Touch Grass, Drink Matcha — The Lexington Line

New York certainly has no shortages on matcha. I tried 10 spots in a citywide crawl, so here are the top five that I would revisit.

Matcha has come a long way from its roots in Japanese tea ceremonies, where the finely ground green tea has been prepared and enjoyed for centuries. The drink has had its moment for some time now, and has since been reinvented to include a milky base, creating what we know and love: your classic matcha latte.

With that in mind, the drink has been seen anywhere and everywhere — from tearooms, caffeine shops, to even chain brands like Wawa. Of course, not all locations know how to make a tasty matcha. With the hefty prices today, would you not like to know which spots are worth your visit?

After visiting 10 different cafes across New York City, judging each on taste, quality, atmosphere, and price, I found my top five.

Rōk - West Village

156 Seventh Avenue South | $8.50

Rōk, first born in LA, opened a location here in NYC, attracting a line down the block. As outrageous as this may sound, the wait was worth every second.

The drink itself was incredibly creamy, as it has a matcha cream top over with the latte itself. The matcha tasted delectable, of course, as it is holding the number one spot. To get specific, it was whisked perfectly and was not gritty in any way, giving it a nice mouthfeel. You could taste that the matcha was crafted with care, and it had the perfect matcha-to-milk ratio.

I tried both the Earl Grey and Lavender Duo Matcha, and I will say the lavender was my personal favorite. The matcha still shined through the floral syrup, but the drink was still quite sweet. If you are someone that prefers your matcha slightly more bitter and straight forward, I recommend for you to ask for less or no sweetener.

The space itself was quite aesthetic and minimalist, but stuffy, as there is typically a line of people waiting for their drinks. There are still seating options available! If anything, I would recommend going later in the day since unlike most cafes, they close shop at 10 p.m.

Even with the crowd, the quality was undeniable.

2. 12 Matcha - NoHo

54 Bond Street | $8

This spot was not on my initial 10 spots that I had tried, but still carried it’s way to the top five regardless.

Again, this location also had a line down the block, even up til closing which was when I went. I have walked by this line many, many times so I recently went in for the kill, and waited myself. Safe to say, this queue is yet another that is worth the wait.

Similar to a tourist attraction, I would consider 12 Matcha akin to the Disney of all matcha locations I have tried. It was incredibly organized and the business clearly runs a tight ship. From the way the cafe is decorated, and down to the service, everything is intentional and part of the experience at 12 Matcha.

There are stations where your drink will be prepared, and they invite you to watch the process, which gives you the opportunity to converse with your barista.

To top that, they certainly are generous with how much matcha is whisked into your drink, using specifically six grams in a 12 ounce cup. For those who are unfamiliar, the standard is two.

The matcha they use is a premium ceremonial blend. Although I am unsure of its specifics, the blend tasted earthy and carried a naturally sweet flavor. I am not one for an unsweetened matcha, however, I believe this drink did not need any specialties added.

For your visit, keep in mind that they have a very selective menu, offering only two matcha options: a matcha latte and a honey matcha latte.

If there was not always a line, I would consider studying here since they have a downstairs area and plenty of seating. And I cannot forget to mention the service of this establishment as it was splendid. The employees truly do also make this spot and were all exceptionally helpful and kind.

3. Smiley Coffee - Lower East Side

138 Ludlow Street | $8

Smiley Coffee certainly understands the assignment when it comes to aesthetics, because this place was beyond exquisite with their wooden and chartreuse accents.

On the more underrated side, this location had no line and no wait time. The establishment was beautifully merchandised, which is strange to say for a cafe, but they also happened to carry their own merchandise.

As for the drink, the first thing I will say is that the cup itself is smaller compared to a typical cafe, at around eight to nine ounces.

I purchased their Smiley Matcha Cloud Cap, which was crafted with their house-made Earl Grey syrup and a vanilla cold foam. Though it could have been stronger, the matcha was very balanced.

They are more known for their coffee, but their matcha is still worth a try with it not being overly sweet. At eight dollars for an eight ounce cup, it is slightly steep. However, the syrup and thoughtfully designed ambiance definitely add value beyond the drink itself.

4. Street Blends - Nolita

302 Mott Street | $8.50

Street Blends had a spacious space compared to other recommendations, but despite this, there was little seating. With their sleek interior and open layout, the atmosphere was still easy on the eyes.

Ordering through their self serving kiosk was easy and personally, but the wait was another story. I did go on an off day as there was only one barista handling the rush of drinks, creating a backlog of orders.

The service suffered, but the staffing situation hardly seemed fair to blame on the barista.

On a side note, the drink itself was smooth, light, and refreshing making the drink incredibly chuggable.

I purchased their Honey Jasmine Lavender Matcha Latte in a 16 ounce cup, which is to larger than most of the spots I have tried for the same price.

Despite the floral flavor, the matcha remained noticeable, and the generous portion made the price feel more reasonable.

5. Park at Kim’s - Chinatown

119 Elizabeth Street | $6

I am not one to order a warm drink, but due to the cold weather on the day of my visit, I did get my matcha hot. This may or may not have prevented it from being higher on this list, but regardless, it was delicious.

I purchased a classic matcha latte and the warmth truly felt like a hug on a breezy day. It was creamy and free of any gritty texture, with just enough sweetness to complement the matcha without overpowering it.

The cafe was bustling in a way I can appreciate that day, but there was no line. Inside, the decor was thoughtful and littered with magazines. The accents of coffee table books made it just the most darling spot to catch up with a friend or even to people watch.

This establishment reminded me how dependable a good ole’ classic can be, proving that a good matcha does not always need an add-on to make it good.

Are you going to give any of these spots a visit? Leave a comment below!