Matcha is everywhere in London now. Most cafes have a matcha latte on the menu. The problem? Almost all of them use Chinese-grown matcha to cut costs. It tastes different. If you’ve had matcha in Japan, you know what I mean.
These four spots use Japanese matcha and do it properly.
1. Tsujiri (Chinatown)
A matcha chain that knows what it’s doing.
The matcha lattes and hojicha lattes here come with fun toppings like shiratama dango (chewy rice balls) and warabi jelly. The matcha isn’t too sweet, and the mochi adds a nice texture.
They also have matcha parfaits, matcha Basque cheesecake, and matcha roll cake. Plenty to choose from if you’re a matcha person.
Right in the middle of Chinatown, so it’s perfect for dessert after a bowl of ramen at Ippudo or Kanada-Ya nearby. Weekdays are quieter.
33 Newport Court, WC2H 7PQ tsujiri.co.uk
2. WA Cafe (Covent Garden / Marylebone / Aldgate East / Ealing)
A proper Japanese patisserie run by Japanese pastry chefs.
The cake display is beautiful. Strawberry shortcake, Mont Blanc, matcha tiramisu, matcha azuki daifuku, souffle cheesecake. The menu changes with the seasons, so there’s always something new.
The bread is worth trying too. Melon pan, anpan, curry pan. Their shokupan (milk bread) is soft and fluffy, perfect for toast. If you’re into Japanese bread, check out our full guide to Japanese bakeries in London.
Covent Garden and Marylebone get busy on weekends. Go on a weekday if you can.
Covent Garden: 5 New Row, WC2N 4LH Marylebone: 6 Thayer St, W1U 3JQ Aldgate East: 21 Commercial Street, E1 6NE Ealing: 32 Haven Green, W5 2NX wacafe.co.uk
3. Katsute 100 (Angel / Brick Lane)
The closest thing to a Japanese tea room you’ll find in London.
“Katsute” means “once upon a time” in Japanese, and the interiors match that feeling. The Angel location is in a historic building filled with Japanese antiques and tea ceremony tools. The Brick Lane branch has a basement tatami room where you take off your shoes and sit on the floor. You won’t find that experience anywhere else in London.
The tea selection is sourced directly from small producers in Japan. Varieties you can’t get elsewhere in London. The hojicha is roasted and nutty.
They also have matcha cheesecake, seasonal wagashi sweets, and afternoon tea sets.
Angel: 100 Islington High Street, N1 8EG Brick Lane: 147 Brick Lane, E1 6SB katsute100.com
4. Warabi-Mochi Kamakura (John Lewis Oxford Street)
Opened in late 2025. The first European location for this Japanese chain.
Warabi-mochi is a traditional Japanese sweet made from bracken starch, dusted with kinako (roasted soybean powder). It’s wobbly, chewy, and nothing like the mochi you might be used to.
They have 49 stores in Japan and locations in 10 other countries. The London shop has 12 seats inside John Lewis, next to Waitrose.
Using real warabi starch is rare, even in Japan. A good spot to try something traditional.
John Lewis Oxford Street, W1A 1EX
Quick Comparison
| Cafe | Best for | Budget | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tsujiri | Matcha drinks with toppings | ££ | Chinatown |
| WA Cafe | Cakes, Mont Blanc, bread | ££ | Covent Garden, Marylebone, Aldgate East, Ealing |
| Katsute 100 | Hojicha, tatami room experience | ££ | Angel, Brick Lane |
| Warabi-Mochi Kamakura | Traditional warabi-mochi | £££ | Oxford Street |
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Written by Ayaka Uchida – CEO of A-Digital Works, founder of Nihon GO! World.