Cafes in Tokyo
Jul 7, 2019 | 4:12 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NRT
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 10,047
To local people, of course.
Jul 7, 2019 | 5:12 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Kobe/Osaka
Programs: Delta
Posts: 1,629
Is Saitama local enough?
https://en.goodcoffee.me/column/area...d-trip-part-2/
https://en.goodcoffee.me/column/area...d-trip-part-2/
Jul 7, 2019 | 7:50 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA
Programs: UA, NW
Posts: 3,752
The chain coffee shops have largely taken over in Tokyo, not only Starbucks, but also Doutor, Tully's, and places that try to look like Starbucks and come just short of trademark infringement.
Your best bet for finding old-style local coffeeshops, the ones where the owner chooses the crockery, the decor, and the type of music played on the sound system, and serves toast, coffee, salad, and a hard-boiled egg before 10AM as "morning service," is looking on the side streets or heading toward the less touristy neighborhoods.
Your best bet for finding old-style local coffeeshops, the ones where the owner chooses the crockery, the decor, and the type of music played on the sound system, and serves toast, coffee, salad, and a hard-boiled egg before 10AM as "morning service," is looking on the side streets or heading toward the less touristy neighborhoods.
Jul 7, 2019 | 1:35 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,540
Is Saitama local enough?
https://en.goodcoffee.me/column/area...d-trip-part-2/
https://en.goodcoffee.me/column/area...d-trip-part-2/
Tokyo has good third wave coffee shops if you're not looking for a meal set but the coffee itself
https://tokyocoffee.org/category/area-guides/
https://en.goodcoffee.me/area/tokyo/
I usually stop by Glitch to buy some beans for friends who love third wave coffee (I don't drink coffee myself, so secondhand recommendation).
+ksandness rec. Look for a kissaten. I believe smoking is technically allowed if that's an issue.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kissaten
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6K_C122zpQ
There's also NaNa's Green Tea which is a Japanese chain oriented towards matcha & hojicha if you're looking for tea.
nana's green tea
Jul 7, 2019 | 1:40 pm
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 102,617
One way to try to find a good coffee place might be to go to a neighborhood near a major university campus. You could even ask some people who look like students (and are likely to speak some English).
Some high tier hotels have fancy cafes, which would be relatively expensive but are likely to have good cakes and pastries.
Some high tier hotels have fancy cafes, which would be relatively expensive but are likely to have good cakes and pastries.
Jul 7, 2019 | 2:32 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,554
Nana Green Tea is quite good, more of a cafe/restaurant feel with plenty of food dishes.
Went there a few times but in Singapore where they have a couple of shops.
Also tried a %Arabica shop when in Kyoto.
The coffee was ok and seemed very hipster type.
Tried Blue Bottle once before but was not impressed.
Went there a few times but in Singapore where they have a couple of shops.
Also tried a %Arabica shop when in Kyoto.
The coffee was ok and seemed very hipster type.
Tried Blue Bottle once before but was not impressed.
Jul 7, 2019 | 2:35 pm
#9
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 150km from MAN
Programs: LH SEN** HH Diamond
Posts: 30,428
Last spring when some FT friends and I were looking for a place to sit and have coffee in Shinjuku Kabukichō, we came across this coffee shop. It’s part of a Japanese chain called Tsubakiya and turned out to be an interesting cafe. My friends were particularly impressed that they served coffee in Royal Copenhagen porcelain and that there was no indication outside other than in (old-fashioned) Japanese that it was a cafe. I couldn’t take a photo inside but it was similar to the interior photo you find if you click the link.
https://old-tokyo.info/coffee-taisho...in-maid-cafes/
https://old-tokyo.info/coffee-taisho...in-maid-cafes/
Jul 7, 2019 | 3:09 pm
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 102,617
Do pandas drink coffee? Or does the cafe serve coffee from China?
Jul 7, 2019 | 3:10 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hyatt Place
Programs: world hyatt national
Posts: 5,894
Local cafes are everywhere.
I've been to some really good ones, but I normally stick to Starbucks and can't honestly recall specific cafes by names.
However, neighborhoods like Hiroo, Sangenjaya, Omotesando and Kichijoji all have local cafes. I think those are neighborhoods that come to mind as far as places with cafes.
As for chain places, Nana's Greentea has been mentioned but I have to say it's decent but not great (maybe a bit better than KyoHayashiya) although I've only had tea drinks there. For tea latte or any tea drinks, it's hard to beat Gion Tsujiri tea at Sky Tree. Otherwise I actually think I'm best off going to Starbucks for maccha latte over Nana's or KyoHayashiya or most certainly Doutor's. But at Starbucks, they can sometimes butcher it even in Jpn and I always ask them to make it foamy a la cappuchino. Japanese ppl buy lattes at konbinis which I think are garbage. On the other hand, drip coffees and iced coffees I find to be pretty high-quality most everywhere including konbinis and Doutor's.
I've been to some really good ones, but I normally stick to Starbucks and can't honestly recall specific cafes by names.
However, neighborhoods like Hiroo, Sangenjaya, Omotesando and Kichijoji all have local cafes. I think those are neighborhoods that come to mind as far as places with cafes.
As for chain places, Nana's Greentea has been mentioned but I have to say it's decent but not great (maybe a bit better than KyoHayashiya) although I've only had tea drinks there. For tea latte or any tea drinks, it's hard to beat Gion Tsujiri tea at Sky Tree. Otherwise I actually think I'm best off going to Starbucks for maccha latte over Nana's or KyoHayashiya or most certainly Doutor's. But at Starbucks, they can sometimes butcher it even in Jpn and I always ask them to make it foamy a la cappuchino. Japanese ppl buy lattes at konbinis which I think are garbage. On the other hand, drip coffees and iced coffees I find to be pretty high-quality most everywhere including konbinis and Doutor's.
Jul 7, 2019 | 3:11 pm
#13
Moderator: Hawaii-based airlines & Hawai'i forums
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ka ʻĀpala Nui, Nuioka
Programs: NEXUS/Global Entry, Delta, United, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Hertz
Posts: 18,724
+1 is a fan of this place which is near the Tsukiji Hongwanji. https://metropolisjapan.com/turret-c...fkpEfvRGaYZmgc
Jul 7, 2019 | 3:12 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Diamond Metal (OWE), SK Gold (STE+, LTG), UA Platinum(*G),Marriott Titanium (LTP)
Posts: 26,574
Tsubakiya is definitely a good option.
Double Tall caf in on Omotesando, Edinburgh in Shinjuku 3 chome, Hoshino (local chain, I usually go to the one by Roppongi Crossing)
There are many really good individual coffee shops. Often with siphon coffee. Can't think of any specific ones right now.
Double Tall caf in on Omotesando, Edinburgh in Shinjuku 3 chome, Hoshino (local chain, I usually go to the one by Roppongi Crossing)
There are many really good individual coffee shops. Often with siphon coffee. Can't think of any specific ones right now.
Jul 7, 2019 | 3:23 pm
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 102,617
I agree with Omotesando and I would add Marunouchi, but they won't have a real neighborhood feel.
I've seen some cafes near the Andaz hotel, on the street that seems to go in the direction of Tokyo Bay and is tree lined with a block or two of businesses in mostly low buildings and at least one wall mural; I think there's a bicycle repair shop too. The place I'm thinking of is across the street at the redlight from the Andaz. I've noticed a couple places with outdoor sidewalk tables that look pleasant. There's also at least one cafe in the big Toronomon (spelling?) Hills building that contains the Andaz, on the street level and also on about the second or third floor,
I've seen some cafes near the Andaz hotel, on the street that seems to go in the direction of Tokyo Bay and is tree lined with a block or two of businesses in mostly low buildings and at least one wall mural; I think there's a bicycle repair shop too. The place I'm thinking of is across the street at the redlight from the Andaz. I've noticed a couple places with outdoor sidewalk tables that look pleasant. There's also at least one cafe in the big Toronomon (spelling?) Hills building that contains the Andaz, on the street level and also on about the second or third floor,