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It's good, not the best, matcha, but for astoria it might be. It was pretty thick, I would have wanted a bit more milk for a better consistency. The foam on top didn't taste like much. The egg Sandi was alright, I've also had better but I did like how fluffy the bread was
Got the strawberry matcha and it was good. Homemade jam that really stood out. I don't know that I think it's better than tea and milk though, and it still had a line during 4th of July. We were able to grab a table after 10 minutes to work from there. I'd go back to try other specialty drinks like the persimmon matcha but I think I'll get the basics at less busy places.
Deep Matcha Flavor, very natural and fresh tasting strawberry syrup. If you like high quality matcha, I think Verse is the current go-to for it in NYC.
After hearing all the hype about Verse Cafe, I had to check it out for myself and it definitely lived up to it. I originally wanted to try their persimmon matcha, but sadly it wasn't available when I went since it's a seasonal drink. Ended up trying the strawberry matcha instead and wow... it was so good. The in-house strawberry syrup was fantastic and tasted fresh without being overly sweet or artificial. You can also tell they use quality matcha because the flavor really comes through. It had a strong matcha taste without crossing into bitterness, and the balance between the earthy matcha and sweet strawberry was super well done. Not too sweet, not too bitter! Just really smooth and balanced overall. Definitely understand why this place gets so much love on social media. Excited to come back and hopefully try the persimmon matcha next season.
I've heard so much about the matchas that are sold here, so it's been on my list for awhile. And I finally made my way over. I've noticed that this cafe has a good stream of people always coming in. You do have to wait a bit for your order because they bulk prepare their orders. But, it's definitely worth a try. I personally got to try the strawberry matcha. The matcha flavor was good. As for the strawberry bottom, it was more jam-y than I expected. It was the exact taste of strawberry jam that you would put on a toast than pure crushed strawberries. Although this particular one isn't my preferred strawberry matcha, I think some people would enjoy it. I did like the sweetness that came from it.
4.5 stars. The interior design at this cafe was SO nice. Dark warm wood walls, modern short glasses for drinks, jewel-tone dinnerware, plants in ceramic pots; yes I did take a picture of their bathroom for inspiration. The detail of the strip of the same color wood sectioning off the tile wall was so smart. Was influenced & finally made my way here. I got an iced matcha einspänner with oatmilk. Total was about $8.75 ish. It was really good, a medium flavored unsweetened matcha. VERY smooth, their powder seems well ground. The sweet cream top was thick & just the right amount. It's on the sweeter side, but since the Matcha is unsweetened, it works well but leans more towards dessert sweet. Really appreciate the amount of ice that the barista used, which wasn't that much & a small block of it. I will say that the Matcha had a stronger flavor at the beginning, but later on it tasted more on the milkly side. The cups are a bit shorter then a regular iced coffee cup, but also a bit more wide. I feel like the dine-in glassware is a smaller portion than the takeaway. The sizing falls between an American and a drink in Asia size. But I'm happy with the drink & sizing seems appropriate for the quality. The environment is very relaxed - great mellow jazz playlist! A lot of people were working on laptops when I was there (12:30pm Thursday). There was a steady stream of families, workers from the area, dog owners, 2 newish mothers came in with their strollers, people sitting outside. It felt like a cross-section of NYC & customers of all different backgrounds, essentially Astoria represented (Eastern European, Muslim, Black, Asian, White). The staff was very calm and whisking diligently! They didn't rush you when ordering or serving. The cafe is only a block or 2 away from the subway & actually more convenient than I thought. I wouldn't say the walk is very pretty, kind of like a through side avenue you walk down to get to the subway quickly. There's a few small businesses & a new apartment building across from the café. Glad to support this small biz. May have to come back and try the Strawberry Matcha, Black Sesame Latte, maybe a version of Hojicha Einspänner? Too bad I missed the Persimmon Matcha.
Honestly this is my favorite spot in Astoria/LIC for matcha and in my top 5 for NYC without a doubt. The outside might not strike you as a cafe as they have dark tinted windows of very minimalist design and just the word 'verse' printed in white. When you walk in the cafe has some seating and most people were on laptops working. It's a very lowkey vibe with calm music playing in the background. The highlight are the seasonal drinks! I first came when they had the persimmon matcha and I was MINDBLOWN- can't wait for it to come back. This time I went and grabbed the earl grey lavender matcha and the strawberry matcha both delicious. The flavor of matcha is rich and good. Would highly encourage you to try it out. Friend said the strawberry matcha was one of the best she ever had. From what I know as well they make all their jams and purees fresh in house! The matcha is at a bit of a hefty price tag of $8 just about after tax but in my option -- worth it! Unfortunately don't have the pic of the persimmon matcha but it was the star out of all 3.
Ordered: Osmanthus Honey Latte (~$7): Espresso, Milk, & Osmanthus Honey Aya's take: I'm sad my beloved Verse is gaining so much popularity! (Happy for them and sad for me, of course). They've gotten so busy with lines out the door and despite that, I'm happy to say the quality hasn't gone down one bit. This is my first time trying an espresso-based drink here and dare I say, it might be top 2! The Osmanthus Honey Latte was so delicately balanced. The espresso was bold and you can actually taste it in every sip and the Osmanthus honey was so well incorporated that it didn't even feel like a separate ingredient. It wasn't too sweet but just enough to offset the bitterness of the espresso, and the milk gave it a nice creamy element too. It's one of those drinks you never want to end. Kudos to the staff for continuing to do an incredible job and until next time!
The hype is absolutely real, the matcha here is incredible. Setting: Bright cafe with seating (but gets full quickly) and a long line. Service: Quick, kind, and efficient. The lines are long though - I waited 20 mins. for this matcha! Drinks: I ordered the Iced matcha einspanner (with whole milk); the earthy matcha was delicately complemented by the lightly sweet, thick einspanner cream.
Tried one of their signature drinks, the earl grey lavender matcha latte, and it was beautifully balanced: earthy, refreshing, with just the right hint of sweetness. I also ordered the soy-marinated tuna rice bowl, which contained both lean tuna and otoro (fatty tuna). The rice was perfectly seasoned, honestly I probably could've finished two bowls myself. The space itself was inviting, with a cute interior, a mix of table and bar seating, and outdoor seating which is perfect on a nice sunny day. Just be prepared to wait bc the line was really long and didn't seem to end even when I left the cafe.
Cute space inside, very hipster feeling. I like the bar they have for seating. Black Sesame Latte (seasonal) - My cousin loved her drink! I had a small taste and it hit the spot. Iced Matcha Einspanner - Sweet cream top and sugarless matcha mixed together was perfection. Tastes just like einspanners in LA. Hojicha Latte - One of my bf's favorite adventures is trying hojicha at cafes to compare. Unfortunately, this didn't have a strong hojicha flavor and while there is milk, there's no sugar added so he poured a little simple syrup. Overall, service was standard and worth giving this place a try!
Loveee a good matcha. The strawberry in the matcha strawberry tasted fresh. The matcha powder wasn't that grassy. Overall, it did taste a bit milky but still, the whole drink itself was yum. Sesame latte: wowww! So rich in flavor, thick and creamy. I would highly recommend this. I think it's like the underdog. Matcha Einspanner was good as well. Definitely slightly tasted creamier and milkier than matcha strawberry.
I came here on Saturday around 3pm and there was a line wrapped outside the store. The line moves pretty quickly and we waited around 15 mins to order. I ordered the earl grey matcha and strawberry matcha. The strawberry matcha was pretty good. The strawberry jam tasted fresh and housemade. The earl grey matcha was my favorite. The earl grey mixed well with the matcha and wasn't overpowering. Overall, I'll come back if I'm near the area.
their matcha einspanner is great. tbh I would've been very happy with the base matcha latte -- smooth and full-bodied, no astringency -- but the cream was done exceptionally well too, and fulfilled the sweet cravings! this with a strawberry matcha was $17.15 post-tax read more
2 months ago
Visiting NYC from STL and went here as my first stop. I got the iced matcha einspänner. I really enjoyed it. It wasn't too sweet and the matcha was a lot better than other places I've been. My family also got the strawberry matcha and yuzu latte and said they were very good as well. The only thing that wasn't my favorite was the long line in such a small place, but I suppose that's a testament to their popularity. Overall, nice experience! read more
I came here to try the famous strawberry matcha drink! My friend ordered the persimmon matcha drink. The strawberry is sweet and delicious with a good balance of matcha that really balances out the sweetness. The persimmon taste more like a cinnamon, but it was still delicious! In terms of seating, we went on a Saturday morning, so it was extremely busy and a bit difficult to find a seat, but it was a really cute spot to check out. read more
Really amazing matcha -- the quality is so good and they whisk it to order. I'm so sick of bad quality matcha but this place does it right. I got the strawberry matcha and it was perfectly sweet while also striking a great balance with the matcha. I also got the egg sando takeaway, which was delish. Perfectly soft milk bread with the edges cut off, and the egg salad inside was creamy and just eggy enough. The cafe itself is also so cute. The woodsy interior makes it really cosy and elegant, with decent amount of seating. It would be perfect to sit and stay for a bit -- whether it's reading or chit chatting. Will be back again! read more
7 months ago
Love the ambiance in the cafe. They have some bar seats and tables for people doing work or studying. The matcha is so good! We tried both Strawberry Matcha and Matcha Einspanner. They use fresh strawberries so it's not syrupy or too sweet. The cream on the einspanner was so good, also not too sweet. Excited to try the persimmon matcha and some of their other seasonal drinks read more
8 months ago
Always a solid choice for a little matcha or espresso!! The service is amazing as per usual they make drinks super quick even though the lines are long. It's nice and cozy with seats inside and outside. There's always seats when we go (usually the outsides ones because it's cold out). The employees are super friendly! The matcha einspanner is probably my favorite drink I've had so far! The salted maple mandarin latte is excellent too but I'm a matcha girl and my husband loves maple highly recommend read more
Went here a couple times and it's gotten more and more popular each time. Great place to work if you can grab a table. Drinks are great, they're a bit small but they don't skimp out on the matcha. The egg toast was good as well but a little bit pricy. Ambiance as a whole was really nice and calm and it's great that Astoria has a nice local cafe like this. read more
1 year ago
A cute cafe in LIC! I loved the vibe of the place. I placed my order and took a seat. You can enjoy your drink to stay or to go. I opted to stay and my drink was brought out to me very quickly after placing my order. There's plenty of indoor and outdoor seating along with seating at a bar in the cafe which I haven't seen in a long time. It was really relaxing. Great music that isn't too loud and a comfortable environment to read or get work done. I got a lavander matcha latte and it was delicious. I definitely have to go back to enjoy their lunch menu and other specialty drinks read more
Pretty nice cafe that seems to be Japanese-themed. Went on a Saturday noon and it was packed, they're quite popular. Seems people spend time and work here. We sat at the bar. Got the Horchata Latte and the Nutella bread thing. Wish they had more options like Pistachio latte, etc. read more
One of the best matcha places I've tried. My favorite are 12, Verse, 108, and Sorate. I love the seasonal matcha lattes and I love the intensity of the matcha. The persimmon complimented the matcha well and I haven't seen it done anywhere else. Perfect amount of sweet was for me and a decent size cup! I'm a happy camper. The hojicha is solid too. Workers are usually pretty fast and this spot fills up quickly. If you're going to study, I recommend coming early. read more
9 months ago
This spot was incredible! It was very busy with the line coming out the door but moved pretty quick. The atmosphere was great with a DJ on one side and a Filipino organization raising awareness for natural climate issues on the right. We got a matcha tea drink which was so creamy and light! I was addicted to that drink. The toast we got with the salmon spread tasted great individually, crazy together. Although it is up in Astoria I will have little excuse coming back up here to try more of their menu items. read more
9 months ago
The strawberry matcha here is a must-order! The matcha is quality and the strawberry puree is perfect. I was able to order it with oatmilk and half sugar. Will be back here again soon for another SM! read more
Super sleek cafe with matcha lattes that can compete with the best in NY. I took mine to go, but there were plenty of seating for those who want to hang around. Their food also looks good so might have to stop by and grab a bite next time. read more
10 months ago
Cute coffee shop offering a Wide array of coffee drinks along with Artisanal baked goods. Clean and plenty of seating both indoor and outdoor. Staff is very friendly and polite. Espresso is on point and the cookie bear is quite tasty. read more
3 months ago
5 months ago
A friend brought me to this hidden gem in Astoria called Verse. It's a cozy cafe with a minimalist wooden Japanese vibe, located just two blocks from the Astoria Blvd station. In addition to regular cafe drinks and pastries, they also serve small bites like sushi hand rolls, sushi boxes, and salads. We left around one in the afternoon, and the cafe was bathed in warm sunlight. It's definitely a great spot to catch up with one or two friends or to enjoy a book alone. read more
Met the owner Harmony through my cousins... she's the sweetest ! Tried their strawberry matcha by recommendation of my cousins, and it did not disappoint. It was the perfect combination of matcha and strawberry jam, and not super overpowering with either! Would definitely come back and try more when I'm in town. read more
3 months ago
2 years ago
I'm so glad this place exists in Astoria! It's a great specialty coffee shop with a really nice aesthetic inside, including beautiful stoneware, cups, coasters, etc. I like the attention to detail and thought put into making it an experience. The espresso itself was absolutely perfect, it was pulled well and the beans are from Sey coffee which of course is one of the best roasters in NYC! Matcha pound cake/ loaf cake was ok, middle of the road and didn't taste much like matcha. I also got a financier which decent. I'm looking forward to trying the food that they make in house such as the sando or sushi. Prices are very reasonable, which is appreciated! Service was friendly albeit a bit slow and disorganized, which is why it lost a star for me. It's probably just because it's new and I would expect service to improve in efficiency and speed over the coming months. read more
Such a cute little Japanese coffee shop in Astoria! I stopped by here on a Saturday morning after working out. Service is a bit slow but the quality of the coffee is amazing! Have some patience - this is for those lazy weekend mornings! read more
1 year ago
I am so ecstatic that I discovered Verse! We're so used to all the "cool" and good cafes being in Manhattan, so happy to see we have such good quality matcha right here in Queens! The staff was super friendly, WiFi was free and worked well. I went on a Saturday afternoon and it was a great space for getting some work done. The staff was super friendly and helpful with recommendations as it was my first time. It's a smaller space but they do well with having a good amount of seating inside where you can either choose a table or sit at the bar. I ordered the Earl Gray Lavender Matcha with oat milk and it was 10/10. I did notice that if you wanted whole milk they use a lactose free option which is good to know for next time. It's the perfect amount of sweetness without being overly sweet and not super grassy like some matcha spots can be. The baristas weigh and hand whisk the matcha in front of you. You can tell from the color that this is good ceremonial grade matcha. Price point was pretty much what you're paying at most cafes in NYC, about $8. I watched them make multiple strawberry matchas while I sat and finished my work which looked incredible. Definitely will be coming back! read more
Super solid cafe spot! My friends and I visited verse twice -- once on a weekday and the other on a weekend in order to try the food items that were only offered on weekends. Both times that we visited, we were extremely impressed by the quality of drinks that were made here. In particular, we really liked the lavender earl gray matcha, the matchata, and also the hojicha. I also thought their iced lattes are also pretty solid. We also tried the strawberry Matcha and the Matcha einspanner but we thought that these two drinks were pretty average in terms of taste, the strawberry Matcha was a bit sour and the einspanner when mixed, kind of mudded the Matcha taste, so just would not recommend these two drinks. On the weekend that we visited, we also ordered the chirashi box, I thought the price was extremely reasonable for the amount of food that you got, and also the variety of fish and the quality of fish that you got. The fish was really fresh, I didn't think the pieces were a bit thin, but it was still really good. The only thing I didn't really like was the squid that was included, I thought it was a bit hard in texture, and I didn't really like the flavor of it but that might just be a preference thing. In terms of the ambience of the café, I really love the cozy wooden almost mid-century modern feel of the interior. I really love how warm and bright all the wood accents give to the café and I love how they organized the seating! I did wish the bar area had hooks to hang your purses since the chairs itself have pretty big gaps that you wouldn't be able to put your purse behind you. But a pretty minor detail. Overall service was just average. I wouldn't say that was anything outstanding about the service here but there's also nothing bad to say about it. TLDR; love the drinks here, love the interior, decent service, would recommend and will definitely be back! read more
I loved this cafe! All the food and drinks that we got here were great. I especially loved the lean tuna bowl and the egg sando. My only complaint was that they didn't have seating inside so we had to sit outside while it was drizzling. Not sure if this is always the case though since it looked like they were setting up for an event inside. Overall, I would highly recommend for a weekend brunch! read more
7 months ago
I was looking for a relaxing cafe with some cozy vibes in my area to bring my book and forget the world outside. They have matcha powder and do classic drinks plus signature coffees and matcha. They also have food but haven't checked yet. read more
2 months ago
high quality matcha, lots of fun drink options (love their seasonal specials!) and all the staff are lovely. it can get super crowded especially on weekends since it is a relatively small(though beautiful) space, but otherwise I love it! happy to have in the neighborhood! read more
7 months ago
This is my second time here; I came once before after looking up matcha spots in Astoria with good reviews and finding this place. We tried the earl grey matcha and osmanthus honey latte last time, both of which were incredible. They put a lot of effort into their matcha, and each cup comes out a perfect shade of green and super creamy. I decided to come back a second time because I missed the earl grey matcha - it's that good! We also got a hot horchata latte, which was super warm and cozy- perfect for fall/winter. Servers are nice, but drinks can take a little bit to make because they hand-whisk the matcha for each cup. The cafe itself is cute, with dark wood notes and lots of natural light. This is hands down one of my favorite matchas in the city :) read more
1 year ago
Amazing. Phenomenal. THE BEST MATCHA IN NYC. The list is simple, the list is easy. 1. verse 2. Kijitora 3. Nippon Cha The strawberry matcha latte with almond milk is my go-to. The syrup is made in house and contains no added sugar. For my gluten free / vegan people you must order the banana nut bread & request to have it warmed ... sooooo yum! read more
My new favorite spot in Astoria! It's so close to where I live and I was so happy to find a QUALITY cafe. Their prices are so fair, especially for the egg sando which was $8 and filled me up. Amazing quality drinks, milk is steamed to perfection. And of course, the matcha is amazing. Highly highly recommend and the owner Harmony is so sweet too! Beautiful cozy interior and great service. read more
6 months ago
Decor was very cute. Pretty small seating area compared to the amount of people coming and going. Service was fine, no issues. I ordered the black sesame latte, matcha einspanner, and the earl grey lavender latte -- all were fire. read more
10 months ago
1 year ago
Came to verse twice and both experiences were superb. Coffee is super delicious (they use Sey beans) and they also have an extensive food menu including egg sando as well as a variety of different Japanese food items like rolls. I'm not a huge fan of matcha drinks but my fiancé had their berry yuzu matcha and loved it. Their yuzu espresso tonic is excellent, and so is their kumquat soba eispänner (seasonal drink). Comfortable seating and clean bathrooms too! What more can you ask for? read more
1 year ago
Wonderful savory items, especially the egg sandwich. It appears in some photos as tea-sized but is a full sandwich with delicious fresh ingredients and great texture. The country bread was lovely. Croissant is buttery and well baked. Beautiful interior with wooden walls. Service was really kind, calm, and responsive. The prices reflect a higher-end cafe--they've increased since many of the menu photos here. Clientele varies because it is very popular right now, so it attracts some less-than-ideal people. Hope this place endures the trend phase and that regular locals stay on board as customers. read more
More info about Verse
28-13 Astoria Blvd
Astoria, NY 11102
Astoria
Directions
(917) 832-6550
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https://www.versenyc.co
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Verse - cafes - Updated August 2026
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