Matcha mania: Where to find the best in Brisbane​on February 8, 2025 at 5:57 am

One of the things we social media producers first bonded over was our shared love of the internet’s favourite drink: matcha.

Don’t know matcha? Allow us to enlighten you.

A green tea powder used in drinks, baked goods and even ice cream, matcha is made from dried tea leaves and first originated in China, before it was further developed in Japan.

A popularity surge in both iced and hot matcha has seen cafes across the city jump on the bandwagon over the past few years, with some opening solely to serve the bright-green alternative to coffee.

We made it our mission to discover the best spots in Brisbane and have compiled our findings for both seasoned matcha-lovers and first timers.

For first-timers

Nodo (Newstead, Camp Hill, South Bank, CBD, West End, Everton Park, Chermside, Carindale)

Known for its ever-changing selection of gluten-free doughnuts, Nodo also serves a mean matcha latte and a Japanese matcha frappe. The frappe is on the pricier side at $12 but includes coconut ice cream, coconut milk, matcha and vanilla. Nodo also recently featured a blueberry matcha doughnut as its flavour of the month – keep an eye out for similar specials in future.

Shiro (CBD)

With green tea leaves imported directly from Kyoto, you can’t get much more authentic than Shiro Gelato’s selection of matcha-themed treats. Little more than a hole-in-the-wall on Elizabeth Street in the CBD, there’s often a line out the door of customers keen on Shiro’s gelato, mochi and of course matcha. We recommend the matcha float for the ultimate refreshing drink.

Bonsai Bontanika (CBD)

If you’re looking to dip your toes into the world of matcha but are wary of the “tastes like grass” allegations, Bonsai Botanika is a good place to start. At $8.30 a pop, the iced matcha we tried had a distinct vanilla flavour that will please the sweet tooths.

Foster and Black (Carindale, Chermside, Fortitude Valley, CBD, Mount Gravatt, Indooroopilly)

One of Brisbane’s better specialty coffee exponents also makes a very good iced matcha latte. For those who prefer a stronger matcha flavour, Foster & Black’s unsweetened take could become your go-to, but we add a pump of vanilla to satisfy our sweet tooth.

O Bagel (CBD)

Besides delicious bagels, O Bagel also serves an extensive drinks menu. For anyone wanting to try strawberry matcha, O Bagel’s is our pick of the bunch, but it also serves an espresso and matcha combination called the Forest Matcha Fusion.

Lola’s Coffee Bar (Tarragindi and Kelvin Grove)

Buzzy Lola’s Coffee Bar has just opened its second store, looking to appeal to the uni students at QUT’s Kelvin Grove campus. Don’t let the “Coffee” in the name fool you, though – this spot is pretty unbeatable when it comes to matcha with a twist. We tried the mango and pistachio variations (only available at Kelvin Grove) and were impressed with the strong yet creamy matcha flavour. Lola’s is Filipino-inspired so you can expect other matcha flavours such as ube and pandan.

Hidden gems

Ant Bowl (CBD)

It was hard not to gate keep this hole-in-the-wall on Adelaide Street in the CBD. Starting at just $4.50, its authentic matcha is the perfect balance of earthy and sweet. Beyond matcha, Ant Bowl also serves drinks such as hojicha, black sesame, sweet potato and iced strawberry mocha lattes. This is one we repeatedly return to, so it’s doing something right.

Koto Sanpo (CBD)

Once located in Elizabeth Arcade itself, these days Koto Sanpo is found up a flight of stairs next to the food precinct’s Charlotte Street entrance. This Japanese cafe specialises in matcha desserts and drinks. We tried its signature matcha float with soft-serve. It was the perfect sweet treat for a 35-degree day – no further notes from us. Koto Sanpo also offers a range of dessert items that use authentic matcha from the Kyoto Uji region, such as matcha French toast and matcha parfait.

Little Florence Coffee (Teneriffe)

Located on Teneriffe’s leafy Florence Street, Little Florence Coffee serves up a range of matcha lattes. The original drink is fairly mild so would suit newcomers to the taste, but it’s creamy and authentic, with matcha powder imported from Kyoto. Opt for the Matcha Float with coconut ice cream for a sweet treat, or a Matcha Yuzu Spritz for something zestier.

Evra (Newstead)

This slick new Longland Street eatery serves a twist on the classic milky matcha that’s made on coconut water. Perhaps surprisingly, this creates a super creamy base for Evra’s ceremonial grade matcha. It also makes for a thirst-quenching choice on a hot Brisbane summer day.

Seasoned matcha lovers

Wuta Brewers (CBD)

Wuta Brewer on Elizabeth Street serves smooth, vibrant and authentic matcha. If you can navigate your way around the intricate menu, Wuta allows you to choose the type and strength of green tea leaves. If you’re looking for something more decadent, try the $11.50 matcha float with Isuzu blend (a relatively bold style of matcha produced in Kyoto by Marukyu Koyamaen), Maleny Dairies milk and soft serve ice cream. It also serves strawberry matcha and matcha affogatos.

Kin (Teneriffe)

You’ll find Kin inside one of the iconic Teneriffe woolstores on Macquarie Street. Its matcha is Kakitsubata ceremonial grade (very legit, basically). The taste is distinct and strong, with hints of mochi flavour, so is best suited to more experienced matcha drinkers. It also serves a house-made blueberry puree you can add to your matcha, plus the classic strawberry version.

An affordable option

Try Niko Niko in the CBD if you’re looking for a keenly priced matcha. You can’t get much better than its Monday Matcha deal, with the cafe charging just $4.50 for an iced matcha (which you can have on soy). For the price, it’s super smooth and has a great balance of flavours.