MATCHA PASSPORT
Shimokitazawa, Setagaya · Tokyo · Steep Index 8.7/10 · Steep Pick
A dedicated matcha specialty bar tucked on the 2nd floor of a Shimokitazawa building, easy to walk past. Staff talk you through single-origin matcha varieties like the Tanuki from Wazuka, Kyoto, and the pours are genuinely excellent.
The Steep Index
Coffee, or rather matcha, leads clearly, the Tanuki from Wazuka came through with real pistachio-like depth in an iced matcha that delivered on every level. Atmosphere and Solo-Friendliness both follow close behind on a small room with a genuinely gezellig, happy feel and staff who make real recommendations rather than just taking an order. Value and Staying Power both hold up reasonably without being the standout.
- Coffee / Drink Quality: 9.4/10
- Atmosphere: 9.0/10
- Solo-Friendliness: 9.0/10
- Value: 8.0/10
- Staying Power: 8.1/10
- Overall: 8.7/10
Perfect for: reading
Specialty: matcha
The Space
MATCHA PASSPORT sits up a flight of stairs on the 2nd floor of Veil Shimokitazawa, easy to walk right past. The room is small but has a genuinely gezellig, cozy vibe, happy staff and nice background music.
The Coffee
Ordered the Tanuki, a single-origin matcha from Wazuka, Kyoto, made as an iced matcha, and it delivered real pistachio-like depth alongside the expected umami. Staff walked through the varieties in detail before recommending it, and the pour matched the pitch exactly.
Easy to miss, and easily one of the best matcha pours in the city.
The Vibe
Staff here are uber friendly, service with a genuine smile, and they take real time to match a matcha to what you are after rather than just pointing at the menu. A great spot to sit alone and chillax.
The Verdict
Look for the stairs, not the street level. This is a genuine Steep Pick for matcha, worth seeking out on its own terms.
Practical information
- Address: 2-31-14 Kitazawa, Setagaya, Tokyo 155-0031, Japan (Veil Shimokitazawa Bldg, 2F)
- Price: ¥¥
- Type: matcha bar
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