Matchamon Asakusa

Located just outside Tokyo’s iconic Sensoji Temple, Matchamon is a haven for matcha obsessives. The open-concept café is a chic spot for sipping some of the city’s more creative matcha drinks, ranging from classic matcha lattes and matcha with mango or strawberry purée to inventive concoctions like a matcha einspänner and matcha served over coconut water. The café also rotates seasonal specialities, including fizzy blueberry matcha and matcha topped with salted cream. Matchamon’s classic matcha latte is particularly noteworthy: orange zest is grated over the top, accentuating the matcha while adding a lovely citrus aroma.

The café also serves a handful of sweets that pair perfectly with its drinks, including rich matcha gelato, matcha financiers and crisp monaka wafers filled with red bean, mascarpone and butter.

Matchamon’s matcha comes from Kagoshima prefecture and uses the okumidori cultivar, known for its pleasantly umami-rich flavour and gentle bitterness. The versatile matcha works well in a variety of drinks, and you can also purchase the café’s house matcha powder and hojicha powder to take home. Gift boxes containing matcha financiers are available, too.

For something a little more interactive, don’t miss the café’s self-whisk matcha experience. At the bar, you can learn how to prepare matcha with guidance from the skilled staff, who’ll fill you in on the ideal matcha-to-water ratio, water temperature and whisking technique for achieving that perfect layer of microfoam.