50 best cafés in Tokyo

Glitch Coffee has opened a new outlet in Tokyo (its second in the city and fourth in Japan) with this sleek new space in Ginza. The café is centred around a chic U-shaped counter and accented with original ukiyo-e woodblock prints hanging on the walls. A curated playlist of 1980s music playing from a set of stylish Tannoy speakers adds to the atmosphere.

Glitch is known for its light-roast, single-origin coffee beans that are all roasted in-house at its Jimbocho location. By only offering light roasts, Glitch is able to showcase the original flavour of the beans. You won't find any blended coffee here as the café aims to highlight the individuality of the coffee farms and regions it works with. 

Take your pick from 15 varieties of single-origin coffee, each accompanied by an English description of its origin and flavour profile. Glitch also has an interesting ordering system: you first select the bean and then the coffee style, such as pour-over, latte or espresso.

To help narrow down your choice, the shop has categorised its coffees under a few different labels. 'Innovation' beans are made using the latest refining methods, 'Hard to Find' are rare, valuable beans, and 'Competition' are beans featured in world coffee competitions.

A good way to get a feel for Glitch Coffee is by ordering the coffee flight, which allows you to try two or three types of coffee of your choice. The café also serves a special single-origin coffee cocktail created by one of its baristas, who used to be a bartender. Combined with a fruity whisky, the cocktail is a wonderful way to experience Glitch's lightly roasted beans as it highlights the refreshing, acidic flavours of the coffee.

With branches dotted around inner city neighbourhoods including Tomigaya, Asakusa and Hanegi Koen, Fuglen is a Tokyo coffee institution. Its latest café in Sangubashi opened just early this year in January. This pristine café looks nothing like your regular coffee shop, as it’s set in a beautifully restored old Japanese house. The space is divided into two sections: the front of the house and garden for casual sit-down and takeaway drinks, and the back counter which is dedicated to Fuglen’s coffee tasting course (by reservation only).

While this Fuglen uses the same beans as its other outlets, what sets this Sangubashi café apart is the way it pushes the envelope by refining the beans’ flavour profiles through various preparation methods. For instance, beans for hand drip coffee are first shaken in a canister to air them out and prevent unwanted acidity. They are then ground using a unique hand grinder to prevent heat affecting their aroma. Then, just before brewing, the coffee ground is shaken through a sieve to extract a uniform-sized ground and eliminate any components that might bring out bad flavours.

With the coffee tasting course (¥2,700), you’ll sample two types of coffee. The first is a hand drip with your choice of bean, meticulously prepared to bring out the individuality of the beans. This brew is paired with an exclusive Fuglen coffee yokan (traditional red bean paste confection). The second cup is a Kokekaffe, a Norwegian hiking-style coffee, brewed in front of you in a kettle, making this a more rustic way to enjoy Fuglen’s coffee. This drink is paired with a light snack of brown cheese atop a crisp bread made from oats and sunflower seeds.

If you’ve reserved a seat at the counter, you can choose from either the coffee tasting course or the hand-drip (¥1,400) and Kokekaffe (¥1,500) individually. Coffee yokan is available separately for ¥450 (two pieces). If you’re not seated at the counter, you can enjoy the café’s regular menu, which includes a daily coffee served hot or iced.

This Sydney transplant has been in the coffee business since 2003 and set up an outpost in Tokyo’s sumo heartland, Ryogoku, in 2014 – on the cusp of Japan’s coffee boom. Fast forward to 2024 and the roastery has now moved into a brand new space in celebration of its tenth anniversary in Japan.

Single O prides itself on securing ethically sourced coffee and highlighting the beans' natural flavours. For instance, the vibrant Reservoir house blend of Costa Rican and Ethiopian beans is a winner, producing an acidic brew that’s bright with citrus notes. Similar to the Single O Hamacho outpost, you can enjoy self-service coffee on tap here, taking your pick from four different varieties...

World-renowned contemporary artist Takashi Murakami has opened up a café in Nakano Broadway known as Coffee Zingaro. This art-filled café is a welcoming spot in the anime and manga shop-filled district and is Murakami’s latest venture in the area after closing down Bar Zingaro in 2020. 

Coffee Zingaro has a lot of pizazz with its retro kissaten vibes inspired by the 1960s and ‘70s. The café features a tonne of artwork by Murakami and a colourful Showa era (1926-1989) interior courtesy of Yoshinori Hamakura, who also worked on creating the iconic Ebisu Yokocho and other retro spots in Tokyo.

You'll find Murakami's artwork all over the café, from the NFT videos playing on the large TV screen to food and drink inspired by the artist’s signature flower motif. But this isn’t just an art café. Coffee Zingaro is set up with tables that double as gaming consoles, where you'll find classic games like Mario Bros, Donkey Kong and Street Fighter. When ordering, you can purchase special flower coins (¥500 each) to play these games.

Coffee here comes from Nordic roastery Fuglen Tokyo, while you can also get kissaten favourites like melon floats and pudding. Don’t miss the pancakes, either, which are created by Tonari no Kaido, a pastry shop started by Murakami and his Kaikai Kiki team. If you're looking for an artsy (and delicious) souvenir, pick up one of the Tonari no Kaido cookie tins filled with butter cookies shaped as Murakami's iconic smiley flowers.

Omotesando’s Koffee Mameya has become a mainstay in Tokyo’s coffee scene, serving up excellent brews while also selling coffee beans from around the world. The only downside of the shop, though beautifully designed, is that there is no seating, so you can’t linger over a cuppa.

Good news: Koffee Mameya has finally given its fans the proper café space they’ve been craving with Koffee Mameya Kakeru, a stylish coffee haven nestled amongst the cool cafés in Kiyosumi-Shirakawa, Tokyo’s self-proclaimed coffee town.

Koffee Mameya Kakeru isn’t your average coffee shop, though. While you can purchase beans and drinks for takeaway up front, the back of the store is reserved for serious coffee drinkers looking to explore and taste different roasts, coffee cocktails and even sweets. 

The sleek interiors just make your coffee experience all the more rewarding: elegant counter seats face the baristas so you can see them in action as they go about making your brew in their crisp, white coats. The venue is in a former book publishing warehouse and the high ceiling is a nice change of scenery from Tokyo’s often cramped spaces.

The main menu consists of three coffee tasting courses (starting at ¥2,500), where you can sample various roasts prepared in different ways – cold brew, milk brew, filtered and shots of espresso. Courses also come with Koffee Kashi, small sweets paired with your designated brew. 

You can also order coffee by the cup made from your bean of choice with options ranging from light and fruity single-origin beans to dark and robust blends. You can choose to have it black, with milk, or prepared as an iced latte. Be sure to get one of the decadent desserts like cheesecake and chocolate terrine, too. 

Situated to the left of the entrance to the hip K5 building, Switch Coffee feels like you’ve stepped into a green nursery, complete with a handful of small tables, free wi-fi and excellent coffee. Choose from single-origin drip coffee, espresso, latte, cappuccino or an iced coffee with tonic water – an uncanny but surprisingly refreshing combination.

This location is the third for Switch Coffee (find them also in Meguro and Yoyogi-Hachiman), who source their beans directly from selected farmers around the world. Masahiro Onishi opened the first location in 2013 after turning his passion into his day job and training in the famous coffee scene of Melbourne, Australia.

Upon spotting this charming old house on Yanaka's Kototoi-dori, most passers-by probably wouldn't guess that it's been home to a café for well over 70 years. Constructed in 1916, the building hosted the Kayaba coffee shop from 1938 until the death of the original proprietor in 2006. Beloved by both locals and visitors, the community icon made a strong comeback in 2009, when a local not-for-profit group teamed up with the folks behind nearby gallery Scai the Bathhouse and reopened Kayaba – with the original exterior and signage intact.

Inside, you'll find a fusion of the time-honoured kissaten tradition and the modern craft coffee ethos – no AeroPressing, just honestly good joe, best combined with a pick off the wonderfully retro food menu. Try the egg sandwich for a quick bite, or the weekly lunch for a more substantial option. Kayaba is one of those places where you can lose track of time and just drift away into daydreams, no matter what's going on outside the weather-bitten windows.

It might take you a while to locate this hidden café, but you’ll be glad you put in the effort once you step inside this calm, stylish space. 319 sits along a dark corridor on the third floor of a nondescript residential building in Mitaka. The café is decked out with a gorgeous collection of antique furniture. It’s quite spacious, with plenty of seating and tables across two rooms. 

The menu is simple and straightforward, just two savoury plus three dessert options. If you’re here for lunch, start with the brown rice and laver soup or the fish cutlet and meatball plate before moving on to the sweets. The carrot cake and the chocolate tart are lovely, but we love the rare cheese dessert – a somewhat deconstructed cheesecake topped generously with shavings of salty parmesan.

For drinks, the bonfire latte is a show-stopper. It’s a warm latte served in a bowl along with a toasted marshmallow pierced on a twig, which you can dip into the latte. Additionally, the menu also has regular coffee, chai tea, puer lemon tea, matcha and Kawasemi, a colourful beverage with layers of green tea and tart pineapple juice.

In an area heavily populated with bars and izakayas, this café is a welcoming sight. Lou, which opened in 2021, is the sister shop to Paddler’s Coffee Nishihara. This Nakano café offers a more extensive food menu than Paddler’s, with a variety of Nordic-inspired soups, pastries, cakes and ice cream. It’s also got a pretty great drink selection of not just the standard coffee and tea, but also craft beer and wine.

The vibes here are relaxed, with records spinning everything from classic jazz to city pop by Miki Matsubara. We especially love Lou’s tableware collection, which includes thick mugs and dainty glass spoons that could easily double as art. The cute vases by ceramicist John Molesworth on each and every table are also available for purchase at the café. You can pick up coffee beans, too, plus gorgeous smelling room sprays, hand soaps and sanitizers.

This chic café just a few minutes’ walk from Meguro Station has a soothing minimalist aesthetic. You’ll often find a queue outside the shop on weekends, as café-goers are eager to get their hands on Parlor Noon’s picture-perfect desserts. 

Highlights from the menu include an affogato made with Big Baby Ice Cream and topped with one of the café’s signature dog-shaped cookies. The basque cheesecake is another crowd-pleaser, as well as the beautiful lemon tart shaped like a flower. There’s also a seasonal shortcake and parfait, both made with whatever fresh fruit is in season. As for beverages, you can’t go wrong with the Viennese coffee topped with fresh cream or the zingy ginger lemonade.

From 6.30pm, the café operates as an aperitif bar serving small plates, natural wine and cocktails. But you can still order some desserts as well as coffee and tea. If you’re looking for a more substantial meal, head down to the cafe’s sister restaurant Noon on the ground floor. Noon offers lunch and dinner with Asian-inspired dishes like lu rou fan (Taiwanese pork rice bowls) and Korean fried chicken.

World-renowned architect Kengo Kuma does not limit himself to headline-grabbing, mega-scale projects such as his Japan National Stadium or Shibuya Scramble Square. Wakuni Shoten, a new cafe showcasing the work of sheet metal artisans, illustrates his vision for more modestly sized projects.

Around 700 bronze plates – ‘upcycled’ from the former roof of a Shinto shrine in Hiroshima prefecture – cover the striking facade of this premises in west Tokyo’s Higashi-Murayama neighbourhood. Inside, you can check out origami-inspired sheet metal cranes and other objects crafted by local firm Uchino, which tapped Kuma to work on this project. A selection of products is available to purchase.

The interior is also imbued with the touch of fellow artisans including furniture maker Kitaworks and ceramicist Kan Ito, making this a refined yet cosy spot to enjoy coffee specially roasted for the cafe by Okayama-based Kinoshita Shouten. Also on the menu of light bites are cute cookies in the shape of cranes and shiba inu dogs.

This light and airy café space situated behind the bustling streets of Omotesando and Harajuku is a mashup of two Tokyo institutions: Coffee Wrights and Higuma Doughnuts. Serving, well, coffee and doughnuts, we can’t think of a better combination to lift our spirits. The venue also offers plenty of seating, with indoor benches and tables in the sunken café space, as well as outdoor benches stretching out from the expansive floor-to-ceiling windows. We love a good latte from Coffee Wrights, and if you can’t decide on a doughnut flavour, opt for the six-piece set and take the rest of them home with you.

You’ll find this unassuming café in Higashi-Nagasaki, a sleepy little neighbourhood along the Seibu Ikebukuro line that’s slowly becoming a hot spot for cool cafés and trendy shops. At the centre of it all is Mia Mia Tokyo, a friendly coffee joint run by husband-wife duo Vaughan and Rie Allison. Well-versed in Tokyo’s third-wave coffee scene, the duo have created an inviting space that’s not just about the coffee, but also about welcoming you into the local community.

Coffee beans are sourced from roasters in Japan and Australia, including Scandinavian mainstay Fuglen, and even a special blend from Tokyo kissaten Chatei Hatou. Mia Mia also serves up a handful of baked treats including canelés, ice cream sandwiches and rice flour shokupan (Japanese milk bread).

A handful of seats are available inside the café, but there are also benches that spill out onto the street, where you can people-watch while you enjoy a cuppa. Don’t be surprised if you run into Vaughan or Rie on your visit, as they often strike up conversations with many of their visitors, sharing tips on the best spots in the ‘hood.

Kyoto’s long-established coffee roasters Ogawa Coffee have finally set up shop in the capital with a flagship coffee laboratory in residential Setagaya. The spacious café was designed by interior design firm Yusuke Seki Studio and is full of muted tones, with the focal point being the wrap-around counter encircling the barista space.

Thanks to the large floor-to-ceiling windows at the front of the shop, the café offers generous natural lighting which works well with the textured plywood counter and white washi paper accents. To add a touch of Kyoto, the floor also features old stones from the old capital's tramways.

Monz Café, which has been around for about a decade, sits along the lively temple street leading to Naritasan Fukagawa Fudodo, one of Tokyo’s most striking and modern temples. The building used to house a wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) shop in the Meiji era (1868-1912) but was converted in the last ten years or so into a stylish space for people to relax over coffee and desserts.

Coffee is sourced from speciality roasters Allpress Espresso and can be ordered as a latte, flat white, long black or americano. Breakfast is not the easiest thing to come by in Tokyo, but you’ll find a satisfying brekkie here for just ¥630 with toast, salad and yoghurt. Or wait till 11am for the sandwich plate.

The café’s signature dessert is the pudding à la mode, served in a cute jar topped with fresh fruit. There’s always a selection of basque cheesecakes with seasonal variation; in summer it’s usually apricot and mixed fruit. Check the café’s Instagram for its other seasonal offerings such as cakes and canelés.

Sip some coffee and peruse handmade leather accessories at this relaxed Kuramae café and variety goods store run by ballerina and pastry shop owner Miwako Yamada together with designer Kosuke Tamura. The staff are happy to give sightseeing tips for the surrounding neighbourhood, but Camera itself is well worth seeking out – if only for the decadent smoothies.

As for the food menu, you’ll find cheese toast served with organic potato chips, keema curry bowl, and Hawaiian spam onigiri. There’s always a generous selection of baked goods, too, including carrot cake muffins, cookies and Camera’s famous scones.

We don’t know how Drip does it, but the café manages to be equally modern and retro at the same time. Opened up by models Ryo Ichinose and Sakiko Takizawa in 2021, Drip feels like it’s been around for decades – there’s the dark wood interior, tinkling jazz music and, for an upscale touch, a well-curated art selection. Further adding to its retro atmosphere, the menu is reminiscent of a classic kissaten with a colourful Sunny Day Cream Soda and the homemade coffee shop pudding.

When night rolls around, you'll have a chance to sample the café’s unique cocktail menu, which centres around tipples made with coffee. For starters, try the Irish Shakerato, which beautifully blends coffee, Irish whisky and cream.

Despite Tokyo’s love for desserts, vegan and gluten-free sweets are hard to come by. Sister outlet to Ebisu’s vegan fruit sando shop Fruits & Season, So Tart is a specialty café serving up gorgeous vegan, gluten-free fruit tarts, plus organic coffee, tea and ice cream.

Seasonal fruit is the star of the show, with tarts topped with fresh sakuranbo cherries, mango and melon during summer. Underneath the fruit, you’ll find a luscious soy-based cream and a crispy tart base made from rice.

Tarts are offered in three sizes: 8cm, 18cm and 24cm. The mini tart makes for the perfect mid-day treat, while the two larger sizes are ideal for birthdays and special occasions.

It took Shinya Sakurai 14 years to become a tea master. That's a long time to dedicate to tea. But when you visit his shop in Aoyama, Sakurai Japanese Tea Experience, and sit down opposite him as he prepares an exquisite tea ceremony in an equally exquisite café space, you'll begin to appreciate the hard work and patience that goes into this tradition.

Shinya has modelled his store on the concept of tea being a form of medicine – as it once was – and he travels around Japan to source the best quality tea leaves. They're all on display in little glass containers, which are lined up in front of packs of tea for sale at his shop. At the back of the store, there's a seating area where you can enjoy sipping on the tea of your choice. If you'd like to taste different varieties, you can sample individual teas, but we decided to try the full experience and asked for the tea tasting course.

This discreet tea house under the Nakameguro train tracks is home to Chiya-ba, a chai tea specialist run by the folks behind nearby Nepalese restaurant Adi. The cosy space, though dominated by blacks and dark tones, has a gorgeous Zen-like quality. It's tasteful yet rustic, especially the hidden little lounge behind the tea counter, which feels like a luxe boutique hotel lobby.

As for the tea menu, go for the classic masala chai (available hot or cold), or one of two special chai creations: lemon masala chai or the spiked Khukri Rum chai. If you prefer something less milky, opt for one of the speciality Nepalese teas, coffee, natural wine or craft beer. There’s also a small food menu offering light snacks like curry pan (served on weekends only), scones, granola and vegan doughnuts. 

This iconic Tokyo café has been around for over 20 years and is still serving up some of the best food – both savoury and sweet – in Harajuku. The café looks deceivingly small from the outside, but once you’re in, you’ll discover an entire basement dedicated to table seating. There’s even a small retail area where you can purchase vinyl records, clothing and more. 

It’s difficult to choose just one dessert from the impressive display case. There’s a variety of housemade cakes and sweets like the Kuma Chocolate, a decadent bear-shaped brownie cake that’s served with ice cream, or the whole peach stuffed with custard cream, fresh strawberries and shortcake.

For a savoury meal, we recommend the bara chirashi (chopped seafood) plate filled with plenty of seafood and veggies including ikura (salmon roe), shrimp, shiitake mushrooms and takenoko (bamboo shoots).

Beloved Shibuya mainstay Coffeehouse Nishiya has moved to its new home in Asakusa with an updated name, but still serves up the same menu of Italian-inspired café drinks. Unlike its previous sit down space, the shop operates more as a standing coffee bar where you can stop by for a quick pick-me-up. Don't worry if you can't get a spot inside – just walk up to the front window and a cup of joe to go.

Behind the counter you'll find the jovial owner and barista Kyohei Nishitani, who has quite the coffee repertoire thanks to his experience at worldwide barista competitions. Ask him for a recommendation or go for one of the classic drinks like the cocoa dusted cappuccino, espresso con panna or espresso shakerato.

While the café lacks a food menu, some of the drinks on the menu double as a dessert, like the espresso banana shake or the simple affogato. Trying to cut down on caffeine? There are drinks for you too, including an indulgent hot chocolate (ask for the cioccolata) and a thick strawberry shake. 

This tiny café near the train tracks west of Koenji Station is known for its artistic fruit sandwiches, in-house roasted coffee and kakigori shaved ice (served in the warmer months). Interestingly, the café's name comes from French novelist, poet and playwright Jules Gabriel Verne and is inspired by the analog ways of the eighteenth century. 

Keeping with the theme, you can find books by Verne scattered around the café from which you can freely pick up to read as you wait for your order. On the menu are sweet crepes, savoury galettes and, of course, the beautiful fruit sandwiches that are filled with seasonal offerings like Tochiotome strawberries. Lattes come with adorable latte art, and you can also purchase bags of freshly roasted beans to take home with you.

'Coffee Only' reads the sign outside Café de l'Ambre, which has been keeping the Ginza hordes well caffeinated since 1948. The kissaten was founded by the late Ichiro Sekiguchi, and the staff on-hand continue to run the shop under his legacy. Though they treat their coffee with the utmost seriousness, this isn't one of those fussy, killjoy coffee temples where conversation has to be conducted in furtive whispers and customers need a secret handshake to get through the door (we exaggerate, but only slightly).

The interior looks like it was last remodeled in the early '80s, although some of the equipment is clearly much older, and it's also the only coffee shop we've visited that has a washing machine behind the counter, on account of the cloth filters used when preparing drinks. Take your pick between a lone blend coffee and 15-odd single origin varieties, including a few aged coffees. The air of accessibility extends to English-language menus, and practically demands that you order something odd.

It might look small from the outside, but this speciality roastery has a lot to offer, with a dozen kinds of coffee beans imported from around the world and roasted on-site. Owner Kenji Okauchi opened this coffee shop in 2014 with the ambition of creating a cheerful neighbourhood haunt where locals could casually drop by to pick up freshly ground, single-origin beans or a drip coffee to go.

The upstairs café overlooks the street with the window-side table perfect for people-watching as you sip your brew. A menu of freshly baked cakes and pastries is also available to accompany your cuppa.