Best Matcha Cafes for Toronto Students

Matcha has become quite the craze in Toronto over the past couple of years, but some places are better than others. The worst outcome is paying for an overpriced matcha and having it come out too milky, too bitter, or too sweet. For all of these places, I can guarantee you’ll be drinking something worth the trip.

Hope you enjoy the list and find a place that becomes your go-to matcha spot.

Cafe Forêt

📍 153 Dundas St W, Toronto
🚇 St Patrick Station 

Cafe Forêt is located just near Sankofa Square and is the perfect place to study late after getting out of class. It has the largest seating area and latest closing time (10pm) out of all the spots on this list.

The price range is on the higher side, and there’s less flexibility in customization than you might expect. I’ve tried ordering their specialty matchas without dairy, like the cream top blueberry, but they aren’t able to remove the cream, so if you’re dairy-free you may be limited to the plain matcha. You also can’t change the cup size, which is worth knowing if you’re watching your budget.

Once you order, they give you a beeper for when your drink is ready. There are signs about a two-hour seating limit but in my experience they’re fairly relaxed about it.

Cafe Forêt is a great place to socialise and get work done, though it’s not my top pick purely for the matcha itself.

Best for: Late-night studying and a big seating area
Top tip: The Wi-Fi password is on your receipt and the bar window seat looking onto Dundas Street is worth grabbing if it’s free.
Price range: $6.55 – $9.50

Matcha Matcha

📍 294 Dundas St W, Toronto (1 of 3 locations)
🚇 St Patrick Station

Matcha Matcha has quickly become one of the most talked-about matcha spots in Toronto and is often busy with a line. As an OCAD U student, the location is a real plus, sitting about a two-minute walk from the main building.

The menu features a lot of unique flavours, with new ones added throughout the seasons. Their matcha tends to run strong and is probably the least milky option on this list. The quality is genuinely great and you can taste it across every flavour.

The branding and interior design are a real standout, and since the warmer weather arrived, they’ve added a patio out front, which is a nice bonus.

Overall, Matcha Matcha is a well-run, quality business. The price point is not the most student-friendly, but you can count on a solid drink every time.

Best for: Flavour variety and strong matcha lovers
Top tip: Order the banana brûlée matcha. If you find it too strong, a splash of milk at home balances it out perfectly.
Price range: $7 – $8.50

Icha Tea

📍 235 Spadina Ave, Unit 4, Toronto (1 of 2 locations)
🚇 St Patrick Station

Icha Tea was one of the first matcha spots I tried in Toronto, so it holds a bit of a special place for me. It sits right in Chinatown on Spadina, making it a great afternoon stop.

Icha Tea built its reputation on the strawberry matcha, made with fresh homemade strawberry syrup. They’ve since added a mango strawberry matcha that I haven’t tried yet, but I’ve heard good things from other customers.

For value, Icha Tea is a step more reasonable than the first two spots. The cup sizes are generous and nothing on the menu goes over $10. The flavour selection is on the smaller side for now, and I’d love to see it grow over time.

Icha Tea is a solid choice and well worth trying.

Best for: Value, generous portions, and a Chinatown visit
Top tip: Make a full outing of it and grab dumplings at Juicy Dumpling next door.
Price range: $7.40 – $7.90

Wu Wei

📍 44 Kensington Ave, Toronto
🚇 streetcar at Spadina and Queen St W 

Wu Wei is tucked into the Kensington area and is the perfect spot to grab a drink and wander the shops. Once you head down the stairs you’ll find an iPad ordering system, which is a low-pressure way to browse and order without feeling rushed. There’s only one iPad but the line moves quickly.

Despite being in Kensington, Wu Wei is the most budget-friendly option on this list by a significant margin. The standout feature is that you get four size options, which you won’t find at most spots. If you’re watching your spending, the $4.44 cup is genuinely great value. I’ve tried a few options and can confirm that the apple pie is absolutely delicious.

This is a grab-and-go spot rather than a sit-down cafe, so come with that in mind. It’s currently my favourite on the list, though there are so many more spots in the city still to try.

Best for: Budget-friendly matcha and a Kensington wander
Top tip: It’s at basement level so easy to walk past. Look for the stairs and don’t give up on finding it.
Price range: $4.44 – $7.77

Honourable Mentions

Matcha Haus – A dedicated matcha shop with a rotating menu of creative flavours. The average price sits around $10, so it leans on the higher end, but worth knowing about if you’re keen to explore.

Neo Coffee Bar – A cozy cafe chain serving up solid, more affordable matcha in glass cups, plus some great matcha desserts.

The Matcha Tokyo – A popular Tokyo-based matcha brand that has just opened a new Toronto location. I haven’t been yet but it’s high on my list.