Shop Small & Support Local: Where to grab matcha in Downtown Honolulu/Chinatown

Over the past few years, our crews and contractors have been working in downtown Honolulu and Chinatown to perform repairs and upgrades of the system serving the area. Installed in the 1950s, the network has been serving local businesses for decades, with hundreds of miles of underground cables connecting the community. Now, to build a resilient network that continues to support the district, our company has replaced equipment and made repairs to our Iwilei Substation, cables, manholes, vaults, and more. We’ll continue to make more repairs and upgrades to improve service in the area.

Occasionally, when walking through downtown or driving in the area, I see our crews and contractors hard at work, and I’m always amazed at the time and effort they put into servicing our grid. I don’t know how to fix a vault or inspect manholes to support the area, but there is one thing I know a bit more about: matcha and the many local businesses in the neighborhood that make great lattes. Whenever I need a sweet treat during my lunch break, matcha lattes are my go-to choice!

In celebration of National Matcha Day on May 2 and National Small Business Week this year (May 3 – May 9, 2026), and to support some of the local businesses in the downtown Honolulu and Chinatown area, I created a list of cafes in the area that serve matcha lattes. If you live or work in the area or are just looking for a new matcha spot on Oahu, there’s a lot of options to choose from!

Learn more about the cafes serving matcha lattes in downtown Honolulu/Chinatown below, listed in alphabetical order. All these cafes serve great standard matcha lattes, but each of them has their own unique syrups and flavors too!

Alii Coffee Co.

Located at 35 South Beretania Street, Alii Coffee Co. serves fresh coffee, breakfast, and of course, matcha lattes! Every matcha latte is hand-whisked, and from ube cold foam to brown sugar syrup, all their specialty flavors and syrups are made in-house. One of their baristas shared that although it’s not printed on the menu, one of their most popular lattes is their Pistachio Matcha! The rich, nutty pistachio syrup, pistachio foam, and crumble toppings create a sweet and savory blend. If you want to enjoy your matcha while working or studying, Alii Coffee Co. is a nice cozy space! Learn more about Alii Coffee Co. by visiting their website or Instagram page (@aliicoffeeco).

Store Hours:

• Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Saturday – Sunday: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Cafe Alala

Cafe Alala is in the Topa Financial Center, at 700 Bishop Street. In addition to matcha lattes, the shop serves coffee, frappes, juices, and many different breakfast items! Want to mix things up and try something besides regular matcha? Cafe Alala offers white chocolate, lavender, banana bread, and other seasonal matcha latte variations, which are nice and sweet! There’s also shared table space among the neighboring eateries to sit down while enjoying your drink. Learn more about Cafe Alala by visiting their Instagram page (@cafealala).

Store Hours:

• Monday – Friday: 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Common Ground Coffee Shop

Common Ground Coffee Shop is located at 1111 Bishop Street, right next to the AC Hotel. They currently have a seasonal matcha mango latte, which includes mango and lilikoi syrup. In total, they have over 10 other sweeteners, from macnut to mint! Every matcha latte is made with hand-whisked Kyoto matcha. While you’re waiting for your order, you can browse a small section of products made by locally owned businesses, such as chili pepper water, towels, and candles. Bring your dog for a free Puppuccino with any purchase! Learn more about Common Ground Coffee Shop by visiting their website or Instagram page (@commongroundhnl).

Store Hours:

• Monday – Friday: 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Drip Studio HNL

Drip Studio speaks for themselves – they’ve got the drip! The cafe is located at 1114 Fort Street Mall, near Marugame Udon and McDonalds. Named after the drip coffee brewing method, Drip Studio is well known for their specialty coffee, but they also serve great matcha lattes – choose from regular matcha, mango, or strawberry (a fan favorite)! The cafe uses matcha powder made by Ami Mei, which is a locally owned retailer for all things matcha. You can even purchase the powder itself if you want to make your own lattes when the cafe is closed! There are tables and comfortable seating to enjoy your latte and work or study. Learn more about Drip Studio by visiting their website or Instagram page (@dripstudiohnl).

Store Hours:

• Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Saturday – Sunday: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Hello Again

Hello Again is located at 1121 Nuuanu Avenue, #104. You may have heard of them when they released their Cereal Killah matcha latte in collaboration with local foodie Corina Quach (@fiveftfoodie on Instagram)! The popular latte is made of premium hand-whisked matcha, house-made cereal milk, and vanilla cold foam. However, they serve many other fun matcha latte variations as well, like their Haupia Matcha, Blueberry Matcha, and Golden Hour Matcha. They also have lots of unique coffee variations! The cafe has the perfect ambience for working or studying if you want to relax and concentrate. Learn more about Hello Again by visiting their website or Instagram page (@helloagaincoffee).

Store Hours:

• Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Saturday – Sunday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Honolulu Coffee

Honolulu Coffee’s Downtown location is at 1001 Bishop Street. The company became well known among locals for their coffee, and they now serve matcha too! You can choose between a classic or strawberry matcha latte, which are both nice and sweet. Occasionally, they offer seasonal items like their lavender and banana bread matcha lattes, so stay on the lookout for limited-time menu items! Their pastries, breakfast items, and desserts go well with their lattes when you need a bite to eat. Learn more about Honolulu Coffee by visiting their website or Instagram page (@honolulucoffee).

Store Hours:

• Monday – Friday: 6:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Poai by Pono Potions

Last but certainly not least, Poai by Pono Potions! This cafe located at 1119 Smith Street; it’s closer to the Chinatown area, but if you’re coming from Downtown, I’d say it’s worth the walk. Among their menu items, the Matcha Manako (li hing mui/mango syrup, topped with li hing powder) and Hapa Honey Matcha (honey/lilikoi syrup, topped with macadamia nut/pineapple foam and honey drizzle) are well loved. If you like honey but prefer not to have pineapple foam, you can get a regular matcha with honey lilikoi syrup. Hand-whisked and house-made, the matcha lattes at Poai by Pono Potions are all natural. Aside from matcha, they also serve coffee. There are a few chairs and tables to enjoy your drink! Learn more about Poai by Pono Potions by visiting their website or Instagram page (@ponopotions).

Store Hours:

• Tuesday – Saturday: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Sunday – Monday: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

That’s a wrap on all the matcha spots in downtown Honolulu/Chinatown! With National Small Business Week kicking off tomorrow, now is the perfect time to visit these local businesses. I hope you enjoy trying all these amazing cafes, and be sure to visit the many other businesses in the area!

If you run into our crews while grabbing your matcha, please stay alert, walk safely, and practice safe driving and/or walking habits. Whether you’re a driver, cyclist, or pedestrian, we truly appreciate everyone for safely commuting through the area. Read more about our service reliability project on our website at Downtown Honolulu Network Upgrades. Mahalo for your patience while our crews work, and for shopping small and supporting local!