A Matcha Lover’s Guide to the Best Matcha on Oʻahu
The popular green tea is on menus everywhere, but these cafés are serving next-level matcha drinks.
I quit drinking coffee more than 10 years ago. I was only in high school, but I was consuming copious amounts of the stuff. One afternoon, after a serious bout of jitters, I decided to go cold turkey and drop coffee completely. And I’ve never looked back. I made it through four years of college without drinking a drop of it and I don’t crave it, either .
But like many people, I still seek an extra kick of caffeine in the morning. Now, my go-to beverage is matcha. From making my own lattes to adding it to smoothies or oatmeal, I appreciate the energy boost and earthy flavor of this green tea. And my favorite place to enjoy a matcha latte is at a local café.
At coffee shops across Oʻahu, matcha is on the menu. And some cafés serve only matcha beverages and products. Whether you’re obsessed with this green tea or just looking for an alternative to coffee, here are five spots on Oʻahu serving top-notch matcha beverages.
1. Daily Whisk Matcha
Located in the hip neighborhood of Kaimukī, the Daily Whisk Matcha fits right in. The matcha stand is nestled on the patio of clothing boutique Ten Tomorrow, thanks to the business’s owner and designer, Summer Shiigi, who decided to add a café to the shopping experience. The stand offers classic matcha lattes, along with matcha lemonade and matcha lilikoʻi soda. You can also add flavors like Lāʻie vanilla, Maui lavender and Hawaiʻi Island Honey to your matcha beverages.
1114 11th Ave., Honolulu, dailywhiskmatcha.com
READ MORE: These are 5 of the Coolest Cafés in Kaimukī
2. Nana’s Green Tea
Nana’s Green Tea in Waikīkī serves matcha lattes, creamy soft serve and parfaits.
Photo: Catherine Toth Fox
This tea shop has more than 80 locations in Japan. But on Oʻahu, Nana’s Green Tea can be found in only one spot: Stix Asia. The underground food hall is in Waikīkī and Nana’s Green Tea is worth the search—and worth returning to. You can grab your matcha latte in the morning and then come back for dessert. From creamy matcha soft serve to decadent matcha parfaits, Nana’s Green Tea is a must-visit whether you’re craving a matcha latte or a sweet treat.
2250 Kalākaua Ave., Suite 5, Lower Level 100, Honolulu, global.nanasgreentea.com
READ MORE: Stix Asia Food Fall Brings 17 New Asian Restaurants to Waikīkī
3. Pōʻai by Pono Potions
The alohamora from Pōʻai is a coconut lover’s dream with a coconut milk base, coconut syrup and topped with coconut foam.
Photo: Grace Maeda
It’s no surprise that this Chinatown café packs flavor into its beverages, including its matcha concoctions. Pōʻai is the flagship location of Pono Potions, a natural syrup company. Here, the matcha drinks are one of a kind thanks to those syrups. If you’re craving something fruity, the matcha manakō (mango) features li hing mui syrup, mango purée and a dusting of li hing powder. The alohamora is a coconut lover’s dream. With coconut milk as the base, the matcha is flavored with coconut syrup and topped with a lilikoʻi foam.
1119 Smith St., Honolulu, ponopotions.com
READ MORE: Taste the Islands’ Fresh Flavors with Pono Potions
4. Neko Koneko
Neko Koneko specializes in bottled lattes.
Photo: Grace Maeda
This cute hole in the wall in Liliha prepares bottled lattes. Every bottle—from matcha to cold brew—comes with a cup of ice, so you’re paying for a full 16 ounces of your drink of choice. The lattes are made with oat milk, resulting in a pleasant creamy texture.
1658 Liliha St., Honolulu, nekokonekocafe.com/home
5. Mele Mele Bakery
Mele Mele Bakery is tucked in a silo in Waialua. The business boasts an extensive list of matcha beverages.
Photo: Grace Maeda
Tucked in a silo at the old Waialua Sugar Mill, Mele Mele Bakery is truly a hidden gem on the North Shore. Along with fresh baked goods, the café boasts an extensive list of matcha beverages that are made to order. From a rose matcha latte to matcha yuzu lemonade, the drinks are made with organic Uji matcha sourced from Yamasan in Kyoto, Japan. The café is a cozy spot to sip on your matcha and relax.
67-106 Kealohanui St., Waialua, melemelebakery.com
