Matcha dessert places in Singapore
Amidst popular crazes such as salted egg yolk and mala, matcha is a flavour with seemingly evergreen popularity and appeal. That pleasant earthiness, light floral notes, and tinge of bitterness go so well with anything smooth and creamy, which explains why matcha dessert cafes in Singapore are plenty.
However, many Singaporeans are unaware of the difference between green tea and legit matcha. Matcha is made from green tea leaves grown under shade for approximately three weeks before harvesting, which results in increased chlorophyll content. That creates its signature vivid green hue and also translates to greater flavour. Any matcha which has a faded, darker colour isn’t worth your time.
Those leaves are then ground into the powder that goes into our drinks and desserts. That means we’re ingesting whole green tea leaves when we drink matcha, which contains around three times more antioxidants as compared to standard green tea.
That’s all we have for Matcha 101. Here’s our list of 12 matcha dessert cafes that will please your palate while injecting antioxidants into your bloodstream.
Table of Contents
1. Hvala
Image credit: @doratheexploraaa_
Hvala began as a humble matcha beverage and soft-serve kiosk in 313@Somerset’s basement food hall. They’ve since opened full-fledged cafes in CHIJMES, Takashimaya, and 111 Somerset, serving up a larger range of desserts and premium teas. White-washed with wood accents, this pretty cafe is an Instagrammer’s dream.
The Matcha Petit ($9.90++ for a slice) steals the show. The cake houses an intense green tea flavour, complemented with varying textures from matcha sponge, crumble, and mousse.
A stunning array of teas from all over Japan is available, but get the Premium Grade Yuki Matcha ($5.50++) or Ceremonial Grade Kaze Matcha ($10.90++) if you really want to experience the complexities of matcha in full force.
Read our Hvala feature!
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Website | Full list of outlets
Hvala is not a halal-certified eatery.
2. Nana’s Green Tea
Image credit: @lhuili
Nana’s Green Tea is an international matcha dessert sensation. They’ve got two outlets in Singapore: one in Plaza Singapura and the other in DUO Galleria at Bugis.
We always end up coming for their matcha desserts, particularly the Matcha Shiratama Parfait ($12.60+). Matcha jelly and ice cream play starring roles, backed up by shiratama mochi, corn flakes and a healthy dose of whipped cream.
Plaza Singapura
Address: 60B Orchard Road, #03-80/82, The Atrium @ Orchard, Plaza Singapura, Singapore 238839
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
DUO Galleria
Address: 7 Fraser Street#01-38/39 DUO Galleria, Singapore 189356
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 11am to 8:30pm, Fri-Sun 11am to 9:30pm
Website
Nana’s Green Tea is not a halal-certified eatery.
3. Keong Saik Bakery
Image credit: @keongsaikbakery
Keong Saik Bakery is not technically a matcha dessert cafe, but they do have a fair amount of delicious sweets made with green tea to try. If you’re visiting their Jewel cafe, try the new Cactus ($8.80++) dessert tart: matcha sponge and nama chocolate in the middle, surrounded by chocolate crumble. Alternatively, they also have Matcha Swissroll ($7.80) or Matcha Burnt Cheese Cruffin ($6.80), all of which are decadent and a sure-win for matcha fans.
Read our Keong Saik Bakery review!
Website | Full list of outlets
Keong Saik Bakery is not a halal-certified eatery.
4. Azabu Sabo
Image credit: @tohrx
Years after opening in Singapore, Azabu Sabo still commands snaking queues at Ngee Ann City and Clarke Quay for their soft and uber-creamy Hokkaido ice cream. Crafted with premium Hokkaido milk, their ice cream is wonderfully smooth and milky. So it’s no surprise that Green Tea is one of their best-selling flavours, as matcha’s natural earthiness makes it a perfect companion for any creamy delight. Make it a double scoop and enjoy other flavours like Green Tea With Azuki Bean and Goma variants too, for $8.
Clarke Quay
Address: 6 Eu Tong Sen Street, #01-46, Clarke Quay Central, Singapore 059817
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 12pm to 10pm, Fri-Sat 12pm to 10:30pm
Ngee Ann City
Address: 391A Orchard Road, #B2-07-8-2 Takashimaya Food Hall, Singapore 238873
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 9:30pm
Website | Full list of outlets
Azabu Sabo is not a halal-certified eatery.
5. Matchaya
Image credit: @matchayasg
Home-grown chain Matchaya focuses on highlighting the quality and authenticity of ingredients. That’s particularly clear in their Matcha Soft Serve ($6), hailed in some circles as the best matcha soft serve on the island.
Its lush green hue hints at the intensity of matcha flavour you get in each scoop, flavouring some of the thickest soft-serve you’ll come across. A heavier dessert comes in the form of their parfaits, such as the Uji Matcha Parfait ($14.90), which pairs matcha with matcha warabimochi, azuki paste, matcha granola and more.
Website | Full list of outlets
Matchaya is not a halal-certified eatery.
6. Lady M
Image credit: @ladymsg
The “M” in Lady M stands for “mille”, as in mille crepe, the type of cakes that this New York native patisserie has made its reputation on. Mille means “thousand” in French, representing the dizzying number of thin crepe layers that form one slice of cake, with equally skinny sheets of pastry cream slathered between. What results from that painstaking process is an exceptionally soft and fluffy slice of cake.
The Green Tea Mille Crepe ($12++ for a slice) is one of their signatures. There’s an abundance of tea flavour in each slice, from the pastry cream to the layers of crepe, including a gentle shower of matcha on top. All this adds up to a generous hit of green tea flavour, much-needed to counteract the cake’s lusciously creamy texture.
Website | Full list of outlets
Lady M is not a halal-certified eatery.
7. Maccha House
Image credit: @susanto.lina
Kyoto is Japan’s matcha haven, so you can expect Maccha House, which hails from the ex-Japanese capital, to serve up some seriously good matcha desserts. Top of the list is their Maccha Tiramisu Parfait ($12.99++), served elegantly in a wooden box.
Despite its name, this is more like a pudding than traditional Italian tiramisu, as it lacks that iconic alcoholic kick. Instead, matcha powder and mascarpone cream hide layers of matcha sponge and vanilla chiffon.
A whole lot more matcha goodies are on the menu too, such as the Maccha Cheese Dorayaki ($11.99++): stack of dorayaki glazed in matcha cream cheese, served alongside a matcha soft serve.
Website
Full list of outlets
Maccha House is not a halal-certified eatery.
8. Tsujiri
Image credit: @tsujiri_sg
Tsujiri is steeped in history. These matcha masters started in Kyoto in 1860, and if they’ve been around for nearly 160 years, they must be doing something right.
Their matcha desserts range from floats, parfaits, swiss rolls, soft serves, to cakes, so there is plenty for matcha fiends to choose from. Their popular Uji Matcha Soft Serve is priced at $5.80, but regulars return for their parfaits, which start at $8.80.
Website | Full list of outlets
Tsujiri is not a halal-certified eatery.
9. KYO Kohee
Image credit: @kyokohee.sg
If you work in the CBD, you may have come across KYO Kohee, a hidden matcha and coffee specialty cafe in Tanjong Pagar. The store uses premium matcha powder in their signature drinks, including the Matcha Latte, Okumidori ($6.90), which boasts a bittersweet flavour and mildly grassy notes. Those who want to splurge can go for their ceremonial grade matcha instead, priced at $10.90 for straight-up matcha, and $12.90 for the latte form.
Check out our KYO Kohee feature!
Address: 144 Robinson Road, #01-01, Robinson Square, Singapore 068908
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8am to 5pm
Website
KYO Kohee is not a halal-certified eatery.
This Hidden Japanese Cafe In Tanjong Pagar Has Specialty Matcha And Coffee
10. LUNA
Image credit: smolbelly
One of the trendiest cake shops to enter the local dessert scene of late is LUNA. Their Asian-inspired cake selection includes a Matcha Opera ($8.50++), made with matcha chiffon, matcha mousse, and matcha ganache, topped with matcha powder—a matcha lover’s dream come true. They’re also popular for their Orh Nee ($8++), a riff on the old-school Teochew dessert, zhnged up with vanilla sponge, coconut Chantilly cream, and white chocolate pearls.
Read our LUNA review.
Website
LUNA is not a halal-certified eatery.
LUNA Review: New Cafe At Amoy Street Selling Orh Nee And Dark Chocolate Cakes Under $10
11. Cafe Usagi Tokyo
Image credit: curiousfoood
Cafe Usagi Tokyo, which has a store in Suntec City and another in 111 Somerset, specialises in matcha desserts and drinks. Fans love their Matcha Latte ($6.80), which you can choose to enjoy hot or cold, with three different sweetness levels. Their Signature Mochi Ice Cream ($6) is said to be a must-try, too. This dessert stars a scoop of vanilla or matcha ice cream, topped with soft and stretchy mochi.
Suntec City
Address: 8 Temasek Boulevard, #02-615A, Tower 3 Suntec City, Singapore 038983
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 9:30pm
111 Somerset
Address: 111 Somerset Road, #01-42, Singapore 238164
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Website
Cafe Usagi is not a halal-certified eatery.
12. FYP Cafe
Those with a sweet tooth would have heard of FYP Cafe, started by the team behind the IG-famous bakery, Whiskdom. The Orchard Central cafe offers a variety of lava brownies and cookies to choose from, including their Matcha Lava Cookie ($6.50+), which stars a molten matcha centre, paired with sweet white chocolate bits and a matcha-infused cookie dough. Their Strawberry Matcha ($6.90+), comprising layers of strawberry syrup, milk, and matcha powder, is a must-try too.
Read our FYP Cafe review!
Website
FYP Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.
FYP Cafe Review: New Glamping-Themed Cafe By Whiskdom And Big Big Fries At Orchard Central
Best matcha desserts in Singapore
Matcha has been revered in Japan for centuries. However, this addictive powder has only gone global in the last decade, extending its earthy influence to our shores. And as the popularity of matcha continues to endure, it’s easier than ever to get your dose of green tea goodness.
If your sweet tooth can’t be satisfied by these matcha desserts, take a look at our list of the 10 best dessert places of 2020 and our review of Dopa Dopa.
This article was originally published on 8 May 2019.
Featured image adapted from @matchayasg, curiousfoood, smolbelly, and @kyokohee.sg
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