Bristol’s matcha scene has exploded. What was once an occasional alternative on a coffee-shop menu can now be found in dedicated matcha shops, Japanese cafés, bubble tea bars and independent coffee shops across the city. Even Greggs and Starbucks have joined the trend, making matcha easier to find than ever, but certainly not equal in quality.
After visiting Japan, taking part in a traditional tea ceremony and spending time in Uji, I came away with a much better appreciation of how dramatically matcha can vary depending on its origin, quality and preparation. A good matcha should offer more than a sweet syrup disguising a weak or bitter powder.
Matcha tea ceremony in Kyoto, Japan
As Bristol has always championed independent businesses, this guide focuses on the local places doing something worthwhile with matcha. Some are dedicated specialists, while others have developed distinctive menus, signature drinks or food pairings that make them worth seeking out.
The venues are grouped by area, making it easier to find somewhere nearby or plan your own Bristol matcha crawl. Menus and opening hours can change quickly, particularly at smaller cafés, so check each venue’s social media before travelling.
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Matcha in Clifton
Kumomo
📍15 King’s Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4AB
Kumomo is a small Japanese store built around matcha, hojicha and products sourced directly from Japan. Different grades of matcha are available, allowing you to choose between something suitable for a latte and higher-quality preparations. The menu also includes more fruit and dessert-style drinks for anyone who prefers their matcha sweeter.
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Mochacha
📍73 Queen’s Road, Clifton, Bristol
Mochacha is one of the newest additions to Bristol’s matcha scene, opening on Clifton Triangle in 2026. The café serves freshly ceremonial grade matcha, fruit teas made with real fruit and bread baked in-house each day.
Although the Bristol shop is new, it draws on the founding family’s 15 years of experience working with tea. The menu includes classic matcha, as well as bubble tea and freshly baked pastries.
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Jo’s Tea
📍53 Queen’s Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1QQ
📍62 Park Row, Bristol BS1 5LE
📍206 Cheltenham Road, Bristol BS6 5QU
Jo’s Tea is a Bristol-founded, family-run tea business that has built a loyal local following since opening in 2018. Although it’s best known for bubble tea, matcha has been part of its menu from the beginning, with premium ceremonial-grade matcha hand-whisked to order.
Its dedicated menu now ranges from a classic matcha latte to strawberry, pistachio, sakura rose, Biscoff, taro and sea salt cloud matcha. There are also hojicha alternatives, a matcha coffee and citrus sparkling matcha for something lighter and less creamy.
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Making a day of it in Clifton? Read my guide to visiting Clifton Lido.
Matcha in Central Bristol
The Matcha Box
📍Outside TCN, close to Bristol Temple Meads station
The Matcha Box operates from a converted shipping container immediately outside the Temple Meads area. The menu includes regular and flavoured drinks alongside coffee, cakes and light food, with seasonal specials changing throughout the year.
There are relatively few interesting independent matcha options immediately around Temple Meads, making it useful for commuters, visitors and anyone passing through the station.
Opening is generally concentrated around weekday daytime hours, so check its current schedule before travelling specifically to visit.
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Society Café
📍12 Baldwin Street, Bristol BS1 1SD
📍Farr’s Lane, Narrow Quay, Bristol BS1 4BB
Society Café has two Bristol locations: one on Baldwin Street and another overlooking the Harbourside.
Alongside its regular matcha, Society develops seasonal signature drinks made in-house. Its spring menu included a Coconut Matcha Cloud, combining coconut water with matcha and oat cold foam, and a Peach Matcha Cloud, made with cold-brewed peach iced tea and a creamy matcha cold foam.
Its matcha is sourced from Kyoto, and so the traceable origin of its matcha and choice of preparations provide a credible reason to include it.
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Matcha in Stokes Croft and Gloucester Road
Poquito Coffee
📍116 Cheltenham Road, Bristol BS6 5RW
Poquito is an intimate independent café on Cheltenham Road. Its menu includes coffee, pastries and changing matcha drinks, with blueberry and other flavoured iced combinations appearing regularly.
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Matcha in East Bristol
KRMÉ & Co
📍252 Church Road, St George, Bristol BS5 8AF
KRMÉ & Co is a small independent coffee and matcha bar on Church Road. Its menu regularly features combinations involving ube, strawberry, pistachio, coconut sea salt and other seasonal flavours. I tried the crème brûlée matcha, one of its more dessert-led creations and a good example of the playful approach that sets KRMÉ & Co apart from a conventional coffee shop.
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Other Matcha Options
Several other independent coffee shops are taking a more considered approach to matcha, even though it may not be the main focus of their menus.
Dareshack is among the most adventurous, with cherry blossom and tropical matcha alongside occasional tastings, while Hem combines Matchaeologist Midori with its own blueberry syrup. Small Street Espresso has introduced fruit-led specials such as mango matcha, Hatter House offers a wider flavoured range, while Restore has experimented with seasonal and blended preparations.
CUPP also warrants a mention because it began in Bristol, and matcha remains part of its menu with branches at Cabot Circus and Park Row.
Best Independent Bristol Cafés for Matcha and Food
But it’s not only Bristol’s speciality coffee shops expanding their matcha menus; many of the city’s best-loved eateries have added their own versions too.
The most obvious is Lonely Mouth on Gloucester Road, which pairs ceremonial Uji matcha with Japanese breakfasts, teishoku, chazuke, French toast and matcha desserts, and has featured signature drinks such as a Marshmallow Matcha Latte and Mango Iced Matcha.
Terrace at 43 serves its British and Mediterranean-style brunch menu alongside Matcha Vista drinks in original, vanilla, blueberry, strawberry and mango.
East Village Café in Clifton Village regularly introduces specials such as lemon-poppyseed and mango matcha alongside its vegan brunch and cakes, while The Crafty Egg has featured blueberry, pistachio and mango iced matchas with its pancakes, eggs and larger brunch dishes.
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For more local recommendations, explore my Bristol travel and food guides.
