Believe it or not, this zen-like Japanese house is a coffee house. Concealed in the back alleys of the busy Omotesando streets, this shop has received a cult status in Tokyo.
The place is stripped down to its bare minimums. No tables, no chairs. Only a few marbled benches at the "Japanese garden" where one can sip on the coffee unless it rains. Hence, most people do takeaways.
Just like the style of his shop, owner-barista Eiichi Kunimoto seemed to prefer a low profile. Trained in Naples, Italy, he dispenses coffee from the espresso machine with an unassuming charisma.
Cappucino was our pick for a rainy winter morning. There is also espresso, machiatos and lattes. Good and full-flavoured java flavour from the Kyoto coffee beans. We couldn't demand for anything more than that.
Seems like Kunimoto-san also has the gift of patissier as he cooks what he calls Baked Custard by hand besides his coffee chamber. The dark charred sweet treat is essentially a square version of classic Caneles, No complaints were heard from my folks who can easily lament at sugary food.
The setup feels too surreal here. But good news is that this place, originally meant to be a temporary installation, is likely to stay put at this same location for some time.
Just don't give up finding the place if you get lost.
Omotesando Koffee
4-15-3 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Access: Omotesando Station (Ginza, Hanzomon, Chiyoda lines), Exit A2
Tel: 03 5413 9422
10am-7pm Irregular Holidays
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