Dining
The 5 Best Matcha in London
Ceremonial-grade from Uji, whisked to order: London's best matcha bars and cafes.
In short: our top picks are JENKI, WA Cafe and TSUJIRI. 5 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
Matcha went from niche to everywhere in London, and a handful of places do it properly rather than as a sweet green novelty. JENKI made the whisked-to-order flat green a cult drink, WA and TSUJIRI bake it into patisserie and shaved ice, and How Matcha! turned it into a three-storey Notting Hill destination. The good stuff is ceremonial grade from Uji and tastes it. Order it straight first, then let the pastries tempt you.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| JENKI | Soho | ££ |
| WA Cafe | Chinatown | ££ |
| TSUJIRI | Chinatown | ££ |
| How Matcha! | Notting Hill | ££ |
| Tombo | South Kensington | ££ |
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Editor’s choice
JENKI
Why we pick itLondon's most recognisable matcha bar, ceremonial-grade from Uji whisked to order, its Flat Green a cult favourite.
matcha bar
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WA Cafe
Why we pick itAn independent Japanese patisserie where matcha runs through everything, from Swiss rolls to croissants that sell out daily.
Japanese patisserie
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TSUJIRI
Why we pick itUji matcha in traditional dessert form, soft serve piled with red bean, shaved-ice kakigori and ice-cream floats.
Uji matcha teahouse
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How Matcha!
Why we pick itA three-storey Notting Hill flagship with a basement Kintsugi room, a first-floor bar and a rooftop courtyard.
matcha destination cafe
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Tombo
Why we pick itA Japanese cafe near the museums with a serious matcha counter, from lattes to parfaits and warabimochi.
Japanese matcha cafe
Before you book
The dedicated matcha bars get queues at weekends, and the patisserie items, especially the croissants, sell out by early afternoon. Ceremonial-grade matcha is naturally bitter and vegetal, so try it as a plain latte before deciding. Most of these are counter-service and small, so expect to perch or take away.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
JENKI is our editor's choice: London's most recognisable matcha bar, ceremonial-grade from Uji whisked to order, its Flat Green a cult favourite. JENKI, WA Cafe and TSUJIRI lead the guide, with 5 places in total, all chosen on merit.
How does Lamplit London choose its recommendations?
Every place is chosen on merit, after first-hand visits where possible, with no pay-for-placement. Read our full method at https://www.lamplitlondon.com/how-we-choose/.
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