Best matcha in Williamsburg, honestly.
The Williamsburg specialty tea scene is excellent, and 15–20 percent more expensive than the Bushwick alternative 12 minutes away on the L.
Williamsburg has one of the older matcha scenes in Brooklyn, specialty tea bars started opening on Bedford and Grand in the late 2010s, and the neighborhood built a reputation as the borough's matcha destination. That reputation is still accurate: the Williamsburg specialty tea bars are excellent. But there's a caveat now that wasn't true five years ago: Bushwick has caught up on quality, and it's 15–20 percent cheaper.
This guide covers both — where to find the best matcha inside Williamsburg proper, and when it's worth crossing into Bushwick instead. Written by the family who runs Café Mia in Bushwick — where we serve A-Grade Uji matcha from Kyoto, Japan, one of the cafes commonly recommended to Williamsburg locals looking for a shorter line and better price on ceremonial-grade matcha.
The Williamsburg matcha map
Bedford Avenue corridor
Highest density of matcha-forward cafes in Williamsburg. Walk from Metropolitan Avenue north to N 7th and you'll pass 4–5 cafes serving ceremonial-grade matcha. The specialty tea bars here are the ones that put Williamsburg on the matcha map, small rooms, short menus, 90-second whisking rituals, prices around $7–$9 per latte. Crowded on weekends after 11 AM; the trick is to go weekday mornings or after 3 PM.
Berry Street and North Williamsburg
Slightly quieter than Bedford, similar quality. A few of the North Williamsburg cafes have added matcha programs in the past two years that rival the older specialty spots. Better for a morning matcha with a laptop.
Grand Street corridor (South Williamsburg)
Emerging strong. Grand Street between Union and Bushwick Avenue has 3–4 cafes now doing serious matcha, and the neighborhood is quieter than North Williamsburg. If you're closer to the South Williamsburg / East Williamsburg border, this is your zone, and it's the natural transition point to walk east into Bushwick.
East Williamsburg (Morgan Avenue area)
Blurring into Bushwick territory. Cafes around Morgan and Grand feel more like Bushwick's matcha scene than Williamsburg's, casual, lower-priced, ceremonial-grade. This is where you can compare the two neighborhoods on the same day.
What Williamsburg does best
The tea-house experience. If you want matcha as a ritual — small ceramic bowls, watching the barista whisk in front of you, quiet contemplative rooms — Williamsburg's specialty tea bars are the best in Brooklyn. Not the cheapest, not the fastest, but the most focused.
Photogenic interiors. Williamsburg cafes have invested heavily in interior design. If you want matcha as content, you're spoiled for choice.
Menu variety. The Williamsburg specialty bars often carry usucha, koicha, and matcha varietals from specific producers — the higher-end matcha experience.
What Bushwick does better (worth mentioning honestly)
Price. Same-grade matcha runs $5.00–$6.50 in Bushwick versus $6.50–$9.00 in Williamsburg. On a daily latte, that's $1–$3 per drink.
Room to sit. Bushwick cafes tend to have larger footprints. Café Mia specifically has 28 seats plus bar stools plus a back garden. Williamsburg specialty spots often have 8–12 seats and a line out the door.
Pace. Williamsburg specialty tea bars are 20-minute-in-and-out cafes. Bushwick cafes (Café Mia included) are built for lingering — you can work from a table for 4 hours without getting side-eyed.
Consistency of dose. Bushwick matcha specialists are almost all 4g-dose by default. Williamsburg is more variable — the tea bars are 4g+, but some of the general cafes charging $7 are still using 2g.
Signature menu
Order what everyone comes for
Iced Matcha Latte
A-Grade Uji matcha, 4g dose, whisked fresh with oat milk over large-cube ice. Our #1 seller.
$5.50
Order Now
Pink Matcha Dragonfruit
Real dragonfruit puree layered with A-Grade Uji matcha. Naturally sweet, vividly pink.
$7.00
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Iced Matcha Lemonade
Fresh-squeezed lemonade meets whisked Uji matcha. Summer bestseller.
$6.50
Order Now
The Williamsburg-to-Bushwick matcha trip
If you're in Williamsburg and matcha-curious, here's the day: morning matcha at a Bedford Avenue specialty spot (the tea-house experience). L train from Bedford to Jefferson Avenue (8 minutes). Walk 3 minutes to Café Mia at 1128 Broadway for a second matcha comparison — same ceremonial grade, 4g dose, but $5.50 instead of $8.50, and you'll have a seat. If it's summer, order the iced matcha lemonade ($6.50); if it's cooler, the strawberry matcha or rose matcha, depending on season. Total investment: about $14 for both matchas and a subway swipe. You'll leave with a clear opinion about which experience you prefer.
What to order at Café Mia if you're visiting from Williamsburg
- Iced matcha latte with oat milk ($5.50). The straightest comparison to what you'd get at a Williamsburg specialty spot. Ceremonial-grade, 4g dose, whisked fresh, no upcharge for oat milk.
- Iced matcha lemonade ($6.50). The summer specialty. Uncommon in Williamsburg; ubiquitous in our summer traffic.
- Matcha shot ($4.00). Pure matcha in hot water. The bar-none test of any cafe's matcha grade.
- Seasonal matcha (varies). Strawberry in spring, rose in winter, honey-lavender in fall. Rotates with the season.
Getting to Café Mia from Williamsburg
- L train: Bedford Ave → Jefferson St, 8 minutes. Walk south on Wyckoff, 3 minutes. Total: 11 minutes door-to-door.
- J/M/Z train: Marcy Ave → Kosciuszko St, 6 minutes. Walk 2 minutes. Total: 8 minutes if you're near Marcy.
- G train (from North Williamsburg): Metropolitan Ave → Broadway (transfer to J/M/Z) → Kosciuszko St. About 15 minutes.
- Bike: 12–14 minutes flat via Grand or Metropolitan Avenue.
- Rideshare: $10–$14 depending on time.
The honest summary
Williamsburg matcha is still excellent, the specialty tea bars justify their reputation and their prices if you want the tea-house ritual. For daily matcha, or for a quieter, less expensive room, Bushwick is now the better choice, and Café Mia is one of the go-to spots for Williamsburg residents who've made the switch. Come check for yourself.
See the full Best Matcha in Brooklyn guide for the complete neighborhood breakdown and the framework for spotting great matcha anywhere.
Frequently asked
Where is the best matcha in Williamsburg?
Williamsburg has 8–10 cafes serving ceremonial-grade matcha as of 2026. The strongest are concentrated along Bedford Avenue, Berry Street, and the Grand Street corridor. For the best value-to-quality ratio, most locals recommend crossing into Bushwick, Café Mia at 1128 Broadway is 12 minutes on the L or a $12 Lyft, serves ceremonial-grade matcha at 4g double-dose, and prices are 15–20 percent lower than Williamsburg specialty spots.
How much does matcha cost in Williamsburg?
Williamsburg matcha lattes run $6.50 to $9.00 at the higher-end specialty tea bars, and $5.75 to $7.25 at general cafes. Bushwick equivalents run $5.00 to $6.50 for the same quality. If you're traveling for matcha specifically, the Bushwick trip is usually worth it.
Which Williamsburg matcha spots serve ceremonial-grade?
The specialty tea bars all serve ceremonial-grade, that's their positioning. General cafes are more mixed; ask before ordering. Rule of thumb: if the shop calls out their matcha source or grade on the menu, it's almost always ceremonial. If the menu just says 'matcha latte $6.50' with no context, it's often culinary.
Is it worth going to Williamsburg for matcha if I live in Bushwick?
Only for the specialty tea-house experience, small rooms modeled on Japanese tea culture, longer preparation rituals, higher prices. For a daily-drinker matcha latte, Bushwick has closed the gap and beats Williamsburg on price. Café Mia specifically is 4g-dose ceremonial-grade at $5.50, whereas the Williamsburg equivalent runs $6.75–$7.50.
What's the best subway route from Williamsburg to Café Mia?
The L from Bedford Avenue to Jefferson Avenue is 8 minutes; walk 3 minutes south on Wyckoff. Or the J/M/Z from Marcy Avenue to Kosciuszko Street, then a 2-minute walk. Total door-to-door: 12–15 minutes from most of Williamsburg.
Where can I get matcha and pastries in Williamsburg?
Most Williamsburg specialty tea bars focus on tea and don't do full pastry programs. For matcha + a real pastry program (croissants, cinnamon buns, seasonal cakes), you need a full cafe rather than a tea bar. Café Mia carries fresh-baked pastries alongside the matcha program; several Williamsburg all-day cafes do the same.