Not that I have any beef with Hvala. It is one of the biggest matcha cafes in Singapore after all.
But, who doesn’t know about Hvala. If you’re looking for a new spot for the best matcha drinks or desserts, we’ve compiled the best places — whether it’s a classic matcha latte, koicha, speciality matcha drinks, and matcha desserts like cakes, tarts and ice cream.
Best matcha lattes in Singapore
Finding a good cup of matcha latte in Singapore is not as simple as it sounds. There are plenty of cafes that use low quality barista grade matcha powder that you can buy from FairPrice. Some of them would even pre-make matcha syrup in advance, which completely strips the grassy and astringent flavours of a good matcha powder.
Here are the best cafes that make a proper cup of matcha drink.
1. Calligraph Coffee
High quality ceremonial usucha for just $7.2?
Calligraph Coffee might just be the right place for actually good matcha without breaking the bank. You can’t go wrong with their ceremonial matcha lattes or usucha, but their Strawberry Matcha Latte ($8.5) and Pistachio Matcha Latte ($8.9) are their most popular items.
Location: 7 Fraser St, Duo Galleria, #01-57, Singapore 189356
Opening hours:
Mon-Fri: 7:30am-5:30pm
Sat-Sun: 9am-6pm
2. Matchaya — Cold Whisked Matcha Milk
Matchaya’s Cold Whisked Matcha Milk ($7) sets it apart from most cafes with its subtle, floral nuances that lingers as an aftertaste.
We’re not sure if the unique flavour is from the ceremonial grade matcha, or from the cold-whisking techniques.
Location: 2 Handy Rd, #01-08 / 09 The Cathay, Singapore 229233
Opening hours: 10am- 10pm
3. Kurasu — Dirty Matcha
Besides filter coffee, this speciality coffee bar from Kyoto, Japan is also famous for its Dirty Matcha ($7.5).
Essentially, matcha latte with a shot of espresso. It might sound like a basic combination, but it takes dedication to find the perfect blend of matcha and coffee, from the ratio of the elements to the innate flavour of the matcha powder and coffee beans.
I heard that the balance was perfect prior to the recent change in matcha powder. And true enough, my cup of Dirty Matcha was a little more skewered to the matcha side. Nonetheless, it was a decent cup.
Location: 261 Waterloo St, #01-24, Singapore 180261
Opening hours: 8:30am- 6:30pm
4. SYIP — Matcha Raspberry
A strong contender to Kurasu, SYIP makes a pretty damn good Dirty Matcha ($7.5) too. It’s very balanced. You get a good taste of espresso, before all that grassiness kicks in.
They use a robust grassy matcha powder from Niko Neko, a matcha cafe from Kuala Lumpur that imports from Mie, Japan.
Shoutout to their Matcha Raspberry ($7.9) as well. Strawberry matcha lattes have been a thing for awhile, but raspberry surprisingly works better because it’s less sweet and a little tart. This combination allows the matcha to shine more.
SYIP is located along Owen Road and at Luzerne.
Location: 72 Bendemeer Rd, #01-05, Singapore 339941
Opening hours: 9am-10pm
5. Warabimochi Kamakura — Matcha Lemonade
The viral warabimochi drink store from Japan obviously deserves a spot on this list. But if you think we’re going to recommend their normie Matcha Warabimochi Drink, you’re wrong!
Personally, the Asakawa-En Matcha ($8.9) is a little too creamy and sweet for my liking, especially when it’s already so rich from the warabimochi at the base.
Instead, give their Matcha Lemonade ($5.9) a try. A sour matcha drinks sounds weird at first. But just a reminder, there’s no milk in this at all. So it turns into a very refreshing, tangy and grassy drink. You won’t get sick of it even after a whole cup.
Warabimochi Kamakura is located at Holland Village, Taste Orchard, and Takashimaya.
Location: 7 Holland Vlg Wy, #01-54, One, Singapore 275748
Opening hours: 11:30am-3pm, 6:30-9:30pm
6. Kyo Kohee
Kyo Kohee, a matcha bar at Tanjong Pagar, is the place to be for no-frills matcha latte. Nothing fancy, nothing gimmicky, just a solid cup of matcha to push you through the afternoon.
In addition to using ceremonial grade matcha, the great thing about this place is that they offer various forms of matcha for you to choose. For instance, the Okumidori ($7.9) is supposed to taste more balanced, while the Utsukushi ($9.9) has a punchier botanical note.
Personally, the Utsukushi Matcha Latte hit the spot for me (I love them thick and bitter).
Location: 112 Robinson Rd, #01-01, Singapore 068902
Opening hours:
Mon-Fri: 8am-5pm
Sat-Sun: Closed
7. Old Hen Coffee — Cold Matcha Milk
A stark contrast with Matchaya and Hvala, Old Hen Coffee’s Cold Matcha Milk ($8) borderlines ice cream.
We cannot be sure if cream is part of the recipe, but it has a velvety mouthfeel. However, despite its milky flavours, it retains the astringency that most people seek in matcha lattes.
Location: 88 Rangoon Rd, #01-03, Singapore 218374
Opening hours: 9:30am-6:30pm
8. Cork & Beans
Previously known as Nibbies, Cork & Beans is a shophouse cafe with the vibiest Japandi decor. Naturally, matcha’s going to be a big thing at their cafe.
If you’re sick of plain ol matcha latte, you’re going to love their unique matcha creations such as the Matcha Pistachio ($7), Sea Salt Caramel ($8), and Ube Matcha ($8).
Location: 181A Telok Ayer St, Singapore 068629
Opening hours:
Mon-Fri: 8:30am-10pm
Saturday: 11am-11:30pm
Sunday: 12-8pm
9. Toku Nori — Iced Yuzu Matcha and Matcha Gimlet
Who would expect to find such high quality matcha drinks at a Japanese hand roll bar?
Even if you’re not dining at Toku Nori, stop by for a cup of matcha or two. Their Matcha Latte is priced at just $5.5, but it was packed with such robust grassy notes.
But for something unique, opt for their Yuzu Matcha ($6.5) or Matcha Gimlet ($24) — featuring a harmonious blend of gin, matcha, and lime juice.
Location: 200A Telok Ayer St, Singapore 068638
Opening hours: 11:45am-2:30pm, 5:30-11pm
10. Pacto by Parchment
This is the only cafe in Singapore that carries matcha powder from Fukuoka, Japan.
Pacto by Parchment is a new cafe at KADA, with a literal “hole-in-the-wall” concept where you grab-and-go through their window on Erskine Road. This setup is especially convenient given the café’s limited seating, with just four seats available inside.
You can enjoy their matcha as a Koicha or Usucha for $7, or a Matcha Latte for $8.
Location: 5 Kadayanallur St, #01-10, Singapore 069183
Opening hours:
Mon-Fri: 8:30am-5pm
Sat-Sun: 9am-5pm
11. Café Gyoen
For matcha drinkers who want to taste the difference between regions, Café Gyoen’s Matcha Flight ($21) lines up matcha from Kagoshima, Mie and Uji side by side.
It works more as a tasting exercise than a dessert, served alongside teishoku sets that come with tamago and miso soup. It’s available on weekdays only.
Location: 87 Club Street, Singapore 069455
Opening hours:
Monday: 11am-9pm
Tuesday: Closed
Wed-Sun: 11am-9pm
12. HALO Ube & Matcha
HALO bills itself as Singapore’s first cafe dedicated to both ube and matcha, and the Ube Matcha Latte ($6.9) is the entry point, blending grassy matcha with sweet, floral ube.
Order the Straight Matcha ($4.5) instead if you’d rather taste the matcha on its own.
Location: 100 Tras Street, #01-05, 100AM, Singapore 079027
Opening hours:
Mon-Thu: 11:30am-8:15pm
Fri-Sun: 10:30am-9:30pm
Best matcha desserts in Singapore
Anything from a cake to a tart, here are the best matcha desserts we’ve tried in Singapore.
13. Takara House
Located at Haji Lane, a 10-minute walk from Bugis MRT Station, Takara House is a vintage store with a secret cafe tucked away at the back.
They house the quirkiest, most fun items we’ve seen in a while, including apparels, accessories and even home decors and toys.
If you’re in need of a break, they also have a secret bakery in the back, which surprisingly, offers one of the best matcha desserts we’ve ever tried — the Pistachio Matcha Shortcake ($15).
Location: N Bridge Rd, Level 2 of 674, Singapore 188804
Opening hours: 10am-10pm
14. Sweedy Cafesserie
Dubai chocolate‘s kunafa-and-pistachio filling has taken over Singapore’s dessert scene, and Sweedy Cafesserie folds matcha into the mix with its Matcha Pistachio Dubai Chewy Cookie ($15.8).
The filling uses housemade pistachio paste and a generous amount of kunafa crunch, dialled back on the sugar compared to most other versions around.
Location: 377 Hougang St. 32, #01-32, Hougang Rivercourt Mall, Singapore 530377
Opening hours:
Monday: Closed
Tue-Fri: 12:30-7pm
15. LUNA Patisserie — Matcha Opera
This has to be the best matcha cake in Singapore.
The Matcha Opera ($8) from LUNA features thick, creamy layers of matcha ganache. It possesses a bittersweet matcha flavour, which is delightful compared to other variations which taste more like white chocolate.
The best part about LUNA’s matcha cake is — you can get them as a whole cake.
LUNA is found at Amoy Street and Joo Chiat.
Location: 53 Amoy St, Singapore 069879
Opening hours:
Mon-Fri: 12pm-6:30pm
Saturday: 12pm-6pm
Sunday: 2pm-4pm
16. SYIP – Matcha Cheesecake
Yes, we’re back at SYIP, the cafe with the fantastic dirty matcha and raspberry matcha. But, while you’re there, don’t miss out on their Matcha Cheesecake ($9.5).
Basque burnt-style, SYIP’s cheesecake was so rich and creamy. It was so dense, scooping into it felt like I was scooping into butter. Granted, the matcha flavour could’ve been more prominent, but this was still undoubtedly one of the best matcha cheesecakes in Singapore.
Location: 72 Bendemeer Rd, #01-05, Singapore 339941
Opening hours: 9am-10pm
17. Two AM Bakes
The best matcha desserts aren’t just found in cafes. Check out this underrated home baker, Two AM Bakes, which specialises in gateaus and terrines.
The tricky part about getting them is that their cakes are only available through flash sales, meaning you’ll have to follow them on Instagram for the latest updates. The flavours of each flash sale also varies, but you can expect the typical Japanese flavours like matcha, goma and hojicha.
18. Warabimochi Kamakura (Takashimaya)
This is the best matcha warabimochi in Singapore.
The texture is soft with a slight chew, but the highlight has to be how liberal they are with the high quality matcha powder. It was so potent, so grassy. If it’s too astringent, you can also drizzle in some of their black sugar syrup, or pair it with ice cream to balance it out.
It’s only available at Warabimochi Kamakura’s Takashimaya outlet.
It’s available in the following sets:
- 2-Piece Cup ($5.9)
- 2-Piece Matcha Cup with Ice Cream ($7.9)
- 5-Piece Matcha Box ($10.9)
- 10-Piece Matcha Box ($17.9)
Location: 391 Orchard Road, #B2-34, Takashimaya Shopping Centre, Singapore 238872
Opening hours: 10am-9:30pm
19. Edith Patisserie Cake Bar – Matcha Blondies
Where else can you find $2 blondies?
Enjoy a cheap thrill at Edith Patisserie Cake Bar beside Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station. You can find a wide assortment of blondies, with a handful of flavours like Hazelnut and Salted Speculoos.
But of course, we are recommending the Yuzu Matcha and Matcha. They’re thick, rich, and potent enough for matcha lovers.
Location: 9 Penang Rd, #01-06, Singapore 238459
Opening hours:
Mon-Fri: 9:30am-8pm
Sat-Sun: 9:30am-9pm
20. Tsujiri
Tsujiri is an ancient Japanese brand that dates back to 1860. Just like most specialized matcha shops, they have an extensive menu. But, we recommend choosing from their Parfait Selection such as the Shiratama Parfait that features a bittersweet and creamy matcha soft serve, azuki (red bean) and dango (glutinous rice balls).
Location: Multiple locations
21. Maccha House
As suggested by the name, Maccha house specialises in matcha desserts in Singapore.
They are best known for their Maccha Tiramisu ($6.2) that is packaged in an oriental wooden box. The cream is light, the lady fingers are moist and the overall flavour is mellow.
But, we also recommend the Warabimochi Maccha ($7) for the perfect chewy texture and the Maccha Mille Crepe Set ($8).
Location: 3 Temasek Blvd, B1, 172, 038983
Opening hours: 11:30am- 9:30pm
22. Torori Tenshi no Warabimochi
Japan’s number 1’s warabimochi — so as they claim on their menu — has opened their first Singapore outpost at VivoCity.
Compared to the more popular warabimochis in Singapore, the ones here tend to be slightly bigger, and for good reason.
A larger piece of warabimochi creates the impression of a meltier and thicker texture, which is what sets them apart from their competitors. In fact, “torori” translates to thick and viscous in Japanese.
For the full experience, opt for their Matcha Warabimochi with Ice Cream Tea Set ($12.8).
Location: 1 HarbourFront Walk, #01-100/101, Singapore 098585
Opening hours: 10am-10pm
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