Top 10: Matcha Lattes in LondonBy Angelica Malin
Who doesn’t love a matcha latte? Sweet, creamy and healthy – they are the perfect alternative to your morning coffee, and will keep you buzzing all morning long. Along with our friends at Vivid Drinks, who make premium matcha powder, we’ve found some of the best matcha lattes in London. Follow them during #VividMatchaWeek for more matcha goodness:
According to Vivid Drinks…
1. Best for Taste: Holborn Dining Room
What: The Holborn Dining Room’s elegant, chandelier-decked space and courtyard is simply stunning – come here for a great traditional British menu, filled with all kinds of foodie delights. Operated by Des McDonald and his team, with over 20 years’ experience running some of London’s most renowned restaurants, Holborn Dining Room is the ultimate breakfast and dinner spot.
Why: The grand brasserie serves up seasonal, locally sourced British cuisine with a twist in a vibrantly bustling dining salon. Combining reclaimed oak with antique mirrors, red leather banquettes with tweed detailing, and two antique patina copper-topped bars, it’s a place for enjoying a meal with friends. And a cracking matcha latte.
Where: 252 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EN
2. Best for Treats: Paul Rhodes Bakery
What: Chef Paul Rhodes, who has 3 Michelin stars to his name, set up Paul Rhodes Bakery in 2003. He started the bakery in a small room with just one mixer and one oven, and today they spread their goodies all over London from their production site in Greenwich. In Notting Hill, they sell the best brownies, yummy cakes, and, of course, matcha lattes made with Vivid Drinks matcha powder.
Why: Paul Rhodes Bakery is the place to come for amazing breads and pastry; they use the finest flours, salt and fresh British ingredients, like apples, vine tomatoes and herbs, to make their incredible breads. Their matcha latte is a real treat; you can get it with dairy-free milk, too, so everyone can enjoy the matcha goodness.
Where: 37 King William Walk, London SE10 9HU
What: Flat Planet is a place where good people can come together to eat well, be inspired and energised, share good ideas, and hatch plans. Their lunchtime menu is the stuff of dreams, with choices such as beef meatballs in tomato sauce, garlic chicken and their cheese and tomato all delicious options.
Why: Middle Eastern restaurant FlatPlanet serves all their flatbreads on spelt bases. Although spelt bread is not gluten-free, it is wheat-free. If you need a sweet fix all their cakes are gluten-free, their brownie is the one. And a great matcha latte, too.
Where: 39 Great Marlborough St, London W1F 7JG
4. Best for Vibe: Look Mum No Hands!
What: Coffee, cycling and beer is the order of the day at Look Mum No Hands! They’ve got a workshop at Old Street to help you mend your flat tyres and spray some WD40 on your brakes and a cafe attached for a pre and post cycle refuel.
Why: They source their coffee from the Square Mile Coffee Roasters in East London and all of their beers are from small micro breweries in and around London. For breakfast, try their unusual nut butter on toast, topped with banana and peaches. Its sweet, delicious and suitable for vegans. Ideal for a light breakfast before cycling to the hills or around the park.
Where: 49 Old Street London EC1V 9HX
5. Best at Breakfast: Lazy Social
6. Best Overall Matcha Latte: Good Life Eatery
What: Good Life Eatery has the matcha latte down. It has the perfect balance between the distinct matcha taste and enough sweetness to be really drinkable. The kind of drinkable where you’d sacrifice burning your entire mouth you want it that badly.
Why: You’re also offered the choice of almond, soy or regular milk right from the moment you order, which saves any disappointment. Plus the cafe is open from a spritely 7:30AM so it’s perfect for some pre-work revitalisation. Just FYI, you happen to be drinking in West London’s top health spot so if you can, then make the most of their incredible menu too.
Where: Good Life Eatery, 59 Sloane Avenue.
7. Best For Matcha Mastery: Curators Coffee Gallery
What: The cafe itself is fairly minimal (kind of like a gallery – who would have thought?) but everything from the drinks to the decor are completely on-point. Gallery doesn’t mess about frills and quirks like some coffee houses do but gets straight to the good stuff with exceptional hot beverages and their matcha is no exception.
Why: It’s probably the most reasonably priced at only £2.80 and manages to pull off the bitter matcha taste without being too grassy or and is sweet enough without being too overly milky. The best bit is that you can even sign up to a Matcha Masterclass here and learn everything from making your own lattes to including matcha in smoothies and juices.
Where: 51 Margaret Street, Fitzrovia.
What: Think of Notes as your matcha training ground. A couple of goes here and you’ll be ready to roll on to the strong stuff. As matcha’s go it’s fairly sweet (which is why it’s a great place for your first taste) but is still absolutely delicious and again, a great price.
Why: Both Notes cafes are just off from the chaos of Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square and on the right side of sophisticated that you don’t feel intimidated just popping in for a latte. It’s worth noting (couldn’t help it) that this is actually a wine bar too, so if you really want to complete your health-kick… a glass of red a day and all that. The other close contender for this spot was Hally’s in Parson’s Green. I ruled it out for being overly sweet but if that’s your preference then it definitely deserves a mention.
Where: 36 Wellington Street, Covent Garden or 31 St Martin’s Lane, Trafalgar Square.
9. Best for City Vibes: Timberyard
What: Although Timberyard has award-winning coffee, it’s a love-it-or-hate-it kind of place easily explained by it’s locations – Old Street and Seven Dials. Fortunately I happen to fall into the first category. It’s the most expensive of all the matchas I’ve tried at £3.40 but you do get what you pay for and more; the matcha is fantastic and comes with your own bottle of ice-cold water and more importantly, free wifi.
Why: As with most good things there is a downside. Although you can Instagram that latte-art almost instantly, it does mean that everywhere you look there are people in business meetings or typing and skyping, which is fine if you’re freelancing but if you’re sat there alone stuffing in cake after gluten-free cake, does come with a certain amount of guilt. I’m sure, like me, you can get over it.
Price: £3.40
Where: 61-67 Old Street or 7 Upper St Martin’s Lane, Seven Dials.
10. Best for Authentic Japanese Experience: Lagu
What: I’m a sucker for crockery and in this area, Lagu wins. The matcha latte itself is smooth and pretty sweet but topped off with an extra sprinkling of matcha powder on top for a well-needed kick.
Why: Although it is a little out of the way, Lagu is one of the only authentic Japanese cafe/restaurants that is open during the weekends AND during the day on weekdays, which is really the main reason why I’ve included it over any other typically Japanese experience. It also has some really cute touches including a free library of books, serene house plants and a Japanese health shop within the restaurant as well as a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere. Little tip, try their bento box, it’s delicious.
Where: 151 Lavender Hill, Clapham Junction
Post in association with Vivid Drinks as part #VividMatchaWeek – follow them on Twitter here for more information.
