NEW YORK CITY — A new matcha café and gelato concept is now open in the West Village.
Aokō Matcha, located at 275 Bleecker St., is the creation of 27-year-old Isabella Pang, who calls her new café her “creative child” and a space where she can share her love for Japanese matcha in fresh, thoughtful, and unexpected forms.
“After five years in the food and beverage world, I wanted to create something deeply personal, a space rooted in my love for matcha,” Pang told Patch. “Aokō began with a simple idea: what if matcha could be more than a drink? What if it could be creamy, cold, and scooped into a cone on a warm afternoon? That vision became our matcha gelato, and every detail of Aokō is designed to be intentional, inviting, and inspiring.”
At the heart of Aokō’s concept is its “level-up your matcha” tasting experience, Pang told Patch. Guests can choose a scoop at their preferred intensity, starting at Level 1 for a gently sweet green and working up to Level 5 for a bold, ceremonial-grade finish.
Aokō takes its name from the Japanese characters 青子: “ao” (green), symbolizing freshness, nature, and the vibrant shade of matcha, and “ko” (child), representing creativity and new beginnings.
The concept draws inspiration from celebrated Japanese specialty shops offering graded matcha experiences.
Aokō’s menu also features soft serve in matcha, hojicha, and swirled varieties; matcha parfaits; specialty lattes and frappes; Japanese teas; and matcha-infused desserts such as tiramisu, mille crepes, and roll cakes.
For more information on Aokō Matcha visit its website.