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I found Miyama Melbourne by accident. I was walking past and the window display pulled me in, the way a really well-styled shopfront does. Once I picked up the menu, I spotted something I hadn’t seen in years: London Fog.
London Fog was something I used to drink all the time back when I was studying. Every time I got off the tram, there was a little shop near the school gate that sold it, and I’d grab one on the way in. After I graduated, I stopped seeing it around, and it slowly slipped off my radar. So when I saw it on Miyama’s menu, I ordered it without thinking twice. One sip in, and it tasted exactly how I remembered. I could easily make one at home, to be honest. I’ve just never gotten around to it.
The Cafe Itself
Setting the drink aside, the cafe itself is done up really nicely. Everything about the space makes you want to eat, and the staff were warm and welcoming the whole time. It’s a good spot for a quick catch-up or just to sit and take a breather. I also noticed a few Japanese main-meal sets on the menu that looked good, so that’s on my list for next time.
Miyama Is Also a Popular Study Spot
On a different visit, I noticed a lot of people using the space to work or study. It’s clearly not just a place people pass through for a quick drink. There’s a good range of tea drinks on the menu too, and I’ve always liked their canale. I tried the mocha flavour for the first time and thought it was really good, with a mocha sauce running through it.
Where It Is
The Miyama I went to is on the level above Melbourne Central in the city. On the same floor, there’s a footbridge connecting over to the shopping centre next door, so you can wander over there afterwards if you want to keep exploring.
Weekends Get Busy, So Time It Right
This place gets seriously busy on weekends. When I walked past around 1pm on a Saturday, every single matcha cake and dessert had already sold out, and only a few non-matcha items were left. If you’re after the matcha desserts specifically, it’s worth coming earlier on a weekend, or visiting on a weekday instead.
What I Tried and What I Thought
Matcha Latte – You can choose whether you want it sweetened or not, so if you’re not used to matcha’s slight bitterness, ask for it with sugar. You can also swap the milk for a plant-based option.
Matcha Swiss Roll – The whole roll wasn’t overly sweet at all, which is great if you’re not big on very sweet desserts. Even the matcha cream in the middle wasn’t heavy, and the texture was light throughout. I’d recommend this one.
Matcha White Chocolate Cookie – There’s a thin layer of white chocolate through the middle of the cookie. For me, that filling was a touch too sweet on its own, though it worked fine paired with the unsweetened latte. On its own, it’s probably not the one I’d pick again. The cookie itself was baked well, though, crisp and pleasant to eat, and the matcha flavour in this one is a bit lighter than in the other items.
Hot Food Is a Lunchtime-Only Thing
They also serve other Japanese hot dishes, but according to Google, the kitchen closes around 3:30pm and the cafe shuts at 5pm, so hot food is really only realistic if you go for lunch. While I was there, a Japanese mother and her son were seated next to me, and their lunch set looked really good. I’m planning to try one myself next time.
Would I Recommend Miyama?
Yes. Between the nostalgia of the London Fog, the quality of the matcha desserts, and the friendly staff, it’s become somewhere I’d happily go back to, whether that’s for a treat, a study session, or to finally try one of their hot lunch sets.
Miyama Melbourne
Level 2/300 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000 (above Melbourne Central)
If you’re visiting Melbourne during the school holidays, check our VIC school holidays and term dates for 2026 page, or browse more of our Melbourne food and cafe reviews.
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