Late-night coffee spots are hard to come by in Tokyo, surprisingly so even in bustling areas like Shinjuku and Shibuya. However, we have found a gem in Ikebukuro – just a four-minute walk from the station – that’s open daily until 10pm. Mermaid Coffee Roasters pride themselves on their freshly roasted coffee beans that are handpicked and roasted in small quantities to optimise flavour and quality.
Upon entry, you'll walk by a table with all the current beans on offer as well as a small decanter where you can sample each roast. While you can’t go wrong with a hand drip or one of their espresso-based drinks, we love the quirkier items on the menu, which include a Craft Cola Coffee and Espresso Romano (coffee lemonade). Surprisingly, the spices in the craft cola accent the coffee nicely, and the effervescence from the soda water reminds us of an espresso tonic. Coffee and lemonade might seem like an unlikely combo, but the mixture results in a bold drink with a tangy punch.
The café also has small snacks to pair with your coffee including cookies, scones and banana-and-coffee-flavoured gelato. You can also purchase bags of coffee beans starting at a reasonable ¥1,100 for 100 grams.