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    The Lab by Alchemy Coffee

    4.4 (210 reviews)
    InexpensiveCoffee & Tea, Desserts
    Open 8:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    The Lab by Alchemy Coffee Coffee & Tea Photos

    Business Info

    THE LAB BY ALCHEMY COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Good for working
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Lab by Alchemy Coffee

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    Libby H.

    Cute little cafe, although parking can be hard to find since it's just street/alley parking and majority are only 1 hour blocks Mon-Fri. It's on the smaller side so seating can run out quickly but there was a table open for me to sit at. I ordered an iced dirty chai with almond milk which was yummy, and it cost almost $7. The barista was super nice. Wi-fi is free! I didn't see any restrooms inside though.

    Iced oat milk latte
    Michele F.

    First time trying this coffee shop. After I arrived, I noticed that they only offer whole, soy and oat milk (the last had an upcharge). I've only been in Richmond for about a year and a half, and this is one of many coffee shops with such limited milk offerings. I always have skim or low fat milk in my coffee drinks and cannot drink whole milk because it's too fatty. I wasn't impressed with almond milk when I tried it, so this time I opted for the oat milk. It's better than the almond milk, but has a bit of an off putting taste. The barista was friendly, it's just too bad that I'm not a fan of these limited dairy offerings. It's a cool little coffee shop, but the available dairy options would prevent me from returning.

    love the customized mug and plates!
    Gregory F.

    A delightful place in a busy space - lots of foot traffic coming in and out of this place per its proximity to VCU's campus. Loved the modern vibe with lots of natural light and seating. Solid coffee too :)

    Cafe
    Emily S.

    Good vibes to be had! The barista (don't know her name oops) is awesome. She seems so comfortable and in her element. It's definitely somewhat busy in here and she's just doing really well keeping calm and focused, yet friendly and helpful. Pour over (Ethiopian) is quite good. The flavor is very round at first. Sort of like raisins and burnt butter. Bitterness at the end. Would get again. Didn't try any food items here.

    Maggie H.

    Super close local coffee shop to VCU. Service was amazing, the decor and theme is on point. They serve a delicious chai, and I got a hot chai because it was raining. It's authentic, spicy, and flavorful. There's some couches and a lot of tables/chairs for studying or lounging. I wish they had a cup sleeve lol.

    Pumpkin latte
    Amanda E.

    I've had this on my list of RVA coffee shops and it exceeded my expectations! I loved the overall vibe and atmosphere as soon as you walk on. Music was playing so there was a slight upbeat energy but still a chill and relaxed vibe. I like they have a food menu beyond just pastries. I got the pumpkin chai latte (lite syrup) which was perfect and not too sweet.

    Wall of (Coffee) Fame
    Zee A.

    Finally got to go in as we missed it out last two trips to Richmond. Enjoyed my Mocha as it was a perfect temperature and not too sweet. Just like I love it. I also love that they use Vigilante coffee and support other brands like coffee culture.

    Hannah H.

    I really liked The Lab by Alchemy Coffee! This super hip place is serious about their coffee, and it shows! The menu offers drip, espresso, pour overs, cold press, and even chai, cocoa, and tea as other options. I had a cafe au lait and a chai latte (homemade), and both were served super hot, super strong, and super delicious! Absolutely no bitterness, graininess, or any -nesses! There was only one barista on shift, but they were super welcoming, informative, and very kind! The place has plenty of tables and some counter seating, and it seems as many locals come here to do some work and/or to enjoy their beverages. I'd love to go back and try out the rest of their coffee menu. Parking is available on the side streets. +well-made beverages +friendly staff +great space to enjoy/work/catch up +parking on the side streets

    Cortado
    Ailun H.

    I came here on a cold afternoon with a few friends, and they have said good things about the coffee here. The interior is cute and hipster, definitely a great vibe for college students since there are sizable tables perfect for studying and working. I also love the plaques and posters they have of other roasters from all over the country! I got a cortado, which is my go-to espresso drink. It was only $3.52, which is pretty cheap for a double shot. The espresso uses beans roasted from Recluse, which I hear is a great and popular local coffee roaster in Richmond. There is an 88 cent up charge for oat milk which isn't too bad since it complements espresso shots well. At first sip, the espresso was strong and juicy like a fruit explosion in your mouth. Then, the after taste transitions into something more nutty and chocolatey. Wow, absolutely delicious. The oat milk merely complements the espresso and did not overpower the drink. I have no complaints about this cortado. One of my friends got the cold press latte with vanilla syrup which was good but a bit watery. The overall flavor is solid, but it's on a watery side (instead of milk), which is probably what a cold press is. The coffee taste is not very strong but prominent enough to be enjoyable. My friend said she would prefer an espresso over cold pressed coffee. My other friend got the hot chocolate, and he thought it was good but the medium size was extremely small for what would normally be considered "medium". I would say this looked like an 8 oz. cup so we wonder what a "small" size would look like? Overall, because of the mind-blowing cortado, I'm giving this place a 5/5. We all thought it was delicious and definitely the best drink we got here. 101% would recommend the cortado here. I definitely need to check out Recluse for their beans sometime!

    Cappuccino with oat milk
    Leland L.

    One of the best cappuccinos I've ever had! Love the light, the vibe, and the amount of seating in this coffee shop. Very spacious and cozy and really good coffee

    Cappuccino

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    2 years ago

    Love this little shop! It's always nice to come in to anywhere with smiling faces and this definitely takes the cake on that!

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    Page 1 of 6

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    Brecotea - | ORDER COUNTER |

    Brecotea

    4.4(43 reviews)
    9.4 mi
    $$

    Bright and airy space, almost like a spa!…read more Quiet when I came in weekday afternoon. Calming spot to grab a treat, get some work done/journal, or catch up with friends in an aesthetic and modern cafe. Ordered the paradise tea with mango and avocado. I loved the textures and layers of flavors. The drink was filling and lasted me a while, not watery but refreshing. The mango tasted fresh and avocado creamy. I haven't tried the pastries at this location, but have at their other Richmond cafe. Great cakes and buns made fresh in-house. Easy to find parking at the lot outside. Service is pretty quick.

    Came here to get a breakfast pastry while in the area. Brecotea is a Korean inspired bakery that…read morealso has hot and cold beverages, breads, cakes, and savory sandwiches as well. The ambiance was clean and orderly. Upon entering, you grab a serving tray lined with parchment and some tongs. The items are in a glass enclosed display that you have to open and place your selections on your tray for purchase. I settled on the pistachio cream filled pecan pastry, the almond twist, and strawberry shortcake. The beverage menu was extensive: matcha, flavored teas, cocoa, espresso/coffee, and more. We were greeted by pleasant staff at checkout and our orders placed in a parchment type bag for take out. They also have seating inside. The pastries were just sweet enough without being overly sweet, which I like. The pistachio cream was a perfect compliment to the pecan encrusted pastry. The almond twist was both flaky and crunchy with the sliced almonds on top, and the strawberry shortcake had layers of real strawberries, whipped topping and yellow cake that was moist. All were fresh. All in all, a great place to stop by for a morning pastry treat and tea/coffee while in the area,

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    Brecotea - Honey Danish

    Honey Danish

    Brecotea - Hot Dog Danish

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    Buttermilk and Honey - It's a Wrap with Fries

    Buttermilk and Honey

    4.0(198 reviews)
    0.8 miDowntown
    $$

    I was pleasantly surprised after reading the reviews and coming in with lower expectations. To be…read moreclear, the 4 stars is based on the type of restaurant. It is fast casual - you order at the kiosk and grab a place to eat, listening for your number and/or text to alert you the food is ready. We arrived about 6pm on a Saturday night. It was busy and I grabbed one of the last two tables. It got very busy shortly after we placed our orders. The dining area is pretty big with plenty of bar seating around the windows. While we all ordered one after the other, our food didn't come out that way. Most of the food came out in about 25-30 minutes. The chicken was cooked perfectly. Juicy! Two people got tenders and three of us got sandwiches. The OG sandwich was very good, just messy! I ended up using a fork and knife bc it got too messy. The Mac and cheese was made with pimento cheese and was very good. My friend who got the fried green tomatoes said they were delicious and filling. Lots of goodies on top. Two friends enjoyed the collards. The only person who was underwhelmed was the person who got the Asian sandwich. Overall, if I wanted a good chicken sandwich and a Buttermilk and Honey was nearby, I'd place an order.

    Parking in downtown is usually a pain. We had to circle the block a few times to get a spot on…read moreThursday night around 19:45. We walked in to find the staff bustling, cooking, and prepping orders, and the smell of some delicious fried chicken in the air. I saw the kiosks and was not too thrilled with the Wawa experience, but we gave it a shot anyway, since fried chicken is one of our favorites. The process was simple and allowed us to add or remove anything we could want, so that was nice. While walking to find a seat, we saw a person panhandling in the dining area, but the staff promptly removed him from the premises. I ordered us the Pimento Cheese Balls for an appetizer, and I chose the Fried Chicken and French Toast as my entree because I always try the "chicken and waffles" at every establishment that offers it. My partner ordered the OG Chicken Sandwich without tomato, and it came with crinkle-cut fries. It was about $40. The chef proclaimed our order was ready in quick succession, maybe three orders behind the guests before us. We waited about ten minutes, maybe fifteen at most. We picked up the orders from the counter, and there was a mix-up on the syrup, but the chef promptly rectified the situation. He was a no-nonsense kind of guy; straight to the point. He seemed firm, yet kind. It was clear the day had been a busy one; he even told us as much, which was great to hear (busy = fantastic food). The French toast squares looked like rye or pumpernickel, and they emitted a sweet aroma, a delightful hit of cinnamon and brown sugar. I drizzled the caramel syrup on my chicken and toast, sliced a piece, and paired a bite of chicken with the toast. I closed my eyes to savor the flavors: the toast was crunchy and almost gooey (yet, not overly so), the chicken was crunchy, the sweet cinnamon-y flavors from the toast, the caramel from the syrup, and the tender, moist chicken were a match made in culinary art. I cannot sufficiently describe the French toast in a way that would do it justice; it was crunchy and semi-gooey, and all scrumptious. I can only say it was the single best French toast that I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Next, I tried the fried pimento cheese balls. Oh my. If you like mozzarella sticks, try these. I adored them: elevated fried cheese, for real. My partner enjoyed her sandwich as well; she ate everything except some of her fries. I saved half of my chicken and toast for today because I am like a treasure golem when it comes to delicious leftovers. I am going to air-fry the chicken and skillet-heat the toast back to its original goodness. I told the cooks that that was the best French toast that I have ever had, and I mean it. Do yourself a favor and try it if you're into French toast. This one is the GOAT. Side note: I spoke with the head chef outside, and he is from another branch (possibly Henrico?) to whip this location back into shape. Two words: "Nailed it."

    Photos
    Buttermilk and Honey - Inside

    Inside

    Buttermilk and Honey - Chicken Tenders + Fries

    Chicken Tenders + Fries

    Buttermilk and Honey - Wonderful place!!

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    Wonderful place!!

    Lamplighter Coffee Roasters

    Lamplighter Coffee Roasters

    4.2(510 reviews)
    1.2 miSouthern Fan
    $

    Cute, lil coffee spot - we stopped by to try a new cafe and found the outdoor and indoor ambience…read morewas charming and eclectic. It's definitely a local spot and there was a small line when we arrived around 9:30ish, but it moved relatively quickly and we ordered an oatmilk latte, brown sugar cardamom oatmilk latte, and vegan burrito. The weather was nice, so we found outdoor seating and our drinks/food came out within 10mins. Overall, not our favorite cup of coffee in the area - but still good and very-well priced! The burrito was yummy too - I'd definitely recommend if you're looking for a relaxed, no-fuss spot :)

    This is my favorite coffee shop and hangout spot in the city, and it being within walking distance…read moreprobably makes me a little biased. It is a cool place to spend time in town, grab a coffee, and do some solid people watching. The breakfast burrito is great, and the coffee is pretty good too. The staff is extremely nice, and everything always comes out as quickly as possible, which I really appreciate. It is not the best place to work from home during the winter. The Wi-Fi can be a bit spotty at times, and there is no easily accessible power, which makes longer work sessions tough. When the weather is nice, though, their screened-in outdoor seating is a great place to work for a few hours. Overall, it is an easy spot to recommend, whether you are stopping by for breakfast, hanging out with friends, or just looking for a relaxed place to spend some time.

    Photos
    Lamplighter Coffee Roasters - Front counter

    Front counter

    Lamplighter Coffee Roasters - Bagel and lox

    Bagel and lox

    Lamplighter Coffee Roasters - Outside

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    Outside

    Blanchard's Coffee - Summer special: Ube Coconut Latte

    Blanchard's Coffee

    4.3(141 reviews)
    1.7 miMuseum District
    $$

    I came here with a friend on a hot afternoon looking for a cool drink. I spotted a latte special…read morewith Ube and coconut and wanted to try it. I was a bit disappointed that they only offer whole or oat milk, as I was used to having more milk options (like low fat or nonfat). I can't drink whole milk and I'm not a big fan of oat milk. The barista recommended that I try the oat milk and said if I didn't like the drink, they would make me something else. I asked for light oak milk and hoped for the best. My latte was served in layers, so I got a big blast of oat milk in my first sip, but after I mixed my latte, it tasted so much better. The coconut flavor really came through and offset the oat milk flavor. I was really happy with my drink and with the super helpful barista. I'll for sure be coming back!

    I'm a coffee lover extraordinaire. I was excited to go to this place because it was highly…read morerecommended by a friend. As anyone can see by my other reviews, I give a lot of 4 and 5-star ones, and am generally not a complainer. When I rate something low, there's really a reason. There was nothing for me to like about this place. First, there was no signage to speak of. It wasn't real easy to find. I didn't even know I had found the right place until I saw the name of the place on the bags of coffee. When I came in, it was a cold feeling, not a friendly one. Every person I dealt with behind the counter wasn't warm or inviting. I got the feeling that they felt I "should have known" where to order, and "should have known" where to wait, or to pick up my coffee. I got a takeout hot coffee but had to interrupt and kindly ask for a lid. And when I did I got a vibe like I was an irritation or something. I went out to the car with my coffee and told my husband I hoped it was really outstanding coffee with what I had to go through to get it. And you know what, it wasn't all that great. It's not worth going back for. I don't get why people like or recommend this place.

    Photos
    Blanchard's Coffee - Inside

    Inside

    Blanchard's Coffee
    Blanchard's Coffee - Coffee bean display

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    Coffee bean display

    Abi's Books & Brews - Up All Night Cherry pastry, Lavender Lit Latte

    Abi's Books & Brews

    4.7(31 reviews)
    0.6 miThe Fan

    Abi's Books and Brews is the perfect combination of coffee,books and records. If I miss anything…read moreit's because I was fixated on the books. Upon entering, the books are found along the wall, there are tables and chairs to sit and the coffee is ordered at a counter right in the center of the store. Towards the back, they have a section just for kids and young adults. Also, there are plenty of parking outside. They have new and old books available at decent prices. One of the best things I have ever seen is they have a dedicated turning bookcase for BANNED books of Hanover county. It is a lending library. You choose a book, open it and scan the QR code inside and check off the book you picked. Then, you return it when you're done. No time limit on it. That easy. I am so proud that they are supporting these books and making it easy for anyone to have access to them. On this visit, I borrowed Jodi Picoult's book, Nineteen Minutes. I recommend you come visit and support this coffee/book shop in the VCU area. I definitely recommend it and plan to visit often.

    I needed a place to work in the AC and went to Abi's Books and Brews and couldn't have been happier…read morewith the experience! Luck was on my side as I found street parking right in front of the shop. This place is a dream for anyone looking to get some work done. They've thoughtfully labeled each outlet, making it ideal for co-working. No more searching aimlessly for a spot to plug in--what a relief! I tried the chocolate croissant and americano, and both were fantastic. The croissant was flaky and delicious, and the americano provided just the right boost. The staff was incredibly kind and made the visit even more special by treating my maltipoo, Printz, to a pup cup!

    Photos
    Abi's Books & Brews - Inside

    Inside

    Abi's Books & Brews - Chocolate croissant

    Chocolate croissant

    Abi's Books & Brews - A European style coffeeshop in RVA

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    A European style coffeeshop in RVA

    The Lab by Alchemy Coffee - coffee - Updated May 2026

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