Matcha has become a phenomenon all over the world. Largely unknown in the west twenty years ago, and the niche flavor for tea enthusiasts just a decade ago, you can now find it almost anywhere, both as a tea, as part of a coffee, or even as ice cream. We’ve covered matcha generally in our previous article here.
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Naturally, all of these aưsre present in the birthplace of matcha. But where are the best places to go for an authentic matcha treat, but without needing to set aside hours for a tea ceremony? Here are our top ten recommendations for anyone who likes sweetness mixed with a touch of the umami. We’ve picked some of the best and most interesting cafes in our beloved capital of Tokyo.
Matcha Cafes Tokyo
As the capital city, you can get anything in Tokyo, and matcha is no different. Looking for a trendy matcha ice cream? You can find it. Seeking out a traditional tea house minutes from an anime merch department store? You got it. Want historic expertise matched with modern tastes? No worries: you’re in Tokyo.
1. The Tokyo Matcha – Shibuya, Shinjuku
A specialty matcha shop that believes that, as a superfood with centuries of tradition, matcha should be taken seriously, but also be accessible to anyone who wants it. It also sells matcha souvenirs, so you can make your own tea or sweets at home. It has grown into a small chain, with stores in Omotesando, Shibuya and Shinjuku, among other places in Japan and abroad.
2. Suzukien Asakusa
A teahouse with a history going back over 150 years, this cafe near the famous Sensoji Temple has a wide variety of matcha and other teas for you to try. One of its major draws is its matcha gelato, with seven different levels of richness, so you can try it your way. This is an especially popular summer treat.
3. Kagurazaka Saryo – Shinjuku
Specializing in Uji matcha from Kyoto, this cafe, whose main store is in Kagurazaka, Shinjuku, is a small chain that offers a number of other teas for anyone who wants to take a quick rest from the road, or come specially to sample their teas. Matcha jelly is a popular treat at these stores.
4. Sawawa Asakusa
Another top Asakusa location, this tea shop not only has a number of different green teas from Kyoto and Nishio available to buy and take home, but in addition to making classic matcha teas and lattes, combines matcha flavors with classic Japanese desserts. Warabi mochi, a pounded rice sweet, and dorayaki pancakes are infused with the sweet and umami flavors of Japan’s favorite tea.
5. Chanoma – Shinjuku
In Ikebukuro, thought of by some as Akihabara’s little sister, sits this unassuming matcha cafe, which, surrounded by greenery, is a great place to take a break from shopping for anime merch. It offers novice tea ceremony and miso making classes, and also serves matcha lattes and matcha terrine.
6. Atelier Matcha – Ginza
A combination of new technology and ancient techniques, this matcha cafe has developed an incredible reputation both at home in Japan and abroad. It sells matcha in its pure form, as lattes, and also sells the necessary equipment to make your matcha frothy at home. One of its signatures is matcha popiro, where matcha cream is rolled into a crispy egg-based biscuit.
7. Saten – Suginami
This cafe in Suginami has a deep belief in the concept of “from leaf to relief,” where the healing and relaxing qualities of tea are put front and foremost. As such, even the smell of matcha and other teas permeates the cafe. When it comes to matcha, it also has handmade matcha lattes, but its real joy is its matcha pudding: a matcha-flavored flan. A combination of two beloved Japanese mainstays, it has to be tasted to be believed.
8. Ippuku & Matcha – Chuo
This cafe is dedicated to bringing the joy and health of matcha out of the tea ceremony and into people’s everyday lives. The healthy, stress-relieving, and even slimming properties of matcha are front and center when it comes to the drinks and foods that this cafe sells. It prides itself on selling 100% pure, unblended Uji matcha, grown and hand-picked the traditional way.
9. Matcha Stand Maruni – Chuo
Based in Tsukiji, this shop was founded by one of the longest running nori seaweed dynasties in Japan. When the fish market changed places, it was decided to expand into matcha, using blends that are evaluated and approved by one of only a handful of qualified Japanese tea appraisers. It aims to spread the love and appreciation for matcha among younger generations, especially among Japanese customers who may know of matcha, but not appreciate it yet.
10. Wasachi – Roppongi
An independent matcha cafe in Roppongi, Wasachi takes a minimalist but dedicated approach to Japan’s favorite tea. A relatively small menu, it focuses on quality rather than quantity. It has the honor of being complimented by Daniel Calvert, 2024’s “best chef in Asia,” as serving the best matcha in Tokyo.
