Hyperlocal Tokyo

A cozy, retro-style coffee shop. Their blend has a low acidity and a pleasant bitterness, which I personally love. The hotcakes have a heavenly branding, which is so cute! They're a retro-style pancake with a gentle sweetness and a toasty flavor. Simple seasoning with maple syrup and butter. Cash only. It's a popular spot with a constant stream of people, so it might not be the best place to relax and savor your coffee (it's a bit of a squeeze with a suitcase). But it's definitely worth a visit!

【Visited on July 10, 2024 (Wednesday)】 I finally made it to Coffee Paradise, a place I've been wanting to visit for a long time! I thought it might be crowded even on a weekday, so I arrived 10 minutes before the 12 pm opening and was the first in line. Another group joined me about 5 minutes before opening. Luckily, it wasn't too crowded, and I was able to get the first seat. The cozy shop can only fit about 5 groups. I ordered the hotcake set with hot coffee. The cute "heaven" imprint on the hotcakes was adorable! The hotcakes had a nostalgic flavor with maple syrup and a rich buttery taste that was comforting. The coffee was also delicious! The owner was very friendly and made me feel welcome. I had a great time. On my way out, I couldn't resist buying a coffee storage can! (They have several color variations on display, but they only sell one color at a time, depending on their current stock.) It was amazing! I definitely want to go back.

I saw this cute pancake on Instagram and wanted to try it, so I went there. There was a sample in front of the store. I didn't actually measure it with a ruler, so I'm not sure if it's accurate, but the actual pancake seemed smaller than the sample, and the butter was definitely thinner. The pancake itself was good, but I thought it was overpriced for the price. The atmosphere of the store was quiet and relaxing because there were no other customers, so I was able to enjoy my meal. The staff were friendly.

I arrived around 3 pm on a Sunday and luckily found a table. However, the cafe is quite small, with only about 15 seats. My first impression wasn't great. When I told them we were a group of two, they pointed us to a table with a rather unenthusiastic, "This way." We ordered two light meals and one drink, but then they abruptly told us, "It's one drink per person!" It felt like we were being scolded. Not a good feeling. Although the cafe was full, the drinks and food came out quickly. The pancakes were smaller than I expected, but everyone seemed to be ordering them. They cost less than ¥1000, so I guess you get what you pay for. It tasted like something you could make at home. The butter was incredibly thin... Maybe it was because of the staff's poor service, but almost everyone in the cafe was being polite and saying "thank you" to the staff. It felt like the roles were reversed. It's strange. Finding an open cafe or coffee shop in Asakusa is difficult, but I wouldn't recommend this one. It could ruin your sightseeing experience!

We visited this place after lunch, looking for dessert! It was around 3:00 PM on a weekday, so we thought it might be crowded, but luckily there was only one other group inside. ◆Pancake Set with Cafe au Lait - ¥1350 The pancakes, or rather hotcakes, are cooked one by one on a copper plate. They have a cute heavenly imprint on both sides. They're small and light, so you can easily devour them. ^_^ They're simple, old-fashioned hotcakes that you eat with maple syrup and butter, bringing back a sense of nostalgia. The interior is quite narrow, but it has a retro feel and a nice atmosphere, making it easy to visit even if you're alone. I think it's a popular spot that you should definitely visit at least once.