How a Matcha Cocktail Became the Drink of the Summer at Langan’s

Some cocktails are carefully planned to become signatures. Others simply find their moment. This summer at Langan’s, just steps from Broadway and the lights of Times Square, that cocktail has been the Matcha-ainee — a bright green, unexpected take on the martini that quickly became one of the most talked-about drinks at the bar.

And yes, the name is part of the fun. Matcha-ainee is a play on matinee, a little nod to Langan’s Broadway neighborhood and the thousands of theatergoers who pass through the area every week. With Broadway theaters only a short walk away, matinee afternoons have always been part of the rhythm of Langan’s: lunch before the show, cocktails afterward, and that unmistakable Midtown energy when the sidewalks fill up as the curtains come down.

So why not put that energy into a cocktail?

Matcha has been everywhere in New York lately. From morning lattes to desserts, the unmistakable green tea has become one of the flavors of the moment. At Langan’s, we wanted to take it somewhere slightly less expected: the cocktail bar.

The result is the Matcha-ainee. Earthy, smooth, refreshing and strikingly green, it takes the flavors people already love about matcha and gives them a decidedly more grown-up, cocktail-hour personality. It feels contemporary without taking itself too seriously — exactly the kind of drink you order because you're curious, then find yourself ordering again.

And once it lands on the table, it's hard not to notice your Pre-Show Drink Has Entered the Stage. Being this close to Broadway means theater is naturally part of life at Langan’s. On any given afternoon, you'll find guests stopping in before a show, meeting friends after a matinee or turning dinner and drinks into part of their night in New York.

A matinee down the street. A Matcha-ainee at the bar. Simple enoug!

So if you're heading to Broadway this summer, come a little early. Grab a seat, order something green, and see why one slightly theatrical matcha cocktail ended up becoming one of our favorite drinks of the season.