The Trendiest Matcha Shops in NYC
With the growing popularity of matcha, there has been an onslaught of places you can get a cup of the antioxidant-rich green tea in New York. You can see it added to the menu at almost every cafe. But some (honestly most) of the cafes don’t know how to make it properly. If you don’t want your matcha to be an earthy, clumpy mess, head to one of these matcha-dedicated places next time you’re in town.
If you’re a matcha fanatic in New York, chances are you’ve been to Cha Cha Matcha, affectionately called “Cha Cha” by those who love it. Models, designers, and celebrities (and of course normal people) flock to the SoHo location daily for a cup, cone of ice cream, or even a pastry featuring the tea. If you’re not in SoHo, don’t worry—their second location in Flatiron is just as good.
Matchabar
Founded by two dudes who truly love matcha, MatchaBar has a few locations across New York (although if you happen to be in the Silverlake district of LA, they’re there too.) They’re famous for their tea infusions, like earl grey and matcha, but perhaps equally famous for being one of the only brands to sell bottled matcha in Whole Foods. You can grab a pick-me-up there as well.
Chalait
Perhaps a bit more formal than the other matcha-dedicated cafes, Chalait not only will serve you a cup of the sweet (green) stuff, but serves some amazing foods as well. It’s a great place to go on a lunch break when you don’t have a lot of time, and its midtown locations make it a wonderful stop-in for nine-to-fivers.
Matcha Cafe Wabi
Perhaps the most authentic place on this list, Matcha Cafe Wabi is where you want to go if you’re in the East Village and have a hankering for matcha. It’s Japanese run and owned, and you can get some beautiful tools to make your own matcha at home while you stop in. It’s not somewhere you’ll want to sit all day, but for a quick, authentic in-and-out, this is your place.
Zenchai
Zenchai, a newcomer to the New York matcha scene, has levels to it. Literally—you can order upstairs and hang out there if you want to get out quick, but if you want to hang out, head downstairs. You’ll find comfy couches and solitude, but you’ll also find a selection of games to play with friends; Apples to Apples, anyone?
