The General Mercantile

Two words– HOT CHOCOLATE
It’s to die for, best hot chocolate I’be ever had.
Seating can be a little difficult to find of you get your drink to stay, depending on the time. But it’s definitely worth it.

Coooool – this place is a bit of sensory overload, but that’s what makes it so great. Great coffee, and you could probably spend an hour or two alone just wandering around the little trinkets and other things they have for sale.

I’m a big fan. The service was amazing and the décor was extremely unique. Their merchandise and layout provides a great chance to explore new things. Their selection of coffee and tea was a great way to explore new tastes. Their seating areas are innovative. I’d strongly recommend The General Mercantile to friends.

I’ve been a customer for the last 14 years starting as a student and returning each time I return to Helena. The quality of the coffee is deserving of 5 stars. However, thanks to a rude and accusatory member of the staff, you’ve lost a loyal pair of paying customers.
If a customer is required to a beverage in their hand the entire duration of their stay, please post signage indicating this. There are plenty of equivalent businesses that provide quality customer service in Helena including your across the street competitor and a larger Seattle based chain.

The tea is delicious, people who work there are nice and you just want to buy anything there :) loved it !

It’s like Starbucks meets Spencers.

Invite a friend to the merc for conversation and hot chocolate. Study for finals in a cozy booth. Rendezvous with classmates over break to relive those high school days. Or just sit and soak up the warm vibes, friendly smiles and eclectic music. The merc is helena’s signature spot to renew the spirit. And I do not work for them!!! Enjoy.

Oh. My. Goodness. What a great place! So many fun things to look at, buy and try! I drank an Earl Grey Chocolate Cake drink which was FANTASTIC! Indigo was the barista and the drink she made won’t be forgotten. Definitely stop by and give this hidden gem a try!

This is a very neat place. It doesn’t matter if you’re feeling touristy and need a little kitsch for your suitcase, or if you are a local looking for some coffee. This place has something for everyone. The people working behind the counter are very friendly and will welcome you no matter which category you may fall under.
I ordered a cappuccino and a little «Montana gold» tea to try at home. The cappuccino was brilliant. The espresso was smooth and delicious. The verdict is still out on the tea but it smells wonderful.

Serving great coffee, candy, and gifts for decades. The interior décor is fantastic, the service is good, and location ideal.

Great coffee and tea. Fun atmosphere. Unique. Easy to find a quiet corner to study. The only drawback is the internet is not reliable! When it does connect, it’s slow. If that gets fixed, it would be 5 stars.

Thoroughly impressed with the selection, the service, and the adorable ambiance. I’m from Chicago, but my next trip to Helena will surely include a stop in this shop.

Being a coffee-​snob I find myself usually a little worried about trying anything «too local» but this place was too cute to pass up. I ordered an Iced Americano and I was impressed to see the baristas actually PULL the espresso shots! Instead of the fully automated machines :)

I wish I had a General Mercantile in California. You enter in and it’s like you’re transported to somewhere between western days and modern times. I like how they incorporated little nooks and crannies for folks to lounge as this place is also a café. They were playing all kinds of music that I loved like the Beatles. They had candies, chocolates, knick knacks, etc. Pretty much think of something, they’d likely have it.
For the kiddies, there is a treehouse and a mini 1 fish koi pond. How can you not love this place!

Don’t let the tourist trap feel fool you, this is one of the best spots in downtown Helena! Get past the knick-​knacks for sale on the wall and you’ll find some great coffee and tea blends. Plus they have a hot chocolate that you’d kill for, complete with whipped cream made from scratch that’s topped with Mexican chocolate sprinkles. YUM!
It’s a quite place with WiFi that’s great to hang out, try a few of their signature coffee or tea blends and get some work done, or at least try to.
Definitely worth the visit.

A must every time I visit Helena! Great ambiance. Great staff. GREAT COFFEE!

Had some of my best coffee talks here. The environment is one-​of-​a-​kind!

Nice and fun people. Great coffee and tea. So many interesting and fun things. If you want to feel Helena, Montana, just visit here. You’ll meet the alive history!!!

Yay for good coffee! The people were really nice. I love stores full of wacky stuff. I also love Mercantiles. Something about the name just sits well with me. That given, the place is a bit on the cozy side, if you take my meaning. ;) They also have a good collection of post cards, and various other novelty-​like items. Not too shabby, and worth the visit.

OMG I love this place! I wandered in while walking down the downtown area, and loved it so much I came back later to show it to my boyfriend.
I am a HUGE tea drinker, and this is one of the few places I’ve found that actually serves quality loose-​leaf tea, even if you are ordering it to-​go (just allow a couple extra min to let it steep).
The atmosphere is really, really cool. You feel like you are in an old cabin back in the 1800s, about to break out a banjo or something. You can cozy up in one of their «rooms» and have some privacy (we saw people playing cards with friends), you can hang out at the bar counter and chat with the baristas, or even log on to check some email at one of the few computers they have.
Come to hang out with friends, come to read a book alone, or come to get a quick tea while on the run. It’s the perfect little coffee/​tea place.