5 Cool Cafes to Visit in May 2024

Published on 2024-05-20

As the weather gets warmer, there is no better time to get out and explore some new cafes in the city. In this series, we are highlighting some of the coolest, and aesthetic, cafes in Tokyo to visit. From those serving original fruity blends to those with delicious coffee floats, these are the five cafes you should stop by in May.

cafe The Sun Lives Here

If you love a cafe with a retro vibe and good cheesecake, then you need to check out this small cafe in Sangenjaya. Although tucked away on the corner, Cafe The Sun Lives Here has recently become more well-known with Tokyoites as it was featured on TV. On a weekend, you may have to wait a bit to get inside, as there are very few seats. For those who don’t have much time, takeout is also available.

The menu has a mix of drink and dessert options. Note that you will have to order one drink and one dessert per person. Some of the most popular items on the menu include tiramisu (¥980) and freshly-baked cheesecakes (¥600). The cafe also has a flagship product known as Chilk, a three-layer bottled cheesecake that costs ¥580. The drink options are pretty ordinary, with Americano, Latte, tea, and juices. During different seasons, the cafe also serves special items, such as coffee jelly.

Before you leave, make sure to take a look at the small shelf filled with original snacks and merchandise, like caps and tote bags.

Komainu Coffee

Komainu Coffee is one of Shimokitazawa’s more unique coffee shops. With its cozy vibe and dried flower display, Komainu Coffee is a nice spot to spend time relaxing, drinking some rich coffee, and eating some delicious cake.

One of the most popular drinks on the menu are the coffee floats. There are a few flavors to choose from, including iced lattes, iced mochas, and a basic iced coffee. Each is beautifully served in a clear glass and either topped with ice cream or fresh cream. In some ways, it is more like a dessert than a drink.

If you are someone who prefers hot drinks, you can get a classic roast coffee, a cafe latte, or try one of the more aesthetic drinks, such as the cafe mocha or caramel macchiato. Non-tea and coffee drinkers should try either the vibrant Ramune Soda Float or the colorful Cassis Sorbet Soda Float. Drinks vary in price from ¥590 to ¥790.

Komainu Coffee also specializes in curry and cakes. The cafe often gets busy around lunchtime, with people coming in to try one of the many curries on offer. On the dessert menu are a range of original creations like Mandarin Parfait (¥1200), Cafe Mocha Jelly (¥780), Pumpkin Pudding (¥490), and classics like Oreo Cheesecake (¥710). Many of the items are sold out by lunchtime, so try to come as early as you can.

Onibus Coffee

This specialty coffee shop in Nakameguro is considered one of the best independent cafes in Tokyo. Originally created to bring people together and provide them with their daily brew, Onibus has since gained a strong reputation on social media for its quality blends and aesthetic interior.

Besides the great coffee, people love the upstairs seating area, where you can take in the fleeting view of everyday people taking their commute on the Toyoko Line trains. On a warm day, many people tend to sit in the small outdoor seating area to soak up a bit of sun while drinking their coffee. If you decide to go on a weekend, you may have to get a takeout coffee instead due to the limited seating.

There are only four drink options on offer: espresso, americano, latte, or hand drip. Everything, apart from the espresso, can be served either hot or cold and costs anywhere between ¥430 to ¥780. The beans Onibus uses are fair trade and sourced sustainably from different parts of the world. Onibus even has its own sweet and creamy blend, made with beans imported from Brazil, Guatemala, and Ethiopia. If you end up loving the cup of coffee you ordered, you can buy a packet of the original blend to take home with you.

Café Kitsuné

Owned by the luxury French-Japanese lifestyle brand Maison Kitsuné, Café Kitsuné is a cafe with a modern and cosmopolitan feel. There are two branches in Tokyo, but the Aoyama one is more well-known. With its simple and luxurious interior, which also takes inspiration from Japanese aesthetics, Café Kitsuné is one of the more photogenic and well-designed cafes in the city.

The drinks are on the more expensive side, with an Americano being ¥700. As well as coffees and teas, Café Kitsuné has special seasonal drinks, including Iced Pink Cappuccino (¥900) and Pink Homemade Lemonade (¥700). If you are feeling peckish, you can also order light snacks such as fresh cakes or a small hot sandwich. In the summer, gelato is a great option.

After drinking your coffee, you can spend some time looking at the original Café Kitsuné goods which include tote bags, mugs, and T-Shirts.

Verve Coffee Roasters

For a cafe with unique coffee and a space to work, why not try Verve Coffee Roasters? What makes Verve Coffee Roasters stand out is their concept. At Verve, coffee is treated as the seed of a fruit. This means that all the original blends have a more sweet, smooth, and fruity taste to them.

You will definitely need a few minutes to look over the extensive blends on offer. From the Kitakakamkura Blend, which tastes like American Cherry and Cacao Nibs, to the Lamastus Family Natural Gesha, which tastes like Pinot Noir, Strawberry Jam, and Jasmin, there are a whole bunch of exciting and exclusive flavors to try. If you are a tea lover, you are in luck. Verve also serves floral and Japanese-style teas. Given their originality, a drink here is slightly more expensive than your average coffee, costing anywhere between ¥500 and ¥1,500.

For food, there is a mix of hot sandwiches, sugar waffles, and original pastries. There is even a selection of vegan cookies. The Verve in Ebisu is a great spot to study or work, as it is both spacious and bright and has a nice ambience to it.