Harajuku - Chilling in Tokyo area listings

Chilling In Tokyo: Harajuku

"Chilling in Tokyo" bar and cafe listings for the Harajuku area.

Cafe Lolita (Yoyogi - Cafe). 3379-3227

With its inexpensive food menu (pastas, rice dishes) and late-night hours, this is a convenient spot for a late-night drink and snack.

Yoyogi 1-58-10. Open 11:30am-2am daily.

Artica (Yoyogi - Bar). 3320-3217

Artica is not just a water bar - it's a jazz water bar! There's live music most evenings, with a music charge of Y1000-2000, and a water list featuring more than forty choices. If you want something stronger you can try one of their featured whisky and water sets, or request your favorite cocktail. There's also a cafe menu with curries, pastas and pretty good miniature pizzas.

Yoyogi 1-41-3, 2F. Open 11am-2:30, 6pm-2am. Closed Sundays.

Yao (Jingumae 2-chome - Cafe). 3475-0860

The menu here is French-influenced casual cafe fare - liver mousse, ratatouille, mussels and clams steamed in white wine, roast beets with Roquefort cheese. French wines start at around Y3000. Budget around Y2500 for food at dinnertime.

Jingumae 2-33-12, Villa Bianca 1F. Open 11:30am-midnight daily.

Bonobo (Jingumae 2-chome - Bar). unlisted

This comfortable sofa-furnished lounge attracts a Japanese hipster crowd and features jazzy DJs and occasional live performances; there's also a tiny art gallery and chill space upstairs. The hidden entrance is at the back of another bar.

Jingumae 2-23-4. Open 8pm-1am. Closed Sundays.

Ai Ai (Jingumae 2-chome - Okinawan). 3403-5575

An entertaining cave-like space with tiny doors, miniature rooms and lots of nooks and crannies. The menu features tasty and reasonably priced Okinawan, Thai and other Asian dishes along with assorted cocktails.

Jingumae 2-31-8. Open noon-2, 6pm-midnight (LO). Closed Sundays.

Cocongo (Jingumae 2-chome - Cafe). 3475-8980

The decor of this cute little cafe is a mix of early-sixties batchelor-pad modern with African and Asian knick-knacks, while the soundtrack covers the range of Afro-pop and world music. There are plenty of cozy seating areas, including a couple of chairs perched in the tiny back garden. The menu features flavored teas, original cocktails, Singaporean chicken rice and Thai curries.

Jingumae 2-31-9. Open 11am-8pm daily.

Mother Kurkku (Jingumae 2-chome - Cafe). 5414-0581

With its double-height ceilings and wrap-around windows letting in the afternoon sun, the smoke-free second floor of Mother Kurkku is a luxurious space to relax in. The food is well above average, with mains like grilled swordfish with mentaiko and two kinds of cous cous (with lamb tajine or sausage and root vegetables). The Y1000 lunch is especially good value. There's a selection of reasonable wines and other drinks, and a DJ setup downstairs. Lunch is served until 3pm weekdays, 5pm weekends.

Jingumae 2-18-15. Open 11am-4am daily.

Good Life Lounge (Kita-Sando - Bar). 5474-7789

This casually hip bar and sometime music performance space is often open many hours later than the official midnight closing time. No cover charge.

Sendagaya 2-1-8. Open 7pm-midnight daily.

Design Festa Gallery Cafe & Bar (Harajuku - Bar). 3479-0839

This unusual cafe-bar sits in the courtyard of a very bohemian art-gallery space called Tokyo Design Festa. There's a small indoor section where you stand around overturned barrel-tables, and an outdoor portion furnished with normal tables and chairs in the tree-filled garden courtyard. Both sections look onto the gallery's exhibition spaces, so you can enjoy some fresh art along with a bit of nature while you imbibe. [Show more]

Jingumae 3-20-18. Open 11am-11pm daily.

Ikiba (Harajuku - Bar). 6447-2457

An experimental venture from the trendy folks who run the Aoyama Farmers Market, this cafe-bar complex has several distinct zones - two separate bars, lots of outdoor seating in the yard, a tiny treehouse-style space up front, and a second-floor library and small exhibition room where cigars and pipes are on display. [Show more]

Jingumae 3-21-17. Open 11:30am-10:30pm (LO). Closed Mondays.

Wired Cafe 360 (Harajuku - Cafe). 5413-2630

Sitting atop the tech-heavy and design-savvy KDDI Designing Studio, this popular cafe is an oasis of greenery and art magazines, with nice panoramic views overlooking Harajuku. The menu features light food as well as coffee and other drinks, and it's a nice place to take a break from an afternoon of shopping.

Jingumae 4-32-16, KDDI Designing Studio 5F. Open 10am-7:30pm (LO) daily.

Brussels (Harajuku - Belgian rest/beer bar). 3403-3972

Original pita sandwiches and an impressive assortment of Belgian beers. The big tables can accommodate larger groups than average (5-8 people), but you may have to share a table when they're crowded. There are also a few seats at the bar.

Jingumae 1-10-23. Open 5:30pm-2am (Sat-11pm). Closed Sundays.

Tokyo Apartment Cafe (Harajuku - Cafe). 3401-4101

Designed to resemble a stylish Tokyo dwelling (complete with bedroom, living room, and dining room), this popular Harajuku cafe offers shoppers a comfortable place to sit and watch the world go by. Lunch sets from Y840 on weekdays and Y945 on weekends.

Jingumae 1-11-11. Open 11am-midnight (LO) daily.

Bills (Harajuku - Australian). 5772-1133

Australian chef Bill Granger is famous for his gourmet breakfast menu; this is his fourth Tokyo-area venture. Breakfast is served from 8:30am through the end of lunchtime, with signature dishes like sweetcorn fritters with roast tomato, spinach and bacon (Y1400), and ricotta hotcakes with fresh bananas and honeycomb butter (Y1400). [Show more]

Jingumae 4-30-3, Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku 7F. Open 8:30am-10pm (LO) daily.

Eco Farm Cafe 632 (Harajuku - Cafe). 3498-0632

A quiet spot hidden on a back street just a few steps from central Harajuku. There's a spacious cafe up front with fresh-baked pastries, a nice outdoor courtyard where dogs are allowed, and a full bar up on the balcony level. In back is a sprawling dining room where you can even get breakfast (9-11am).

Jingumae 6-32-10. (in the street behind Condomania) Open 9am-11pm daily.

Cafe de Take (Harajuku - Cafe). 5778-3941

This surprisingly spacious cafe is quiet enough for conversation or reading, and provides ample space between tables. The small food menu includes tasty curries, donburi dishes and cakes and pastries; the Harajuku Curry house special is made with cubes of kakuni stewed pork.

Jingumae 6-6-2. Open 11am-10pm daily.

Madosh Cafe (Harajuku - Cafe). 3400-1188

The sprawling, comfortable space off a Harajuku side street is filled with mismatched furniture and charmingly primitive artwork (or perhaps projects from a kindergarten art class). Eating utensils are nestled in empty Spam cans. We nearly tripped over a big shaggy dog asleep just inside the entrance. A DJ setup stands ready for the cafe's regular music nights and occasional art events. [Show more]

Jingumae 5-28-7. Open 11:30am-3, 6-10pm (LO) daily.