Essential Matcha in San Francisco
Your comprehensive guide to SF's best matcha from Japantown to the Mission. From Kissako Tea's traditional Japanese tea ceremonies to Stonemill Matcha's modern approach, Blue Bottle's specialty coffee integration, and Kiss of Matcha's signature soft serve. This curated collection spans 50+ years of Japanese tea heritage blended with SF's innovative coffee culture across 20 must-visit locations in Japantown, Mission District, Chinatown, Inner Richmond, and beyond.
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20 Shops
Kissako Tea
Japantown, San Francisco
Kissako Tea is a specialty Japanese tea shop located in San Francisco's Japantown, focusing on authentic matcha and traditional tea ceremonies. This intimate tea house offers a serene atmosphere with minimalist Japanese-inspired decor, providing an authentic cultural experience. Known for their high-quality ceremonial grade matcha sourced directly from Japan, Kissako emphasizes traditional preparation methods and tea education. The shop attracts tea enthusiasts seeking genuine Japanese tea culture in a peaceful setting within the bustling city.
Matcha Cafe Maiko
Japantown, San Francisco
Matcha Cafe Maiko is an authentic Japanese matcha cafe in San Francisco's Japantown, specializing in traditional ceremonial-grade matcha and Japanese sweets. The serene, minimalist interior features wooden accents and traditional Japanese aesthetics, creating a peaceful atmosphere for matcha appreciation. Known for their authentic preparation methods and premium Kyoto matcha, the cafe offers an immersive Japanese tea culture experience with handcrafted desserts and seasonal specialties that attract both matcha enthusiasts and newcomers to Japanese tea traditions.
Stonemill Matcha
Mission District, San Francisco
Authentic Japanese matcha cafe in the Mission District serving premium shade-grown matcha from Japan. Known for their minimalist aesthetic and expertly whisked traditional matcha bowls. Popular spot for matcha enthusiasts seeking an authentic tea ceremony experience.
Blue Bottle Coffee
Mission Bay, San Francisco
Blue Bottle Coffee is a specialty coffee roaster known for its meticulous attention to freshness and quality. This San Francisco location features Blue Bottle's signature minimalist aesthetic with clean lines and industrial touches. The cafe emphasizes single-origin beans and precise brewing methods, particularly their pour-over technique. Known for refusing to serve coffee more than 48 hours after roasting, Blue Bottle attracts coffee purists and casual drinkers alike with its commitment to freshness and sustainable sourcing practices.
Andytown Coffee Roasters
Outer Richmond, San Francisco
Andytown Coffee Roasters is a beloved San Francisco institution located steps from Ocean Beach on the Great Highway. Known for their signature Snowy Plover drink and exceptional house-roasted beans, this cozy neighborhood spot captures the essence of San Francisco's Outer Sunset district. The cafe features a warm, minimalist interior with large windows offering natural light, creating an inviting atmosphere for locals and visitors. Their commitment to quality coffee and innovative seasonal drinks has made them a destination for serious coffee enthusiasts.
Sightglass Coffee
SoMa, San Francisco
Sightglass Coffee is a pioneering specialty roaster in San Francisco's SOMA district, known for their meticulous single-origin beans and third-wave coffee culture. The spacious industrial cafe features exposed brick, communal tables, and floor-to-ceiling windows creating an energetic atmosphere. Their in-house roastery is visible through glass panels, showcasing their craft roasting process. Popular with tech workers and coffee enthusiasts, Sightglass emphasizes direct relationships with farmers and sustainable sourcing practices.
Ritual Coffee Roasters
Hayes Valley, San Francisco
Ritual Coffee Roasters is a pioneering specialty coffee company that helped launch San Francisco's third-wave coffee movement. This Hayes Valley location features industrial-chic design with exposed brick walls and communal seating. Known for their meticulous single-origin roasting and direct-trade relationships with farmers, Ritual attracts coffee enthusiasts and laptop workers alike. The minimalist space emphasizes the craft of coffee-making, with skilled baristas preparing precise pour-overs and espresso drinks using their signature light-to-medium roasted beans.
Four Barrel Coffee
Mission District, San Francisco
Four Barrel Coffee is a pioneering specialty coffee roaster in San Francisco's Mission District, known for their meticulous single-origin roasting and third-wave coffee culture. The minimalist industrial space features exposed brick walls and communal seating, creating a bustling yet focused atmosphere. They roast their own beans in-house and are particularly celebrated for their direct trade relationships with coffee farmers, offering expertly crafted espresso drinks and pour-over methods that highlight each bean's unique characteristics.
Philz Coffee Truck
Marina District, San Francisco
Philz Coffee Truck brings the beloved San Francisco coffee culture to Marina Boulevard with their signature mobile coffeehouse experience. Known for their custom-blended coffee approach where each cup is individually crafted to order, this food truck offers the same artisanal quality as Philz brick-and-mortar locations. The truck creates a laid-back, community-focused atmosphere along the Marina waterfront, serving their famous personalized blends with a focus on customer interaction and coffee education in an outdoor setting.
Verve Coffee Roasters
Castro, San Francisco
Verve Coffee Roasters brings Santa Cruz's acclaimed third-wave coffee culture to San Francisco's Castro district. This bright, minimalist cafe features exposed brick walls, communal wooden tables, and floor-to-ceiling windows creating an airy, modern atmosphere. Known for their single-origin beans roasted in-house, Verve emphasizes direct relationships with coffee farmers and sustainable sourcing. The knowledgeable baristas craft precise pour-overs and espresso drinks, while the space attracts remote workers, coffee enthusiasts, and neighborhood locals seeking premium coffee in a inviting space.
Boba Guys Fillmore
Japantown, San Francisco
Boba Guys Fillmore is a modern Taiwanese tea shop that revolutionized the boba scene with their focus on high-quality ingredients and creative flavors. Located in San Francisco's vibrant Fillmore district, this trendy spot features a minimalist aesthetic with clean lines and Instagram-worthy presentation. Known for using organic milk, house-made syrups, and premium teas, they've elevated bubble tea from a novelty to an handcrafted, attracting long lines of devoted customers.
Plentea
Chinatown, San Francisco
Plentea is a modern bubble tea shop located in downtown San Francisco's Financial District on Kearny Street. This contemporary tea house specializes in premium Taiwanese-style drinks with customizable sweetness and ice levels. Known for their Instagram-worthy aesthetic with clean minimalist design, Plentea attracts both office workers and tea enthusiasts. They focus on high-quality ingredients and fresh preparation methods, offering an extensive menu of milk teas, fruit teas, and specialty drinks that cater to diverse taste preferences.
Red Blossom Tea Company
Chinatown, San Francisco
Red Blossom Tea Company is San Francisco's premier traditional Chinese tea shop, operating since 1985 in the heart of Chinatown. This family-owned business specializes in sourcing high-quality loose leaf teas directly from tea gardens across China and Taiwan. The intimate shop features traditional wooden tea tables and expert staff who provide personalized tea tastings and education. Known for their extensive collection of oolongs, pu-erhs, and rare vintage teas, Red Blossom maintains strong relationships with tea farmers to ensure authenticity and quality.
Song Tea & Ceramics
Lower Pacific Heights, San Francisco
Song Tea & Ceramics is a unique specialty tea shop and ceramics studio on Sutter Street that combines traditional Chinese tea culture with handcrafted pottery. The intimate space features a curated selection of premium loose-leaf teas alongside beautiful ceramic teaware made on-site. Known for their gongfu tea service and tea education, Song creates an authentic, meditative atmosphere where customers can experience proper tea brewing techniques while browsing artisanal ceramics. The shop emphasizes quality and craftsmanship in both their tea sourcing and pottery making.
Asha Tea House
Chinatown, San Francisco
Asha Tea House is a cozy Financial District tea sanctuary specializing in premium loose-leaf teas and traditional bubble tea. Located in historic downtown San Francisco, this intimate spot offers an authentic Asian tea experience with carefully sourced teas from Taiwan and China. Known for their handcrafted milk teas, house-made taro drinks, and extensive oolong selection, Asha creates a peaceful retreat from the bustling city streets with warm hospitality and expertly brewed beverages.
Matcha Cafe Maiko
Chinatown, San Francisco
Matcha Cafe Maiko brings authentic Japanese matcha culture to San Francisco's Chinatown with traditional ceremonial-grade matcha sourced directly from Kyoto. This intimate cafe specializes in premium matcha beverages and traditional Japanese sweets, creating an authentic tea house atmosphere. Located on historic Grant Avenue, the cafe offers a serene escape with minimalist Japanese decor and expert matcha preparation methods. Known for using high-quality Uji matcha powder, they serve both traditional and modern interpretations of classic Japanese tea culture in a cozy, contemplative setting.
Kiss of Matcha
Inner Richmond, San Francisco
Japanese-inspired matcha cafe in the Richmond District serving matcha soft serve and creative matcha lattes with Asian fusion flavors. Features signature cream foam lattes and unique flavor combinations. Third Kiss of Matcha location offering the same quality in the Clement Street corridor.
Brew Cha & Matcha
Mission District, San Francisco
Fresh boba tea house in the Mission District specializing in made-to-order bubble tea with organic ceremonial matcha. Known for brewing fresh boba for every cup and using premium ingredients like black sugar. Casual neighborhood spot popular with Mission locals seeking quality tea drinks.
Junbi Matcha & Tea
Yerba Buena, San Francisco
Modern matcha and tea cafe in the Financial District serving organic ceremonial matcha and specialty tea drinks. Convenient downtown location popular with office workers seeking quality matcha during the workday. Features creative POG (Passion-Orange-Guava) matcha cold brews and seasonal drinks.
Boba Guys NOPA
Alamo Square, San Francisco
Boba Guys NOPA is a trendy bubble tea shop that revolutionized the boba scene with high-quality ingredients and innovative flavors. Known for using organic milk, house-made syrups, and premium teas, this minimalist-designed location attracts long lines of devoted fans. The shop emphasizes transparency in sourcing and preparation, featuring an open kitchen where customers can watch their drinks being crafted. Their Instagram-worthy aesthetic and commitment to elevating traditional boba culture has made them a San Francisco institution and social media sensation.