A few weeks ago, I was catching up with a friend about midterms, lamenting how sick I’d grown of the libraries. Then, she let me in on a secret — a cafe she’d been gatekeeping as her much-needed change of scenery from the libraries. Conveniently, it's only a three-minute walk from where I live at the Standard, so I decided to check it out and see if it lived up to her praise. Soon enough, I found myself at Camellias Coffee and Tea.
Camellia’s opened their storefront on 10th St. in August 2025, following the opening of their Preston Ave. bar and roastery in the fall of 2024. The restaurant’s owner, Kitty Ashi, owns several popular Charlottesville restaurants, including Monsoon Siam and Pineapples Thai Kitchen.
Walking into Camellias, I was struck by the unique and intentional setup. A strip of grass turf lined the entrance before giving way to a series of rugs that created an eclectic, earthy feel. Natural light poured inside from the floor-to-ceiling windows, which were framed by green, leaf-like curtains. A series of woven, basket-like pendant lights hung from the ceiling, adding a rustic, boho-chic vibe to the space.
Camellias has nearly every possible seating option one could want — circular diner-style tables for groups, sofa booths with tables on each side for study dates and a long bench-style couch near the entrance where students can lounge with their laptops. Upstairs, there is an open loft area with more tables for a quieter, secluded ambience.
After placing my things down at a booth near the counter, I went up to the counter to order. Right away, my eye was caught by the number of pastries lining the display case. From Thai tea croissants to pain suisse, muffins and coffee cake, Camellias offers a truly impressive array of sweet treats. For patrons without as much of a sweet tooth, there are also a number of savory options, including croissants with ham and American cheese, gyoza and focaccia bread. Orders are placed and picked up at the counter.
Besides the array of pastries and food options, Camellias Coffee and Tea stays true to its name by offering a plethora of drink options. From classic coffee, matcha and Hojicha and frappes to a vast array of teas, Camellias is certain to have something for even the most selective sippers.
After perusing the drink menu, the choice that stood out to me was the iced blueberry lavender matcha latte. I'm often hesitant about trying new matcha flavors, as it sometimes feels like the additional flavors overpower the matcha, resulting in something that both tastes and sounds more like a gourmet soap than a drink. But I was feeling a little adventurous, so I decided to order the iced blueberry lavender matcha latte for $7.85, as well as the pistachio chocolate croissant for $6.50.
After about five minutes, my food and matcha arrived. I braced myself before taking the first sip of my matcha, expecting the flavours to clash and justify my skepticism. To my surprise, however, the matcha actually struck a really nice balance — it wasn’t too sickly sweet, but not too bland or grass-like either.
Its earthy base was softened by just enough sweetness to make it easy to drink. The lavender came through in small, aromatic bursts rather than all at once, which kept it from overwhelming the drink. I noticed the lavender more than the blueberry, which felt a bit more muted in comparison. Still, what could have easily been an overload of competing flavors turned out to be a subtle, sweet blend. It didn’t feel artificial or overly heavy, rather, it stayed smooth and tea-like.
Observing from my booth, I noticed that a lot of other people were also ordering the iced blueberry lavender matcha, along with other flavors like the iced peach matcha latte and the iced strawberry matcha latte. I think it’s safe to say that the matcha here is definitely a hit. Personally, I concur — it’s definitely one of the better matchas I’ve tried in Charlottesville.
For my food, they heated the pistachio croissant and brought it to my booth. I had accidentally ordered it in a to-go box, but I was glad I did, as it let me admire the careful stencil pen work on the box — an ink sketch of three camellia flowers atop the logo, “Camellias CVILLE,” with “Camellias” in cursive. Because I ended up taking some of my croissant home, the box came in handy.
The croissant itself was coated in a thick chocolate spread and sprinkled with pistachios. It was very chocolatey — which I of course loved since I have a huge sweet tooth — but it might be a bit much for someone who doesn’t. As I got further into it, I realized the chocolate was on the inside too, oozing out as I ate it. The gooeyness of the chocolate was perfectly balanced by the crunch of the pistachios. It was definitely filling and indulgent, maybe a little too filling for me, but still quite delicious. White-t-shirt-wearers beware — it’s a little messy to eat.
Leaving Camellias, I understood why my friend had been gatekeeping it. It’s the perfect little spot — a not-too-crowded, natural-light-filled, relaxing space. As much as I want to keep it to myself, it’s too good not to share.
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