Holy Matcha!
@holymatchaa
Adorned with blush pink velvet benches accompanied by bold botanical wallpaper, founder Geraldine Ridaura sure knows how to tap into the millennial hype with her chic new cafe- Holy Matcha in the hip neighborhood of North Park.
This cafe is so good you'll want to live inside this tropical oasis complete with gold embellishments and all things marble. Behold the restaurant that is changing the game of cafes in a city that is bursting at the seams with Starbucks.
Serving up a limited selection of made-to-order matcha (tea) drinks and small bites, this vibrant cafe isn't just your average cafe...it's an entire experience. Whether you are ordering a matcha latte to enjoy the perks of a matcha powder stencil, googly-eyeing the fetch neon sign or the tropical wallpaper is magnetically drawing you over- you're in for a ride! This playful cafe exists purely to serve your Instagram needs.
The Matcha and health-centric cafe excitement began in New York and LA but the whole aesthetic reminded me of a hauntingly similar cafe in London called Palm Vaults, which already satisfied my millennial appetite but now I can have my very own tropical oasis at my front door.
I had the Horchata Matcha Latte and the Matcha Ninja Turtle Froyo, which was on tap specifically for Comic-Con the weekend before. They use powdered matcha in the lattes (packed with antioxidants) so it is not sweet like your Chai or Cafe Latte yet smooth and rich in flavor. The Froyo was also delicious especially since it was a nice warm day in San Diego.
Holy Matcha is not only vegan-friendly but all of their milks are non-dairy for those who are lactose intolerant. They also serve up other small treats on their plant-based menu such as rice flour matcha donuts, avocado toast (which looked bomb.com!), chia pudding, yogurt bowls and even waffles adorned with edible flowers!
Outside of the nonstop sensory overload, they also have an adorable assortment of merchandise including a matcha coffee table book, a beautiful assortment of teas, cute knickknacks for the home and matcha powders to bring home. When I was there they also had some cool Holy Matcha swag such as adorable baby-pink tote bags and pink t-shirts that say "You, me, Matcha" to match their neon sign decor.
FYI- this cafe only takes card and is a cash free establishment, which is becoming quite the trend in North Park. Also, if you're seeking out the new best cafe to get your studying on, I wouldn't recommend it- there are only a handful of tables and most people come in to take pretty pictures.
This place not only caters to the grammers, vegans and millennials of the world but also people that can't drink coffee considering that Matcha is a healthy alternative to people who still need their caffeine fix (and the menu is pretty reasonably priced, might I add) . The challenge will be to keep a consistent variety of new Matcha beverages on the menu to keep the first or second time visitors coming back for more. The limited menu might not satisfy the so-so Matcha drinker.
The popularity of San Diego’s Holy Matcha Cafe is a testament to not only the quality in product but the amazing decor of course... North Park is definitely a vibrant and colorful neighborhood so there's no doubt that Holy Matcha fits right in. I will definitely be back for round two.
Thumbnail and cover photo: @holymatchaa
Been to Holy Matcha? Tell us your favorite item on the menu in the comments below!