This section covers Tokyo cafes and cafe-bars, from the arty to the exotic to the very stylish - places to relax with an afternoon coffee and dessert or an early-evening drink.
If you're especially interested in the coffee, see also our section on coffee and tea shops.
European style
Cafe Troisgros, a casual dining spot from Michelin-starred chef Michel Troisgros, turns out speedy, well-prepared lunches that offer good value for money (from Y1500). During off-peak hours (10-11am, 2-6pm), Cafe Troisgros's teatime menu offers the same frothy coffee drinks and sweet treats you might expect at places like Afternoon Tea, but with an upscale, gourmet twist. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
Nishi-Shinjuku 1-1-3, Odakyu Dept. Store 8F. Open 10am-8:30pm (LO) daily.
If you're in the mood for a luxurious dessert, this gorgeously decorated basement cafe serves "haute couture parfaits" from fresh seasonal fruit (Y1400-) and fruit teas (Y950-). Upstairs is Comme Ca Cafe, the very artistic cake shop on the first floor. Open from noon on weekends.
Minami-Aoyama 5-10-19, Masahiro Aoyama Bldg B1F. Open 2-10pm (LO) daily.
A lot of upscale Aoyama shops seem to have an obligatory cafe area tucked into a corner somewhere, but the combination works especially well at this Copenhagen-based designer flower shop. While the food and drink aren't so very different from a dozen other area cafes, the lovely, plant-filled setting and the lively atmosphere set it apart. A lot of upscale Aoyama shops seem to have an obligatory cafe area tucked into a corner somewhere, but the combination works especially well at this Copenhagen-based designer flower shop. While the food and drink aren't so very different from a dozen other area cafes, the lovely, plant-filled setting and the lively atmosphere set it apart.
Lunch is served from 10am-3pm, with choices of open-faced Danish smorrebrod and panini sandwiches, big organic salads and fresh fruit juices. A set lunch with a couple of sandwiches, soup, salad and coffee or tea runs around Y1500.
After 3pm is teatime, with a nice selection of freshly made muffins and pastries to accompany your beverage. Tucked away on a quiet side street behind Aoyama-dori, Nomu Cafe is a pleasant spot for an afternoon break when you're in the area. [Show more] [Show less] Minami-Aoyama 5-7-2. Open 10am-8pm daily.
Viron (Shibuya) 5458-1770
Great French cafe-style sandwiches, quiches and pastries to take out; there's also a pleasant cafe upstairs.
Udagawacho 33-8. Open 9am-10pm daily.
French-style cafe beverages and pastries. The courtyard seating is unusual in that you're in the basement of the Bunkamura complex, but still out under the open sky. (Indoor seating also available.)
A very French-style multi-story cafe with a relaxed atmosphere; they serve light food items and desserts as well as coffee and drinks.
This big, European-style cafe opens onto the street for enhanced people-watching, with lots of outdoor seating when the weather permits. The casual food menu includes pastas, sandwiches and desserts. Drinks include Italian wines, grappa and liqueurs. Set lunch from Y1600.
A trendy but comfortable cafe where you can enjoy the open-air front section during the warmer months. The back area is set up like a very large living room, with plenty of sofas for lounging. (Note that after 6pm there's a table charge in some areas of the cafe - Y500 per person at tables in the back, Y1000 per person on the sofas.) The desserts are especially recommended (they also run a wholesale cake shop from the basement).
Minami-Azabu 4-12-26. Open 11:30am-1:30am (LO) daily.
The restaurant in back is pretentious and overpriced, but the outdoor cafe is a pleasant place to sit during warm weather.
This small chain of French brasserie-cafes is popular for their authentic food and atmosphere. The cafe serves simple dishes like omelettes and salads all day long, while the brasserie has more substantial fare, with lunch an especially good value. Quiches and pastries are ready to take home from the bakery section.
Takanawa 4-10-8, Takanawa Keikyu Bldg #7. Open 9am-11pm daily.
Located inside a park and surrounded by greenery, this popular Belgian organic bakery is famous for their large communal table, although they also offer smaller tables for two or four. You can drop in for coffee and pastries anytime from 7:30am.
Shiba-Koen 3-3-1. Open 7:30am-9pm (LO) daily.
A friendly cafe-brasserie with authentic French atmosphere and good, reasonably priced food. The daily Y1000 lunch is an especially good deal, and is served until 5pm. Evening specialties include north-African dishes like lamb and rabbit couscous and Moroccan tajine. Call ahead to arrange a non-smoking table.
Roppongi 5-17-1, AXIS Bldg 1F. Open 11am-11pm daily.
A cheerful cafe with a nice lunch menu (under Y1,000) and a take-away bakery department.
This picturesque little Italian-style cafe-bar is worth noting for their late-night hours (till 2am Monday-Saturday); stop by for coffee, a glass of wine or a light Italian snack.
Located downstairs from Kihachi's flagship restaurant, this more casual cafe is open all day, and offers pastas and simple meals as well as desserts and coffee. There's also a separate bar area. English menus are available.
Ginza 2-2-6. Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.
This popular Tokyo French cafe-bakery serves light snacks all day (quiche, omelettes, salade nicoise), plus more substantial prix-fixe lunches until 3pm (Y1260).
Ginza 6-3-2, Gallery Center Bldg 1F. Open 9am-11pm daily.
The cheerful green exterior of this recently opened cafe/trattoria adds a bit of color to a street lined with generically tasteful shops selling luxury goods. Large windows offering a peek at the warmly lit space inside entice passersby to stop in for an espresso or glass of wine. The cheerful green exterior of this recently opened cafe/trattoria adds a bit of color to a street lined with generically tasteful shops selling luxury goods. Large windows offering a peek at the warmly lit space inside entice passersby to stop in for an espresso or glass of wine.
The interior strives for a modern take on old-world charm and succeeds for the most part, although some may balk at the wall mural depicting clowns preparing spaghetti. Apparently, there are few sufferers of coulrophobia in the Marunoiuchi area - the place gets quite full after 7pm.
The drinks list features five wines by the glass priced around Y1000, and a nice selection of reasonably priced bottles from Y2900. Beer and cocktails start at Y750. The food menu offers a number of interesting nibbles - fried black olives stuffed with pork, a baked dish of tripe and vegetables smothered with melted cheese (Y780 each) - as well as straightforward items like mixed olives and cured meats.
Fritters of all sorts (eggplant, octopus, and tomatoes) and a range of carpaccios (venison, chicken, and sea bream) can also be found on the extensive, six-page menu. Pastas (Y1380-) and other more substantial dishes are also available. [Show more] [Show less] Marunouchi 2-2-3, Marunouchi Nakadori Bldg 1F. Open 11:30am-10pm (LO) daily.
This cafe venture from the Michelin-starred Aimee Vibert in Nibancho offers above-average bistro fare in a casual setting. The decor is classic French cafe style - tile floors, dark wood and mirrors, a zinc bar and lots of tiny tables and chairs facing the sidewalk. This cafe venture from the Michelin-starred Aimee Vibert in Nibancho offers above-average bistro fare in a casual setting. The decor is classic French cafe style - tile floors, dark wood and mirrors, with a zinc bar and lots of tiny tables and chairs facing the sidewalk.
The lunchtime menu (Y900-1500) features croque-monsieur and croque-madame sandwiches, quiches and salads, and a couple of meat and fish plates of the day. Quiches are also served during teatime (2-5pm) along with desserts and coffee. The dinner menu is all a la carte, and includes a cote de porc roti for two people (Y3800) along with daily meat and fish dishes. [Show more] [Show less] Nihonbashi Muromachi 2-2-1, Coredo Muromachi 1F. Open 10am-10pm daily.
A bright and airy branch of this French-cafe landmark, located directly in front of the New Otani Hotel. There's a take-out bakery at the entrance, a big cafe area, a smaller dining room for proper French meals, and plenty of outdoor seating, heated in winter. The cafe serves light snacks like quiche, omelettes, salade nicoise and steak frites.
Paul (Kagurazaka) 6280-7723
Good pastries and sandwiches, to eat in or take out, at this French-based bakery-cafe.
Kagurazaka 5-1-4, Kagurazaka Terrace 1F. Open 10am-10pm. Closed Sundays.
Tucked away in the rather institutional-looking basement of the Athenee Francaise, this branch of the French-based cafe serves a range of good, made-to-order French-style sandwiches.
Kanda Surugadai 2-11, Athenee Francais B1F. Open 11am-7:30pm. Closed Sundays.
The second Tokyo branch of the internationally famous Belgian organic bakery is open from 7:30am, serving coffee and pastries, salads and tartines - open-face Belgian sandwiches with toppings like smoked salmon-avocado and ham-gruyere cheese. There's also a bar serving wine and beer.
Nishi-Shinjuku 3-20-2, Tokyo Opera City Tower, 1F. Open 7:30am-10pm (LO) daily.
Globe (Ikejiri-Ohashi) 5430-3550
A big, sprawling antique shop with a charming little cafe and dessert corner; the best seats seem to be out front, looking out onto the street.
This late-night riverfront cafe offers a casual Italian-Mediterranean menu and open-air seating up front.
Exotic ethnic
Cocongo (Jingumae 2-chome) 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.
Salads, ethnic-style dishes and other light fare are served along with coffee and cocktails. Located in the Liquid Room concert space, the cafe also hosts small musical events of its own. Free wi-fi access.
Higashi 3-16-6, Liquid Room 2F. Open 11:30am-11:30pm daily.
Whether you're an abstemious vegetarian or a shameless hedonist, a meal at Asante Sana will leave you feeling positively virtuous. Attached to a store selling Asian imports, all-natural soaps, and organic food items, this tiny cafe off the beaten track near Yebisu Garden Place takes a holistic approach to natural living. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
Meguro-ku, Mita 2-7-10-102. Open 11am-8pm. Closed Sundays.
A casual "tea house" serving Chinese teas, herb teas, and several varieties of iced tea along with light snacks. Tea time runs from 2-5pm, but if you're hungry you can take advantage of Doichan's late lunch menu (11am-5pm), featuring curries, donburis and sandwiches for under Y1000. In the evenings you'll find grilled meats and creative Japanese and Western dishes, plus beer, wine, sake and cocktails; budget around Y3000. Pets are welcome on the outdoor terrace.
It's worth coming here for the music alone - a fantastically eclectic mix from all over Asia and the rest of the world. The drinks menu includes coffee, tea, chai, Balinese rice wine, Thai soy milk, exotic cocktails and organic fruit juices. Food includes a nice selection of home-made desserts (all day long) and dishes like Tibetan dumplings (highly recommended) and tofu salad. The tiny chairs and tables don't encourage too much lingering, but this is an essential stop on a Nakano tour.
Nakano 5-32-9. Open 7:30-11:30am, noon-10pm (LO). Closed Mondays.
Mugs Cafe is the joint venture of three young designers, and the decor is a fusion of fifties cool and Asian lounge. The pan-Asian menu lists unusual items such as bahn mi Vietnamese sandwiches (Y800) and cold tofu topped with Chinese preserved eggs (Y500). Nestled in among a warren of residences and mom-and-pop stores, this Nakano chill zone offers a place to meditate over your mocha. A placid gold Buddha sits beside an old-fashioned globe in the center of the room, which is dominated by an autumnal color scheme.
Mugs Cafe is the joint venture of three young designers, and the decor is a fusion of fifties cool and Asian lounge. Sheep dangle from a mobile over Eames-style fiberglass chairs and black leather couches. On the walls hang paintings and photos by local artists.
The pan-Asian menu is written on the wall-cum-blackboard behind the kitchen area and lists unusual items such as bahn mi Vietnamese sandwiches (Y800) and cold tofu topped with Chinese preserved eggs (Y500). They also have a few Middle Eastern dishes like falafel (Y700) and Turkish rice pudding (Y450). Thumb through the stacks of design magazines while you sip on a cup of coffee, or tuck into a late lunch. Lunch specials change daily and are available until 4pm. [Show more] [Show less] Nakano-ku, Chuo 5-48-5. Open noon-11pm. Closed Mondays.
Hidden among the quiet streets north of Nishi Ogikubo station lies Copo do Dia, a tiny cafe that also functions as an informal Brazilian cultural center. The space, with its heavy wooden tables and simple white walls, is largely unadorned, the vibe calm and friendly. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
Nishi-Ogi-Kita 4-26-10-103. Open 3-11:30pm (LO). Closed Wed, 1st+3rd Tue.
This tiny cafe serves tasty curries and dirt-cheap beer all day long. Choose from chicken, keema, or one of their daily specials (from Y650). The sea green walls scream Bangkok, while the single chandelier and squat velour bar seats seem lifted from New Orleans' French Quarter. Together with the tattooed, fedora-wearing clientele, the atmosphere is pure Tokyo.
Arty spaces
Whether you're here for a dessert break, a casual evening meal, or an afternoon working on your laptop, Brooklyn Parlor supplies a fun, bustling backdrop. Unlike Tokyo's many quiet, hidden-away cafes, here it feels like you've stumbled onto the hub of a social scene. Of course all the standard cafe needs are provided for - free wifi; hip background music; tons of magazines and books on art, design and fashion; good espresso beverages, interesting cocktails and very affordable wines. Whether you're here for a dessert break, a casual evening meal, or an afternoon working on your laptop, Brooklyn Parlor supplies a fun, bustling backdrop. Unlike Tokyo's many quiet, hidden-away cafes, here it feels like you've stumbled onto the hub of a social scene. Of course all the standard cafe needs are provided for - free wifi; hip background music; tons of magazines and books on art, design and fashion; good espresso beverages, interesting cocktails and very affordable wines.
There are also some special touches, like Brooklyn Lager on tap and Hitachino Nest beer by the bottle. The food menu is gourmet cafe fare - scones and almond pancakes, serious burgers, and very nice quiches and salads. The burgers are also available to take out - perhaps convenient for a picnic in nearby Shinjuku Gyoen. [Show more] [Show less] Shinjuku 3-1-26, Shinjuku Marui Annex B1F. Open 11:30am-11:30pm daily.
Ikiba (Harajuku) 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. 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.
The food menu features artfully constructed small izakaya-style dishes and snacks to nibble on, plus curry rice and original onigiri rice balls. In addition to the usual cocktails and beer, six types of Kikusui sake from Niigata are on offer, including the sweet, richly flavored Setsugoro Genrokushu, which is made from a 300-year-old recipe. [Show more] [Show less] 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.
Those with a fondness for cartoon-character dolls and action figures will find a kindred spirit in Yoshitomo Nara, whose paintings and sculptures of devilish children are as disconcerting as they are cute. A joint project with the Graf design firm, A to Z Cafe, with its original artwork, mismatched furniture, and liberal use of worn wood and corrugated iron, is a cool place to spend the afternoon. Those with a fondness for cartoon-character dolls and action figures will find a kindred spirit in Yoshitomo Nara, whose paintings and sculptures of devilish children are as disconcerting as they are cute.
A joint project with the Graf design firm, A to Z Cafe, with its original artwork, mismatched furniture, and liberal use of worn wood and corrugated iron, is a cool place to spend the afternoon. Nara's conceptual home on the range provides an interesting contrast to the fifth-floor view of the teeming metropolis outside.
The cafe offers daily lunch specials starting at Y800, in addition to the extensive menu of wafu-inflected dishes ranging in price from Y315-1000. Mentaiko nori toast makes an unusual salty snack; deep-fried baby squid and crispy rice cakes are almost too cute to eat.
Choose from a selection of coffee drinks or Chinese and Japanese teas to go with tempting desserts like kabocha and coconut cake. Cocktails, beer, shochu, and champagne are also available if you fancy something stronger. Drop in for one of the free artist lectures or just sit around and enjoy the atmosphere: the pretty people drift in and out as softly lilting ambient music floats in the air. [Show more] [Show less] Minami-Aoyama 5-8-3, Equbo Bldg 5F. Open 11:30am-11:30pm (to 4am weekends) daily.
A relaxing, quiet space inside a museum devoted to the whimsical works of sculptor Taro Okamoto.
Nalu (Omotesando) 5786-1642
Far off the beaten path, on a backstreet between Omotesando and Gaienmae, Nalu Cafe packs a little something for everyone into a tiny space. It's a smart cafe/art gallery that serves take-out during lunchtime, located above a groovy hair salon in the basement. You could, theoretically, pop in for a drink or a slice of cake while you're waiting for your perm to set downstairs. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
This stylish design-centered cafe offers architecture magazines to browse through while you sip your coffee. They serve a small breakfast buffet (Y1200) from 7-10am.
Tiki-torch lights, wooden patio furniture, and covered terrace seating conduce to a beach-bungalow atmosphere at this dog-friendly cafe. The "Healthy Plate" for dogs (Y480) includes a chicken and vegetable main dish, some soft beef jerky and a milk-flavored bone for chewing on. C
The food here is basic Italian-International fare, and lunch (served till 3pm) includes a buffet of side dishes - Y1000 with main course, Y1500 with main, dessert and coffee. The dinner menu includes rotisserie-grilled meats, pastas and pizzas.
This cozy little cafe is furnished with Alvar Aalto-designed chairs and lamps amid a grove of birch trees. Up front is a small shop area selling Finnish ceramics, glassware and other beautifully designed goods. The background music is a mix of Scandinavian jazz and Nordic Lounge, and the cafe occasionally hosts live jazz performances and design- and fashion-related events. This cozy little cafe is furnished with Alvar Aalto-designed chairs and lamps amid a grove of birch trees. Up front is a small shop area selling Finnish ceramics, glassware and other beautifully designed goods. The background music is a mix of Scandinavian jazz and Nordic Lounge, and the cafe occasionally hosts live jazz performances and design- and fashion-related events.
The menu offers a selection of Finnish and Nordic dishes such as Jansson's temptation (a potato and anchovy casserole), salmon-potato soup, and pear-coconut fruit soup. The Karelian pies are served like open-face sandwiches, with toppings of smoked salmon, marinated mini-tomatoes, and a delicious combination of spinach, bacon, egg and cheese. Food is served through the day, or you can just stop in for a coffee or one of several vodka-based cocktails. [Show more] [Show less] This combination cafe and design showroom serves a casual Italian menu on weekday evenings, and a more limited lunchtime menu until 2:30pm. Open to 5pm weekends.
This charming little cafe is located in an old office building that's now filled with art galleries. Relax on comfortable sofas and listen to mellow lounge music on the stereo while you admire the cat-themed artwork on the walls. Browse through their collection of magazines and cat picture books while you sip on a cappucino (Y750) or cocktail. This charming little cafe is located in an old office building that's now filled with art galleries. Relax on comfortable sofas and listen to mellow lounge music on the stereo while you admire the cat-themed artwork on the walls. Browse through their collection of magazines and cat picture books while you sip on a cappucino (Y750) or cocktail.
If you're hungry there's a simple food menu - Caesar salads (Y1000), mixed sausages (Y800). The unpretentious decor is all cinderblocks and exposed pipes, with a silver and white color theme set off by lots of green plants. [Show more] [Show less] Ginza 3-3-12, Ginza Bldg 4F. Open 11:30am-10pm (LO). Closed Mondays.
Artistic food and tasty paintings at this combination art gallery and cafe.
Yaraicho 107. Open noon-10pm. Closed Mondays.
Boo (Akihabara) 6240-1220
One of the rare non-chain restaurants in Akihabara, this charming cafe serves an eclectic evening menu of Italian-inspired dishes at very reasonable prices. At lunchtime it's more of a standard cafe menu (served until 1:40pm), and in the afternoons you can order coffee and dessert. Boo's attached sister shop, Studio Uamou, makes cute devil-like character toys, and they're both part of the Aki-Oka artisan complex.
Ueno 5-9, 2k540 Aki-Oka Artisan N-4. Open 11:30am-11pm (LO). Closed Wednesdays.
Perched above an exit to Hakusan metro station, this charming neighborhood cafe seems to cultivate a deliberately bohemian atmosphere. Hey, is that a box of sweet potatoes plunked down right in the middle of the seating area? The food menu is surprisingly wide-ranging - pastas, pizzas, teppan-grilled meats and lots of vegetable dishes. Drinks include coffee, juices, cocktails, five kinds of shochu and Sankt Gallen beer.
Hakusan 5-33-1 2F. Open 11:30am-midnight daily.
The very artsy cafe includes a gallery space in back where you can catch the latest exhibit while enjoying coffee or cocktails; there's also window seating up front, a few outdoor tables, and a movie theater in the basement. Drinks include Chinese teas, hot cocktails (rum and apple, coffee and cointreau), and eight Belgian beers by the bottle. The food menu is limited to curry rice and a smattering of small deli items.
Koenji-Kita 2-18-10. Open noon-midnight daily.
Planet 3rd is a pocket of urban cool off the beaten track in Koenji. The spacious interior is well designed, the atmosphere open and friendly. Check your email at one of the free computer terminals and then sit back and enjoy your coffee. Dogs are also welcome!
Koenji-Minami 2-49-18. Open 11:30am-midnight daily.
A cute little cafe with snappy decor, free wifi and a simple, inexpensive food and drink menu.
A stylish but comfortable neighborhood cafe with free wifi and a simple cafe-style food and drink selection.
This multi-purpose art space/cafe-bar is way off the beaten track but it draws a crowd of loyal regulars, including personalities from the Tokyo art scene and local hipsters. During the day you'll find standard cafe lunches (pastas, curries) served till 6pm, plus gourmet coffees - they roast their own beans once a week. This multi-purpose art space/cafe-bar is way off the beaten track but it draws a crowd of loyal regulars, including personalities from the Tokyo art scene and local hipsters.
The incense-hazed CD shop up front is well-stocked in obscure avant-garde music from the past two decades; just past that is a retail corner selling videos, artsy toys, mens' hats and art magazines. In back is a gallery, and in between is a spacious cafe-bar area.
During the day you'll find standard cafe lunches (pastas, curries) served till 6pm, plus gourmet coffees - they roast their own beans once a week. At night there's a bigger cafe food menu plus wide-ranging cocktails (150 kinds of drinks in all); beers include the excellent Edelpils on tap for Y850/pint. The wall of vinyl records spans everything from contemporary classical to obscure folk music, but tends toward the mellow end of the spectrum in the evenings. [Show more] [Show less] Kitazawa 1-45-36. Open 1pm-midnight. Closed Wednesdays.
Ie (Naka-Meguro) 5428-3434
A stylish cafe overlooking the tree-lined banks of the Meguro River. In the mornings they serve a fairly basic breakfast - acai bowls or granola.
Cafe hangouts
This department-store branch of the popular Sendagaya cafe serves Neapolitan-style pizzas, gourmet burgers, salads and lots of market-fresh vegetable dishes. Budget around Y1000 for lunch, Y2000 for dinner.
Nishi-Ikebukuro 1-11-1, Lumine Ikebukuro 8F. Open 11am-11pm daily.
A very stylish cafe on an Ikebukuro backstreet; they serve cocktails and a limited snack menu as well as coffee and tea. This is also headquarters for the hip toy company Roughtoyz.
Minami-Ikebukuro 2-14-12. Open noon-10:30pm (LO) daily.
Attached to a kimono shop that's hidden away on a Mejiro back street, this living room-style tearoom looks out onto a small garden. Choose from coffee, various teas and juices, along with traditional Japanese sweets and chocolate cake. Note the early closing hour.
Shimo-Ochiai 2-19-21. Open 11:30am-6:30pm. Closed Tue, Wed.
True to its name, the Armwood Cottage is Tokyo's answer to a log cabin in the mountains, with tall concrete buildings standing in for trees. The space is intimate and inviting, dominated by rough wooden surfaces and decorated with rustic kitsch - a deer head trophy here, model vintage trucks there. True to its name, the Armwood Cottage is Tokyo's answer to a log cabin in the mountains, with tall concrete buildings standing in for trees. The space is intimate and inviting, dominated by rough wooden surfaces and decorated with rustic kitsch - a deer head trophy here, model vintage trucks there.
Above-average cafe standards like rice bowls and pastas are on offer at lunchtime (Y850), with more serious food in the evening (stewed spareribs for Y1500 are their specialty). Beer and wine start at Y600, cocktails at Y750. It's the perfect place to have a drink after taking a leisurely stroll through nearby Shinjuku Gyoen: draft beer, wine, and sangria are half price every day from 6-8pm. [Show more] [Show less] Shinjuku 1-10-5, 2F. Open 11:30am-midnight (Sat 2pm-). Closed Sundays.
Stylishly modern and surprisingly spacious, Meal Muji makes a pleasant retreat from the crowds of Shinjuku's shopping district. The decor is bright and cheerful, with ubiquitous sleek blond wood furnishings set off by clay-colored stucco walls and lots of greenery. Stylishly modern and surprisingly spacious, Meal Muji makes a pleasant retreat from the crowds of Shinjuku's shopping district. The decor is bright and cheerful, with ubiquitous sleek blond wood furnishings set off by clay-colored stucco walls and lots of greenery.
There's a big variety of hot and cold deli items at lunchtime (till 3pm), with five items plus bread for Y1050. A typical spread might include Thai vegetable curry, grilled tomatoes, chicken-liver salad and ratatouille, all incorporating top-quality organic ingredients. In the afternoons you can find sandwiches, curry and quiche plus assorted desserts, with a bigger a la carte menu after five. Wines start at Y1200 for a carafe, with several organic wines to choose from as well as draft beer and cocktails. [Show more] [Show less] Popular with a younger crowd, this casual cafe offers a wide selection of small food items - ranging from salads to stews - ready to assemble into a meal or a snack. There are also inexpensive wines and cocktails, including all-you-can-drink specials.
Nishi-Shinjuku 1-3-14. (on Ome-kaido) Open 11:30am-11:30pm daily.
Open twenty-four hours a day, the Hilton's Marble Lounge offers various special buffets throughout the day, including a dessert buffet with fountains of chocolate every afternoon from 2:30-6pm (Y4200). Thursday through Saturday evenings from 6:30-9pm there's a chocolate and cheese buffet (Y4200), featuring 20 types of cheese, 15-20 varieties of block chocolate and chocolate desserts, as well as hams and various canapes.
Perhaps the best deli counter in town, with a huge selection of cold cuts, pates and salads. Lunches are priced from around Y1000, and breakfast is served on weekdays from 8 to 10:30am. From 6-7pm weekdays they have an open wine bar (Y2500 including snacks). The outdoor terrace seating is pleasant in warmer months. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
With its inexpensive food menu (pastas, rice dishes) and late-night hours, this is a convenient spot for a late-night drink and snack.
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.
Bills (Harajuku) 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). 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).
At dinnertime you'll find creative international cafe fare - semolina-crusted calamari with aioli (Y1200); prawn and chilli linguine (Y1300); wagyu burger with beetroot, zucchini pickles, herbed french fries (Y2000). Sitting atop the seven-story Tokyu Plaza shopping complex at the crossroads of Harajuku, the restaurant offers a nice view facing south towards Shibuya, with some outdoor terrace seating. [Show more] [Show less] 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).
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.
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. 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.
The food menu focuses heavily on avocados - prize-winning guacamole, avocado fritters and numerous other avocado dishes in the evenings as well as daily pasta and risotto specials. At lunchtime there's a terrific Indonesian-style coconut and avocado curry, made with mushrooms and ground meat and seasoned on the spicy side. Take-out is available. Drinks include Belgian beers (all three colors of Chimay), coffee awamori and pear- and grape-flavored makkoli (milky Korean sake, for a limited time only). Budget around Y3000 at dinnertime. [Show more] [Show less] Jingumae 5-28-7. Open 11:30am-3, 6-10pm (LO) daily.
Tasteful lighting highlights the sleek design at this sophisticated dining bar. Bizuri serves unusual drinks like shochu mixed with green tea and modern pan-Asian cuisine. Popular with the ladies.
Shibuya 1-6-10. Open 11:50am-11:50pm. Closed Sundays.
The Nezu Museum's cafe looks out onto a beautiful wooded garden - a lovely, serene setting for a cup of coffee or an afternoon snack. The menu offers coffee, matcha latte and desserts as well as light meals - pastas, sandwiches, meat pies and salad Nicoise.
This spacious cafe offers typical cafe fare (pastas, sandwiches) during the day, along with fresh-baked breads and pastries from their in-store bakery. In the evening the menu widens to include grilled meats and fish and other Mediterranean-inspired fare. There's some outdoor terrace seating overlooking the Jingu Gaien promenade.
Yao (Jingumae 2-chome) 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.
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.
Breakfast is served from 6am here, either in the vast living-room-style indoor space, the sprawling back garden area, or up front where you can watch foot traffic heading to and from Sendagaya station. In the evenings there's a casual cafe menu plus a range of cocktails, herbal liqueurs, inexpensive wines and microbrew beers from Kona Brewery in Hawaii. Breakfast is served from 6am here, either in the vast living-room-style indoor space, the sprawling back garden area, or up front where you can watch foot traffic heading to and from Sendagaya station. In the evenings there's a casual cafe menu plus a range of cocktails, herbal liqueurs, inexpensive wines and microbrew beers from Kona Brewery in Hawaii.
The morning market menu veers towards the health-conscious end of the spectrum, with fruit and vegetable salads; mixed-grain okayu (rice porridge); granola, banana and yogurt bowls; French toast and lots of juice options. Or you can hit the ground running with one of their gourmet burger platters. The morning market salad (Y1100; served all day long) features exotic vegetables like turnips, beetroots and toasted lotus roots, plus a sausage and a fried egg for good measure.
There's also a take-out window up front where you can pick up burgers, salads and drinks to go. [Show more] [Show less] They bill themselves as an oasis of quiet in the midst of Shibuya's shopping neighborhood, with pretty good food and late-night hours.
[Go to branch review] A spacious, stylish cafe with a refreshingly grown-up atmosphere in Shibuya, serving organic food and wine. Fifteen wines are available by the bottle, priced Y2800-7800, along with nine varieties of sake and a big selection of liqueurs and cocktails. You can also find flavored lattes and teas, plus sandwiches, desserts and light snacks.
Udagawacho 2-1, Shibuya Homes B1F. Open noon-11pm. Closed Mondays.
Tucked away on a quiet side street near the Ward Office, Zarigani has a hip, Bohemian atmosphere far removed from the department-store shopping scene just a few blocks away. The music is bouncy and energetic, and the casual menu includes interesting original curries (we can recommend the green curry) as well as cocktails, teas and coffee.
Udagawacho 6-11. Open noon-11:30pm daily.
This modern Japanese dining bar, styled after an Englishman's abode, is still more Tokyo lounge than Nottingham cottage, despite the oversized leather sofas and antique typewriter. The vibe is chill, and at night the lighting is dim enough to flatter just about anyone.
Udagawacho 17-1, Shibuya Plaza Bldg 7F. Open noon-5, 6pm-1am daily.
Organic coffee and tea, breads made with 100% natural yeast, and a completely smoke-free environment - Bio Cafe provides body and mind a bit of respite in junk-food-glutted Shibuya. With its soft-spoken staff and walls that fade from fuchsia to pearly pink, this quiet little cafe along Spain-zaka attracts a stylish, almost exclusively female crowd. Organic coffee and tea, breads made with 100% natural yeast, and a completely smoke-free environment - Bio Cafe provides body and mind a bit of respite in junk-food-glutted Shibuya. With its soft-spoken staff and walls that fade from fuchsia to pearly pink, this quiet little cafe along Spain-zaka attracts a stylish, almost exclusively female crowd.
The front of the shop is a bakery selling fresh breads and pastries. In the afternoon, the cafe is full of ladies who come for the quick and healthy business lunch plate (Y980, until 3pm). At night, the dinner menu brims with salubrious intentions, featuring prix fixe menus designed to beautify the skin (Y3100) and prevent metabolic syndrome (Y3400).
If all the tofu dips, fresh juices, and low-cal desserts start to make you feel like a sinner among saints, fear not. The drink menu offers a selection of reasonably priced Italian wines (Y1900-5000 per bottle) and mixed drinks, like the vitamin-packed organic tomato cocktail (with blood orange juice and Cointreau, Y750) and the mojito-garnished with organic mint (Y650). [Show more] [Show less] This cozy Shibuya hangout has a homey feel - literally. The cafe's six sections are all decorated to look like the rooms of a house. Make yourself comfortable in the bedroom, kitchen, or children's room and have a drink or a bite to eat.
Dexee is known for their good, inexpensive food as well as the drinks selection. There's a big library of magazines to browse through.
Shoto 1-4-8. (on the back road that runs from Tomigaya to Tokyu Honten, a couple of blocks before Tokyu) Open noon-4am daily.
Cheap prices, stylish decor, good music and a bustling atmosphere have drawn crowds of hip young patrons to this sprawling cafe space in a trendy corner of Shibuya. The kitchen offers entertaining variations on standard cafe fare - Vietnamese sandwiches, pastas, pizzas, rice bowls, and salads - along with some decent California wines by the bottle and a big cocktail list.
As the name indicates, vintage designer chairs are the defining feature of this funky cafe situated between Shibuya and Aoyama. They serve crepes, sandwiches, and a variety of pasta and rice dishes, but it's worth a visit just to perch for an hour on that Eames or Le Corbusier that you've always wanted but could never afford.
Shibuya 3-1-9. Open 11:30am-10pm. Closed Saturdays.
A second branch of the popular cafe, with late-night hours, good food, and good prices. (Formerly called Lenox Saloon.)
This quiet spot, with its Spanish tile tables, wooden-framed glass doors, and cream-colored walls, resembles a Balinese resort. Sink into a wicker chair and sip on a cool glass of fresh fruit juice.
Ebisu 4-8-10. Open 11:30am-9:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
A mere two minutes from Ebisu station, this comfy hide-away will make you feel right at home. Retro velour-covered sofas and a row of giant airplane windows overlooking the street below add a splash of nostalgia. Open til 4am on weekends.
Ebisu-Nishi 1-8-2-207. Open 11:30am-midnight (4am Fri, Sat) daily.
A very spacious, relaxing place to while away some time. Wine and other drinks are relatively inexpensive, and there are plenty of light dishes to nibble on. Pets are allowed, and dog biscuits and water bowls are available.A spacious cafe with big windows looking onto the street, Frames attracts a fashion-conscious young crowd most of the day and night. (They're located just above a basement club called Air.) A seriously stocked cocktail bar takes up much of the back wall, and there's a full Italian-style food menu - good pastas, carpaccio, salads and that sort of thing. Carafes of Australian wine are very reasonably priced.
Besides its other attractions, this seems to be the center of Tokyo canine society - there are usually dogs of all shapes and sizes scattered through the cafe, mutually sniffing greetings but generally well behaved. Water bowls and dog biscuits are provided (and it's just a short walk up the block to Three Dogs Bakery for more substantial doggy snacks). [Show more] [Show less] Sign (Daikanyama) 3780-9570
This relaxed cafe-bar is a perfect meeting spot, right in front of Daikanyama station.
Located next to Gotanda Station, this branch of the ubiquitous cafe chain offers inexpensive dishes like sandwiches, salads, pastas and pizzas as well as coffee, tea and cocktails. There's plenty of internet access and some non-smoking tables.
Higashi-Gotanda 1-26, Atre Vie Gotanda 2F. Open 8am-11pm (weekends from 10am) daily.
This spacious cafe-bar is done up in retro early-1970s modern style, with a nice big terrace seating area with retractable roof. It's run by the folks from the always-hip Planet 3rd cafe in Shibuya, and it's attached to a travel-oriented bookstore run by Paper Sky magazine.
Minami-Aoyama 1-2-6. (in the block behind Aoyama Twin Towers) Open 11am-2am daily.
Inexpensive bakery and deli items and salads from the famous no-brand design store Mujirushi. Breakfast is served from 7am.
Yurakucho 1-2-1, Toho Theater Crie Bldg Rem Hibiya 2F. Open 6:30am-9:30pm (LO) daily.
Inexpensive bakery and deli items and salads from the famous no-brand design store Mujirushi, inside their huge flagship store in Yurakucho.
Marunouchi 3-8-3, Infoce Yurakucho 2/3F. Open 10am-9pm daily.
This hip little cafe is known for their inexpensive, eclectic menu - sandwiches, rice bowls, unusual pizzas, and mains like roast pork with wasabi sauce. Desserts include French toast. Open all day.
Marunouchi 2-7-3, Tokyo Bldg Tokia B1F. Open 11am-10:30pm (2am Thu/Fri) daily.
This dessert cafe offers a big selection of chocolate-themed dishes - eight kinds of chocolate cake, frozen fresh chocolates, and hot chocolate drinks. Located in the headquarters building of the Meiji chocolate company, the cafe sports a stylish brown-and-gold color scheme that's reminiscent of an expensive box of chocolates.
Kyobashi 2-4-16, Meiji Seika Honsha Bldg 1F. Open 9am-8pm (11am-7pm weekends) daily.
Good pastries and plenty of outdoor seating.
The charming, ramshackle old building is a refurbished merchant's shop filled with artwork, random bric-a-brac and a couple of resident cats. They serve tea and home-made manju (sweet bean-jam buns) in various flavors; manju are also available to take away (Y140 each).
Kagurazaka 5-20. Open noon-9pm. Closed Wednesdays.
Saryo (Kagurazaka) 3266-0880
Occupying an old, traditional-style house, this cute cafe serves home-made pastries, soy-milk desserts and many kinds of tea - Chinese, Japanese and herbal. There's outdoor seating on the big terrace in front as well as a very spacious interior. Lunch is served 11:30am-1:30pm.
Kagurazaka 5-9. Open 11:30am-11pm daily.
In addition to the main restaurant, Canal Cafe runs a separate outdoor self-service cafe next to the boat docks, serving coffee, cakes and some drinks.
This casual cafe is run by Asahi Beer, on the grounds of their Philippe Starck-designed headquarters. Drinks include coffees, wine, and various Asahi and Asahi-imported beers, including three microbrews from the on-premises Sumidagawa Brewery. There's a fairly random cafe-style food menu - fried and grilled free-range chicken, Mexican pizza, chorizo sausages and keema curry. Dogs are welcome out on the wooden-deck terrace, where food and water are available.
Inexpensive bakery and deli items and salads from the famous no-brand design store Mujirushi. The surprisingly spacious interior features floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the street.
Sugamo 1-16-8, Atre Vie Sugamo 3F. Open 10am-9pm (LO) daily.
Bring your canine companion and choose from a large doggy menu, including cheese pizza, chicken-breast jerky, tofu burgers and cake. For after-dinner exercise there's a big, fenced-in dog run right outside the cafe.
Run by Transit General Office (Sign, Office) and designed by Wonderwall, this cafeteria-style cafe features outdoor terrace seating, a magazine library and wi-fi access.
Aomi 2-7-4, the SOHO 1F. Open 9am-10pm (Sat 10am-6pm). Closed Sundays.
Luxuriously spacious and modern in feel, this combination bakery-cafe is a comfortable place to relax with a coffee and pastry, or a quiche, cup of soup and salad. There's also a bit of outdoor seating overlooking the adjacent canal. Take-out breads include tempting savory creations like gorgonzola-walnut and bacon-rosemary rolls, as well as focacia, whole-grain loaves, bread made with beer yeast (from TY Harbor Brewery next door) and assorted pastries and cakes.
Make yourself comfortable at Koenji's Cafe Apartment, where you are given a pair of slippers at the door. The floor plan is that of a 1DK apartment, strikingly similar to the domiciles of many Tokyoites. Low tables and soft cushions line the walls; green plants inhabit the corners. Picture books and magazines await perusal, while crayons and white paper placemats are provided for more creative moments. Make yourself comfortable at Koenji's Cafe Apartment, where you are given a pair of slippers at the door. The floor plan is that of a 1DK apartment, strikingly similar to the domiciles of many Tokyoites. Low tables and soft cushions line the walls; green plants inhabit the corners. Picture books and magazines await perusal, while crayons and white paper placemats are provided for more creative moments.
Relax with a decadent Royal Mango Milk Tea or a cold bottle of Corona with lime. The food menu is limited to a few variations on omu-rice (Y980 each) and the croque monsieur (Y680), plus a few small dishes like sausage links and pickles.
Each season, the cafe showcases special desserts from around the world. Vietnam is the current destination on the "world sweets tour," with tapioca and sweet beans over crushed ice topped with coconut milk, banana chips, and nuts. Monthly Friday-Flyday nights feature live music for free or a small charge. [Show more] [Show less] Koenji-Kita 3-2-15 2F. Open 3-11:30pm (LO). Closed Wednesdays.
The interior of this cute and friendly cafe skillfully combines wood and metal, but marble is strangely absent. Chill out to wispy indie folk pop with a cup of tea and some spiced yogurt (Y500) or choose one of their special desserts. Menu changes daily.
Koenji-Minami 2-14-2. (about 10 min. down the main street leading south from the JR station, on the left) Open noon-midnight. Closed Mondays.
Coffee, wireless internet access and good food from the popular Wired Cafe chain.
Kichijoji Minamicho 1-1-24, Atre Kichijoji 2F. Open 10am-10pm daily.
The atmosphere at this hidden-away third-floor walkup is comfortable and homey, with big sofas and mismatched chairs and white concrete-block walls. A TV and stereo sit in one corner and an old-fashioned Tokyo-apartment-style kitchen takes up the back wall. There's even a small tatami corner. The atmosphere at this hidden-away third-floor walkup is comfortable and homey, with big sofas and mismatched chairs and white concrete-block walls. A TV and stereo sit in one corner and an old-fashioned Tokyo-apartment-style kitchen takes up the back wall. There's even a small tatami corner.
Inexpensive wines from Chile, Yamanashi, and points between dominate the drinks list, along with numerous flavored coffees and assorted cocktails. (There's a one-drink minimum at dinnertime.) The food menu is small, simple and wholesome - a multi-bean and meat curry, a tasty pasta with cabbage, sun-dried tomatoes and sardines - everything priced well under Y1000. Downstairs on the second floor is sister shop Il Cappetit, more of a coffee and dessert type of place, with pastries to take out. [Show more] [Show less] Kichijoji Honcho 2-8-2-3F. Open noon-11pm daily.
With its spacious, lively dining room, convenient late-night hours, huge bar and wide-ranging food menu, Fireking has established itself as the hub of Uehara nightlife since its opening in 2000. It's busy until late at night with an eclectic and hip crowd.
A spacious, high-ceilinged bakery-cafe in the midst of Shimo-Kitazawa's young-fashion shopping district. The menu includes casual dishes like shrimp and avocado salad with French toast and cream cheese risotto with chestnuts, plus some elaborate desserts.
Kitazawa 2-29-2. Open 11am-8pm daily.
Inexpensive bakery and deli items and salads from the famous no-brand design store Mujirushi.
Tamagawa 2-27-5, 3F. Open 10am-8pm (LO) daily.
Take your doggy for a leisurely meal at Snobbish Babies, a high-end canine clothing store and cafe along the Meguro River. Choose crepes, beef stew, or the daily lunch plate for yourself, and pick something off the Dog Menu for your four-legged friend. Lunch until 5pm.
Aoya (Naka-Meguro) 3464-1615
Located in a Showa-era house, this charming lunch spot along the backstreets of trendy Aobadai serves up healthy Japanese home cooking and specialty teas. The Obanzai set for Y1200 changes daily and comes with three side dishes, miso soup, and your choice of gokoku-mai (a blend of white rice plus five grains) or brown rice from Kyoto. Lunch is until 3pm, and drinks and desserts like matcha cake are available until six. After that, the cafe is open to members only.
Aobadai 1-15-10. Open 11:30am-6pm. Closed first, third Mondays.
If you love dessert but also love vegetables, this unique pastry shop is the place for you. Sample tempting creations like avocado cheesecake, buckwheat chai mousse, arugula jelly with black-sesame and soy-milk mousse, and daikon and yuzu mousse wrapped in chocolate. There's a twenty-seat open-air terrace cafe in front of the shop where you can relax with a cup of tea or coffee along with your vegetable-based sweets.
Prata (Naka-Meguro) 3711-0051
An evening cafe with an eclectic food menu, mismatched furniture and a relaxed atmosphere. The extensive food menu (available in English) is inspired by a wide range of influences, from Vietnamese pho noodles, Thai soups and dim sum to vegetable platters and Mediterranean-style tapas. Freshly baked apple pie is one of the dessert highlights, and drinks include espresso, Chinese teas, herb teas and cocktails.
This charming little cafe occupies a traditional Japanese garden on a quiet Jiyugaoka side street. The menu offers green tea, coffee, and traditional Japanese sweets. Note the early closing time (6:30pm).
Jiyugaoka 1-24-23. Open 11am-6:30pm. Closed Wednesdays.
If you're having a busy afternoon in Jiyugaoka, perhaps shopping for designer napkin rings and artisanal salt, Lobros is the perfect spot for a refreshing tea break. Located inside Trainchi, the very tasteful housewares shopping complex alongside the Tokyu tracks, Lobros is airy and spacious, with a big outdoor terrace. The music is bouncy vocal jazz, and the decor is California casual, with an open kitchen, candles on the tables and lots of plants. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
Interactive cafes
The welcoming staff and softly lit, comfortable atmosphere make Nekorobi a popular destination. So popular, in fact, customers may encounter a wait on weekends. For Y1000, you'll get an hour with the cats, unlimited drinks from the vending machine (coffee, cocoa, royal milk tea, etc.), and complimentary cookies. The welcoming staff and softly lit, comfortable atmosphere make Nekorobi a popular destination. So popular, in fact, customers may encounter a wait on weekends. For Y1000, you'll get an hour with the cats, unlimited drinks from the vending machine (coffee, cocoa, royal milk tea, etc.), and complimentary cookies.
You can use the Nintendo Wii or surf the Internet, but most people opt for a long play session with one of the eleven cuddly cats, most of whom can be found lounging on the tall cat tower, nestled into a cushy beanbag, or sharpening their claws on wicker seats that look like giant sombreros.
The clientele is a mix of couples, women, and men of all ages. Although some of the cats were purchased for the cafe, several were rescued or adopted. The cats have free rein of the space, but cages are there for troublemakers. The list of rules in Japanese and English ensures that guests stay out of trouble as well. [Show more] [Show less] Higashi-Ikebukuro 1-28-1, Tact T-O Bldg 3F. Open 11am-11pm daily.
Calico (Kichijoji) 0422-29-8353
One of Tokyo's largest cat cafes, with 28 felines to hang out with. Y900 for one hour; soft drinks are Y100-200.
Kichijoji Minamicho 1-5-7, Yuki Bldg 4F. Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.
When they aren't modeling for magazines or winning prizes for best in show, the twelve cats at this friendly cafe can be found stretching out on the cream-colored leather couches or curled up in cat beds. The feline staff commutes with the owner every day. The cheerful interior, with its white walls and blond wooden surfaces, is brightly illuminated and immaculate. When they aren't modeling for magazines or winning prizes for best in show, the twelve cats at this friendly cafe can be found stretching out on the cream-colored leather couches or curled up in cat beds. The feline staff commutes with the owner every day. The cheerful interior, with its white walls and blond wooden surfaces, is brightly illuminated and immaculate.
An array of hot and cold drinks - cappuccinos (Y600), specially blended floral-infusion teas (Y800) and fresh fruit smoothies (Y600) - are available, along with a few food items like pork fried rice (Y600) and Mexican jambalaya (Y700).
One drink is included in the entry fee - Y900 for half an hour or Y1200 for an hour. If you wish to extend your visit, it's Y500 for 30 minutes or Y800 for an hour. [Show more] [Show less] Haramachi 1-7-4. Open noon-8pm (11-7 Sat, Sun). Closed Mondays.
Cafe Troisgros (Nishi-Shinjuku) 5325-2493
