Matcha has had quite a moment. What was once something you were most likely to encounter in Japan, or perhaps in the kitchen of someone who had brought back a particularly good tin from a trip, has found its way into everything from morning routines to afternoon catch-ups. There is something about the drink that lends itself rather well to a certain kind of day- a little time to yourself, a good book, a laptop on the table, or simply an excuse to meet someone somewhere that feels worth leaving the house for.
At IAH, that afternoon looks a little different.
Better known as a high-energy bar and restaurant for cocktails, rare whiskies, single malts and evenings that tend to carry on, IAH takes a different turn this September. With its striking architecture, polished interiors and high-energy bar atmosphere, IAH is more accustomed to cocktails, rare whiskies and evenings that stretch into dinner, but from 1–30 September however, it has another offering worth making time for- Matcha Ritual, adding a matcha bar in Delhiwith a selection of hot and cold matcha creations served from 12 noon to 11 pm.
It is an interesting change of pace for a place like IAH. The matcha brings something fresh and contemporary to the afternoon, while the setting remains unmistakably IAH, making it one of the best places for matcha in Delhi if what you are after is the drink as well as the setting.
But first, which one are you ordering?
The Matcha Latte: start here
If matcha is still relatively new territory for you, the Matcha Latte is the obvious place to begin.
Finely ground green tea can have a distinctive earthy, slightly bitter flavour, and adding milk makes it softer and creamier. The result is familiar enough to ease you in, while still tasting like matcha rather than simply a sweet milk drink.
Where can I find a good matcha latte in Delhi? At IAH, the Matcha Latte is a straightforward place to start if you are discovering the flavour for the first time.
The Strawberry Matcha: something fresher
Strawberry Matcha takes the green tea in a brighter direction.
The sweetness and fruitiness of strawberry give the earthy flavour of matcha a lighter, more refreshing edge, making this a good choice for an afternoon when you want something cold and lively.
There is also something pleasing about the contrast when it arrives at IAH. A vivid, playful drink in a setting more usually associated with cocktails and champagne makes for a rather good combination.
The Matcha Chocolate Latte: for the sweet tooth
If your idea of trying something new involves adding chocolate wherever possible, this one is fairly easy to call.
The Matcha Chocolate Latte brings together the earthy character of green tea with the richer sweetness of chocolate. It lands somewhere between a matcha drink and an afternoon dessert, particularly suited to anyone who likes their drinks on the fuller side.
It is also the answer to a very specific question: Can matcha work when I am craving something sweet?
At IAH, yes.
The Vanilla Matcha: for the matcha regular
Vanilla Matcha keeps the green tea at the centre while adding a softer, familiar sweetness.
For someone who already enjoys matcha, it is a simple way to try the flavour in a slightly different form. And if you are still acquiring the taste, vanilla makes for a gentler introduction without completely disguising what you are drinking.
That is part of the appeal of Matcha Mania- there is room for both kinds of matcha drinker. Perhaps you discovered it recently because it was suddenly everywhere; or you have been drinking it for years and have very definite opinions about how you like it. Either way, there is something here to try.
Why have matcha at IAH?
Because the setting changes the experience.
IAH is not a matcha café dressed up for the occasion but a bar and restaurant with a distinctly grown-up character, and that identity stays intact during Matcha Mania.
The contrast is what makes the afternoon interesting. Green matcha against IAH’s architectural surroundings. A quiet drink in a space better known for evening conversations with daylight moving through a place that takes on an entirely different character after dark. If you are also on the lookout for, “where can I have matcha in a stylish setting in Delhi?”, this is where IAH makes a particularly convincing case. The matcha is only part of the reason to stay.
And because the menu runs until 11 pm, you don’t have to treat matcha as a very specific afternoon appointment. Come in for a drink, meet a friend, take your time over it, order something to eat, and stay as the day changes around you. For anyone searching for the best place to have matcha with friends in Delhi, this flexibility is part of the appeal.
A September reason to go to IAH
If you already have a favourite matcha spot, this is a reason to try somewhere different.
For one month only, IAH is giving you an afternoon version of a space you may already associate with cocktails and late evenings. The drinks are different, the pace is different, but the setting hasn’t been softened or transformed to fit them. That is what makes Matcha Ritual feel less like a temporary café concept and more like discovering another side of IAH.
So make an afternoon of it, bring someone who takes their matcha seriously, introduce a friend who has been meaning to try it, or come simply because you like finding good drinks in unexpected places.