Matcha Zanmai

Matcha Zanmai brings a slice of Japanese tea culture to the corner of Mackay and Sainte-Catherine, offering a focused menu built around one ingredient: matcha. The name translates loosely to “matcha indulgence,” and it delivers—especially if you’re here for the soft serve, considered by many to be among the best in town. The 18-seat space feels more like a Japanese kissaten than a typical café, with a counter full of confections by pastry chef Yukiko Sekiya, who trained in Tokyo and previously ran Yuki Bakery in Montréal.

Alongside classic matcha cones and parfaits topped with azuki, jelly, and shiratama, the bar serves lattes, teas, and seasonal drinks like matcha sodas and roasted hojicha. There’s mille crêpe cakes, lemon tarts, and handmade mochi, all crafted with the kind of restraint and technique that doesn’t need to shout. Open since 2019, it’s quietly built a following—one cone, one cup at a time.