# Holy Matcha > Holy Matcha is San Diego's first matcha-centric cafe, founded in 2016 by Geraldine Ridaura after a transformative trip to Japan inspired her to bring the ancient Japanese drink to her community. Located on University Ave in North Park, the cafe specializes exclusively in matcha, sourcing first-harvest, hand-picked leaves that are whisked rather than steeped for a richer, more nutritious cup. The space blends a casual and classy atmosphere with lush green, velvet, and granite decor that draws a stylish crowd. Guests rave about creative signature drinks, seasonal specials like Pumpkin Pie Matcha, and the fun retro photo booth on-site. With two San Diego locations, it suits everything from solo work sessions to group hangouts and date days. ## Key facts - **URL**: https://frankiapp.com/business/holy-matcha-9968 - **Type**: Cafes - **Cuisine**: Cafeteria - **Location**: San Diego, CA - **Address**: 3118 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104, US - **Phone**: 16192832294 - **Website**: https://www.holymatchasd.com - **Price range**: $$$$ - **Coordinates**: 32.748752, -117.127217 - **Claimed**: unclaimed - **Vibes**: Casual, Classy ## About Holy Matcha is San Diego's first matcha-centric cafe, founded in 2016 by Geraldine Ridaura after a transformative trip to Japan inspired her to bring the ancient Japanese drink to her community. Located on University Ave in North Park, the cafe specializes exclusively in matcha, sourcing first-harvest, hand-picked leaves that are whisked rather than steeped for a richer, more nutritious cup. The space blends a casual and classy atmosphere with lush green, velvet, and granite decor that draws a stylish crowd. Guests rave about creative signature drinks, seasonal specials like Pumpkin Pie Matcha, and the fun retro photo booth on-site. With two San Diego locations, it suits everything from solo work sessions to group hangouts and date days. ## Hours - Monday: 9am - 6pm - Tuesday: 9am - 6pm - Wednesday: 9am - 6pm - Thursday: 9am - 6pm - Friday: 9am - 6pm - Saturday: 9am - 7pm - Sunday: 9am - 7pm ## Highlights - **San Diego's first matcha cafe** — Founded in 2016, Holy Matcha pioneered matcha culture in San Diego. - **First-harvest, pure matcha** — Hand-picked, shade-grown leaves are whisked whole for full nutrition. - **Retro photo booth** — A fun in-cafe photo booth makes every visit a shareable memory. - **Chic, welcoming space** — Green velvet and granite decor create a stylish yet laid-back setting. ## FAQ ### Where is Holy Matcha located? Holy Matcha is located at 3118 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104, in the North Park neighborhood. There is also a second location in East Village. ### What are Holy Matcha's hours? Holy Matcha is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. ### What does Holy Matcha serve? Holy Matcha specializes exclusively in matcha-based drinks and vegan bites. The menu features a creative range of matcha beverages, including signature drinks like the Horchata Matcha and seasonal specials like the Pumpkin Pie Matcha. All matcha is made from first-harvest, hand-picked, 100% pure shade-grown leaves that are whisked rather than steeped, so you consume the entire leaf for maximum flavor and nutritional benefit. ### What is the story behind Holy Matcha? Holy Matcha was founded in 2016 by Geraldine Ridaura, who discovered matcha while traveling in Japan and was inspired by its health benefits and vibrant flavor. Unable to drink coffee, she set out to introduce matcha as a delicious and healthy alternative to her San Diego community, opening the city's first dedicated matcha cafe. ### What is Franki? Franki is a restaurant discovery app that helps you find great places to eat through real video reviews from actual diners. You can browse reviews, photos, and videos of Holy Matcha on Franki, and earn cash back when you dine there. Download Franki on the App Store or Google Play to start exploring. ### What do customers love about Holy Matcha? Guests consistently praise the creative and flavorful matcha drinks, with the Horchata Matcha and seasonal Pumpkin Pie Matcha drawing particular enthusiasm. The beautiful green velvet and granite decor creates a photogenic setting, and the retro photo booth is a favorite feature for groups and date days. Many visitors also appreciate the calm, peaceful atmosphere that makes it easy to settle in for work or a long catch-up with friends. ### Is Holy Matcha good for groups or special occasions? Holy Matcha suits a wide range of occasions, from casual solo visits and date days to girls' nights out and family outings. The welcoming, classy-casual atmosphere and the on-site retro photo booth make it a fun destination for any group. The cafe also offers reliable WiFi, so it works equally well for remote work sessions. ### How can I contact Holy Matcha? You can reach Holy Matcha by phone at (619) 283-2294, or explore their full menu and offerings at holymatchasd.com. ### What is the price range at Holy Matcha? Holy Matcha is an upscale cafe experience, typically in the $50+ per-person range for a full visit with drinks and bites. The premium pricing reflects the quality of first-harvest, 100% pure matcha and the thoughtfully crafted menu. ## Reviews ### northpark.mayor — 5.0/5 · Nov 18, 2022 No filter needed for this place in #NorthPark. Holy matcha has been a long time favorite. Their #matcha is top teir and the place is cute as can be. Bonus: great #wifi! ### nellseats — 4.0/5 · Sep 20, 2023 Hot damn and Holy Matcha this place is lit!! loved my Horchata Matcha, the cinnamon and rice milk paired well with matcha's green gusto. the original Holy Matcha was too hoppy and starchy for my liking. Beautiful decor in Green, velvet, granite'd glory, that will make you raise up your hands and say Holy Matcha! The coziest of coffee shops with casual glam and matcha themed galore! ### skakristian — 5.0/5 · Apr 5, 2025 Found this cafe that specializes in matcha! Different types of matcha!! ### urbancell — 5.0/5 · Jul 23, 2020 The first entirely #Matcha centric cafe in #SanDiego - with 2 trendy locations (#NorthPark & #EastVillage) with a chic selection of vegan drinks & bites - often times you’d notice stylish clientele perfecting their perfect social media captures !!! ### cxiiiprincess — 4.3/5 · Sep 25, 2025 great spot for friend hangouts!! i went there with my bestie and got two different drinks. they have an interesting selection as the speciality matcha had ingredients with “health benefits”. the matcha was good and definitely on the higher end of prices. they also have a really cute b&w photobooth for $5/strip! parking wasn’t as hard since we went on a weekday in summer. although, since it’s in north park, sometimes it is a hit or miss. ### milcry_car2009 — 5.0/5 · Oct 1, 2024 Looking for a quiet place where to get some work done on your compute?! I found it for you!! Beautiful and peaceful shop. Obsessed with the pink vibes! I Recommend stopping by for the seasonal Pumpkin pie matcha! Bursting with flavor and topped with beautiful flowers. ### carlys_comida — 5.0/5 · Apr 25, 2025 Cute spot in North Park to grab Matcha! They also have a retro photo booth so it’s the perfect girls day spot ### foodie27 — 5.0/5 · Mar 29, 2025 The matcha strawberry was okay. The strawberry part was really good but the actual matcha was just okay. Such a cute spot for a date day though! They even have a cute little Photo Booth! ### shekamoo — 4.3/5 · Jul 5, 2025 I don’t drink matcha to wake up. I wake up to drink matcha. Don’t forget to check out the Photo Booth! ### regdeo — 5.0/5 · Apr 5, 2025 The aesthetics here are giving. ## Nearby - [Yun Tea House](https://frankiapp.com/business/yun-tea-house-98023) — Tea Room · $$$$ - 4344 Convoy St Suite M, , San Diego, CA 92111, US - [An’s Dry Cleaning Gelato](https://frankiapp.com/business/an-s-dry-cleaning-gelato-10344) — Dessert Shop · $$$$ - 3017 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA 92116, US - [Selva Coffee House](https://frankiapp.com/business/selva-coffee-house-101250) — Coffee Shop · $$$$ - 3535 Camino del Rio W, , San Diego, , CA 92110, US - [ASA Bakery](https://frankiapp.com/business/asa-bakery-95773) — Comfort Food · $$$$ - 634 14th St #110, San Diego, CA 92101, US - [Bopomofo Cafe](https://frankiapp.com/business/bopomofo-cafe-114025) — $$$$ - 7951 Othello Ave suite 106, San Diego, CA 92111, US - [Azuki Sushi](https://frankiapp.com/business/azuki-sushi-311) — Sushi · $$$$ - 2321 Fifth Ave, , San Diego, CA 92101, US - [Din Tai Fung La Jolla](https://frankiapp.com/business/din-tai-fung-la-jolla-4833) — Taiwanese - 4301 La Jolla Village Dr (btwn Genesse Ave & Executive Way), San Diego, CA 92122, US - [insideOut](https://frankiapp.com/business/insideout-23754) — American · $$$ - 1642 University Ave (Centre St), San Diego, CA 92103, US --- View full profile, photos, videos, and reviews on Franki: https://frankiapp.com/business/holy-matcha-9968