Alma Matcha is opening a flagship café at 701 NW 5th Ave in Fort Lauderdale, expanding beyond its current local footprint with a larger space built around ceremonial-grade Japanese matcha and handcrafted drinks. The move, announced via the operator's Instagram without a confirmed opening date, marks the brand's most deliberate physical investment in Fort Lauderdale to date, based on its own characterization of the address as a flagship.
The distinction between Alma Matcha's existing Fort Lauderdale location and the NW 5th Ave address, per the source, is one of scale and programming depth. The operator describes the new space as a larger café format — implying the current footprint operates at a smaller scale or with a narrower range. A flagship positioning typically accompanies a fuller menu, more prominent dine-in programming, or a design investment the original location doesn't carry.
The menu at NW 5th Ave will focus on ceremonial-grade Japanese matcha, according to the operator's Instagram. Handcrafted specialty beverages round out the offering, though specific drinks and price points were not disclosed. Ceremonial-grade matcha — stone-ground, shade-grown, intended for traditional preparation — is held to flavor and sourcing standards distinct from culinary-grade product used in baking or blended applications.
The design, per the source, will be oriented around the matcha-making process and its aesthetic. Whether that translates to visible preparation equipment, an open counter format, or a specific material palette was not described. The operator's language suggests the space is meant to read as a direct expression of the product rather than a standard café build-out.
The prior tenant at 701 NW 5th Ave was not identified in the source. No contractor, design credits, lease terms, or build-out timeline were included in the announcement. Alma Matcha has not publicly stated an opening window beyond the expansion announcement itself.
