The global matcha café scene has exploded. From Tokyo's centuries-old tea houses to New York's hyper-aesthetic matcha bars, London's Japanese tea rooms to Sydney's specialty coffee shops embracing ceremonial grade — finding exceptional matcha outside Japan is no longer a challenge. Here's our guide to the world's best matcha cafés by city, plus what to order at each.
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Tokyo is where matcha pilgrims come to drink. From traditional tea houses in Yanaka to hyper-modern matcha bars in Shibuya, the density and quality of matcha in Tokyo is unmatched anywhere on earth. Expect everything from classic whisked usucha to matcha soft serve, matcha ramen, and avant-garde matcha cocktails.
Nakamura Tokichi Honten (中村藤吉本店) — Ginza
📍 Ginza, Tokyo💴 $$$
One of Uji's most storied tea houses, with a beautiful Tokyo outpost in Ginza. Founded in 1854, Nakamura Tokichi brings the full Uji ceremonial matcha experience to the city. The warabi mochi with matcha and the traditional usucha set are unmissable. Queue expected on weekends.
Traditional usucha set with wagashi
% Arabica — Omotesando
📍 Omotesando, Tokyo💴 $$
The architecturally stunning flagship of Hong Kong's cult coffee brand has a serious matcha program. Their kyoto matcha latte uses premium Uji powder and is one of the most photographed drinks in Tokyo. Minimal interior, maximum quality.
Kyoto matcha latte (hot or iced)
Tsujiri (辻利) — Shibuya & Multiple Locations
📍 Multiple Tokyo locations💴 $$
A Kyoto institution since 1860, Tsujiri's Tokyo shops are a matcha lover's dream. Their soft serve swirl — combining vanilla with an intensely bitter Uji matcha — has achieved cult status. The kakigori (shaved ice) with matcha syrup in summer is extraordinary.
Matcha soft serve or matcha kakigori
New York's specialty coffee culture has embraced matcha with characteristic intensity. The city now has dozens of dedicated matcha bars alongside specialty shops offering ceremonial grade alternatives to their espresso programs. The matcha latte aesthetic — vivid green against white milk in clear glasses — was practically invented in NYC.
Cha Cha Matcha — Multiple Locations
📍 SoHo, West Village, Williamsburg💵 $$
NYC's most iconic matcha brand. Cha Cha Matcha pioneered the aesthetic matcha latte movement in America — their signature iced matcha lattes in pink cups are instantly recognisable. Quality ceremonial grade matcha, creative seasonal drinks, and interiors designed for Instagram. Locations across Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Iced original matcha latte or seasonal special
Ippodo Tea — Midtown
📍 Midtown Manhattan💵 $$$
The New York outpost of Kyoto's legendary 300-year-old tea shop. Ippodo is where serious matcha people go — no frills, no Instagram moments, just exceptional Japanese tea at its purest. Their matcha is sourced from the finest Uji gardens and prepared traditionally. A true pilgrimage spot for tea enthusiasts.
Thick koicha or classic usucha, served with wagashi
Matchaful — Greenwich Village
📍 Greenwich Village, Manhattan💵 $$
A dedicated matcha café with an obsessive focus on sourcing. Matchaful works directly with Japanese farmers and offers single-origin ceremonial matcha at three quality tiers. Their educational approach — explaining the terroir, harvest, and preparation of each matcha — is unmatched in the city.
Single-origin ceremonial matcha flight
London's multicultural food scene and deep tea culture have created the perfect conditions for a thriving matcha scene. From Mayfair's Japanese restaurants to Shoreditch's specialty coffee shops and Notting Hill's wellness cafés, quality matcha is everywhere in the capital.
Blank Street Coffee — Multiple Locations
📍 Shoreditch, Soho, Chelsea & more💷 $$
The New York import has taken London by storm, and their matcha program is excellent. Using ceremonial grade Uji matcha, their iced matcha lattes have become London's go-to order. Efficient, high quality, and ubiquitous across central London.
Iced matcha oat latte
Tombo — South Kensington & Soho
📍 South Kensington & Soho💷 $$
London's original Japanese café, Tombo has been serving quality matcha drinks and Japanese-inspired food since before the matcha trend took hold. Their matcha soft serve and matcha latte are London institutions. The South Kensington original has a beautiful, calm atmosphere.
Matcha latte and matcha soft serve
Paris has developed a quiet but serious matcha culture. The city's appreciation for quality and ritual makes it receptive to ceremonial matcha — and several outstanding dedicated matcha spots have emerged in Le Marais, Saint-Germain, and beyond.
Jugetsudo — Saint-Germain-des-Prés
📍 Saint-Germain-des-Prés, 6ème💶 $$$
The Paris outpost of Maruyama Nori, a legendary Kyoto tea company with 300 years of history. Set in a stunning 17th-century building on the Left Bank, Jugetsudo offers an authentic Japanese tea ceremony experience in the heart of Paris. Their matcha is exceptional — sourced from Uji and prepared with impeccable technique. One of the finest matcha experiences in Europe.
Traditional tea ceremony set with seasonal wagashi
Ten Belles — Canal Saint-Martin
📍 Canal Saint-Martin, 10ème💶 $$
One of Paris's best specialty coffee shops now offers an excellent ceremonial matcha latte using Japanese powder. The canal-side setting and relaxed atmosphere make it a favourite among Paris's creative community. Their iced matcha in summer is one of the neighbourhood's most popular drinks.
Iced matcha oat latte
Australia's world-class café culture has embraced matcha earlier and more thoroughly than almost any other Western country. Sydney and Melbourne specialty coffee shops were serving ceremonial matcha lattes years before the trend hit Europe and America. The quality here is consistently exceptional.
Matcha Mylkbar — St Kilda, Melbourne
📍 St Kilda, Melbourne🇦🇺 $$
The café that arguably put matcha on the Australian mainstream map. Matcha Mylkbar's plant-based menu centres on matcha in every form — lattes, smoothies, pancakes, soft serve. Their ceremonial grade matcha sourcing is impeccable, and the St Kilda beach setting is hard to beat.
Matcha latte with macadamia milk
Tips for visiting matcha cafés worldwide
Ask about the grade
Always ask if they use ceremonial grade matcha. Any serious matcha café will know and be proud to tell you. If they don't know, it's a red flag.
Try it unsweetened first
Quality ceremonial matcha is naturally sweet and complex. Ask for no sweetener on your first try — you can always add it, but you can't take it away.
Ask about origin
The best cafés source from specific Japanese regions — Uji, Nishio, or smaller producers. Knowing the origin is a sign of genuine quality commitment.
Use Matcha Spot to find new ones
Our real-time search finds the latest openings in your destination city — including spots that opened too recently to appear in travel guides.
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Related guides
Café listings are based on publicly available information and AI-generated research. Always verify opening hours, current menus, and availability before visiting. Matcha Spot is not affiliated with any listed establishment.