Mikey East (.
Google
If it weren’t for social media and the faint hum of influencers on Chiswick Common Road, I’d have missed Matchado completely. Blink and you’ll miss it!
What began as a mobile matcha truck in King’s Cross now has a permanent home in west London. It’s a sleek, compact café that feels more like a matcha shrine than your average coffee stop. Small? Yes. Mighty? Absolutely.
Muted sage tones, clean lines, and a footprint that could politely be described as tight. But it works. Inside, the vibe is quiet confidence. Not trying to impress, just vibing in its own beautifully curated lane. There’s a short counter, a couple of stools, and a niche retail shelf stocked with ceremonial-grade tins, handmade ceramics and, naturally, a cookbook dedicated to baking with green tea.
But the real magic? It’s in the cup.
We tried the Strawberry Iced Matcha Latte, the Brown Sugar Iced Matcha Latte, and a final flourish with the matcha affogato. All three were spot-on. The strawberry version was visually stunning and miraculously not sickly: clean, fruity, and balanced like it’s been doing yoga since birth. The brown sugar one had proper depth, without tipping into dessert territory. You still knew you were drinking matcha, not some syrup-soaked cosplay. And the affogato? A green tea twist on the Italian classic that actually worked. Creamy, punchy, and stupidly addictive.
The menu is focused but well-considered. Alongside the hero matcha drinks, there’s hojicha, genmaicha, and even classic coffee for the caffeine agnostics. A small selection of Japanese-inspired patisserie adds to the charm: matcha cheesecakes, dorayaki, and bakes that whisper "refined" rather than shout "treats!"
Now, the one caveat: seating. There are a few stools inside and a handful of metal chairs out front. It's a decent perch if the sun’s out and Chiswick Common is doing its Sunday match day thing. Otherwise, it’s very much a grab-and-go setup. Sadly, we witnessed a classic London faux pas: people turning their one lonely latte into a full-on picnic. Matchado deserves better. Support your locals properly.
Service was lovely: quick, warm, and no side-eye if you fumble your order or don’t know your hojicha from your genmaicha. The team clearly care. You can feel it the second you walk in.
Matchado is the real deal. A sleek, low-key matcha bar that balances Japanese tradition with London cool. It’s camera-ready, sure, but it’s also full of flavour, charm, and quiet substance. You’ll want to shout about it. But also? Kinda want to keep it to yourself.
