Melbourne’s vibrant café culture has embraced the green wave! It’s turned matcha from a niche import into a local obsession. Thanks to social media and a passionate cafe scene, matcha in Melbourne has become more than a beverage – it’s an experience. I’ve personally fallen victim to “treating myself” to a matcha everytime I leave the house, which may not be good for the wallet, but it’s good for the soul. From lattes you would be dying to share with your followers on Instagram to traditional ceremonial brews, Melbourne now boasts a myriad of cafés that elevate this finely ground Japanese green tea to art form. This guide uncovers nine matcha hotspots across city and suburbs, each place offering a distinct taste and vibe. Whether you’re a matcha purist or love a creamy dessert-style latte, you’ll find your next cup here.
Matcha 101: What Makes a Good Matcha Latte?
At its heart, matcha is stone-ground green tea powder prized for its vibrant colour, rich umami, and smooth bitterness. The best matcha comes from Japan’s renowned regions like Kyoto and Yame, where tea farmers produce ceremonial-grade matcha meant to be whisked in water and enjoyed pure. However, Melbourne’s cafe scene has innovated beyond this, blending premium matcha with alternative milks and balancing unexpected flavours like berries or nuts.
Quality matcha is bright green, finely milled (not clumpy), and rounded in taste – not overly bitter or dull. Whether you prefer a clean, straight-whisked matcha or a luscious latte with silky soy milk, it’s really the sourcing and preparation that define the flavour outcome.
The cafés in this list showcase these styles across different neighbourhoods and aesthetics, offering both traditional and unique experiences.
Meet Forest, South Yarra: Blueberry Matcha & Matcha Desserts
Right around the corner of South Yarra station is a tiny homey cafe, Meet Forest, which started as a beloved local gem and now has blown up on social media for its top-tier matcha! This halal-friendly cafe offers a menu rich in matcha variations, including the smoothest blueberry matcha lattes that balance that fruity sweetness with earthy greens.
If you’re after desserts, their matcha basque cheesecake and layered matcha crepe cakes are so decadent and what keeps sweet tooths coming back!
The cozy, intimate interior and dog-friendly atmosphere make Meet Forest the perfect place for a relaxed weekend morning out or catching up with friends over delicious cups of matcha. Fun fact, the entire cafe was inspired based off the owner’s dog (Sesame) who comes in every weekend!
You can truly taste their commitment to consistency and quality with every sip you take, which is why I have to recommend this place to everyone I know (even non matcha lovers) because I know it will never disappoint!
Matcha Profile: Smooth, well-balanced, perfectly sweet
Naau, Melbourne CBD: Viral Raspberry & Pistachio Matcha
In a small Russell Street hole-in-the-wall, Naau has quickly turned into a cult matcha hotspot downtown. Their menu bursts with creative twists that compliment the fundamental tea essence. My recommendations are their iced raspberry matcha, the indulgent peanut cream matcha, and the pistachio matcha. It is so hard for me to choose which of the three I am going to get everytime I go because they are all that good.
Their pistachio matcha has especially drawn quite the attention on social media, following the wave of pistachio-flavoured things that seem to be all anyone can talk about in the food scene nowadays (and for good reason).
Naau’s eclectic vibe draws city workers and students who crave a fresh, inventive approach to matcha, all within moments of Melbourne’s busiest streets. Despite its small size, Naau creates a memorable matcha moment with each vibrant pour, perfect for grabbing on the go.
Matcha profile: Thick, creamy, punchy, complemented well by other flavours
Cha Haus, Prahran Market: Matcha Lab for Tea Nerds
Tucked inside Prahran Market, ChaHaus’ Matcha Lab is where Melbourne’s matcha lovers graduate from casual latte drinkers to tea geeks. Cha Haus specialises in Japanese tea, sourcing small-batch matcha and green tea directly from farms across Japan, which gives their drinks a noticeably fresher, more nuanced flavour than your average matcha. Special shoutout to their miso caramel matcha, which is the perfect harmony of sweet and salty with the richness of the premium matcha.
The setup feels part tea bar, part workshop space: you can order your matcha iced or hot made with the brand’s own ceremonial and latte-grade powders, then browse tins of matcha, hojicha, and sencha to take home. Their team leans into education in a gentle, approachable way, so it’s normal to get tips on whisking technique, water temperature or how to adjust strength to your taste. ChaHaus matcha goodies are also distributed through MUJI stores, bringing a culture of matcha consumption beyond their cafe.
Matcha profile: Rich, sweet & salty, earthy
Hikari, Melbourne CBD: Kyoto-Sourced, Hand-Whisked Matcha
For match purists seeking authenticity, Hikari Cafe is a must-visit. Sourcing its matcha from small farms around Kyoto, Hikari specialises in hanf-whisked, ceremonial style matcha that honours the centuries-old techniques. The classic matcha latte itself has such a rounded taste, pleasant to the palate, which is neither too bitter or too sweet.
The minimalist Japanese-inspired decor, complemented by a selection of elegant ceramics for purchase, creates a sort of serenity amid the urban rush on Swanston Street. It’s the perfect stop for those who appreciate matcha’s subtle complexities and want to indulge in a mindful tea experience, away from sweeter latte blends. This café showcases matcha culture at its finest in Melbourne.
Matcha profile: Umami, smooth, refreshing, very palatable
Matcha KOBO, Melbourne CBD: Japanese-Style Matcha House in the City
Matcha KOBO offers a sit-down experience that’s all about slowing down with a freshly-milled, carefully prepared cup. Rather than treating matcha as a side option to coffee, this café puts it front and centre, from straight whisked bowls to creamy lattes and unique dessert options. It’s the kind of place where you can order a classic usucha-style matcha if you want to taste the tea on its own terms, or go for layered iced matcha, dirty matcha or seasonal specials if you’re in the mood for something with more distinctive.
The space leans into Japanese-inspired zen – with minimalistic furniture and soft lighting – making it a great choice for solo study sessions or quiet catch-ups. Because MATCHA KOBO also sells its own matcha and tools, it doubles as a gateway into home brewing: once you find a style you love, you can pick up a tin and a chasen to recreate the experience in your own kitchen. This “matcha house” option sits somewhere between a traditional tea room and a modern Melbourne cafe, and is the perfect, convenient spot for your next matcha fix.
Matcha profile: Smooth, umami, rich
Ciel, Southbank: Matcha With a Side of Brunch
If brunch is your vibe but you don’t want to compromise on matcha quality, Ciel is the next place you’re visiting. This spacious cafe has high ceilings, abundant natural light, and lush greenery that truly emulates Melbourne’s chicness. Often timed going for brunch would mean you wouldn’t necessarily get the highest quality matcha because the cafe doesn’t specialise in it but Ciel gives you the best of both worlds. They boast an extensive drink menu, with specialty drinks on a seasonal menu which keeps regulars coming back for new flavours.
Their matcha lattes are so creamy and umami especially for being batch-made – you can really tell they use high-quality ingredients. Their salted cream matcha is my particular favourite as the refreshing salty foam on top balances out the lush and creamy matcha underneath, it’s really a must-try.
Perfect for meetups or quieter weekends, Ciel merges fine dining aesthetics with approachable matcha drinks that cater to a diverse Matcha crowd.
Matcha profile: Umami, rich, creamy, full-bodied
Luka, Carnegie: Creative, Hand-Whisked Matcha in the Suburbs
Taking a short trip out to Carnegie, Luka offers a unique suburban matcha experience with their hand-whisked drinks and imaginative flavour combinations. Known for inventive beverages like the banana bread matcha – a rich, creamy, perfectly balanced matcha combination where neither flavour component overpowers the other – or the butterscotch matcha – perfect for Biscoff lovers, with a nutty, decadent taste – Luka blends traditional techniques with contemporary twists.
Not to mention the stylish interior of the cafe and how truly zen it would be to catch up with a friend or to have a solo study date there, without the bustle of the city. Their opening hours are relatively late as well to those who would love a pick-me-up after work.
Alongside matcha, Luka’s selection of cakes and sweets underscores its welcoming neighbourhood vibe, making it ideal for a relaxed afternoon sweet treat or catch-up. Its craft approach appeals to those who appreciate both precision and creativity in their cup.
Matcha profile: Slightly vegetal, sweetness to taste, smooth
Katakita Melbourne CBD: Indonesian Comfort Food Meets Matcha Bar
Katakita is a standout matcha in the CBD to me thanks to its unusual blend of Indonesian food and dedicated matcha drinks menu. The cafe’s “Matcha Kita” series blends dessert textures with matcha’s earthy punch, offering banana pudding matcha, which is my favourite drink of theirs, and the very popular dirty matcha, a well-crafted blend of espresso mixed with matcha. This fusion creates a rich, satisfying drink-and-dine experience where matcha serves both as beverage and dessert ingredient.
Katakita’s vibrant atmosphere and inventive drinks make it a go-to for experimental matcha drinkers who want cultural twists in Australia’s cafe landscape. It balances strong, bold flavours and creamy softness.
Matcha profile: Refreshing, strong, not overpowered by other flavours
in.btwn, Queen Victoria Market: Ceremonial Matcha in a “Not a Bar, Not Just a Cafe” Space
Tucked away in a cozy nook of Queen Victoria Market, in.btwn stands out as a specialty cafe bar that treats its beverages as craft objects. Known for their fluffy Einspanner Matcha which features a signature cream blend carefully crafted in the shape of a cat, on top of a rich and creamy matcha latte, in.btwn offers a refined matcha experience, with an imaginative menu for coffee lovers too, that contrasts with the bustling market atmosphere just outside.
The space, described by the owners as “not a bar, not just a cafe,” invites visitors to pause amid market browsing and indulge in their meticulously prepared drinks that highlight matcha’s delicate flavour profiles. Perfect for tourists and locals alike, it’s a rare cozy spot to enjoy high-end tea.
Matcha profile: Rich, creamy, well-balanced
Practical Matcha Tips: How to Order Like a Local
- Choose your strength: Many hand-whisked cafes let you customise matcha intensity if you request for it, so go stronger if you prefer an earthy, bitter punch and softer if you crave a mellow latte.
- Sweetness options: Some places serve matcha unsweetened by default; ask for a little bit of sugar syrup or honey if you prefer them sweeter, or go for their specialty matchas which are usually sweeter than regular lattes.
- Milk alternatives: Most spot offers oat, soy, almond milks - popular for vegan or lactose-sensitive drinkers. Personally if not full cream milkv for me, I would go with soy milk as it complements the earthy taste of matcha quite well.
- Ask if your matcha is hand-whisked or pre-mixed: Freshly whisked matcha often tastes brighter and more balanced.
- Budget $7-$10 per drink depending on complexity, with most ceremonial matchas or specialty drinks priced higher.
- Visit mid-morning or late afternoon if you can to avoid peak cafe rushes and enjoy a more relaxed experience.
