Getting my Daily Greens
Since arriving in Melbourne, my enjoyment of matcha has transcended our casual relationship and become both a love and a commitment. I have now surpassed my goal of sampling fifty different matcha spots across the city during my time here and have (naturally) logged my opinions along the way.
I am always excited to see a new specialty drink join the menu at places I already love and even more enthusiastic to give new cafes a try. Here are the ten matchas that I rank most highly in the city of Melbourne.
10. Local Goods – Flemington
Local Goods is a little more out of the way than the majority of spots on this list, but I assure you, it is worth the distance. This little spot was a five-minute walk from a dog-sitting gig I covered in my first couple of weeks in Melbourne, and I am so glad I found it just as TikTok found it, and the daily queues started to grow. (A joy for the business but a sadness for those hoping to run in quickly to grab a drink, only to be faced with a twenty-minute wait.)
This spot has a bunch of specialty options, including a monthly special, but for me, nothing beats the Cinnamon Scroll Matcha, which was initially limited edition, but due to high demand, has now become a permanent menu item!
They also have super cute interior decor, ButterBoy cookies in store, AND a brand new store in Carlton for those hoping to stay a little closer to the city.
9. Kata Kita – CBD
If you’re looking to eat something, Kata Kita is an amazing Indonesian brunch spot in the heart of the city, and I do not mean to undersell the delicious food when I say the best thing on the entire menu is the Banana Pudding Matcha! I was a long-time fruit matcha sceptic, and this was a gateway drug for me, making me realise that sometimes flavour is more important than texture to a drink.
For all of the matcha lovers who can’t bear the emotional whiplash of a mouthful of jam in your drink, this is for you! The banana pudding served is so generous that you basically get a sweet treat included in the price of your matcha, already a very reasonable $10. I highly recommend popping in to this place, even if you just grab a matcha for the walk.
8. naau – CBD
Situated right by the State Library, I was so glad to give this place a chance as early as I did because I keep going back. They have a few different signature options alongside the classic matcha, and without a doubt, my favourite is the Peanut Cream Matcha. I was so impressed by this drink that I didn’t even get to enjoy it fully the first time before I’d finished the entire thing, but trust me, I went back to double-check it was as amazing as I thought.
Another super affordable option in the city at only $7.50, and again with the super cute cafe aesthetics that Melbourne can’t get enough of. This is just a little hole-in-the-wall spot that so many unsuspecting individuals must walk by every day without ever knowing what they’re missing out on, but make sure you’re not one of them and give it a go!
7. Operator San – CBD
Right across the road from Queen Victoria Market, Operator San is an ideal spot for a brunch after a morning of mooching. Now these guys do a Lavender Matcha which I was thoroughly doubtful of. I worried that the floral notes would entirely overwhelm the matcha, and it would just become a lavender matcha, but honestly, it’s incredibly well-balanced.
Also a great spot to grab a bite to eat, they do the most delicious daily pastries alongside their restaurant menu, and a selection of matcha flavoured desserts too! If you’re in the area, there’s no better spot to get your daily dose. (Or is there?).
6. in.btwn – CBD
RIGHT up the road, less than thirty metres, is in.btwn. This place blew up on socials right around the time I arrived in Melbourne and I can see why – the Matcha Einspanner is out of this world. I wasn’t expecting that much from this drink, just a creamier matcha, but nothing to write home about, but boy, was I wrong!
As someone who doesn’t love coffee, I think this is the closest you could get to the experience of a matcha macchiato. The matcha on its own definitely leans into the more bitter flavour profile, and the cream does all the legwork in balancing it out, and I was really impressed by the way that such a simple-sounding drink could surprise me.
5. OMI 380 – CBD
Almost always, I’ll take an iced drink over a hot one. Even in the dead of British winter, an iced matcha ranks higher than a hot one for me. However, OMI 380 do a Marshmallow Uji Matcha Latte which I couldn’t turn down, and it wouldn’t be the same iced. There is no doubt in my mind that this drink, much like a Baileys Hot Chocolate in essence and nostalgia factor, was always destined to be hot.
The quality of the matcha here is some of the best in the city (where most of the matcha is imported by the same suppliers, OMI’s is substantially different and it’s noticeable, even when getting a regular matcha latte). This is also one of the spots in Melbourne that sells matcha sets for home use, in case you find yourself as obsessed with this year’s harvest as I am.
4. Overlay Coffee – CBD
Overlay Coffee has become my regular, which was one of the most exciting things about moving into our sublet. We are blessed to live a three-minute walk from this delightful little spot, and I love nothing more than sitting in with a sweet treat and enjoying a slow morning.
They will often have a seasonal matcha option on offer, but I have come to learn that nothing beats their regular matcha latte, which I have enjoyed numerous times, both hot and iced. It holds onto its umami flavour profile, and you don’t have to ask them to tone down the sugar to get the real matcha taste coming through. I suspect I’m biased towards this place after going so many times now that half the staff recognise my face, but it really is a very good matcha. Also, at less than $6 for a matcha in the city centre, who can complain?
3. Sneaker Laundry Lab – CBD
Into the top three, and Sneaker Laundry Lab truly impressed me more than I expected it to. This was one of the spots on my list that I wasn’t all that eager to make it to, but it really blew my socks off and left me with an urge to go back.
The MatchaKult would truly be worth joining a cult for if you ask me. The matcha latte is a little sweeter than I would normally have it, but it’s paired up perfectly with the tanginess of the yakult cream on top and served with a spoon rather than mixed. Definitely the specialty drink that I would recommend most enthusiastically.
2. Nimbo – CBD
Another spot that I am blessed to have very close to home, Nimbo is a great little spot and stays open a lot later than most cafes in Melbourne, which is always a bonus for night owls like me. Now don’t get me wrong, the quality of the matcha here is outstanding, and I LOVE the classic Iced Matcha Latte, but what I am really stopping by for are the matcha sweet treats.
These guys do all of their baking in-house, and they are so creative with their selection. The Matcha Cornflake Cookie – YES, you heard that right – is possibly the best sweet treat I’ve eaten my entire time in Melbourne, and the menu doesn’t stop there. This remains my favourite spot if I want to have a quiet evening of writing with a matcha and a sweet treat, and it might be the place I’ll miss most after I leave.
1. Matcha Kobo – CBD
The number one spot couldn’t go to anything else. Matcha Kobo was the place that inspired my active exploration of the Melbourne Matcha scene because I was so amazed the first time I went there. This is a place that is very committed to making people fall in love with matcha; they host matcha masterclasses for people who want to learn how to make good matcha at home, the cafe is designed to make the matcha the centrepiece of your experience, and all of the staff actually know what they’re talking about.
Kobo’s menu is pretty extensive, with a number of different harvest options based on your price point and flavour preferences, the Hide in Forest Matcha is my favourite of the specials menu that I’ve tried, with the same tanginess of SLL’s Matchakult, but in truth, nothing beats the ceremonial grade pure matcha which tastes so unbelievably luxurious and I don’t think I will ever taste matcha that full-bodied without making the trip to Japan.
The Final Verdict
So all in all, Melbourne is almost overwhelmed with options for matcha, especially with a lot of places whacking it on the menu just to stay on trend rather than because they know what they’re doing, and of the fifty-three (as of December 9th, number guaranteed to increase) spots I’ve tried, only the top fifteen are remarkable in my memory. Matcha is much like coffee in that personal preference comes into it far more than people realise, and what I like might not be what you like, so shop around, but when you find one you love, stop searching for something better because you’re likely to spend a lot of money on a lot of watery, green milk. The best matcha I’ve ever had was found in Melbourne, but believe me, so was the worst.
Erin
Erin is a British travel blogger and content creator who left the UK in August 2025 to travel the world with her fiancé. After exploring Southeast Asia, she is currently in Australia, continuing her adventure and sharing travel inspiration along the way. When she’s not discovering new places, Erin loves unwinding with a matcha and a sweet treat - and she always has a growing list of recommendations for new places to try.
