Cafes and bars in Koenji, Tokyo
Tokyo's most rebellious neighbourhood doesn't open early, but when it does, it opens well. A two-to-three-hour walk through Koenji's labyrinthine shotengai, starting at Japan's only weather shrine, taking in four specialty coffee spots, and winding through vintage stores, record shops, and backstreets that have been quietly resisting gentrification for decades.
4 venues reviewed in Suginami.
- Walnuts Coffee Steep PickKoenji, Suginami · Steep Index 8.7/10
A hidden alley cafe in Koenji where the owner handcrafts the ceramics, roasts lighter than most, and stays open until midnight on Saturdays.
- Porta Coffee Stand Steep PickKoenji, Suginami · Steep Index 8.6/10
A tiny, character-filled coffee stand inside Koenji's shotengai, where the barista asks which bean and roast you want before pulling a single cup.
- INCredible COFFEE Steep PickKoenji, Suginami · Steep Index 8.5/10
A small, cool-vibing coffee stand in Koenji-Kita with vinyl on the speakers, an extensive espresso menu, and a monthly latte art competition to back it up.
- MYTH CAFEKoenji, Suginami · Steep Index 7.7/10
A small, stylish coffee counter in Koenji-Kita built for a solo sit and people-watching, not a work session, though the latte didn't quite live up to its own reputation on this visit.