After The Best Coffee Houses of Osaka, we are going to investigate the capital city of Japan in terms of cafes and coffee culture. Though Dutch traders shipped the first cargos of coffee to Japan in the 17th century, the first coffee house only opened in 1888 in the Land of the Rising Sun. The Japanese modeled their coffee houses after European salons, destined as a place for people to come together and share their ideas.
After a while, more and more Tokyo coffee shops opened. While some adopted the lively and social salon model, others set the goal of ensuring peace and quiet for students and workers. Such kissaten or kissa, thrived Japan after the war as the country slowly reerected itself. Contemporary Tokyo cafes are more popular nowadays, but kissa remain because of their uniqueness and cozy atmosphere.
So, café culture in Tokyo is a wonderful mixture of tradition and modernism. Countless cafés, coffee shops, bistros, and bars await you in the Japanese capital city. Be it single origin beans, excellent espresso, artisan green tea, a nostalgic atmosphere or decadent cakes you’re looking for, you can find your calculations in Tokyo.
We know well Japan for taking pride in it’s very popular cuisine and drinks. Japan is one of the biggest consumers of coffee in the world. We compiled a toplist of the 10 best Tokyo cafes for the coffee lovers:
10. Maidreamin Shibuya Digitized Cafe and Dining Bar
- Address: 30-1 Udagawacho, 渋谷区 Tokyo 150-0042, Japán
- Telephone: +81 3-6427-8398
- Metro: Shibuya Station
- Opening hours: Mon. to Thu. 15:00 – 23:00 Fri. before Public Holidays 15:00 – 5:00 Sat. 13:00 – 5:00 Sun. and Public Holidays 13:00 – 23:00
- More information about the coffee house: https://maidreamin.com
Though a bit pricey, Maidreamin will be a fulfilling cafe Tokyo! It is one of the best Tokyo cafes! You will feel like you entered into a world of manga cartoon. Like a pixelated video game. The maids are ready to perform a family-friendly, cute little live show. Locals really appreciate this place, which is always a good sign. The girls are cute and full of energy – it is almost infectious – and they speak well English. Live performance can be ordered as well if you wish so.
The food is filling and the beer is great. You may even find vegan food here, so it is recommended for vegans too! You can find cute bear hamburger steak, salsa, strawberry parfait, melon soda and ice cream here. You can have a nice soda with chips and salsa, basic liquors, cocktails, plum liquor, but sake (Japanese liquor) too. We highly recommend it.
Contrary to the popular belief, Maid cafés aren’t related to prostitution at all. The maids will make you smile. Maidreamin is actually the largest chain of maid cafés in Thailand and Japan. You will find the menu in English. They will even teach you phrases in Japanese if you want. It is definitely worth a visit. We highly recommend it.
9. Aoyama Flower Market Tea House
- Address: 5-1-2 Minamiaoyama, Shibuya, Tokyo Prefecture
- Telephone: +81 3-3400-0887
- Metro: Omotesando Station
- Opening hours: Tue to Thu 10:00-23:00 Sat to Sun 08:00-22:00
- More information about the coffee house: http://www.afm-teahouse.com
This innovative little Tokyo coffee shop is a labor of love hidden behind a florist, so it is not so easy to notice. Everything is so picturesque, beautiful plants surround this enclave, but still not cheesy. The prices are high, but it is worth it, the staff is polite and the interior design is wonderful.
This cafe Tokyo is perfect for a girl gathering. You don’t have to wait a lot for your meal, but there are many customers, so if you want to avoid the big crowd, you should go before lunchtime. The tea options are just fabulous (herbal teas and the ginger tea), you can also taste a mojito, eat a gnocchi, a pumpkin soup and there are many desserts too.
The salads, the sandwiches, and the rose tea are just delicious! Try a Flower French Toast and the popular Refresh Blend infusion! The Mojito and the Rose Jelly dessert is also awesome, not to mention the herb infusion drinks. Sometimes the place is filled with sunflowers, so you might really feel the positive vibrations.
You will have a great time here, you should try it, you will have great fun! We highly recommend Aoyama Flower Market Tea House!
8. Gontran Cherrier Shinjuku
- Address: 2-2-1 Yoyogi | 1F・2F Shinjuku Southern Terrace, Shibuya 151-0053, Tokyo Prefecture
- Telephone: +81 3-5302-2282
- Metro: Shinjuku station
- Opening hours: Mon-Sun7:30–22:00
- More information about the coffee house: http://gontran-cherrier.jp/
The perfect Tokyo coffee shop to have a quick meal before catching the train before or after work, but it also fits to just sit and daydream with a book in your hand. The ambiance reminds you a little bit of Italy, the owner is of French origin. You may find a nice dining area upstairs, that is quite popular.
If you don’t want to eat locally, you can ask for a takeaway packing that will keep the food fresh for quite a long time. You won’t get an authentic Japanese breakfast here, but it is done in a Japanese way, that is to say precisely, with care. This is not a cheap place (2000 yens for two people), but the coffee is decent and it is a great option for breakfast.
Fresh and authentic, the choices are endless. Pastries, fresh rolls, tarts, croissants (almond, chocolate etc.), breads, quiches, sandwiches, salads… Crunchy outside but soft in the middle… Everything is fresh, the aromas are amazing.
The yogurt is delicious, coffee, tea, lattes, juice, and milk are there for you. The vegetarians will also be happy here. You will easily become addicted to the amazing hot chocolate and latte and probably you will return often as a regular customer. A great choice.
7. Turret Coffee
- Address: 2-12-6 Tsukiji, Chuo 104-0045, Tokyo Prefecture
- Telephone: +81 3-6264-1883
- Metro: Tsukiji station
- Opening hours: Mon-Sat 7.00-20.00 Sun 12.00-18.00
- More information about the coffee house: http://en.goodcoffee.me/coffeeshop/turret-coffee/
This is not an overhyped cafe Tokyo, which is not bad at all. Kawasaki San ( Kiyoshi) & his beautiful wife Maki do a good job here. The environment in this coffee shop Tokyo is beautiful and quaint and you can also use a bathroom, which is a nice plus.
The workbench is an old door and the decor is better from there. You can walk to the café from Harajuku station. The whole cafe is decorated with nice green plants and flowers. A Sakura tree is flowering right in front of the café (cherry blossom). If you want to avoid the queue, you should get there before 11am.
Both the espresso and the cappuccino is really great in this Tsukiji-located café, not to mention the Sea Salt Caramel Latte, which has a unique silkiness. The espresso is dark roasted, which is unraveled in the crema.
The beans are sourced from Brazil and the menu offers a broad range of coffee to choose from. You should definitely try the soy mocha, which has a really unique mocha flavor with a taste of roasted beans. Its foam is super thick, light and airy.
You should also taste the flower tea, the flower french toast with mango, coconut and cream, and the delicious rose jelly parfait which is simply divine. You can opt for lunch sets that the Japanese ladies really like. Give it a try if you crawl around in Tokyo, we really recommend it.
6. Suke6 Diner
- Address: 〒111-0033 Tokyo, Taito, Hanakawado, 1−11−1 あゆみビル
- Telephone: +81 3-5830-3367
- Metro: Asakusa station
- Opening hours: Mon-Sat 7.00-20.00 Sun 12.00-18.00
- More information about the coffee house: https://r.gnavi.co.jp
If you are looking for a normal Tokyo coffee shop, Suke6 may be the right choice. This restaurant has a global feeling, but you may also find the Japanese features too. Cherry Blossoms is not far from here, so if you were hanging around there, you may also visit Suke6.
The design is rustic, outdoorsy, you will have access to the free wireless internet and the staff speaks English, you can have the menu in English too, really global. The nearby river will enchant you, you can go for a nice walk after the dinner. You will love the decor, it is marvelous!
The food is modern, fresh and tasty and the atmosphere is great. You won’t find a bad dish here, Full English breakfast is available, even in a vegetarian version. Bread are baked right inside the building. The coffee is just fabulous in this Tokyo cafe, you should also taste the Suke6 Burger, the roast chicken, the caesar salad, the steaks, the brioche with scrambled egg, which are accompanied by a sweet, fresh salad.
The desserts are also really good, we would recommend the donuts. The hyper-friendly barista will prepare a wonderful chai tea latte or americano for you, very pleasing. The tourists get little stickers with their logo, which is a nice gesture! Try it.
5. Maidreamin Akihabara Sotokanda 1-chome Store
- Address: 1-8-10 Sotokanda | Bauhouse-BLDG 2F, Chiyoda 101-0021, Tokyo Prefecture (Ochanomizu / Akihabara / Kanda)
- Telephone: +81 3-6206-9974
- Metro: Suehirocho station
- Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11.30-23.00 Sun 10:30–23:00
- More information about the coffee house: http://maidreamin.com
If you want to enjoy a lively and energetic performance, you should definitely try Maidreamin Akihabara Sotokanda 1-chome Store! You too will get involved! The maids will definitely make their greatest efforts to entertain you. The food is very cute, it will be a weird cultural experience!
Maids will keep making you random, funny songs. The service is playful and charming, and they speak English. You should not miss this bizarre experience! But you have to know, that if you are shy, you may get a little bit balled up. Anyway, it must appear on your bucket list. Lovely gyoza, cake, and pancakes.
The quality of the food is good, but for some, it may be a little bit pricey. However, if you write a TripAdvisor review while you are there, you will get a free souvenir (a keychain). We recommend this place cordially!!!
You can taste a Hamburg steak with cheese, which is juicy and will burst in your mouth full of flavor. Do you like sour alcohol? We recommend China Blue Gacha Gacha Kateruka. You may also try green tea ice cream. Beers are also very good, you can have fun and laugh a lot in good company at this interesting place. Highly recommended.
4. Blue Bottle Coffee, Aoyama Cafe
- Address: 4-1-6 Shinjuku | NEWoMan SHINJUKU 1F, Shinjuku
- Telephone: +81 3-5315-4803
- Metro: Omotesando Station
- Opening hours: Mon-Sun 8.00-22.00
- More information about the coffee house: https://bluebottlecoffee.com
Blue Bottle Coffee is an impressive Tokyo coffee shop located on the 2nd floor of a 2nd storey building near Omotesando train station. This cozy place is ideal to chill out because of its spaciousness and coziness, the atmosphere is nice and not too loud. The design is nice on the inside, simple and pretty. They also offer an outdoor terrace where you can sit out.
The coffee is really good but you may find it a little bit expensive, but what do you expect from a „boutique” coffee house? You can drink the white coffee from a small soup bowel. You may also choose „Gibraltar”, which is a smaller cup that is stronger than a „flat white”.
The food selection is limited, the menu is not large, but the quality is good. Standing rooms are there to sip and you can enjoy the space. The slow bar area is really eye catching. You will get your lime in 10-15 minutes.
You should also try beignets with caramel sauce and hand drip or pour over coffee. The service will not disappoint you at all. If you plan to visit Tokyo in the near future, you should not miss Blue Bottle Coffee, it is really a fun experience.
3. Fuglen Tokyo
- Address: 1-16-11 Tomigaya, Shibuya 151-0063, Tokyo Prefecture
- Telephone: +81 3-3481-0884
- Metro: Yoyogi-Koen station
- Opening hours: Sun 10:00 – 00:00, Mon – Tue 08:00 – 19:00, Wed 08:00 – 00:00, Thu 08:00 – 01:00, Fri 08:00 – 02:00, Sat 10:00 – 02:00
- More information about the coffee house: http://www.fuglen.com/
This typical third wave coffee shop Tokyo – which is the sister of the café with the same name located in Oslo, Norway – is really comfortable with a lovely decoration. The helpful, bilingual staff and the vibes ensure you a stunning experience. The music is chill, the seating is Nordic. Home delivery service is also available in the case if you live in Tokyo. Wireless connection is free.
The feeling is really cool and youthful here, but this coffee shop Tokyo is really busy almost all the time, so you need a little luck to find a seat. Fuglen Tokyo is located in a quite secluded place, so probably you will need google maps to find it. However, the experience of Fuglen Tokyo will recompense all your efforts.
The coffee is not cheap, but it is worth it, the quality is doubtlessly good. The pastries are really delicious, you may choose a tasty apple and fig danish or a cinnamon roll type bun. You should also taste the craft beers, their price is ranged from 700-100 JPY.
Just enjoy the hand-brewed coffees with a sandwich with brunost, a light roasted Kagumoini or a dark roasted Nelson Ramirez and enjoy the relaxed, warm atmosphere of the place. Try the melange too, which is served in a glass rather than a cup. Do not miss it on your Tokyo trip.
2. Canal Cafe
- Address:〒162-0825 Tokyo, 新宿区Kagurazaka, 1−9
- Telephone: +81 3-3260-8068
- Metro: Kagurazaka station
- Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11.30-23.00 Sun 11.30-21.30
- More information about the coffee house: http://www.canalcafe.jp/
Canal café is one of the fanciest and quietest places in Tokyo, without the hustle and bustle side of the big city. You can easily get to the place from Kagurazaka station. Just sit outside, relax with your friend or your family and enjoy the yellow and green mellow lights and the beautiful sight of the river with the spring colors of the cherry blossom season!
Warm blankets are available on the terrace chairs. The ambiance is completely adequate for everything, you can do your work here in the quiet or just read while looking at the couples near the Iidabshi canal. The charming indoor design has a little Italian feeling, the restaurant offers decent and tasty Italian themed food.
You should try the rice balls or a pizza for lunch with a beer and then you can eat a delicious cake for dessert and drink a good quality coffee. Good wines are also available.
You may even discover a wide range of cocktails, champagnes here. Just order what you want, you won’t get disappointed It is definitely worth a visit. One of the little gems of the Japanese capital city.
1. The Roastery by Nozy Coffee
- Address: 〒150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya, 神宮前5−17−13
- Telephone: +81 3-6450-5755
- Metro: Omote-sando Station
- Opening hours: Mon-Sat 10.00-22.00 Sun 10.00-21.00
- More information about the coffee house: https://www.tysons.jp
A perfect Tokyo café without any pretentiousness to meet your friends, but watch out, the seats are limited. This is a place which is even admired by the locals, you may meet a few ones here. Just sit back, read a book and enjoy watching the shoppers strolling by. You will enjoy the young and cozy industrial feeling of The Roastery by Nozy Coffee.
The friendly baristas speak English and will look at your wishes all the time. They will even help you to choose, you can see and smell the beans before deciding. The good music and the relaxing atmosphere is simply enchanting.
You can enjoy an extremely large and milky latte or a good drip coffee with a good cronut in this café with its nice hipster, woodsy interior. Double espresso and americano are also available. The best thing about this coffee shop is the high-quality single-origin coffee they offer, which they roast right there.
However, the selection is not big, but sometimes less is more. You can choose from 6 or 8 types of coffee for drip and 2 types for espresso. Food is not available. If you want so, you can just grab a take away and walk to Yoyogi park or Takeshita street. There is even a bike rental store nearby. Great experience! This place stands out from the cafes Tokyo!
Summary
The Tokyo café scene is really modern and lively. Tokyo coffee shops do very good brew, mixing antipodean flatties and lattes with the top-notch of the American filter scene. We can find the traditional kissatens (no frills coffee houses) with their unique and cozy atmospheres -with their unspoken rule that customers observe a certain level of decorum, just as the modern „third wave” coffee houses.
Single-origin beans are widely available in cafes Tokyo, small roasters are more and more pervading and more and more café owners get accustomed to running high-tech espresso machines. So, we have got everything, that may be interesting. We really recommend Tokyo coffee shops, if you are a coffee lover.
Did you enjoy our trip? If so, you might want to investigate the Best Coffee Houses of New York, one of the biggest and most busy cities in the World.