Toronto's matcha scene has matured rapidly — shaped by a large Japanese-Canadian community, a specialty café culture that prizes sourcing transparency, and a wave of independently owned matcha bars that have moved well beyond the standard latte. These five spots reflect the full range: a 155-year-old Uji brand, a dual-format tea house in Chinatown, an Osaka-born pastry chef's plant-based café in Little Italy, and two creative matcha bars with cult followings in the downtown core.
The Canadian outpost of the 155-year-old Uji-based tea brand brings Kyoto-quality matcha to Toronto in a sleek, minimal space. Tsujiri controls the full supply chain from Uji tea fields to your cup — making this one of the highest-provenance matcha experiences available in North America. The matcha soft serve is the single most-ordered item and widely considered one of the best in the city: intensely green, rich, and perfectly calibrated in sweetness. The shiratama parfait — soft serve, red bean, and chewy rice dumplings — is the full-format version. Open Tuesday–Sunday.
Founded in 2016, Icha Tea imports ceremonial-grade matcha directly from Japan and serves it in two distinct formats: a modern counter up front for customisable lattes and boba drinks (with sweetness levels from 0–100%), and a quiet tea bar in the back dedicated to traditional loose-leaf service prepared Japanese-style. This dual format makes it genuinely versatile — the right choice for both a precise ceremonial bowl and a casual afternoon latte. The Queen Street West second location (996 Queen St W) offers the same quality in a more spacious setting.
Opened in 2020 by Osaka-born pastry chef Haruna Makino and owner Koji Zenimaru, Tsuchi is a fully plant-based café rooted in Japanese cuisine. The name means "soil" in Japanese and the interior lives up to it — dark wood, rough-edged shelving, and an earthy Scandinavian-Japanese aesthetic. The matcha tiramisu is the standout: ceremonial-grade matcha replaces the traditional espresso in a preparation that is quietly extraordinary. Japanese-imported ceremonial matcha lattes and a hojicha walnut cookie complete the essential order. Laptops restricted on weekends.
One of Toronto's fastest-growing matcha cafés, Matcha Matcha built a viral following — and a regular queue — on the strength of creative, well-balanced matcha drinks priced at C$6–7. The Strawberry Matcha Latte pairs ceremonial matcha with jammy chunky strawberry to striking effect; the Matcha Yuzu Lemonade (sparkling, with real yuzu) is the best warm-weather option. The BLU Latte — ube, blueberry, lavender, and matcha — is the most inventive menu item. The small space fills quickly; early morning visits are recommended over weekend afternoons.
Neo Coffee Bar has built a reputation for Japanese-influenced precision in a sleek, minimal space near St. Lawrence Market. Their matcha is imported directly from Uji, Kyoto, and whisked to order — the sourcing treated with the same seriousness as their specialty coffee programme. The Iced Matcha Berry Latte combines Uji matcha, fresh berry, and oat milk in a preparation that is balanced rather than sweet. Multiple Neo locations exist across Toronto, but this Frederick Street original is the most food-focused, with handcrafted pastries and a clean, focused café environment.
Tips for drinking matcha in Toronto
- Tsujiri is closed Mondays — plan around this if you're visiting on a short trip.
- The Downtown cluster (Tsujiri, Icha Tea, Matcha Matcha) is walkable and makes for an excellent afternoon matcha crawl.
- Icha Tea's back-room tea bar is a quieter, more contemplative experience than the front counter — ask for the traditional service when you arrive.
- Most Toronto matcha bars are small with limited seating; early morning weekday visits offer the most relaxed experience.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best matcha in Toronto?
For heritage sourcing, Tsujiri Tea House on Dundas West brings 155-year-old Uji provenance to Toronto in the form of exceptional matcha soft serve and parfaits. For creative, flavour-forward drinks at accessible prices, Matcha Matcha on Church Street has built the city's most enthusiastic following. For a full sit-down experience with Japanese-inspired pastries, Tsuchi Café in Little Italy is the most complete destination.
Which neighbourhood has the most matcha cafés in Toronto?
Downtown Toronto has the highest concentration, with Tsujiri near Dundas Square, Icha Tea on Spadina in Chinatown, and Matcha Matcha on Church Street all within a 15-minute walk. Little Italy (College Street) is the destination for Tsuchi Café's Japanese-influenced pastries.
Is ceremonial-grade matcha available in Toronto?
Yes — Tsujiri sources directly from its Uji fields in Kyoto, and Icha Tea imports ceremonial-grade matcha directly from Japan. Neo Coffee Bar also imports Uji, Kyoto matcha and whisks to order. All three treat matcha sourcing with the same seriousness as specialty coffee.
Find more matcha spots in Toronto
Use our finder to discover even more cafés serving quality matcha across the city.
🍵 Open the Matcha Finder