Great French cafe-style sandwiches, quiches and pastries to take out; there's also a pleasant cafe upstairs.[feedback]

Udagawacho 33-8. Open 9am-10pm daily.

A very French-style multi-story cafe with a relaxed atmosphere; they serve light food items and desserts as well as coffee and drinks.[feedback]

Ebisu 3-28-12. Open 10am-2am daily.

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. [feedback]

Sarugakucho 29-3. Open 11am-midnight daily.

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). [feedback]

Minami-Azabu 4-12-26. Open 11:30am-1:30am (LO) daily.

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. [feedback]

Takanawa 4-10-8, Takanawa Keikyu Bldg #7. Open 9am-11pm 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. [feedback]

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.[feedback]

Akasaka 1-12-32, Ark Mori Bldg. 2F. Open 10am-10pm (LO) daily.

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. [feedback]

Ginza 2-4-6, Ginza Velvia-kan 1F. Open 11am-11pm (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). [feedback]

Ginza 6-3-2, Gallery Center Bldg 1F. Open 9am-11pm 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. [feedback]

Kioicho 4-1, Shin-Kioicho Bldg. 1F. Open 10am-11pm daily.

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.[feedback]

Ikejiri 2-7-8. (on Mishuku-dori, just south of Route 246) Open 11am-8pm daily.

Asian-accented decor and food can be found at this cafe, located above the import goods store of the same name. The interior is inviting and very spacious, filled with exotic drums and other musical instruments from around the world. The menu offers original curries, organic herbal teas, and imported beers like Brooklyn Lager. [feedback]

Jingumae 4-28-6, 2F. Open 11:30am-7:30pm (LO) daily.

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. [feedback]

Jingumae 2-31-9. Open 11am-8pm 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.][feedback]

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. [feedback]

Osaki 2-1-1, Thinkpark 1F. Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.

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.[feedback]

Nakano 5-32-9. Open 7:30-11:30am, noon-10pm (LO). 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.][feedback]

Nishi-Ogi-Kita 4-26-10-103. Open 3-11:30pm (LO). Closed Wed, 1st+3rd Tue.

A bohemian-style cafe with music and food from Southeast Asia and the rest of the world. The menu at lunchtime is mostly Vietnamese, but there's a wider selection in the evening, including pastas.[feedback]

Nishi-Ogi-Kita 3-31-5, 1F. Open 11:30am-2am (4am Fri,Sat) daily.

One of Tokyo's many ethnic-style cafes, with Indian-style curries, tea and desserts, imported handicrafts and a charmingly laid-back atmosphere. Around Y1000 at lunch (weekends only); Y2500 at night. [feedback]

Kitazawa 2-26-13. Open 5-11pm (from noon weekends). Closed Tuesdays.

A friendly, comfortable cafe with great coffee, excellent baked goods from Kyle's in Nakano, and bagels with lox. They also have plenty of special events during the week, including live music and go lessons. The art on the walls changes every two weeks.[feedback]

Takadanobaba 1-29-21. Open 11am-11pm daily.

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.[feedback]

Jingumae 4-32-16, KDDI Designing Studio 5F. Open 10am-10pm 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. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

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. [feedback]

Minami-Aoyama 6-1-19. Open 11am-7pm. Closed Tuesdays.

Koenji-Kita 2-18-10. Open noon-midnight daily.

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. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Kitazawa 1-45-36. Open 1pm-midnight 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.[feedback]

Minami-Ikebukuro 2-14-12. Open noon-10:30pm (LO) daily.

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. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

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. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Shinjuku 3-15-15, Shinjuku Picadilly B1F. Open 11am-9pm (LO) daily.

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. [feedback]

Nishi-Shinjuku 1-3-14. (on Ome-kaido) Open 11:30am-11:30pm daily.

Open 24 hours a day, the Hilton's Marble Lounge offers various special buffets throughout the day, including a dessert buffet with fountains of chocolate in the afternoon, and a chocolate and cheese buffet Thursday through Saturday evenings. [feedback]

Nishi-Shinjuku 6-6-2, Hilton Hotel. Open 24 hours a day.

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.][feedback]

Nishi-Shinjuku 3-7-15, Shinjuku Park Tower 1F. Open 8am-8pm (weekends from 11am) daily.

A comfortable, spacious cafe with design books on the shelves and a dog-accessories boutique. The cafe menu includes pizzas, pastas, and grilled meats and seafood, or you can just stop in for a cocktail or a beer. [feedback]

Kita-Aoyama 2-9-15. Open 11am-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. [feedback]

Jingumae 2-18-15. Open 11am-midnight 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. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Udagawacho 16-14, Patio 1F. Open 11am-11pm daily.

Dexee is known for their good, inexpensive food as well as the drinks selection. There's a big library of magazines to browse through.[feedback]

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. [feedback]

Shibuya 1-11-1, 2F. Open 11:30am-2am daily.

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.[feedback]

Ebisu 4-8-10. Open 11:30am-9:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays.

Cafe Heavens serves up solid bistro fare at friendly prices all day (lunch 11-4, dinner til 11) in a fun and lively atmosphere. The drinks list includes a good selection of organic wines. Large, colorful paintings adorn the walls, and the space has an airy, northern California feel.[feedback]

Ebisu-Nishi 1-16-15. Open 11am-4am daily.

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. [feedback]

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. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Sarugakucho 2-11. Open 11:30am-3am (LO) daily.

Upstairs from the main restaurant is a bruscetta bar with terrace and indoor seating. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

Sarugakucho 24-7, Daikanyama Plaza 1F/2F. Open 11:30am-2, 6-10:30pm (LO). Closed Tuesdays.

This hip little cafe serves tasty smoothies like chocolate-banana and chocolate-espresso (Y680 each), plus sandwiches (shrimp-avocado, Croque Monsieur, etc.). The soundtrack is Brazilian jazz and lounge, with MTV visuals onscreen in the non-smoking back room. [feedback]

Ebisu-Nishi 1-34-28. Open 10am-9pm (LO) daily.

This relaxed cafe-bar is a perfect meeting spot, right in front of Daikanyama station.[feedback]

Daikanyamacho 19-14. Open 11am-11pm daily.

This bakery-cafe offers a nice selection of baked-on-premises cakes, muffins, cookies and scones, along with assorted teas and coffees. The menu also includes sandwiches, and everything is available for take-out. [feedback]

Nishi-Azabu 4-18-20. Open 10am-7pm. Closed Sundays.

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 my Paper Sky magazine. [feedback]

Minami-Aoyama 1-2-6. (in the block behind Aoyama Twin Towers) Open 10am-2am daily.

Inexpensive bakery and deli items and salads from the famous no-brand design store Mujirushi. Breakfast is served from 7am.[feedback]

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. [feedback]

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. [feedback]

Marunouchi 2-7-3, Tokyo Bldg Tokia B1F. Open 11am-10:30pm (2am Thu/Fri) daily.

Good pastries and plenty of outdoor seating.[feedback]

Yotsuya 1-5-25, Atre Yotsuya 2F. Open 7:30am-9:30pm (LO) 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.[feedback]

Kagurazaka 1-9. Open 11am-10:30pm (LO). Closed Mondays.

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. [feedback]

Toyosu 2-4-9, LaLaport Toyosu 1F. Open 11am-11pm daily.

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. [See FULL REVIEW.][feedback]

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.[feedback]

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.

Up on the rooftop and surrounded by greenery, this is a pleasant hideaway to stop for a coffee and snack break or an early-evening drink. [feedback]

Kichijoji Honcho 2-3-1, Tokyu Dept. Store 10F. Open 10am-7:30pm (LO) daily.

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.[feedback]

Kitazawa 2-29-2. Open 11am-8pm daily.