potter; however the conjouring is not very effective. Instead of entering a tuck shop in Hogwarts, you are transported instead to the anteroom of a torture chamber in Berlin.

The coffee is consistently good, though expensive, the pateries, like the staff and the decor, are poor, and look like they have been slapped about too much for their own...

We took a friend here for her birthday, decided on Afternoon Tea. For me and one friend it was an effort as we had to a) go upstairs and b) the restroom was up another flight of stairs. So definitely not disabled friendly BUT that is down to it being an old building. There is a little space downstairs or they can do takeaway so don't totally discount here if you're "stair challenged" The staff were lovely, decor interesting and the coffee delicious! I would says it's an average selection and now we've been I would think to ask for any pickle or condiments to be served separate from the sandwiches. I didn't order so I don't know if other breads are an option, been a while since I've had white bread but then sometimes egg mayo tastes so much nicer in white bread! 😁 The cakes were very nice and, I believe, made on the premises. Not sure where they sourced their strawberries but they were divine! Definitely worth a visit and don't be afraid to ask the questions...