Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ì
Dada Café
μμΧϑΣʔ
5-23-10 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku
T
03 3350 2245,
W
religare.biz; Yoyogi station; map
pp.118-119.
In an artfully renovated old Japanese house
tucked off the main street - and very easy to miss - this
delightful café-bar and gallery is a quiet refuge for drinks
or simple meals including interesting salads, rice dishes
and desserts. As always, lunch sets (¥850) are the best
value, served noon-3pm.
Mon-Thurs 11.30am-10pm,
Fri & Sat until 10.30pm.
Tajimaya
ୠഅ
Omoide Yokochō, Shinjuku-ku
T
03 3342 0881; Shinjuku station; map pp.118-119.
Surprisingly genteel for this ragged area of dining and
drinking alleys (see p.122), this elegant café serves quality
drinks and cakes on a pretty assortment of china. Coffees
from ¥580.
Daily 10am-10.30pm.
music with their coffee (¥500 and up). Seats are arranged
to face a pair of enormous speakers.
Daily 11am-10.30pm.
LOHB
4F Likes Bldg, 2-3-1 Dōgenzaka, Shibuya-ku
T
03 3464 1919; Shibuya station; map p.115.
The rather
meaningless acronym stands for Likes Oriental Health and
Beauty - all you need know is that this café-bar provides a
first-class view across the mesmerizing Shibuya crossing,
and serves coffees, cocktails and light snacks. The latter are
mostly Italian-style, with lunch sets around ¥1100.
Daily
11.30am-midnight.
Ì
Maidreamin
ϝΠυϦʔϛϯά
B1 30-1
Udagawachō, Shibuya-ku
T
03 6427 8938,
W
maidreamin.com; Shibuya station; map p.115.
Like
its sister establishment in Akihabara (see p.160), this
sci-fi-style maid café is an all-out cuteness assault, its
glammed-up staff sporting inch-long fake eyelashes and
umpteen petticoat layers. The food follows suit - think
curry served in heart-shaped rice mounds and burgers cut
up to look like teddy bears - and there's also a range of soft
and alcoholic drinks. Entry ¥500 per hour, plus you have to
make one order from the menu.
Mon-Thurs 3-11pm, Fri
3pm-5am, Sat 11.30am-5am, Sun 11.30am-11pm.
Yoku Moku
ϤοΫϞοΫ
5-3-3 Minami-Aoyama,
Minato-ku
T
03 5485 3330,
W
www.yokumoku.co.jp;
Omotesandō station; map pp.108-109.
Hushed café
with courtyard tables, in tune with the elegant sensibilities
of the designer boutiques of Omotesandō. There's also a
shop selling nicely packaged cakes, chocolates and confec-
tionery, including its famous “cigar” wafer-thin rolled
biscuits.
Daily 10am-7pm.
15
IKEBUKURO AND THE NORTH
Café Pause
ΧϑΣʔϙʔζ
2-14-12 Minami-Ikebukuro,
Toshima-ku
T
03 5950 6117; Ikebukuro station;
map p.130.
It's something of a surprise to find this hip
gallery-café in the backstreets of Ikebukuro. Besides hosting
regular exhibitions, parties and events - including monthly
get-togethers for local designers and artists - it's also a
relaxed place for a quiet coffee (¥500 and up).
Mon-Thurs
9am-9pm, Fri, Sat & Sun until 11pm.
Nekorobi
Ͷ͜Ζͼ
3F Tact TO Bldg, 1-28-1 Higashi-
Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku
T
03 6228 0646,
W
nekorobi.jp;
Ikebukuro station; map p.130.
This cat café (see box
opposite) has a minimum ¥1000 cover charge for the first
hour, which gets you unlimited drinks and use of internet,
Wii or DVD terminals - a useful bait for luring non-cat-
loving partners to join you in a visit.
Daily 11am-11pm.
Swallowtail Café
εϮϩʔςʔϧ
B1F 3-12-12
Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku
W
butlers-cafe.jp;
Ikebukuro station; map p.130.
A “butler café” where
young guys dressed like Jeeves are the solicitous waiters
in a room hung with chandeliers and antique-style furni-
ture. Booking through the (mostly Japanese) website is
essential. Expect to spend at least ¥2500 per head.
Daily
10.30am-9pm.
Zozoi
κκΠ
3-22-6 Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku
T
03 5396 6676; Ikebukuro station; map p.130.
Sheepskin-covered stools and a Beefeater statue are part
of the eclectic decor at this small, amiable café offering
good coffee (from ¥450), home-made cakes and biscuits,
and a pleasant view onto the park.
Daily except Tues
noon-8pm.
SHINJUKU AND THE WEST
Café Comme Ça
ΧϑΣʔίοϜα
5F Five Foxes
Building, 3-26-6 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku
T
03 5367
5551; Shinjuku station; map pp.118-119.
On an upper
floor of the trendy Five Foxes store, this ideal Shinjuku pit
stop serves delicious cakes (around ¥800) against a back-
ground of stark concrete surfaces enlivened by paintings
of Buddhist deities.
Daily noon-8pm.
Calico
ΩϟϦί
6F, 1-16-2 Kabukichō, Shinjuku-ku,
T
03 6457 6387; Shinjuku station; map pp.118-119.
A great place to experience the cat café phenomenon (see
box opposite); ¥600 gets you thirty minutes of quality time
with some fifty gorgeous kitties. With instructions and menu
in English, it's very foreigner friendly, and offers inexpensive
drinks and food starting at ¥150 for coffee and ¥300 for a
delicious fondant chocolate biscuit.
Daily 11am-6.30am.
TEAHOUSES
Japan's tea culture embraces many types of tea.
Bancha
, the cheapest grade of tea is for everyday drinking and, in its
roasted form, is used to make the smoky
hōjicha
, or mixed with popped brown rice for the nutty
genmaicha
. Medium-
grade
sencha
is commonly served in upmarket restaurants, while top-ranking, slightly sweet
gyokuro
(dewdrop) is reserved
for special occasions. Thick and strong
matcha
(see box, p.164) is usually reserved for tea ceremonies although it's often
available now in regular teahouses and is a great alternative to an espresso.
