Elixir Wizard Academy - Boba Tea Bar & Ice Cream — Restaurant in Costa Mesa

Review of Elixir Tea Bar: A Unique Experience for the Nerd Inside You

If you're a self-proclaimed nerd and a lover of all things unique and fantastical, then Elixir Tea Bar is an absolute must-visit! This hidden gem of a tea bar offers an enchanting experience that transports you into a world of whimsy and imagination. From the moment you step inside, you can feel that you are about to embark on a thrilling journey where every sip of tea is a part of a greater story waiting to be unraveled.

The ambiance of Elixir Tea Bar is unlike any other. It's like stepping into a fantasy realm, with walls adorned with intricate artwork inspired by various mythical creatures and ancient tales. The dim, warm lighting creates a cozy and mysterious atmosphere that keeps you engrossed in the moment. You almost expect to see wizards huddled in corners, discussing their latest magical findings or elves sipping on their elixirs.

But it's not just the atmosphere that sets Elixir Tea Bar apart; it's their exceptional tea recipes that truly steal the show. Each drink is carefully crafted with a blend of flavors that are out of this world. The teas not only taste amazing, but they also come with creative names that add an extra layer of excitement. Whether you're a seasoned tea connoisseur or a novice explorer of the tea world, the vast selection of unique flavors will captivate your taste buds and keep you coming back for more.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of visiting Elixir Tea Bar is the feeling of being a part of a grand adventure. The staff members are not just ordinary servers; they are storytellers who passionately narrate the origins and histories behind each tea. They engage you in the lore of the teas, making your experience more than just a drink but a memorable tale to cherish.

Having tried several of their concoctions, I must say that deciding on a favorite is no easy task. Each one has its charm and personality, making the selection process an exciting ongoing quest. From the mysterious "Moonlit Serenade" to the powerful "Dragon's Breath," and the soothing "Enchanted Garden," the variety of flavors is bound to satisfy every tea-loving heart.

Moreover, Elixir Tea Bar also caters to various dietary preferences, offering a diverse range of options for vegans, gluten-free, and lactose-intolerant individuals. This thoughtfulness adds to the overall inclusive and welcoming vibe of the place.

As for the service, the staff's passion and knowledge about tea shine through in every interaction. They are always eager to answer questions, recommend new blends, and make you feel like a valued part of their tea-loving community.

In conclusion, Elixir Tea Bar is a haven for nerds and anyone seeking a magical experience. The blend of unique recipes, great flavors, and the feeling of being part of a larger story sets it apart from other tea shops. It's a place where the spirit of adventure meets the comfort of a delightful cup of tea. So, if you're ever in town and want to embark on a tea-tasting journey like no other, don't miss the chance to visit Elixir Tea Bar. As for me, I'll keep coming back until I find the one tea that truly steals my heart!

PS. Props for the fairies they make you feel...

Overall: 4.5/5 (dine in)

We were in Newport Beach and wanted something to drink so we did a quick Yelp search and found Elixir Tea Bar. The out of world decoration drew our attention so we decided to go there despite some reviews about average but expensive milk tea.

Elixir is located in a plaza with plenty of free parking spots but it's not clearly labeled and hard to find. It's actually up the stairs by the entrance of a vape shop. We were confused since there was a sign posted on the stair saying "Psychic". Once you go up the stairs, there is someone at the door who ushers you to your seat. It's based on availability but you can request to move to different spots. All the staff members are dressed up as different characters with elf ears and seem to enjoy their jobs. You see decors from a variety of fantasy realms like Game of Thrones to Harry Potter.

We were seated at the bar where there were 3 movies showing on 3 different tvs. Their menu resembles that of an actual bar with ice creams listed on the left and milk teas on the right. They have lactose-free milk and milk alternatives available as well. The milk tea ranges from $10-14 and ice cream is $10. We thought we were going to get milk teas in the small plastic bottles that were on display but they came out in the 1 L beer mug with wands as stirrers! It also took them a while to make the drinks (~15 minutes) so we watched Avatar while we waited. After we got our drink, we moved to the back seats for a better view of the place. They have another room for their Elixir Wizard Medallion members behind the bookshelf too.

Large Prophecy With Lactose-Free Milk ($10): This is a black tea latte with cardamom boba & magical crystals chimera style. This latte uses heavy cream so we substitute it for lactose-free milk. It's essentially a brown sugar milk tea which explains why it's so much sweeter than the Illusion.

Large Illusion ($12): This is an oolong milk tea latte with honey boba & magical crystals Ceraph wizard style. I liked this one more than the prophecy but my husband liked the Prophecy more since it's sweeter. I could taste the oolong tea and thought the sweetness level was just right. I don't know what's in the magical crystals that give it the blue color but it doesn't affect the taste of the drink. I think it's butterfly tea and it's not sparkly like the menu picture. This latte uses lactose-free milk already so we didn't have to change the milk.

The boba in both drinks were a bit hard & got stuck in the straw quite often. I could taste the honey but didn't really notice a different taste for the cardamom boba. It would have been great if they offered other toppings.

The waitress said they wanted to create a unique place for people who want to enjoy the bar scene without the alcohol, and I think they definitely succeeded! We had a great time chilling there while sipping on our giant milk tea. A very unique boba shop that I recommend checking out at...

This place looks awesome, and I have been to many experience-based bars and restaurants, speakeasies, etc. so were excited to try some creative tea drinks and have our little ones try out the wizard test while visiting for a trip to Disney. Unfortunately the visit didn’t quite go to plan.

First off, the air conditioning wasn’t working and it was miserably hot and uncomfortable inside, but we decided to stick around and give it a go anyway. The wizard test they offer for $5 extra is cute, but they are strangely strict about the rules and don’t little kids get a prize (which is just a cheap sticker) for completing the test if they don't “pass” (catch a bubble on a wand and put it in their drink). Definitely something to keep in mind if you have small children and are considering coming here.

My daughter is 7 and her 11-year-old brother was able to catch the bubble on his wand and get a prize, but she wasn’t able to catch it without it popping unfortunately (after only being given 2 tries) and was of course pretty bummed out about that…we asked the server if she could have a sticker for participating anyway since she is a literal child and we paid the extra $5 for the “experience” and she flatly refused. We were a bit put off by the refusal and found it pretty ridiculous that they would be so opposed to letting kids have a cheap little sticker for participating in a test we had paid extra for, but ok. They just kept saying we would have to come back and try again, to which I replied we live out of state and wouldn’t be able to do that and they still refused.

It’s also worth noting that the drinks were sub-par. We tried 4 different drink options and none of them were very great unfortunately. Definitely have had much better and more affordable boba at just about any local boba spot. Sadly this place seems to be more focused on style...