I am enamoured with Nizu Café. It happened that Nizu was opposite my hotel. Lucky me! They have marble tables and blond wood chairs & leather banquette for seating against the floor to ceiling windows. I ordered a matcha latte. Lovely bitterness & vibrant green. They also have sweet snacks (yuzu or black sesame Madelines, a small banana chocolate chip cube) and Japanese sandos! I could make a meal of all of these - almost like being in Japan. Since I am visiting Vancouver multiple days, I've visited 3xs so far. I still have some time here, so I know I'll be back. Ambiance = 4 stars (very stark / could use some plants ) Service = 5 stars Beverages, sweet snacks = 5 stars read more

See all

Solid Japanese downtown cafe. Savor a sweet, buddy it up with an coffee. Of the savory and sweet options, try their miso banana bread ($5.50 CAD), it hits the spot. Walnut, chocolate chips - savory sweet. Crowded weekends. Even with their no-laptop (no tablets either!) and "groups of two, kindly share a table" policies, the cafe was packed. Good problem for them, I suppose? Fast service. They take credit. read more

Absolutely loved Nīzu! The matcha was excellent, and we had the chance to chat with the owner about their annual trips to Japan and the relationships they've built with the matcha farms they source from. You can really tell there's a genuine care for the quality and taste of what they serve. The owner even specifically asked what we thought of the matcha, which really stood out to me bc it felt like he truly cared about the experience and the quality of the product. We tried the Yuzu Matcha Tonic, Matcha Latte, and Yuzu Soda, and all three were so good. And it definitely wasn't JUST the matcha! The sandos were amazing as well. We had both the ebi and karaage. AND the baked goods were just as good. The miso banana bread was delicious, and I'm usually hesitant about cheesecake bc I've had some bleh ones and I don't love overly sweet desserts, but the vanilla bean cheesecake was sooo yummy and perfectly balanced. Everything felt thoughtful, from the drinks to the food to the hospitality. Such a great experience and easily a 5/5. read more

Nīzu Cafe - Matcha Latte - Cafes Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

See all

Nice food and drinks, but a bit overpriced. A drink and a dessert will cost you almost $20, and if you add a lunch item, it's easy to spend over $40 per person. That's quite expensive for a café, especially considering it's not even a full-service restaurant. read more

See all

Nīzu Cafe is a spot serving up some nice matcha drinks and Japanese sandos. This spot is located in Downtown Vancouver where street parking or garage parking will be your best bet. Inside, they have about 6-7 tables for seating. Wifey and I met up with the homies for brunch and really enjoyed everything that we got. I tried the Hojicha Latte and Ebi Katsu Sando and both were perfection. All of the staff here are very friendly and welcoming. read more

See all

Wow this was so good! Blew my socks off for real. I got the Shizuoka reserve matcha and as a certified matcha lover, this is hands down the best matcha in Vancouver! I like that the cup is also a normal sized cup and not extra small and the price was average (shizuoka reserve is +$1.5). I tried a sip of the banana matcha too and I like how they use real bananas so it doesn't taste artificial at all, the flavour is really good! The katsu sando is $15 but it was really good and they give a generous piece of meat! I definitely regret not asking for fries but I was lowkey already full after the first half of the sandwich... I would 100% recommend it here and I really can't wait to be back. I can't wait to try their regular matcha and their basque cheesecake! Next time I'll try all of that and I'd recommend splitting the sandwich so you can try and little bit of everything! The interior is also super new, cute, and aesthetic. read more

See all

Great Hojicha latte and great service. The yuzu hojicha canele was pretty good, but I would not recommend the Hojicha financier. It was too dry. read more

Cozy spot, great vibes, and matcha galore. I might have seen matcha drinks at nearly every table. Unfortunately, I did not pick one up myself, but my friend did enjoy their banana matcha. I had a sip and thought the matcha was smooth and deep, pronounced banana flavour but not overpowering. Came for a weekday lunch (pretty busy btw, maybe 2 tables free for us to choose), shared a mentaiko pasta ($25) and tonkatsu sando ($15) with the nori fries add on ($3.8). Mentaiko pasta was cooked well but overly salty, which was a pretty big disappointment for a dish at that price. Juicy shrimp cooked perfectly, and looks great though! Tonkatsu sando had a good portion of lean pork loin, and overall very filling. My preference towards tonkatsu leans juicier, but I wouldn't knock it off my list. I might enjoy the ebikatsu instead on my next visit. Nori fries were thin, light, and flavourful. The curry kewpie sauce was unique and the first time I had this pairing. Really fun! I will likely come back to try their matcha and other katsu sandos, but might forego the pastas. read more

Modern space in downtown with a Japanese style cafe menu. Menu us quite extensive and offers standard cafe drinks, pastries, and a hearty food menu. A few spaces to sit in and enjoy your food, but it can fill up fast, especially on a weekend when we went. No outdoor seating for now, maybe in the summer? Ordered the ebi katsu sandwich. The shrimp patty was thick and juicy, wish it did have more flavour/seasoning to it. Opted for the additional fries, which were pretty good especially with their curry ketchup. Good spot to choose for lunch if you're in the area. Prices are what you'd expect downtown. read more

Nīzu Cafe - Ebi Katsu Sandwich with Fries - Cafes Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

See all

I read that some other commenters thought Nizu Café had the best Matcha outside of Japan so I had to try! I love yuzu so I was interested the yuzu Matcha but didn't love that it was made with tonic because I don't love super sweet drinks. I talked to the woman who took my order about this and she proposed the yuzu soda because it's made with soda water and contains less sugar and adding Matcha to it. I decided to try this and it was amazing! Very forward Yuzu flavor, which is exactly what I was hoping for. Sweet but not too sweet. Very smooth Matcha. I decided to try the Matcha cheesecake - she told me it was the most popular cheesecake item. If I went back to Nizu Café, I would definitely try some Hojicha. Such a cute and bright place with lots of indoor seating options! Staff was so friendly and helpful! Would happily return :) read more

See all

Stopped into this beautiful, cozy oasis with a friend on a rainy afternoon. I enjoyed a hojicha latte and the cutest little chunk of miso banana bread. The friendly girl behind the counter said the latter was her favourite, and I'm glad I followed her recommendation. The banana bread offered a balanced blend of flavours with the tiniest hint of salty miso in the background, a moist, springy interior, and came studded with dark chocolate and walnut halves. The hojicha was warming and delicious. My friend sipped her matcha latte, settled back contentedly in her chair, and said it made her very happy. We'll be back to try more offerings soon. read more

See all

Heard about this new Japanese cafe blowing up on social media and had to try it out as I love all things Japanese food. Went a little dessert happy with my friend and ordered and hojicha and matcha basque cheesecakes, miso walnut banana bread, and black sesame madeleine. Both basque cheesecakes were fantastic! Creamy, decadent, and the hojicha and matcha flavors were very strong. Would pick these up if I ever visit again. The cheesecakes were very filling on their own that I could barely finish the other desserts. The black sesame madeleine is superb as well! I took this home to family and they really enjoyed it. Strong but not too sweet. The banana bread didn't wow me as I make a lot of banana bread at home but my friend enjoyed it. We also ordered the matcha reserve latte and miso caramel latte. My friend really enjoyed her miso caramel latte. Very unique! My matcha reserve latte was good but also wasn't blown away as I make a lot of matcha lattes at home. The flavor was very earthy and strong. It's a very spacious cafe with friendly staff. It's perfect for catching up with a friend or to impress someone as the desserts were amazing. Would return again to try some of their savory food. read more

Nīzu Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

See all

Looking at the menu at Nizu Cafe, one of the hippest new Japanese cafes in Downtown Vancouver, there was clearly one item I didn't know what to expect from: the banana matcha latte. It turned out to be an absolute pleasure. The smooth and creamy matcha was complemented by the natural sweetness of the banana- simply delicious! ​During our visit, I also tried the hojicha chestnut cake and the black sesame madeleine. Both desserts were perfectly balanced- not too sweet, but just enough to lift my spirits. The hojicha chestnut cake had a dense, sponge-like texture, almost brownie-like, but shaped like a financier. Its best feature was a large, mellow chestnut shining in the center like a jewel, pairing beautifully with the warm, earthy hojicha flavour. ​While the cake was enjoyable, the black sesame madeleine was the absolute winner for me. Biting through the crunchy shell released a wave of nutty, toasty flavour that made me stop and enjoy the moment. The cafe is bustling and finding a seat requires a bit of patience, but it is definitely worth a visit if you want to savour the sweetness of life. read more

Nīzu Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

See all

The restaurant has a limited menu, so I chose the Tonkatsu pork. It was good, but it could have used a bit more flavour. The fries, however, were amazing. I absolutely loved them! Service was good as well. read more

Nīzu Cafe - Tonkatsu - Cafes Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Stopped by for a matcha break and to see what the hype was all about. Came here twice and ordered their reserve matcha latte the first time and their regular matcha the second time. Was pleasantly surprised at the richness in flavour of the reserve matcha. The regular one was less flavourful in comparison but still good. I noticed both times that there was a lot of undissolved matcha powder at the bottom, so they may need to whisk for longer. I also noticed the reserve matcha I recieved was not filled to the top. I waited approximately 20 minutes both times. The cafe is spacious but seating is quite limited during peak hours. Overall, the quality of their matcha is quite good and I might visit again when the hype dies down and the line becomes more manageable. read more

Nīzu Cafe - reserve matcha latte with oat milk - Cafes Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

See all

This was a really nice katsu sando place in this part of town. They are super busy though and not a great bussing system so the tables are not really that well organized but the food is delicious. Maybe take the orders to-go. It's not really a great place to meet up with friends and hang out. I did enjoy the tonkatsu sando + house made cola drink. The desserts all looks very delicious! read more

See all

I love this Japanese cafe. Such a beautiful place in downtown area, nice building, and plenty of seats in door. Parking: pay street parking Restroom: one fancy touchless restroom. The guy that helped us was super friendly. We ordered: One of each of their cookies: Hojicha Chestnut cake Miso banana bread Black sesame madeline Matcha cookie Yuzu cake Drinks: Matcha reserve Miso caramel latte Banana matcha I love everything. The drinks are very smooth , nice. A bit too sweet for my taste buds, maybe next time keep the ice, or do half pump on the caramel. The miso on the latte is a good mix w caramel. Love love it Fast service too They have food like egg sando etc, but we are still full from breakfast. Will definitely come back. read more

See all

Waiting time: 3/5 Cleanliness: 4/5 ‍Service: 4/5 Taste: 1/5 Pricing: 2/5 Overall: Keeping in mind, I came here exactly 1 month ago. I was really excited to try this place from all the hype on social media, and the proximity from my workplace. I expected the long wait at 12:40PM, but the line moved quite quickly - got my drink in hand by 12:57PM. The guy at the till was super nice and patient. He genuinely seemed knowledgeable about matcha and took the time to explain the difference between their regular and reserve option. But I also did notice that they were heating their cookies/pastries in the back, and only the guy at the till knew who the order was for. So he would be taking orders and also looking for the customer with the pastry order. Their lunch menu and dessert options looked delicious but I was there for one thing and that was the banana bread iced matcha. I've had my fair share of banana bread matcha/lattes across North America so I had a good benchmark in mind. I should've known better when I asked to sub for soy milk, they didn't have that option...I was surprised that they had almond milk and not soy as almond milk can be quite overpowering in a matcha latte. Nonetheless, I still ordered and the matcha drink itself was tasty but wow...the banana purée was disappointing. It was so fibrous (if there's a word), that every sip I was forcing myself to swallow or spit out the chucks of fibres in my mouth. It was not a cheap drink for me to be spitting stuff out! Also...I had a quick meeting after walking back to the office, and after 20 minutes of not touching the drink...it kinda separated in an unappealing way.... read more

See all

Busy cafe, fairly cramped with the line up going into the seats along the windows. Drink 1.5/5 I ordered an iced oat hojicha with less ice ($7.55) and was essentially served 8 oz of liquid in a 16 oz plastic cup. The drink was grainy and the oat milk tasted a little off. Would not recommend. Dessert 4/5 The Matcha Basque Cheesecake ($8.90) had a really nice dense texture though light in matcha flavour. I would get this again. I wanted to try the fries as well however there wasn't any seating so maybe next time. Cashier was very friendly and quick inspite of the never ending line of customers. Barista that served the couple in front of me was scowling because she mistakenly made a dine in drink instead of to-go. That being said it was like an obstacle course for baristas to serve drinks to customers navigating around the crowd and compact tables. read more

Nīzu Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I stumbled across this Japanese cafe while making our Canada itinerary. Nīzu cafe is the perfect place to stop by for a quick bite while exploring Vancouver! Its brightly lit sign & bright interiors make it an open & inviting space for meetings, catching up with friends, or a date. We ordered a the banana matcha & miso caramel latte. Both delicious and smooth. The yuzu cake was rich in flavor & so was the miso banana bread. Both perfect sweet treats. The egg sando was nice & fluffy. The staff were knowledgeable about their menu. Bummed that we came before the lunch menu started (starts at 11am), but we will be back! read more

See all

Nizu cafe is newly opened Japanese style cafe located in downtown. Unfortunately, a few items were sold out, so, there were not too many choices when I visited, though, I decided to get a matcha late and Sesame chocolate financier. Macha latte was very decent. Form was nicely made and flavor was fine. I really liked it. Highlight was financier! It was very delicious. Chocolate was nicely coated around financier and texture was nicely dense and tasted very good! I will get this again. Next time, I hope I could try the sold out item. Location was very convenient, there are a lot of seating, so, nice place to enjoy dessert or drink with friends or on your own. Staff were very friendly and kind. read more

See all

Vancouver's newest cafe: Minimal Japanese inspired cafe serving a wide assortment of menu items to suit your needs! Clean + sleek interior design There's 2 types of matcha on their menu: regular vs reserve - the latter is less astringent + bitter They also have craft cola which is quite unique I really enjoyed the kabocha basque cheesecake (reminiscent of a pumpkin spice latte) Lots of hot food options too - will need to try next time :) Check them out! read more

See all

Great sandwiches to start our day. Very balanced, and great meat to bread ratio! The matcha was great, not too powdery or grainy at the bottom! I'd recommend the katsu sandwich to the shrimp. The sauce was overpowering the shrimp, but still tasted great. It wasn't dry, but not super juicy. Flavor profile was nothing crazy, but it was a great place to try and pick up a light lunch. read more

Nīzu Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Tried the chocolate cake, and strawberry cake, and matcha shot at Nizu Cafe. The cakes were good in quality and the matcha drink was well done. It is a nice spot to catch up with friends over cake and coffee or tea. The only issue was the utensils were too small for the cakes, so I had to ask for a proper fork to finish them. read more

Stopped by for some oat matcha lattes to go and a delicious white chocolate matcha cookie! Great combo for breakfast! read more

See all

Lovely ambiance. The vibe in here is so peaceful. It is spacious and bright with minimal decor. The matcha drinks are the standout here. They're quite flavourful and made well. I would request no syrup/syrup on the side because otherwise it's a bit too sweet for me. I've also heard good things about their hojicha as well. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable in their craft. They serve delicious food (maybe not the pastries) and drinks read more

Coming from the Bay Area in California, my partner and I are used to good matcha. I was really hoping to find matcha here and this was a great option. The cafe is super aesthetic and the whole vibe is super fun and lively. This was my first matcha in Vancouver so the size was a bit shocking as the drinks were really small, but the flavors were great at least. The banana matcha uses a ton of real banana, but it does leave a lot of the undesirable pulp texture in the drink. We also tried the Ebi Katsu Sando. This was really delicious but the shrimp patty itself could use a little more flavor. Overall, this cafe was really nice. I enjoyed the food, drinks, and vibes of this place and would definitely want to try out the pasta dishes they serve. read more

See all

heard whispers about a new japanese inspired café opening downtown, offering matcha, so of course i had to check it out. nizu café, tucked on the corner of howe and west pender, is already buzzing with energy, the kind of place that feels like everyone found out about it all at once. i stopped in a little after 3:00 pm, on a tuesday, sunlight streaming through tall windows, almost every table full, the loud chatter of conversations drowning out the sound of milk steaming. the space is warm and minimalist, pale wood panels, brushed metal tables, soft lighting, and shelves lined with kaws figures, lucky cats, oat milk cartons, and a single pink orchid. understated, yet full of personality. the menu's listed on two small clipboards by the counter. six baristas working up front, more in the kitchen, moving with that calm precision that feels almost choreographed. there were people everywhere, it was so crowded, there were people lined up to put their orders in, and others waiting on their orders, and others seated or trying to find a seat. they've only been opened since last friday, still in their soft opening phase, and had already sold out of their house crafted banana matcha latte by the time i got there. i went with the iced matcha latte with oat milk, and it had a nice green colour to it and was very good, earthy, creamy, and smooth, with that real matcha depth. they also have craft cola and serve desserts like strawberry shortcake, yuzu cake, matcha roll cake, and basque cheesecake, all looking dangerously tempting behind the counter. matcha's definitely having a moment right now, and people of vancouver are here for it. i'll be back soon, to try their desserts and hopefully try their banana matcha before it sells out again. read more

See all

I had really high hopes for Nizu Cafe when I heard there is a Japanese cafe right around the corner of central downtown Vancouver. The restaurant is still very new and has a lot of customers visiting and I was lucky to find out they were opening later than usual one day and managed to sneak in for a quick drink and bring some baked goods home. I ordered Banana Matcha, Black Sesame Madeline, Hojicha Basque Cheesecake, and Hojicha Chestnut Cake. The matcha has good matcha flavour but I find the think drink has a bit too much banana in the drink that made it a bit too thick and not enough matcha drink ratio to it. The pastries were all very unique. I would get their basque cheesecake again but find the Black Sesame Madeline and Hojicha Chestnut Cake very dry and was hoping it was moist and fluffy. Hopefully they will make improvements on the pastry soon as they are such great ideas! read more

See all

I haven't been following the apparent hype around this place, but I'm always excited to try a new matcha place, and Nīzu did not disappoint. The line was contained to within the cafe and it took much less time than I expected to get my food and drink. I think it was under 10 minutes once I'd ordered. Finding a seat was the hard part. I was there Thursday around 1:30 and it was packed. I did manage to grab a table at first and then moved to a single window seat once it had opened up so that a group could have the table, but there were never more than a few seats open at a time until the crowd started to thin out after 2. I did appreciate that they have a posted policy that you should order before taking a seat. They have squeezed as much seating as possible into the space which I think is the right move to meet the demand, but it does make the layout pretty cramped. I ordered a nasu (eggplant) katsu sando, a hojicha basque cheesecake, and a hojicha latte. The hojicha stuff was great but the sando may have actually been the most memorable part of the meal. The flavour of the eggplant was amazing. Very good cheesecake with a strong hojicha flavour. The hojicha latte was very good, but I didn't feel like it was really distinct from hojicha from most other luxury matcha places in Vancouver. I got it with oat milk, and while I appreciate that they have a nondairy option, I would have liked to enjoy this latte totally unsweetened, and even though there was no sugar added to the latte, the oat milk itself was pretty sweet. I really wish they had an unsweetened nondairy milk available. All of the staff were polite and professional, and the barista that was taking orders was knowledgeable about the menu and enthusiastic answering any questions. read more

Nīzu Cafe - Nasu katsu sando, hojicha basque cheesecake, hojicha latte - Cafes Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Found out about Nīzu the day we were leaving Cancouver and it did not disappoint! The matcha latte was smooth and delicious. We ended up ordering the black sesame Madeline and the miso banana bread. Both were really good and I would highly recommend, especially the Madeline! The cafe was aesthetic and service was fast. I will be back the next time I'm in the area! read more

Nīzu Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

02.10.26 @10:45am Walk in, scan menu than online to order and get choose your own seating. Friendly services. read more

See all

A new cafe has arrived in downtown Vancouver and they have Japanese inspired drinks and treats! Tried out their matcha latte and miso caramel latte! Both were super delicious and soooo smooth read more

Nīzu Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

There are quite a lot of customers on a Saturday morning when we get in. Small and simple menu at the teller. Nice decor and music allowing a welcoming and comforting visit. Unfortunately it falls short on the drink menu - I asked for extra hot for my hot matcha latte and it did not deliver. I brought the issue up and they make me a new one, still to me, not hot enough. The drink would get cold quickly if I don't consume it quickly. The Americano is too light and not strong enough. The egg sandwich is decent. The sandwich bread is a bit on the thick side and cost $10.50. Overall it's a decent experience however we don't feel any compelling reason to make a trip to revisit. read more

See all

One of the most hyped newly opened Japanese cafes - I came here on the weekend and surprisingly didn't have to wait too long. I think it was just a quick lull because as I was waiting for my drink - the line started to snake pass the door again. I got an iced matcha latte with the reserve matcha - but maybe it was because of the hype I was expecting more matcha taste. It wasn't bad but felt it wasn't rich enough to my liking. We got got the Tonkatsu sandwich which was a decent size and quite juicy meat. We also got the black sesame Madeleine and hojicha chestnut cake. I appreciated how both had lots of black sesame and hojicha flavour and was not too sweet. A 5/5 to their baked goods. Last but not least, we also got a hojicha basque cheesecake which I also loved - lots of flavour, not too much cream, and a good balance of sweetness. Will have to come back once the hype downs down a bit. read more

See all

Tried this new cafe with my coworker and we went in the morning and surprisingly there was no line up yet. Tried the hot and cold hojicha lattes and both were good. The Matcha Basque Cheesecake was more dense than I expected but it had a really good matcha flavour. The Black Sesame Madeleine was quite big and it was soft with a good nutty flavour and sweetness from the coating on the outside. Would love to try some of the other pastries and their matcha latte next time! read more

See all

(3.5/5) Nizu Café is a newly opened matcha café with a gorgeous clean interior located in the heart of downtown. The hype is absolutely insane and when we arrived on Saturday one hour before close, their line was still stretched out the door. The owner who was managing the till mentioned it had been like this since the hour they opened. Wow...The anticipation was high. The café features a variety of matcha and hojicha drinks as well as pastries/desserts, Japanese style sandos, and other bites as well. I loved the variety and feel like this is a great spot for a quick snack or lunch if you work in the area on weekdays or are shopping on weekends. My friends and I ordered a few different drinks, pastries, and sandos. We were hoping to get a table to enjoy our order but it was packed to the brim. One thing I'd suggest is a policy for customers to only be able to hold tables once they've ordered at the till. There were some customers who were still far in the line up and they already sent members to hold tables...It doesn't make sense to hold a table when you have no order yet and others with food and drinks are still waiting to grab a table. Anyways, we managed to snag a 2 top table after some waiting and some of us had to stand. Onto the actual food and drinks...They feature a matcha reserve which is essentially a higher quality matcha with less bitter aftertaste and overall smoother drinking experience. The matcha tasted smooth and delicious but I still tasted clumps of matcha at the bottom which is a reflection of it not being adequately whisked. I understand they're really busy so I hope this can be resolved after hype traffic dies down. Another thing is the matcha is sweetened so please let the cashier know if you'd like no sweetener in your matcha! The sandos were really delicious! Tonkatsu was so juicy and tender and the shrimp was yummy paired with the egg salad. I also thought the curry mayo with the fries on the side was unique and tasty. On the other hand, while the hojicha cheesecake served 100%, the rest of the pastries were way too sweet (miso banana bread, yuzu cake, and hojicha chestnut cake) and did not reflect its corresponding flavour profiles too well. I would love to return to try some of the other food but I think the sweets may not be for me! read more

I ordered matcha latte hot and matcha cookies. Cookies was delicious. Matcha latte was not hot. We ordered at least 5 of them and they were not hot. Overpriced as well. Ambiance was good. Service was quick. read more

Nīzu Cafe - Matcha cookies - Cafes Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

See all

wanted to try this place cause i saw the cool baked goods that they had. located in the bottom of an office building and you'll have to park on the street. they also have lunch food which i wish i had time to try. banana matcha has bits of bananas in it which was yummy, matcha reserve was smooth, clean, and naturally sweet. black sesame madeleine, yuzu cake, and hojicha chestnut cake were my favs and had strong flavors. read more

See all

Overpriced for what it is but I really shouldn't be surprised. Matcha was decent. Their cake however was delicious. read more

Nīzu Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia