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Restaurant

Hikari

317 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Recommended by 36 people

Updated

Find Hikari

317 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

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HoursMonday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Thursday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Friday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Sunday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Hikari

Hikari serves unapologetically robust Japanese green tea, whisked fresh to order in the Melbourne CBD. Tea drinkers point to its deep, earthy matcha and roasted hojicha as city benchmarks—rich, velvety, and never watery. Step inside the bright, compact room, grab a stool at the bar, and watch the chasen whip up an intense iced pour or a genmaicha latte with almond milk. Space is tight, queues move fast, and signature cups like the Coconut Bloom layer smooth matcha cream over coconut water and fragrant jasmine tea.

  • Intense Japanese Teas: Whisked fresh from Kyoto tea leaves, delivering deep, earthy matcha, roasty genmaicha, and hojicha lattes without graininess.
  • Compact CBD Pitstop: A calm, minimalist bar with mellow music and rapid takeaway service right along busy Swanston Street.
  • Signature Seasonal Pours: Inventive specials like the Coconut Bloom, pairing jasmine tea and coconut water under rich matcha cream.
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What's On at Hikari

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Choose Hikari

Kyoto-sourced craft teas, creative signature fusions, and rapid takeaway service on Swanston Street

  • Authentic, uncompromised matcha and roasted teas

    Hikari prepares authentic Japanese tea lattes with rich, smooth consistency and deep flavor, avoiding grainy textures or artificial sweetness.

    Best I’ve tried so far - not too sweet, perfect blend of milk and matcha, with no feeling of grittiness on the tongue at all.

    Yu Qing

  • Direct-sourced Kyoto tea craft

    Beverages like hojicha feature leaves sourced directly from Kyoto, prepared with precision to highlight natural roasted depth.

    I have a particular liking for their higicha, which comes straight from Kyoto. Its never grainy and is prepared so well.

    kasz apps

  • Innovative signature tea combinations

    Menu signatures such as Coconut Bloom bring together fragrant jasmine tea, coconut water, and velvety matcha cream into a delicate fusion drink.

    Nutty from the coconut water and matcha, sweet and floral from the jasmine tea, and a delightful smoothness. Perfection and balance in a drink.

    Alouise Thomson

  • Distinct seasonal recipe pairings

    Seasonal creations like the Roast Coast layer hojicha cream, cold brew, and coconut milk for inventive taste profiles.

    You can taste both the coconut and the hojicha — the flavors are well balanced.

    Anson Wing

  • Swift takeaway pace in the CBD

    Even when busy lines stretch out the door, the baristas deliver handcrafted specialty teas and coffee in minutes.

    I only ordered an iced latte and there was already a long queue in front of me but I still got my drink in less than five minutes.

    Qwerty Pudding

  • Optimized grab-and-go layout

    The compact Swanston Street space is tailored for efficient grab-and-go orders as well as quiet counter study.

    Limited seating for those who haven’t been here, you’ll have best luck with a takeaway.

    isha c

Kyoto-sourced green teas and inventive signature creations crafted with care

  • Coconut Bloom

    Tried coconut bloom (coconut water, jasmine tea and matcha) and was 10/10. If you love jasmine tea you’ll love this one! Coconut flavour isn’t overpowering so you can taste every flavour.

    Annabel

  • Matcha Latte

    The matcha latte was excellent—the matcha flavor was rich and intense, probably the strongest I’ve had in Melbourne.

    Nancy

  • Hojicha

    I have a particular liking for their higicha, which comes straight from Kyoto. Its never grainy and is prepared so well.

    kasz apps

  • Genmaicha Latte

    I ordered a hot Genmaicha Latte (with almond milk) and as a matcha connoisseur, I'd rate it very highly on the charts as one of the matchas that I've enjoyed the most. Very earthy, deep and slightly bitter.

    xTina Supang

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful hospitality and design details that enhance a visit to Hikari

  • Accidental Spill Replacement

    When a customer accidentally dropped their matcha on the floor, the staff kindly replaced the beverage on the house.

  • Complimentary Welcome Water

    Guests settling in at the bar are proactively welcomed with a fresh glass of water to accompany their drink preparation.

  • Curated Ceramic Drinkware

    Dine-in visitors are served in distinctive, aesthetic ceramic mugs designed to elevate the quiet sit-down experience.

  • Curated Japanese Lifestyle Goods

    Beyond prepared beverages, the store showcases a curated selection of Japanese lifestyle objects to extend the serene atmosphere.

Before you head over

Practical tips on seating, queues, and ordering for your visit

  • Plan for takeaway seating

    Dine-in space is intimate with very few tables, so plan to grab a takeaway cup or visit solo if you hope to snag a bar stool.

  • Lines move briskly

    Even when queues stretch out during rush hours, the baristas work quickly and often turn out orders in under five minutes.

  • Budget for specialty pricing

    Signature and seasonal specials like Coconut Bloom sit at a premium price point near ten dollars, so expect artisanal specialty cafe rates.

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