Birthplace of some of the world’s most delicious food and drink, Japan knows what it’s doing when it comes to taste… and this iconic green tea is up there.
Found yourself searching “the best matcha in London” on Reddit or scrolling through TikTok for inspo? Wondering where to buy a batch so you can make your own at home? Look no further, because I’ve rounded up the best matcha cafes in London; whether you’re after a classic whisked tea or a creative dessert.
Katsute 100
Not only is this Islington cafe supplying some of the best matcha powder in the UK for you to take home, but the food and drink offering is also top-tier. Choose from the standard ceremonial karin, get a premium tea, or make yours iced. Drinks span everything from old-school matcha lattes all the way to a matcha chai combination, a matcha flat white, the black sesame latte and much more. Alongside imported whisky and beers, there’s also a gorgeous selection of desserts like Basque cheesecakes and the chestnut-topped Montblanc tarte.
📍: Angel – 100 Islington High Street, N1 8EG // Brick Lane – 147 Brick Lane, E1 6SB // Covent Garden – 20 Long Acre, WC2E 9LZ
🚉: Angel station // Old Street Station // Covent Garden station
Jenki Matcha London
After blueberry matcha in London? You’ll find Jenki across locations at Spitalfields, Selfridges and Covent Garden. Their ceremonial grade matcha comes from Uji in Japan and is used to create drinks from matcha tonics to a yuzu honey iced matcha. For those of you who prefer a lower caffeine content, there’s the hojicha; a roasted green tea which won’t give you as much of a buzz.
📍: Spitalfields – 43 Brushfield Street, E1 6AA // Selfridges – 400 Oxford Street, W1C 1JT // Covent Garden – 50A Long Acre, WC2E 9JR
🚉: Old Street or Liverpool Street station // Bond Street station // Covent Garden station
Omotesando Koffee
Named after the famous tree-lined avenue in Tokyo where the brand originated, Omotesando Koffee brings Japanese style through minimal decor, artisan drinks and drip filters. While it might not be a dedicated matcha cafe in London, it has some of the best options around. From the espresso-based Banatella to coffee mixed with Japanese yuzu-infused honey and tonic water, the menu here has it all. As for the matcha, it hails from the beautiful city of Uji in Kyoto, where you can find some of the highest-grade matcha in the world.
📍: 8 Newman Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 1PB
🚉: Tottenham Court Road station or Oxford Circus station
Blank Street
While I’m not the biggest fan of Blank Street’s fruitier takes, some of my friends would argue that they actually do the best iced matcha in London. Since launching in New York back in 2020, these guys have branched out to a range of London locations from King’s Cross and Holborn all the way to Ludgate Circus. Seasonal specials come in the form of the strawberry matcha, a refreshing watermelon matcha spritz and mango passionfruit matcha, while their white chocolate take is a popular pick all year round.
📍: various London locations
Kova
This upscale patisserie serves some of the most luscious desserts in Chinatown, from strawberry shortcake and Japanese soufflé cheesecake to mille crepes in flavours like Oreo, Earl Grey, and matcha. They also use matcha in tiramisu, gateaus, tarts, boba and snow ice, though my favourite is the matcha mille crepe cake. They might not be cheap, but they’re so tasty that Kova has now launched in multiple locations including Battersea, Soho and South Kensington.
📍: various London locations
Tsujiri
For the best matcha in Soho, Tsujiri has you sorted. Along with a branch in Camden, the Chinatown dessert & tea house is dedicated to the highest grade of Japanese green tea, known as Gyokuro. Established all the way back in 1860, the brand whips up Ichigo strawberry matcha, tiramisu lattes, desserts like crepe cakes, and even gift sets, loose leaf and tea bags that you can take home. If you’re looking for where to buy matcha in London, you can’t go wrong here.
📍: Chinatown – 33 Newport Court, WC2H 7PQ // Camden – Unit 163, Hawley Wharf, NW1 8JZ
🚉: Leicester Square station // Camden Town station
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