Cafes and bars in Kagurazaka, Tokyo

Tokyo's own pocket of France, cobblestone lanes and old geisha-district charm dressed up in French bistros and patisseries. The coffee here is quieter and more uneven than the neighbourhood's reputation suggests, a fair-trade Thai roaster holding steady in the middle of two rooms better known for what's on the plate: genuinely good sandwiches at one end, a French toast worth the trip at the other.

3 venues reviewed in Shinjuku.

  • AKHA AMA COFFEE KAGURAZAKA
    Kagurazaka, Shinjuku · Steep Index 8.3/10

    A Chiang Mai coffee institution's Tokyo outpost, tucked into a picturesque Kagurazaka backstreet and serving beans sourced directly from Thailand's Akha hill tribes alongside homemade pastries worth ordering.

  • Arbor Coffee
    Kagurazaka, Shinjuku · Steep Index 7.9/10

    A small, quaint cafe in an upscale corner of Shinjuku, held back by coffee that has consistently lacked flavor and balance across two visits.

  • Shimada Café
    Kagurazaka, Shinjuku · Steep Index 7.8/10

    A chic Kagurazaka brunch spot on the third floor of an unmarked building, better known for its two-day-marinated French toast than for its coffee. Order the toast, skip the latte.

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