Eats

The best places to go for a matcha in Manchester

Manchester's gone mad for matcha.

Daisy Jackson - 28th March 2025

Matcha fever has the nation gripped at the minute – it feels like half the country has turned its back on flat whites in favour of the popular green tea drink.

This pretty Japanese beverage might have been around for centuries, but it’s having a bit of a new moment here in Manchester and finding a whole new wave of fans.

With the global success of brands like Blank Street, you can barely walk down the street without passing someone sipping something green.

So we’ve decided to pull together 15 local spots in Manchester who are doing the very best matcha in town, from the very traditional to the very playful. Know of somewhere we’ve missed?

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An honourable mention must of course go to Cha-Ology, a truly authentic Japanese tea house in Ancoats, where you can sit, shoes-off, on low cushions and learn all about the true art of matcha.

But we haven’t been able to properly include them in the list because they’re reservations-only and fully booked until summer. So, onwards!

15 of the best matcha places in and around central Manchester

1. Ohayo Tea – Chinatown

This adorable bubble tea cafe in Chinatown has a Shiba Inu dog as its mascot, and you’ll find his face carved into the walls, waffles in the shape of his head, and a giant dog statue bursting out of the wall.

Ohayo Tea serve a complex take on a matcha drink that plays into their bubble tea expertise – expect your matcha to come layered with tapioca pearls, cheese foam, pistachio foam, and plenty more options too.

These drinks come with instructions – tilt your branded cup (the Shiba is back) to at least 45 degrees to get every layer at once, or, if you insist, use a thick straw to mix it all together. You can also get matcha soft serve here with shards of honeycomb stuck to it. Delightful.

2. Just Between Friends – Ancoats and Northern Quarter

If you’re someone who actually likes their matcha to taste of matcha, rather than of all sorts of syrups and other add-ons, turn to one of the city’s best coffee shops. 

At Just Between Friends – which has locations tucked into an old mill in Ancoats as well as right on Tib Street in the Northern Quarter – matcha is whisked properly with a traditional bamboo whisk, before being added to steamed or chilled milk.

The result is either a warm, smooth drink served in an earthenware cup or a refreshing iced matcha. You can wedge yourself into a window seat or even sit on the cobbled archway outside and imagine you’ve transported yourself to a Tokyo backstreet.

3. Matcha Kyoto – Lincoln Square

This viral matcha spot went crazy in Manchester, with pop ups all over our city – and now they’ve opened the doors to their very own home.

Matcha Kyoto are bringing a little slice of Japan to Lincoln Square, with traditional Kyoto details and their famous matcha drinks topped with the satisfying cream swirls and even banana pudding.

You can also pick up a range of sandwiches, and delicious baked treats like a Basque cheesecake.

4. Sipp – Chorlton

If you’re new to matcha or just know that you like yours with an extra little bit of sweetness and fun, you must get a sip of Sipp’s.

These guys have their own coffee shop in Chorlton, where they serve a whole list of ‘Matcha Cloud’ drinks.

Their best-seller is the raspberry and coconut, which tastes exactly like a lamington, or there are always specials cropping up (currently, it’s a mango and passionfruit). This is gateway matcha – and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

5. Tsujiri – Chinatown

Not satisfied with simply serving matcha you can drink, Tsujiri is a Japanese tea house using this powerful ingredient in cakes, ice creams, cheesecakes and more.

Tsujiri was founded all the way back in 1860, before bringing the finest matcha lattes and infused desserts to British shores.

In Manchester, you’ll find them in the heart of Chinatown, tucked up an anonymous flight of stairs, where there are cabinets full of green sweet treats like a matcha basque cheesecake, matcha sundaes, and classic iced lattes.

They’re arguably the GOATs of the green scene.

6. Federal – Deansgate, NQ, Oxford Road, and Altrincham Market

Next up, it might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of matcha, but if you have yours early in the morning or consider it a staple of your early-mid afternoon, then we simply can’t overlook Federal.

The kings and queens of the Manc breakfast and brunch queue, these guys specialise in ‘Anzac’ scran and Antipodean-rooted beverages, but they’ve naturally hopped on the matcha bandwagon of late too.

Not only can you get the stuff iced to take away in their branded transparent cans, but the ever lovely staff behind the counter are always sure to take their time with a hot one.

7. Vibean – Lincoln Square

Lucky number seven is the fantastic Viet cafe over on Brazennose St, just between Lincoln and Albert Square, who are quickly becoming one of the go-to spots for the good stuff.

With the upstairs decorated with various plushies sitting comfortably in the window, and the lines often filing out of the door, there’s definitely a buzz about this place at the moment.

To be honest, it’s become a bit of an obsession of ours, in itself, especially because of their genuinely addictive salted caramel matchas, which we’re wagering might just be the next big thing.

8. Bruncho – Deansgate

Eighth on our list of the best matcha spots in Manchester is the brilliant Bruncho, who have quickly made a name for itself as one of the go-to options most weekends here in the city centre, with people queuing regularly around the Deansgate brunch triangle.

With a fantastic lineup of sweet and savoury treats to be enjoyed throughout the day, not to mention a lovely chilled out backroom that lots of people still don’t know about, but they also have a great hot matcha range, including ‘pure grade’, pistachio oat, ube, as well as plenty of other fruit and iced options.

It’s also an exciting time for the up-and-coming brand, too, as they’re set to open more locations here in the city centre and who knows where else in the future…

9. Cabana – Didsbury

Heading over to Didsbury Village now, and this little stall/hatch/hole in the wall/whatever you want to call it has become a cult favourite among nearby residents, and the matcha is a big part of that.

Run by an ex-Federal alumni, there’s something super fresh and colourful about this one; from head to toe, it’s all bright reds, yellows, and of course, greens.

Case in point: the lovely, lip-smacking açaí, that’ll make you feel like the healthiest person on earth, and it goes perfectly with an iced matcha that tastes way higher quality than you expect from most little grab-and-go gaffs like this.

10. Biskits – Withington

Continuing out of the city limits and towards the outskirts, we head over to Withington now and to the wonderful Biskits, which opened back in 2022 and has gone on to great things.

One of those great things is their matcha, especially because they do mix-and-match split cups of pretty much whatever you fancy. Yes, you can quite literally have an iced cinnamon matcha in one half and a simple glass of OJ in the other.

Plus, these ones come with an extra little biscuity snack stuck on top; what more could you ask for?

11. Nùr Cafe – Deansgate

As we enter the final third, we’re bringing a little bit of Arabian warmth into the mix with the stunning Nùr Cafe located at the bottom end of Deansgate, just before you get towards Blackfriars and towards Salford way – but you’d better stop and pop your head into this stylish little venue.

Finished in pristine whites, golds and creams (plus all the cream that goes into some of their decadent desserts and drinks), lots of people come here for the kunafa. However, it’s also one of the best places for matcha in Manchester.

They have a whole extensive matcha section on their menu, including the likes of lychee and their popular ‘pink berry’ flavour, to guava and even coconut mixes, so do give it a go – and, once again, do also put it on the list if you’ve got a penchant for ‘pistach’.

12. Something more productive – Withington

Winging out back to Withy once again, not only does this gaff have a great name, but they’ve got great matcha game, too.

A staple of the surrounding community since 2023, serving proper good coffee in a place so chill, you feel right at home the moment you walk in, they’ve got great pastries, cookies and cakes, as well as toasties on locally sourced bread.

But even if you’re just in the mood for a hot or cold brew, you won’t go far wrong with their matcha.

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13. Hikari Koffee – Didsbury

As we hit the baker’s dozen mark, we’re throwing another known for more than just their matcha, but it’s well worth visiting for standalone items.

Hikari Koffee is a speciality coffee shop-come-cafe that serves up Japanese-inspired baked goods, sandos, and they’re known for customer service that goes above and beyond.

With latte art that puts most coffee shops to shame, this is one spot you need to get on your radar.

14. Tabitha’s Coffee – Deansgate

Tucked up on the Mews part of Deansgate, Tabitha’s has become a bit of a mini viral sensation in its own right already, but there’s even more than meets the eye.

Bring cool collabs and seasonal specials to their menu on a regular basis; they even do merch now, and they’ve just branched out with their first store over in Liverpool, too.

The matcha lattes are great, but we’re all about the iced cups when it comes to this place – and if you do happen to be peckish, we tell you how refreshing that chilli tuna crunch hits.

15. Gulf – Deansgate

Last but not least, we’re going to finish with another taste of the Middle East and a place that has now got a second branch, serving everything from saffron-spiced matchas to brunch plates.

The newer Gulf site over in Deansgate now feels like the more food-focused of the two venues, but either/or are also a great place for a matcha – the question is whether you want it classic or rose-scented, sweetened with strawberry, blueberry, or coconut and mango.

All that being said, we still have a very soft spot for that tiny room in the back of Chapter One, and we always will…

More food and drink:

• The 10 best places to get your pistachio fix in Manchester
• The very best and booziest bottomless brunches near me
• The best rooftop bars and terraces in Manchester city centre

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Featured Images — The Manc Group