5 cool independent cafés to visit on Awashima-dori in Tokyo

Anea Café’s third outpost in Matsumizaka is a chic space ideal for a casual lunch or coffee date. It’s also a rare pet-friendly spot in the city. A must-order here is the shop's signature coffee jelly topped with a scoop of rich milk ice cream and served with a side of almond-flavoured cream, which you can pour in halfway through the dessert.

The café is home to a small gallery known as The Room AK, where you’ll find a rotating lineup of exhibitions featuring local artists. Exhibitions change roughly every two months; check the gallery’s schedule on its Instagram.

Take a breather from the bustling city streets at this charming café located just a five-minute walk from Komaba-Todaimae Station. The bright and airy space is surrounded by large windows, bathing the space in gorgeous natural light throughout the day. Plus, it’s got plenty of seating for both solo patrons and groups.

Aside from the standard hand-drip coffee and latte, we recommend trying the organic lemonade or the housemade chai coffee. Little Toy Box also offers a small selection of vegan baked goods made without butter or eggs. The banana bread with hints of cinnamon is a good choice as well as the decadent ice cream sandwiches.

This confectionery and café is run by a pair of siblings born and raised in Shimokitazawa. Keeping the shop space in their family, the duo took over their mother's candy store and turned it into this adorable little hangout.

Aside from whipping up shortcakes, cookies, canelés and other baked goods, Shimokita Shimai is best known for its perfectly decorated cakes, which you can customise with messages and fresh flowers. Keep an eye on the café’s Instagram as it often serves lunch plates including curries and quiche. To order a whole cake for takeaway, place your orders online.

This quaint coffee shop is a rare find in Tokyo as it opens early at 8am. Set inside a renovated warehouse, the café boasts an industrial chic interior with high, open ceilings and a gorgeous facade of floor-to-ceiling windows.

Yellow Café uses beans from Kyoto’s famed Arabica Coffee, which you enjoy as an americano, mocha, latte or caramel latte. For non-caffeine drinkers, the hot cocoa here is good, or go for the refreshing housemade lemonade.

If you're looking to grab breakfast, you can't go wrong with the egg croissant sandwich with homemade tuna mayo or the veggie-packed cobb salad burrito.

You can't miss the beautiful smell of freshly roasted coffee beans. So just let your nose lead you to this small independent roaster tucked down a sidestreet in Komaba Todaimae. 

Here you can stock up on coffee beans to take home or enjoy a cuppa right there and then. There’s a good range of blends to choose from, including the medium roasted Grat Blend and the popular deep-roasted Classic Blend. Feeling peckish? Housemade seasonal cakes, scones and muffins are the perfect accompaniment to the quality brews. The coffee float is also a refreshing choice for a sweet cooldown.