Where a dream became reality
Nolita is the fulfilment of a long-held dream for founder Zsuzsi Molnár, who first imagined opening a matcha café while studying at Corvinus University, even centring university projects around the idea. The inspiration came during a trip to the US, when she found herself sitting on a terrace in New York's Nolita neighbourhood and realised she would love to create a similar place one day. That vision eventually became reality through a friendship with restaurateur Bence Csókay, and together they brought Nolita to life - a café centred around matcha, but with plenty more to offer.
We were mainly inspired by the openness and energy that define New York. It's a city where new ideas, trends and concepts are constantly emerging, and people are genuinely open to them. We were inspired by cafés like Enly and Blank Street, but we never wanted to recreate a single place. Instead, our goal was to bring that same atmosphere and mindset to Budapest.
The partnership between Zsuzsi and Bence proved to be a natural fit: Zsuzsi brought youthful enthusiasm and a genuine passion for matcha, while Bence contributed the hospitality expertise and business experience needed to turn the idea into reality.
A matcha-focused menu with less sugar
Nolita uses 100% fruit purées in its drinks, allowing the flavours of premium Japanese Uji matcha and ripe fruit to shine through. Every ingredient was selected through blind tastings, with quality and flavour taking priority over brand names or price.
Our goal was to create a place where everyone can find something they'll enjoy, from morning until evening. Whether it's a speciality coffee, a creative matcha, a fresh juice, a smoothie, a hearty toastie or a light bowl of porridge, we wanted the menu to offer plenty of choice. We also wanted to cater to more health-conscious guests, so much of our menu is made without added sugar, while those who prefer a sweeter drink can easily customise it to their taste.
From the very beginning, drinks like the Whipped Strawberry Matcha, Dirty Cherry Coke and Pineapple-Yuzu Cardamom Matcha have been among Nolita's signature creations. While the flavour combinations might sound unexpected at first, they're carefully balanced, reflecting the sense of playfulness, creativity and curiosity that defines the café. The surprisingly addictive Dirty Cherry Coke combines iced espresso, cola and cherry purée, while the Pineapple-Yuzu Cardamom Matcha has quickly become a crowd favourite thanks to its perfectly balanced flavours. If you're new to matcha, the Whipped Strawberry Matcha is an ideal place to start, with sweet strawberry and silky foam gently complementing, rather than overpowering, the earthy notes of the matcha.
The food menu focuses on warm tramezzini toasties, neatly wrapped so they're just as easy to grab on the go as they are to enjoy in the café. Popular choices include the pesto mayo, avocado and tuna toastie, as well as the kimchi version, while vegetarian and classic ham-and-cheese options are also available. Peanut butter makes an appearance in both the sandwiches and porridge, with the classic PB&J paired with cherry jam for a nod to American café culture.
The porridge and chia pudding are also available in convenient takeaway packaging, alongside a selection of 100% fruit and vegetable juices. An interesting detail is that
the company supplying the juices turns the leftover fruit and vegetable pulp into dog treats, helping to reduce food waste.
The treats are available for four-legged visitors to enjoy, too. In fact, Nolita is proudly dog-friendly, warmly welcoming both dogs and the people walking them for a coffee break.
More than a matcha spot
Nolita's ambitions go well beyond serving great matcha. The team hopes to establish it as a welcoming neighbourhood café and community hub - a place guests genuinely enjoy representing, whether by carrying one of its T-shirts, caps or tote bags designed by Hungarian creatives. More than anything, Nolita aims to build a community that's open to everyone, not just matcha enthusiasts, but anyone drawn to cheerful spaces, thoughtful design and a menu full of interesting flavours.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Nolita Matcha & Coffee
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