Karena S.

An immersive experience for your matcha! I love the experience that they give you since they hand-whisk the matcha right in front of your face. You can even see the 6.1 grams of matcha being measured right in front of you too! If you're the type of person that likes their matcha on the sweeter side, this place might not be for you. I also appreciate the girl that made my matcha, she gave me recommendations on where to go shopping since I was visiting New York! There's seating on the first and bottom floor and it can be very limited. I know that there's usually a line out the door to get inside the store but I came in at 2pm and there was no line at all and was a walk-in. Drink: Iced Matcha Latte (8/10): This was such a creamy matcha latte! I asked for sweetener and I think they added very minimal amounts of sweetener but that's okay cause I was actually able to taste the matcha even after it was combined with the milk. Iced Honey Matcha Latte (7.7/10): This was basically the same as the iced matcha latte but they use honey as the sweetener inside. Although, I wasn't able to taste the honey at all. This was my boyfriend's drink but he didn't really enjoy it because it wasn't sweet enough. I thought it tasted pretty decent!

Sharon M.

12 Matcha was a special request from my matcha-loving teen, and it definitely lived up to the experience she was hoping for. Located at 54 Bond St, between Lafayette St & Bowery, this buzzy NYC matcha spot is known for premium Japanese matcha which is carefully whisked to order. Be prepared to WAIT! You'll ll likely make new matcha-lovin' friends with waits up to 30 minutes (or longer). My teen made friends in line and ultimately felt the wait was worth it. One thoughtful touch: they provide umbrellas for customers waiting outside, which is especially nice in the humid NYC August weather. In the end, she left with her matcha cravings satisfied and, of course, a can of matcha powder to take home for later. TIPS * Closest trains: 6 to Bleecker St; R/W to Prince St; B/D/F/M to Broadway-Lafayette. * Not a fan of waiting in a crazy-long matcha line? Same!! Luckily, there are plenty of shops nearby to browse while your resident matcha aficionado waits it out. Umbrella and all.

Qinyue H.

7.5/10 I finally had a chance to stop by this place, and I was prepared for the long line. I went on a Thursday at 2 p.m. and waited around 20 minutes. I ordered the Matcha Americano and tea ice cream. The ice cream was impressive, with a concentrated and deep tea flavor, while the Americano was refreshing. I deducted points because of the service. The staff member who helped me seemed distant and didn't smile while taking my order or preparing the matcha. However, this may have been limited to the particular staff member who served me.

Jenny C.

12 Matcha - 54 Bond St, NYC One of my daughter's and my favorite matcha spots in NYC, conveniently near NYU! Our go-to is the matcha latte with almond milk--creamy, refreshing, and always yummy! Ordering is easy, and the service is fast and efficient. They take both credit cards and cash. Perfect for grabbing a drink on the go or enjoying it in the café. Small space + limited seating, so don't expect much room to sit, and there can sometimes be a wait when it's busy. Overall, definitely recommend 12 Matcha! A great little spot for a delicious matcha fix in NYC. Go Violets!

Nani N.

Hands down might be the best matcha I've had in the city, as someone who actively hunts down good matcha places. There was a bit of a line when we arrived, but don't let it deceive you as it does move fairly quickly and efficiently. I love how there is an upstairs and downstairs, with more seating downstairs for those who want to study here. My friend and I got the classic Matcha latte, while I had gotten the honey added to mine. The way they make their matcha is amazing, they call your name and make the drink in front of you. The baristas were so friendly and really fit the vibe of the overall cafe. The matcha was so smooth and did not taste grainy or bittery at all.

Neel K.

They make a show of making the matcha lattes in front of you using their charcoal-filtered water. The charcoal water tanks suspended from the ceiling look very pretty! But this causes a line build-up, which they might want to get people to think they're crowded all the time. I think they're overly conservative with letting people wait in line inside, there's plenty of room but they forced people to stand outside in the 90 degree sun which honestly felt a little inconsiderate, that's not putting the customer's well-being first in my opinion. Matcha was good, very grass very deep. Nothing to write home about, I would not wait longer than 15-20 minutes for this matcha.

Generous Y.

They limit people inside, which is nice for crowd control. If there's a line beneath the stairs, that's why. There's a downstairs but overall the space is small with minimal seating and one washroom. Once in, ordering is simple and they make drinks right in front, a perfect little show where they're also available to answer questions though most people just record the experience. Matcha Latte - silky smooth, umami, and grassy. Honestly everything I would have imagined for a high quality matcha. Without added sugar, the latte simply tastes natural, perfectly connected to the grassy harvest. I'd say it's strong for those that typically drink sweetened or syrupy matcha but amazing for purists. Matcha Ice Cream - a bit sweet which undermines the matcha quality. There is a clear note of grassiness but deeply contrasted by a sweetness. Compared to the latte, it's sharp imbalance and almost similar to some of those grocery store bought pints. Not too impressive, would stick to a drink and maybe the hojicha.

Laura O.

12 Matcha is a whole experience, and a well-designed one at that. Even the line is thoughtfully curated: multiple signs informing you of the estimated wait time (we joined right at the 45-minute line - yikes - but it ended up being about 35 minutes), and big, sturdy umbrellas to keep away the sun. Once we got inside, we were able to order right away. Then we were called over to a little station where a friendly barista whipped up our lattes. I got an iced matcha latte with regular milk, made lightly sweet; matcha basque cheesecake; and a scoop of hochija ice cream. The latte was very good; the sweets were even better. Visually, the latte as served is nothing short of stunning: hyper-green matcha floating on top of the milky bottom half. Mixed together, my drink was just barely sweetened, which is a tad less sweet than I prefer. I think I would do medium-sweet next time because I like to balance out the earthy bitterness that even premium-grade matcha like this has. Also, I read that they use more matcha powder here than is often considered standard, which makes the drink taste more intense. Still, this was a very good matcha latte, strongly flavored but delicate. The matcha basque cheesecake was awesome. Rich and creamy but not too dense, ample matcha flavor, slightly caramelized on the top and side, a little bitter and medium sweet. The ice cream was perfect. Earthy, nutty, sweet, creamy, almost a little smoky. Searing was a little chaotic but we were able to find something downstairs right away. The bathroom is down there, too, FYI.

Danielle H.

I feel mixed about this place! It's very popular so expect a very very very long line! We stood for a while and the sun was beating down on us but I thought it was so nice they provided everyone with umbrellas to shield us from the suns rays, that we would return once we went inside. The reason why the line is long is that they literally make your matcha in front of you and explain the process. This is also not a cheap experience. For something so "high end" I would expect for everything to be on point. After the long wait and being called to the front for our matcha to be made the guy who is going to make our matcha was literally all up in his nose. I had to ask him to please wash his hands before making our drink. He then told me he already did and then I said yes but you have just been touching your nose so please wash them again. Now to be fair he was very kind and did go wash his hands. However the fun process of watching them make your matcha and talking with them about it was just beet awkward. Also the seating situation inside isn't great. However the matcha was a deep green which is a plus and it was delicious! The concept was cool and I could see us coming back but hopefully we would have a better cleaner experience.

Jessica I.

Matcha Latte: 10/10 Hojicha brownie: 6.5/10 - SO sweet, would definitely be good for two or more people. Ambiance was gorgeous and minimalistic inside. This place was reminds how part of enjoying food is enjoying the experience and presentation. There was a line the entire time I was here. Seating can be hard to get. I like that this is a laptop-free zone & also that their menu is pretty small and specific!

Sophia N.

Every time I am in New York, I must get my dose of 12 Matcha. My daughter discovered the place on social media, and she recommended us to go. Ever since then, I've been addicted. The wait can be long, but we usually made our way to 12 Matcha right when they open. They serve other goodies as well, such as ice cream, flavored la madeleines, brownies, croissants and cheesecake. They make your drinks in front of you and are open to any questions you may have. The iced matcha have a perfect balance of sweetness and bitterness. On my last trip to New York, I took my dearest friend, and she expressed that it was the best matcha she ever had. We cannot wait to come back.

Rostam Z.

I really wanted to like 12 Matcha, but I honestly don't think it's worth the wait. There's always a line, and while the cafe itself has a nice ambiance and the service was great, the matcha was a letdown. It was very chalky and didn't have the smooth, refined taste I'd expect from quality matcha. I've had some incredible matcha in Japan, so I know what good matcha tastes like. I really don't understand the hype and unfortunately wouldn't recommend it.

Jocelyn L.

Big fan of this spot - one of the best matchas I've had in this city. Stopped by on a weekday at 4pm - there was a short line outside, but it moved quickly and I only had to wait 10-15 minutes. They offered umbrellas to help with the hot summer sun which was very considerate. The menu is small, only a few drink options and foods. I got an iced matcha latte with oat milk and sweetener. They didn't charge extra for alternative milk which was a bonus. There are several stations at the counter where they call your name and you can watch them make the matcha, which embodied japan's matcha shops. it's a very carefully thought out production line: scales built into the countertop, ready to go warm water, and glass rinsers. the interior is always modern and minimalist with wooden furniture and plenty of seating. The drink was rich and smooth, with a very dark green matcha color. it was the perfect ratio of milk to matcha to ice. needless to say this will be a staple whenever I visit the city.