Everything we tried at Vancouver's hottest new matcha cafe

Just a quick walk from Waterfront Station, a new cafe opened its doors that’s had all the foodies in the city buzzing: Nizu Cafe.

Matcha has been all the rage in this city, with multiple cafes specializing in the green tea opening up in just the last year.

So, when we were in the area with some time to kill ahead of some dinner plans, we decided to stop by Nizu and see what all the hype was about.

On the corner of Howe and West Pender streets, you’ll be able to spot Nizu with its minimalist interior and warm lighting, offering a cozy escape from the typical rainy Vancouver weather.

Inside, you’ll find counter seating facing out through the dining area, as well as many tables. We stopped in at around 3 p.m. on a Tuesday and, while we were able to grab a table right away, almost all the seats were taken.

The two things that everyone in Vancouver seems to be raving about when talking about Nizu are its matcha and the Ebi Katsu Sando. Unfortunately, we were a little too late to order the sandwich, as the team told us they stop serving their more substantial items around 2 p.m.

We made a mental note to come back during lunch service, dreaming of chicken karaage, pasta with shisho pesto, and nori fries with curry kewpie mayo, and proceeded to order an iced matcha and one of its madeleines.

Upon ordering our matcha, we were told that for an additional $1.50, we could upgrade to what was called its “Matcha Reserve.” As self-proclaimed matcha connoisseurs, we took the bait and upgraded: a decision that was well worth the extra charge in our opinion.

The colour was a brilliant green, and any bitterness you sometimes find when drinking matcha was completely gone. We opted to try it without any sweetener, and were so shocked at the taste of the matcha we had to double check they hadn’t added any in.

While you’re welcome to sweeten this matcha, we’d recommend trying it without before adding any to really appreciate how delicious this matcha is by itself (or if you’re someone looking for something more on the sweeter side of things, we’d point you to Nizu’s iced Banana Matcha with whipped banana puree and caramelized brown sugar).

But don’t think Nizu is just for tea lovers. The cafe is also offering a selection of espresso-based beverages. Specifically, a Miso Caramel Latte on the menu had caught our eye.

Aside from its lunch offerings, Nizu also serves a selection of baked goods. Think Hojicha Chestnut Cake, Miso Banana Bread, and a Yuzu Cake.

Once again, we trusted the recommendation of our cashier and tried the Black Sesame Madeline. Nutty and subtly sweet, we’d happily order this bite again as well.

So, in case it wasn’t already obvious, we are definitely a fan of Nizu and are already looking forward to our next visit. Whether you’re looking for a solid matcha latte, a new lunch destination, or somewhere to sit back with a sweet treat and relax, Nizu should definitely be on your list.

Nizu is currently open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Nīzu Cafe

Address: 800 West Pender St., Vancouver

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