Matcha Later

All day

Address: Unit 204, JKL Building, 5385 General Luna Street, Poblacion, Makati
Hours: Tuesday to Friday, 12nn to 9pm; Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 2pm and 4pm to 10pm; closed Monday

Matcha Later is a slow matcha bar on the second floor of a small building on General Luna Street in Poblacion, with room for about eight people at the counter. Owner Love Nakagawa sources the tea from Uji, Kyoto, and every drink is whisked with a bamboo chasen in front of you. The menu runs from usucha (thin matcha) served in a chawan to flavoured lattes like the Kumo Berry and the Caramiso, a caramel miso latte, and nothing is made too sweet. There is hojicha too, and a matcha or hojicha tiramisu.

Why go

01Ceremonial grade Uji matcha, whisked to order at the counter
02Usucha in a chawan if you want the tea on its own
03Lattes that are not too sweet, so the matcha comes through
04Hojicha and genmaicha for anyone who wants something roasted

Good to know

Best time: Weekday afternoons; weekends have a queue
Good for: One or two people who want to sit at the bar and watch the whisking
Reservations: Walk in
Noise: Quiet, with jazz playing

Also worth knowing

Access: what to order: usucha, the Kumo Berry or the Caramiso latte, and the Kyoto-style tiramisu · how to book: walk in; seating is limited, so expect to wait at peak times · closed Monday