HOME Hokkaido Hokkaido Otaru Best Kept Secrets: 5 Otaru Cafes Serving Up Exquisite Coffee and Sweets
Best Kept Secrets: 5 Otaru Cafes Serving Up Exquisite Coffee and Sweets

Best Kept Secrets: 5 Otaru Cafes Serving Up Exquisite Coffee and Sweets

Last updated: 23 October 2020

Otaru's charming streets draw tourists to its array of quaint and delightful cafes. In this enchanting city, you can find unique spots like a café run by a glass craft shop, a renowned cafe for Western sweets, and establishments offering canal views with your coffee.

We've handpicked five of Otaru's most elegant and popular cafes, known for their cozy ambiance, making them ideal for a relaxing break.

1. Kitaichi Hall: Enjoy sipping tea in a majestic space

1. Kitaichi Hall: Enjoy sipping tea in a majestic space

In Otaru, many shops sell handmade glass craftworks; the most famous is Kitaichi Glass. They have multiple shops in Sakai Town, but Kitaichi Hall is a popular shop that the locals and tourists alike love. The stone warehouses along Sakai Street give off a definite historical vibe.

The dim store with the high ceiling is filled with oil lamps giving off a warm glow. There are a total of 167 lamps in the store and the only light source. The lamps give a majestic feeling to the store.

These romantic lamps are all lit by hand; if you stop by the store at 8:45 AM, you can see the staff lighting the lamps. After about 30 minutes, the overhead lights are turned off, and the lamps emit a distinct magical feeling. Many visitors come to the store early to witness this moment.

Some might wonder why the café has the word “Hall” in its name, but when you enter the shop, the amazing open feeling should be convincing enough. The café used the warehouse’s original structure and kept the high ceiling, which resembles a music hall. The café has live piano performances every week from Monday to Friday. The times are 2 PM - 2:30 PM, 3 PM - 3:30 PM, and 4 PM - 4:30 PM. The café becomes a music hall and offers a fantastic tea time.

Left: Kitaichi Special Milk Tea Soft-Serve Ice Cream, Right Top: Tea flavored chiffon cake part of the tea set (720 yen) served with the Kitaichi Milk Tea, Bottom Right: wine from Otaru such as the Zweigeltrebe (red – 600 yen) and Niagara (white – 500 yen)
Left: Kitaichi Special Milk Tea Soft-Serve Ice Cream, Right Top: Tea flavored chiffon cake part of the tea set (720 yen) served with the Kitaichi Milk Tea, Bottom Right: wine from Otaru such as the Zweigeltrebe (red – 600 yen) and Niagara (white – 500 yen)

The famous Kitaichi Special Milk Tea Soft-Serve Ice Cream has the fresh sweetness of a milk tea made from Hokkaido milk. They also have a complete meal menu, including items like Kaisendon (seafood rice bowl). Enjoy your time eating sweets and listening to a live piano performance in a magical lamp-filled atmosphere.

  • Kitaichi hall
    北一ホール
    • Address Kitaichigarasu3kan, 7-26, Sakaimachi, Otaru-shi, Hokkaido, 047-0027, Japan
    • Nearest Station 10 minutes on foot from JR Minami-Otaru Station
    • Phone Number 0134-33-1993
    • ・Hours: 8:45 AM – 6 PM (last order 5:30 PM, last order for meals 3 PM)
      ・Closed: Open daily

2. GOLDSTONE CAFÉ: Wrap yourself in the music of Otaru

2. GOLDSTONE CAFÉ: Wrap yourself in the music of Otaru

As Otaru’s largest live theater, this venue holds events such as concerts for famous musicians, bridal parties, and private presentations and shows. During the day, GOLDSTONE CAFÉ serves lunch and sweets.

The first thing that grabs your attention entering the facility is the 7.5-meter Makore African Cherry counter. The stylish coloring gives a very mature feeling. Since the café is built in a renovated warehouse, the high ceiling gives an open feel and adds to the uniqueness.

The menu includes meals focused on western dishes, such as the Seafood Paella with a healthy portion of shrimp, squid, and octopus, and the One Plate with 9 Items with pasta, quiche, and other dishes.

For drinks, they offer coffee, Darjeeling tea, and a full bar including local beer Otaru Beer, whiskey, and wine. The facility has a parking lot and is just one taxi ride away from JR Otaru Station. During the day, you can relax and take a break at the café, and at night, you can have a drink and enjoy the charm of Otaru’s evening.

  • Otaru GOLDSTONE
    GOLDSTONE CAFE
    • Address 3-3-21kyuusibusawasouko, Ironai, Otaru-shi, Hokkaido, 047-0031, Japan
    • Nearest Station 5 minutes by car from JR Otaru Station
    • Phone Number 0134-33-5610
    • ・Hours: 11 AM – 10 PM (last order 9 PM)
      ・Closed: Fridays (closed the day after a holiday)

3. LeTAO Pathos: Representing Otaru’s popular sweets chain

3. LeTAO Pathos: Representing Otaru’s popular sweets chain

LeTAO is a western sweets shop that is famous in Japan. Their largest facility is the LeTAO Pathos, with a sweets shop on the first floor and a spacious café on the second floor.

In the center of the second-floor café is a white open kitchen with a very sanitary feeling. We strongly recommend the limited dish only available here, the double plate.

The plate offers the number one sweet Double Fromage, Chocolate Double, and the Crème Brulee Venice Rendezvous.

Double Fromage (front), Chocolate Double (right), and the right Crème Brulee Venice Rendezvous (back left)
Double Fromage (front), Chocolate Double (right), and the right Crème Brulee Venice Rendezvous (back left)

The popular Double Fromage combines the rare cheesecake on the upper layer and the rich milky baked cheesecake on the bottom, creating a miraculous taste. They also serve soup curry, pasta, and other meals.

Left: the Rare Double Fromage with a special whipped cream topping made by the chef, only available in Hokkaido. Top Right: soup curry (plain). Bottom Right: Tontoro and Mushroom Fettuccine
Left: the Rare Double Fromage with a special whipped cream topping made by the chef, only available in Hokkaido. Top Right: soup curry (plain). Bottom Right: Tontoro and Mushroom Fettuccine

LeTAO Pathos is located on Sakai Street. Along the street, there is the LeTAO main store and the chocolate specialty store LeTao Le chocoLat. Each store has its limited items and a slightly different variety; it is probably worth visiting each store to find something unique!

  • LeTAO PATHOS
    ルタオ パトス
    • Address 5-22, Sakaimachi, Otaru-shi, Hokkaido, 047-0027, Japan
    • Nearest Station 10 minute walk from JR Minami-Otaru Station
    • Phone Number 0120-46-8825
    • ・Hours: 9 AM – 6 PM (café last order 5:30 PM)
      ・Closed: Open daily

4. Otaru Muse: Enjoy dining and music in a candlelit store

4. Otaru Muse: Enjoy dining and music in a candlelit store

A perfect café to spend a romantic day is the stylish Otaru Muse. With candle lights resembling the soft gas lamps lit at night on the streets of Otaru, the café offers homemade cooking with specially selected ingredients and fabulous music. The store with an antique feeling has country-style British tables with candles on top; you can also choose which candle to light.

The café has a piano, guitar, and PA equipment; sometimes, they have concerts and even impromptu music sessions. The café offers a calm atmosphere and some excitement at the same time.

We recommend the Muse Special Stewed Hamburger Steak. The handmade hamburger steak using specially selected local beef and pork, and the additive-free demi-glace sauce made from beef tendon with lots of collagen, creates a perfect harmony in the mouth. Muse Special Combo offers the Muse Special Stewed Hamburger Steak and Cheese Omurice (fried rice inside an omelet) on a big plate. Their demi-glace sauce is spectacular!

Matching the moody mature atmosphere, the café menu offers items like the rum cocoa with a pleasant aroma, and the dark chocolate parfait made with bitter chocolate gateau. Enjoy delicious food and fantastic music in a candlelit café.

  • Otaru Muse
    小樽Muse
    • Address 1-11-7, Inaho, Otaru-shi, Hokkaido, 047-0032, Japan
    • Nearest Station 7 minute walk from JR Otaru Station
    • Phone Number 0134-31-6300
    • ・Hours: Lunch 11 AM – 2:30 PM (last order 2 PM), Café 2 PM – 5 PM, Dinner 5 PM – 8:30 PM (last order 8 PM)
      ・Closed: Monday (next day if it’s a holiday)

5. Le Quartrieme: Relaxing lunch along the Otaru Canal

5. Le Quartrieme: Relaxing lunch along the Otaru Canal

Le Quatrieme has a sweets shop on the first floor, and on the second floor is a café space where you can dine while having a view of the Otaru Canal.

The menu has dishes such as cake made with seasonal fruits by a talented chef and a lunch menu with local seasonal vegetables. A great place to visit to have some healthy food, also the arrangement of the food is beautiful and photogenic.

The lunch menu is available from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM (last order). They have a total of three courses: the Pasta Lunch, Main Lunch of the Day, and Meat Lunch of the Day.

All courses come with an appetizer and drinks. The appetizer for all courses is warm vegetables. The presentation of the appetizer is so beautiful that you will want to take a picture.

The main dish changes daily; the photo above is the Beef Cheek Simmered in Red Wine. The beef is so tender that it almost melts in your mouth.

For an additional fee, you can add dessert to your course. For 350 yen, you can pick a cake out of their 12 ~ 15 cakes, and for 500 yen, you can select a dessert such as a parfait from a selection of 4 desserts.

It is possible to view the Otaru canal and cruises. Le Quatrieme is a perfect place to spend a relaxing and elegant time.

  • le quatrieme
    ル・キャトリエム
    • Address 2-3-1, Ironai, Otaru-shi, Hokkaido, 047-0031, Japan
    • Nearest Station 10 minute walk from JR Otaru Station
    • Phone Number 0134-27-7124
    • ・Hours: 11 AM – 7 PM
      ・Closed: Wednesday

*This information is from the time of this article's publication.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.

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