Nui. HOSTEL&BAR LOUNGE is a highly rated and popular youth hostel located in the Kuramae area. Not only does it provide comfortable accommodations, but also features a café on its open and inviting first floor.

The coffee beans and brewing method used here are from Tokyo’s well-known ONIBUS COFFEE shop, and the flavorful hot latte pairs perfectly with the delicious bread and food also available.

No matter what time of day you’re there, Nui. HOSTEL&BAR LOUNGE is a great place to listen to soft music, relax, and have a good time with travellers from all over the world!

Leaves Coffee Apartment is located on a corner near a bridge spanning the Sumida River. To some, the shop’s plain concrete exterior may seem uninviting at first glance, but the sweet coffee aroma will certainly have you stepping up to the shop’s convenient take-out window.

With beans sourced from Oslo, Norway’s popular Fuglen coffee shop, the shop specializes in espresso and drip coffee, offering four unique flavors. Although the take out window makes Leaves Coffee Apartment’s location perfect for enjoying the scenery along the Sumida River, the shop itself is also a cozy place to enjoy a chat with friends.

Already popular in New Zealand, Australia, Europe and the United States, the “flat white” trend is also sweeping across Tokyo.

Kiyosumi-Shirakawa’s iki ESPRESSO TOKYO has quickly become a THE place for a flat white in Tokyo. There the owners first introduced New Zealand's coffee and brunch culture to Japan.

Similar in taste to cappuccino, but with a more noticeable milk flavor, a flat white is known for the intricate designs baristas use to decorate the drink’s milk foam.

In addition to coffee, the shop also serves up savory foods and desserts such as French toast, eggs Benedict, cakes, and pies. Their large muffins are particularly tasty.

Due to its New Zealand influence, iki ESPRESSO TOKYO has an exotic, yet leisurely atmosphere reminiscent of times gone by.

If you want to feel at home, then be sure to visit ARiSE COFFEE ROASTERS. This Tokyo coffee shop is popular with locals of all ages, as well travelers from abroad. The owner, Mr. Taiju Hayashi, has a friendly and welcoming personality and is keen to chat with customers.

A former owner of a coffee roaster wholesale company, Mr. Hayashi has over ten years of experience and is a true coffee lover. His shop, decorated with items of personal interest, has a selection of coffee beans from about 10 different countries, and also sells roasted beans and homemade bread. Don't miss this one!

San Francisco’s BLUE BOTTLE COFFEE, which is called “the Apple of the coffee industry,” has quickly expanded to Nakameguro, Aoyama, Roppongi, Shinagawa, Shinjuku, since it opening its first overseas branch in Kiyosumi-Shirakawa and each store has its own unique atmosphere.

The Nakameguro café, for example, has a minimalist design style. The large floor-to-ceiling windows are designed with ample sunlight to create a bright, clear and comfortable atmosphere, complemented by a sleek and stylish interior.

BLUE BOTTLE COFFEE beans are carefully selected by staff members during personal visits to coffee farms all over the world, and then used to ensure that customers can expect the finest in coffees, espressos and lattes.

TRAVELER'S FACTORY is a well-know stationery brand, specializing in fashionable notebooks. At the brand’s flagship location in Nakameguro, customers can punctuate a day of shopping by taking advantage of the store’s coffee shop and quiet second floor relaxation space.

It’s a perfect place to sip your coffee, write a few postcards, and even start filling your new travel notebook with fond memories!

The truest coffee aficionado simply must make a pilgrimage CAFE ROSTRO. There, the professional barista is a master of fine coffee, with over 15 years of experience. Each cup of coffee served here is tailor-made to suit individual customers tastes, using only certified coffee beans roasted in the store.

In addition to order-made coffee, CAFE ROSTRO serves light food items, and the warm atmosphere of the shop makes it joy for any coffee lover to experience.

Located in the quiet Uehara residential area, Katane Bakery sells over 70 varieties of bread, baked fresh every day. Each bread and dessert is made with local Japanese ingredients carefully selected by the bakery’s owner.

The bakery also features a café on the first floor, which is an excellent place to enjoy a cup of coffee along with your fresh bread or light snack.

Levain has been in business for over 30 years and is a pioneer in natural yeast baking.

Loved by bread fans all over Tokyo, there are about 20 kinds of bread in the store, and some can also be ordered in advance. The store also has a small Tokyo coffee shop for customers to relax and enjoy some of their signature breads.

If you’re a coffee lover, Tokyo is a city sure to provide you with some wonderful moments, not only with what’s in you cup, but also in terms of scenery, design and conversation. Tokyo’s specialty coffee scene won’t let you down!

Text: Yu. English by Gabriel Wilkinson.
*This article was originally published in September 2019. Shop hours updated in August 2023.