Shinjuku Authentic Cafe 2024: Enjoy Extraordinary Experience in Tokyo
Shinjuku stands out as one of Tokyo's most vibrant districts. Shinjuku Station sees over 2.7 million users daily, making it Japan's busiest station. While modern skyscrapers dominate the landscape, historical shops remain preserved, offering diverse streetscapes throughout different areas.
Moreover, Shinjuku is a fierce battlefield for culinary excellence. The district hosts restaurants of every genre, featuring establishments with sophisticated atmospheres and refined flavors lined up one after another.
In this article, we'll focus on cafes at Shinjuku 2024, introducing recommended spots perfect for lunch breaks or rest stops during your Tokyo sightseeing adventure.
5 Recommended Cafes for Quality Time During Your Shinjuku Tour
WPÜ CAFE
Source: Tabelog
WPÜ CAFE offers a serene environment adorned with houseplants where you can enjoy various drinks including drip coffee, cafe latte, and matcha latte. The menu also features hearty meals such as hamburgers, pasta dishes, and taco rice.
The second floor houses a professional DJ booth studio available for anyone to use freely. You can play your favorite music, record radio shows, or create content in this glass-enclosed professional studio.
The cafe is connected to a hotel, making it an excellent option for those seeking accommodation in the area.
<Store Information>
Address: WPÜ 1F, 7-10-5 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Hours: Mon-Sat 12:00-23:00 (L.O. 22:30), Sun/Holidays 12:00-18:00 (L.O. 17:30) *No evening service
Lunch 12:00-15:00 (L.O. 14:30)
Closed: Never
Phone: 03-5338-2003
Official Website: https://wpu-shinjuku.com/cafe/
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wpu_shinjuku/
Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Wpu-Shinjuku/pfbid02FYfn2drf24Mg3ceB7bncP9GV2McZuSy141LjNFSx3VZPWdzNEGWufqhMDUPkduEol/
The Jones Café & Bar in Tokyo
Source: Official website
The Jones Café & Bar serves guests from lunch to dinner and late-night drinks. The space features upbeat music and artistic interiors, creating a relaxing dining atmosphere.
The menu ranges from desserts like waffles and parfaits to substantial offerings such as hamburgers and salad bowls.
The interior includes luxurious sofa seating and counter seats perfect for chatting with staff. It's an ideal spot for those wanting to enjoy meals and conversation in a sophisticated setting.
<Store Information>
Address: Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo 1F, 3-4-7 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 7:00-22:00 (L.O. 21:00)
Breakfast: 7:00-11:00 (Food service starts at 8:00)
Lunch: 11:00-17:00
Dinner: 17:00-22:00 (L.O. 21:00)
Closed: Never
Phone: 03-6258-1111
Official Website: https://www.kimptonshinjuku.com/jp/tokyo-restaurants/the-jones-cafe-bar-%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC/
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejonestokyo/
Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejones.tokyo/
Cafe La Boheme
Source: Official website
Among the trending cafes at Shinjuku 2024, "Cafe La Boheme" stands as a charming Italian cafe located next to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. Large windows allow natural light to flood in, offering spectacular views of the expansive Shinjuku Gyoen gardens.
The interior features antique-style lighting and furniture, creating a stylish and open atmosphere perfect for dining.
Their extensive cafe menu includes coffee, tea, fresh juices, cakes, and gelato. You can also order main dishes such as pizza, pasta, and steak.
Beyond being just a cafe, it's suitable for various occasions including lunch and dinner.
<Store Information>
Address: 1F Cosmo Shinjuku Gyoen Building, 1-1-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Hours: Weekdays 11:30-23:30 • Weekends/Holidays 11:00-23:30 (Last Order: Food 22:30 / Drink 23:00) • Lunch 11:30-14:00
Closed: Never
Phone: 050-5444-5123
Official Website: https://boheme.jp/
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boheme_gd/
Caldo
Source: Official website
Located in the business district and recognized as a must-visit cafe at Shinjuku 2024, "Caldo" is a versatile establishment perfect for lunch, cafe time, or bar scenes.
Their lunch menu features hearty pasta dishes and salads, alongside indulgent pancake options including triple berry pancakes and seasonal fruit pancakes that serve as delightful desserts.
I particularly recommend their fresh donuts, available in seven flavors including ricotta cheese, raspberry, and fresh green tea. Why not order these desserts paired with coffee or tea?
<Store Information>
Address: 1F Shinjuku Vintage Building, 7-8-6 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Hours: LUNCH/CAFE 11:00-17:00 (L.O.16:00) • DINNER 17:00-23:00 (L.O.22:00)
Closed: Irregular
Phone: 050-5448-3383
Official Website: https://caldo-shinjuku.jp/
Starbucks Coffee Shinjuku Gyoen Store
Source: Official website
A standout cafe at Shinjuku 2024, "Starbucks Coffee Shinjuku Gyoen Store" is located on the eastern side of Shinjuku Gyoen. Like other Starbucks locations, they offer coffee, espresso drinks, light meals, and sweets.
The store extensively uses domestic wood in its ceiling, exterior walls, and bar counter, creating harmony with the surrounding nature. The interior features warm wooden elements, including substantial wooden sofas and egg-shaped chairs carved from wood.
The refined atmosphere and beautiful scenery enhance the familiar Starbucks flavors, making them taste even more profound.
<Store Information>
Address: Shinjuku Gyoen, 11 Naito-machi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday & Holidays: 9:00-16:00
Closed: Mondays
Phone: 03-6384-2185
Official Website: https://store.starbucks.co.jp/detail-1838/
Enjoy the Collaboration of Seasonal Nature and Urban Landscape at Shinjuku Gyoen!
Source: Wikipedia
Spanning an impressive 58.3 hectares, Shinjuku Gyoen boasts approximately 70 varieties of cherry trees with 900 trees blooming magnificently in spring. Throughout the seasons, visitors can enjoy lush greenery in summer and 500 roses in full bloom at the "Rose Garden" in autumn, offering natural beauty year-round.
The garden features a harmonious combination of different styles including the "Japanese Garden," "English Landscape Garden," and "French Formal Garden" scattered throughout the grounds.
From within the park, visitors can view the surrounding high-rise buildings. The collaboration between nature and modern architecture creates a breathtaking vista that never fails to impress me on my repeated visits.
Cafes & Diners with Amazing Atmosphere for Dining
Kurokatsusan at Shinjuku 2024
Source: Tabelog
"Kurokatsusan" specializes in hamburgers and sandwiches made with premium black pork from Kagoshima Prefecture. You can enjoy different textures of katsu sandwiches including the Black Pork Mille Feuille Katsu Sandwich, Black Pork Loin Katsu Sandwich, and the limited-quantity Black Pork Rib Loin Katsu Sandwich.
The restaurant also offers popular hearty black pork hamburgers with various flavors like teriyaki, avocado, and cheese, as well as five different types of egg sandwiches featuring thick-fried eggs and soft-boiled eggs.
On nice days, it's recommended to get takeout and enjoy your meal at nearby Shinjuku Central Park.
<Store Information>
Address: 2F Fill Park Nishi-Shinjuku, 4-18-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Hours: Tue/Wed 8:00-15:30 (L.O. 15:00) / Thu-Sun, Holidays 8:00-17:30 (L.O. 17:00) / Morning Service OPEN-10:30 (L.O. 10:00)
Closed: Irregular
Phone: 050-5600-0221
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kurokatsusan_/
Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kurokatsusan
uRn.chAi&TeA LUMINE1
Source: Official Instagram
Located in Shinjuku LUMINE1, "uRn.chAi&TeA" offers various chai drinks and spiced sweets. Their chai selection includes their original blend featuring six different spices, as well as hojicha chai, Amazon cacao chai, and matcha chai.
My recommendation is the LUMINE1 store-exclusive "Sepa-Carro" (Separate Carrot Cake). When eaten with pound cake, cream cheese, carrots, and lemon peel, you can truly taste the natural flavors of each ingredient.
<Store Information>
Address: 6F LUMINE1, 1-1-5 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 11:00-21:00
Closed: According to LUMINE Shinjuku 1 closure days
Phone: 03-6258-1144
Official Website: https://urn-jp.com/
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urn_tokyo/
DexeeDiner -the meat locker-
Source: Official website
"DexeeDiner -the meat locker-" is a highlight of a cafe at Shinjuku 2024, offering sizzling beef steaks and hamburger steaks served on hot iron plates. The menu features seven different types of steaks, including thigh and rib steaks, along with hamburgers made from 100% Japanese beef.
The restaurant also offers a wide variety of side dishes such as Mexican nachos, prosciutto plates, and French fries.
Their beverage selection ranges from coffee and tea to alcoholic drinks like beer and cocktails. With an extensive pancake menu, it's also perfect for cafe time. This versatile establishment welcomes guests throughout the day, from lunch to dinner.
<Store Information>
Address: Shinjuku Takashimaya 13F, 5-24-2 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 11:00-22:00 (Last Order 21:00)
Closed: Following Shinjuku Takashimaya's business calendar
Phone: 03-5361-1988
Official Website: https://www.cardenas.co.jp/shop/steakcafe/dexeediner-the-meat-locker/
GOOD MUNCHIES Shinjuku Gyoen Main Store
Source: Tabelog
"GOOD MUNCHIES Shinjuku Gyoen Main Store" has become a popular cafe at Shinjuku 2024, focusing on creating "unforgettable ultimate burgers." They serve juicy, substantial hamburgers featuring thick meat patties sandwiched between fluffy buns.
The recommended menu item is the weekday-exclusive Gorgonzola Pineapple Cheese Burger, offering a perfect balance between the sweetness of pineapple and the saltiness of cheese.
On nice days, consider getting takeout and enjoying your meal at the adjacent Shinjuku Gyoen park. A set meal including French fries, hamburger, and a drink will leave you fully satisfied.
<Store Information>
Address: City Gyoen Building A, 1-4-12 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 11:00-22:00
Closed: None
Phone: 050-5600-6032
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodmunchies.jp
Three Recommended Traditional Japanese Cafes with Retro Atmosphere
Japanese kissaten (traditional cafes) are unique establishments that differ from standard cafes, focusing not only on coffee but also on food offerings. Most of these cafes at Shinjuku 2024 serve Western-style dishes perfect for lunch, such as pasta, omurice (omelet rice), and sandwiches.
Many kissaten also offer morning sets limited to breakfast hours, which typically include toast and salad with your drink. These sets are popular among locals, making the cafes busy from early morning.
Kissaten often have long histories, and their aged, sophisticated interiors are worth appreciating as part of Japanese cafe culture.
Meikyu Coffee Shinjuku Ranburu (2024 Shinjuku Cafe Guide)
"Shinjuku Ranburu" is a historic cafe at Shinjuku 2024 that opened in 1950. While seating is available on the first floor, the highlight is the basement floor with 200 seats. The basement reveals a surprisingly spacious area with a historic atmosphere that's impossible to imagine from the first floor. Notable interior features include red-carpeted stairs, smooth velvet sofas, and elegant chandeliers, reminiscent of a historic hotel.
Enjoy various menu items like pizza toast, egg and tuna sandwich sets, and cake sets while listening to classical music in this spacious setting.
<Store Information>
Address: 3-31-3 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 9:30-18:00 (Last order 17:00)
Closed: January 1st
Phone: 03-3352-3361
Official Website: http://www.e-shinjuku.or.jp/archives/kamei/1037
Tajimaya Coffee Main Store
Source: Official website
"Tajimaya Coffee Honten," established in 1987, is another historic cafe at Shinjuku 2024. Inside its dark-toned, relaxing interior, visitors can enjoy house-roasted coffee.
Each cup is carefully prepared using the nel-drip method, maximizing the coffee's flavor with a clean aftertaste. My first experience with their nel-drip coffee left a lasting impression with its pure, refined taste.
The cafe features an interesting collection of coffee cups and traditional Japanese decorative items throughout. It offers a peaceful retreat within the bustling city.
<Store Information>
Address: 1-2-6 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 10:00-23:00 (Last order 22:30)
Closed: January 1st
Phone: 03-3342-0881
Official Website: https://tajimaya-coffeeten.com/
Coffee Kizoku Edinburgh
Source: Official website
"Coffee Kizoku Edinburgh," opened in 1975, is a 24-hour cafe at Shinjuku 2024. The interior features chandeliers, dark green sofas, and dark-toned walls creating a sophisticated atmosphere.
Morning sets are available from 6:00-11:30, Monday through Saturday. A unique offering is their zosui set. Zosui is a traditional Japanese dish of rice simmered with chicken and dashi stock, topped with egg. It's perfect for breakfast or the morning after drinking, offering a gentle, comforting taste.
The cafe serves siphon-brewed coffee along with various menu items including toast with fried egg sets and pizza toast.
<Store Information>
Address: 2F M&E Square Building, 3-2-4 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 24 hours
Closed: None
Phone: 03-5379-2822
Official Website: https://edinburgh.jp/
