As the name suggests (tsuta means ivy), ivy is gradually eating into the entrance. As if no noise can come through the ivy wall and garden, it's hard to believe that you're only 5 mins away from the hectic Omotesando streets.
.jpg)
Tsuta Coffee-ten (it should be pronounced like "co-hee-ten" in Japanese way) is so-called kissaten (喫茶店). Kissaten, which evokes a sense of nostalgia among Japanese, is a bit different from what we call "café" as generally it has been there since Showa period (1926 - 1989) or early Heisei period. Unlike French style café, they normally don't serve alcohol and their food menu is Japanese-Western style: Omuraisu (Omlette + ketchup rice), Japanese style curry rice, Neapolitan spaghetti (never existed in Naples though) are the must. What is most important is the owner's personality or character as he's the one who make good coffee for you. If there is a nice kissaten, there is a nice or rather characteristic owner.
Tsuta coffee-ten is slightly out of this definition as they serve alcohol and there are no such food menu (instead they serve good croque monsieur), but the most important point: presence of a great owner is cleared. The owner, Mr. Koyama, always stands behind the bar counter, next to old tobacco vending stand, and is focused on making every single cup of coffee. If you want an iced coffee, he will even chip ice with an ice pick for you.
.jpg)
And don't forget to try an unusual pairing of "coffee and cheese".
Tsuta Coffee-ten
5-11-20 Minami-Aoyama
Minato-ku, Tokyo
Opening:
Tuesday-Friday 10:00 - 22:00
Weekends, bank holidays 12:00 - 20:00
.jpg)
0 comments:
Post a Comment